Illinois/Zook Recruiting

[DiamondBuck]

Originally Posted by Crashcup

Moving constantly is a coach killer!

See Franchione, Mason, Erickson, Davis, and my personal favorite Neuhimlick...I wouldn't give you a nickel for any of them.

Just to name a few.

If you're talking about Glen Mason, please define "moving constantly". Mason spent two years at Kent State, nine years at Kansas and is entering his eleventh year at Minnesota.

[Crashcup]

Mason also accepted a job at Georgia and the reneged when he was at Kansas.

Then he wanted tOSU job.

What's next...Pope? You know what I mean.

[Taosman]

Given time, Zook will make negative recruiting his Big Ten staple.
It will catch up to him quickly.
He won't last long.

[jwinslow]

When did it catch up to PSU?

[bigtenuofIfb]

of their commitment because of coaching changes. Both Considering Illiniois.

A couple of college coaching changes have Illinois' Ron Zook in position for a recruiting trifecta.

No sooner had word leaked out that Boston College coach Tom O'Brien was taking over the program at North Carolina State than Zook and two assistant coaches made a beeline for Mt. Carmel on Tuesday and visited All-State offensive lineman Arthur Ray, who had made an oral commitment to BC last summer.

"This stuff caught me off guard," the 6-foot-3-inch, 285-pound Ray said Friday, with his visit to Boston College this weekend canceled. "I would say I'm a soft commit right now since all the coaches, especially (assistant coach) Don Horton, are going to North Carolina State. Coach Horton and I had gotten real close.

"I'm reopening my recruiting. Illinois and Northern Illinois were the first to contact me since this happened. Illinois is an up-and-coming program just waiting to blow up. It's close to home, and I know Juice (quarterback Isiah Williams) and Chris (receiver Chris James)."

Part 2 of this Illini combination is 6-7, 315-pound All-State offensive lineman Jack Cornell of Quincy Notre Dame. Cornell had made an oral commitment to Michigan State, but that all changed after the firing of Spartans coach John L. Smith. According to Tim O'Halloran of rivals.com, Cornell is now down to Illinois and Nebraska.

Zook could go 3-for-3 if he lands the state's top prospect and the No. 2 weak-side defensive end in the country, 6-4, 230-pound Martez Wilson of Simeon. Wilson's top choices are Illinois, Notre Dame and Ohio State, which he is scheduled to visit over the weekend. He is expected to announce his decision at a news conference just before Christmas at Simeon.

http://http://chicagosports.chicagot...football-print

[Taosman]

I'm sure Zook is using Illinois great "victory" over Ohio State to recruit!
Oh! Wait!
They actually didn't win?
And they average 2 wins the last 2 years?
Great job, coach!

[Cornerback6]

Originally Posted by bigtenuofIfb

"I'm reopening my recruiting. Illinois and Northern Illinois were the first to contact me since this happened. Illinois is an up-and-coming program just waiting to blow up. It's close to home, and I know Juice (quarterback Isiah Williams) and Chris (receiver Chris James)."

I know Illi is losing by smaller margins, but would you say "just waiting to blow up"? Might be a stretch. They might haul in some big-time recruits, but as of right now, I wouldn't say they're "just waiting to blow up". Don't want this to get too out of hand here.

[bigtenuofIfb]

Originally Posted by Taosman

I'm sure Zook is using Illinois great "victory" over Ohio State to recruit!
Oh! Wait!
They actually didn't win?
And they average 2 wins the last 2 years?
Great job, coach!

Yea you are correct. they didn't win....I sure hope Zook isn't using "victory" over Ohio State to recruit....I would laugh if I was a recruit and was told that.....Although they played tOSU tough, it was also just an unusual bad game for tOSU. And yes you are correct, averaging 2 wins over the last 2 years is just terrible. Nobody should ever question Zookers recruiting ability but completely understand questioning his coaching ability....Hell all the Illini fans question that. You guys got it good here.....Great coach and great recruiter. Ron Turner left Illinois in pretty bad shape and to be getting a good recruiting class (talent) to Illinois is the main thing now......But like you said, can he coach them? Thats the million dollar question.