Ron Zook and the Illini are Fighting for Bowl Scraps
Earlier this year, the Illinois Fighting Illini were reveling in their first Rose Bowl appearance in 24 years.
My, how things have changed.
Illinois now finds itself fighting for the scraps when it comes to the college football bowls. Ron Zook’s squad is 5-6 heading into Saturday’s season finale at rival Northwestern and needs a win to become bowl eligible.
In season’s past, a win over Northwestern could be considered a distinct possibility. But this season, the Illini are scuffling along and by most accounts, have underachieved after representing the Big Ten in the “Granddaddy of Them All†out in Pasadena, Calif. Northwestern takes a 8-3 record into the contest and the Wildcats’ program has been rejuvenated under the direction of former Wildcat All-American linebacker Pat Fitzgerald.
There have been Illinois losses to quality teams like No. 6 Missouri (52-42 to open the season), No. 11 Ohio State (30-20 last week) and No. 12 Penn State (38-24). But there have been frustrating defeats at the hands of Minnesota (27-20 at homecoming in Champaign) and Wisconsin (27-17).
Then on Nov. 8, the Illini couldn’t beat Western Michigan (23-17 loss) of the Mid-American Conference at Ford Field in Detroit. Ironically, if Illinois is able to beat Northwestern on Saturday, it could find itself making a return trip to Detroit for a spot in the Motor City Bowl. The Big Ten has a bowl agreement with the Motor City Bowl to play a team from the MAC.
There are others that Illinois could be a candidate for should it find a way to reach the .500 mark. The Alamo Bowl, Insight Bowl and Champs Sports Bowl are possibilities, too.
Loading ...But that’s a far cry from Pasadena. Despite the presence of quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn on offense, and NFL prospect cornerback Vontae Davis on defense, the Illini haven’t been able to sustain any success this season.
Illinois has not won two in a row since downing Eastern Illinois and Louisiana-Lafayette in early September, and that latter win (20-17) was a downright struggle — at home, nonetheless.
Arrelious Benn has 63 catches and 1,012 receiving yards, but only has three touchdown receptions. Juice Williams has thrown for nearly 3,000 yards and 22 TDs, but his development into a complete college quarterback has been frustrating at times.
Williams, Benn and Davis each have college eligibility left, with Benn being just a sophomore. If those three return and the development of Williams reaches another level, in addition to finding a stud running back who could match the production of 2008 first-round pick Rashad Mendenhall (junior Daniel Dufrene or freshman Jason Ford anyone?) while getting more takeaways from the defense (they are minus-5), the Illini have a chance at competing for either the Rose Bowl or the other top-tier bowls in the 2009 season. Their offense is ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in yards per game.
But if those things don’t come to fruition, the Zook and the Illini could be back in the same boat again next season.
(Editor’s Note: The picture to your right is not a photo of Illinois’ next stud running back. Rather, I am fairly certain it is Ron Zook from his playing days. It came up in a Google image search for “Ron Zook”. Either way, all pictures of football players from the 70s with floppy hair, striped tube socks, and Fu Manchu mustaches are awesome.)
[tags]illinois fighting illini, ron zook, college football, big ten[/tags]
Tags: arrelious benn, Bowl Projections, Juice Williams, ron zook, vontae davis
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Yes, that’s the Zooker from his days at Miami, Ohio.
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“But that’s a far cry from Pasadena. Despite the presence of quarterback Juice Williams and wide receiver Arrelious Benn on offense, and NFL prospect cornerback Vontae Davis on defense, the Illini haven’t been able to sustain any success this season.”
Brit Miller has a been a huge bright spot. He has exceeded everyone’s expectations this season. Also, Vontae has 1 pick, which is low, and he is GONE next year. I can’t see any scenario in which he returns.
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Chad Baalman Reply:
November 20th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
@headballcoach,
Brit Miller has been a bright spot for the defense, but he’s a senior and won’t be back next year. That’s why I didn’t mention Miller. I mentioned the other three because a) they have talent and potential and b) have eligibility. Vontae Davis has the tools to be a high-round pick and he could very well leave for the draft. That’s why I put “if.” One thing working against Davis is his build, which might be too rigid to be a fluid cornerback in the NFL.
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That video is incredible. Mike Gundy rules.
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