Illinois football postgame chat: 10:30 p.m. Saturday
Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 10:30pm
Talk with football beat writer Bob Asmussen after the Illinois-Indiana game
Talk with football beat writer Bob Asmussen after the Illinois-Indiana game
Welcome back to another chat. I've got a little bit of a drive tonight with googly eyes, so I'm going to start a few minutes early. Thanks again for all of your questions.
I don't really mind if we lose as long as we are competitive and play the game hard and mental error free. but the way the team is playing, our coaches have got to go. Why the short dump off and juice running when we are down by 3 TDs with over 8 minutes? We were playing like we were in the lead as oppose to being 3 TDs behind. Explain because i'm ******* disguisted.
Moody,
I'm going to assume those **** is where "unhappily" was supposed to be. There didn't seem to be a great sense of urgency late in the game. When you are down three scores, you have to move at light speed. That didn't happen.
Hard to believe the game was as close as it was. Illinois could have taken the lead late in the third quarter. But the fumble by Juice Williams ended the game for Illinois.
Will Zook be our coach next year? I fear the answer is yes. I really like the guy as a person and respect his work ethic and the [fleeting] success he brought to our program. However, it is very apparent that the Zook experiment just is not working. Not only are we losing, we are not even remotely competitive until it doesn't even matter any longer. I watch a ton of college football and I don't really see any other team that consistently gets schooled like we do.
I apologize for the slight rant. We just are a very bad team objectively speaking. So, I'm wondering at what point Zook will take the fall? Thanks.
Thanks for your coverage of the team and the chats, I appreciate it.
Steve,
Ranting is encouraged. And this is the place to do it.
Easy answer is that if Illinois doesn't win another game, a coaching change will be made. What happens if Illinois wins one or two more? Tough call. But there could still be a change. The problem for the current staff is there aren't a lot of positive indicators for the future. And, frankly, I don't see a whole lot of wins.
What the hell is going on. All 3 phrases of the game suck. We were outcoached and outplayed by a less talented and inferior team. I'm disgusted and it's mind buggering that we can't even complete against the likes of Indiana football? Where do we go from here?
Chance,
It doesn't get any easier with Purdue playing so well Saturday. I really thought Illinois would win tonight. And I didn't think Indiana would be able to dominate on offense like it did. That is a very, very bad sign for the program.
I think Illinois should take drastic measures. A big change on offense. Come out in the hurryup or wishbone or something.
Our offense is so predictable and boring, we need an offense that is fun and entertaining and creative. How about Chris Peterson of Boise State. He would be the perfect coach. What do you think??? Please help ease my stress and frustration. Please please.
Chris,
Sorry, but you aren't coming to Champaign. The Boise State coach has a great deal where he is. No reason to leave. I think the only way he goes anywhere is if the high-profile Pac-10 program calls with an offer (Southern Cal).
Wow! Think of this in the games against BCS opponents. We have been outscored 116-45. Have been down 30-0,28-3,24-0,27-7.......What is going on with the team? Has Zook lost them? Leaving 2 timeouts on the field at the end!!!!
Jimmy,
I asked that question after the game and Zook said he is worried a little bit about losing them. You'll know early against Purdue how many guys are still playing.
Hi Bob,
IU, yes IU just threw for 333 yards on our defense. At what point do the Co D coordinators and the head coach realize that what they are doing is not working and maybe make some adjustments? Our defense is so bad (well so is our offense) that it embarassing.
Matt,
It would be very difficult to make a scheme change. All you can do is try different guys and see if it works. I don't know who they have left to try.
Bottom line, it's the defense Ron Zook wants to run. He isn't going to change it.
Hi Bob-Well, another lousy loss for the Illini. What's it going to take to let Zook go and who would you suggest replace him? While it would be nice for the Illini to contend each year, I'd settle for consistent 7 or 8 win seasons. What coach, in your opinion, can get us there and are the boosters ready to get their wallets out?
Thanks and Go Illini!
Jon,
If a change is made, there are options at the non-BCS level (Houston's Kevin Sumlin for one) and at the BCS level (Texas Tech's Mike Leach).
I don't think Illinois would hire another assistant coach from the NFL. I think a seated head coach is the way to go. It worked for Florida.
But remember that it isn't going to be as easy to hire a guy today as before because of the money involved. Even a guy from a non-BCS league will be expecting a $1 million deal. At least.
I wish i was making Zook's money and doing nothing as a coach? My question is, should we start to make a move to youth movement now??? and why isn't Lashore playing more. He's always productive when he's playing, is zook playing favorism???
Pete,
I think that movement has already started. Mikel got hurt in the second half, which is why he went out. He was the best player on the field for Illinois tonight.
Bob- How hard will it be for the Board of Trustees to let Ron Guenther make a move in the head coach position when he'll be owed millions? We're talking about a lot of dynamics with a new Board of Trustees and big financial problems at the University? I heard on WDWS last week that the fireworks at Memorial Stadium were a budget cut. Bottom line is, I don't know if the University can afford to fire Zook.
James,
You can always find the money. Financial considerations won't keep Ron Zook at Illinois.
Do you think zook will be around next year? Will he still be around at the beginning of the year??
Sam,
I think there is a chance he won't be back. If the team doesn't win another game, I'd say there's a great chance he won't be back.
I don't think Ron Guenther will make a change now. But the next six games are critical for Zook's future.
Given how bad this season is going, has anyone asked Guenther about Zook's status for next year?
Irked,
He was on the interview list tonight, but didn't make an appearance. He doesn't do many interviews. It would be nice to talk to him about it, but he can't say much until the season ends.
If you had to replace Ron Zook, what three names would you like to see considered and why? Thanks.
Mark,
Mike Leach. Great offense. Interesting guy.
Kevin Sumlin. Great work in a short time at a school that hasn't been consistently good.
Brian Kelly. Great work throughout his career. He might be coaching for the national title this year.
$1 million will be cheap compared to the loss in revenue from football next year without a new coach, can anyone ask guenther what he sees?
uremovich,
We would like to ask the athletic director about it, but don't think he will comment. He has been requested.
Bob,
I say we start a fund to pay for the rest of Zook's contract. This is embarassing. Indiana just manhandled us. This is the same team that barely beat Eastern Kentucky at home to start. How can this not be rolled back to the coach? I know players are blamed a lot, but who recruits and develops these players.... It has to be time to see Charest in there, this season is over.
Basketball,
I think the wheels might be in motion to see Charest. That would change the offense Illinois uses.
Ultimately, right or wrong, it all falls on the coach. It's great when you win and not so great when you don't.
Good evening Bob. Can you come up with any logical explanation why the offense of 2009 that returned every skill player from 2008 can no longer score?
Brad,
I wouldn't be a sports writer if I had that answer. Maybe there's a disconnect between the coordinator and the quarterback. Maybe the plays are different enough that it's a problem. Maybe the line isn't playing well enough.
Injuries have certainly been a part of it too. Benn being out for Missouri seems to have thrown the whole team out of whack.
Do you honestly believe the News-Gazette and WDWS are impartial sources of information related to Illini Athletics?
I do not. I have listened and read for years the Illini propaganda of how Guenther is god's gift to Illini. As long as Tate, Barnhart, WDWS and NG are tied to the Illini Sports Network you guys will be nothing more than an extension of the Athletic Department PR staff.
Gary,
I couldn't disagree more. You should call our sports editor Jim Rossow and ask him how we are directed when it comes to Illinois stories. Though there is technically a tie between the company and the school because of the radio contract, that has nothing to do with me, our department or our newspaper. Our goal is to be fair. And I think we are. I don't control what Loren writes. But there is nobody at Illinois telling our sports department what to write.
Is this a talent problem too, Bob? From what I see there's plenty of talent but it is young (on D), at the wrong positions (i.e. not at QB) and plays really stupidly, obviously. All the more reason to hire a new coach ASAP.
Marcus,
I think there is talent on the team, though a lot of it is hurt or playing tight or not living up to expectations.
Juice and Mcgee are not getting the job done. They can't even throw a short pass to an open WR. New QB and what happened to the most talented and deepest WR corps in the big TEN?
Maria,
Again, it's hard to answer. But the receivers are only as good as the QB throwing the ball. When one gets off, then so do the receivers. There are more drops this year than ever before. No way to explain that either.
The Illini are lucky they required a minimum of 3 year contracts on the suite and club seating. I'm guessing Illinois will see at least a 25% decrease in season tickets for next season.
Brad,
I agree that the school will see a dropoff. Even if Illinois won out, I think there would be plenty of doubters. Enough to open up some of the season tickets.
Could you please give us an update on the welfare of Donsay Hardeman
Big Toe,
It sounds like he is going to be OK. He was taken away for precautionary reasons because of his injury history. I will get more information Sunday.
I was shocked that we didn't use any timeouts on that last drive...if we score there is still time for an onside kick and maybe we pull out one we shouldn't...but by not using the timeouts it just seemed like we gave up.
I feel bad for Benn and cordall Scott and Terry Hawthron. Do you think they regret their decision to attend IL, especially Scott because he was talented and now is not even receiving playing time dispite the team's offensive struggles.
Isreal,
He's still got time left. I don't think guys have great regrets until they are done.
Personally even if the illini wins 3-4 games the rest of the way, zook still needs to go. my question is you mentioned that Mike Leach could be a possible coach, what is the realistic chance, he would at least bring a fun and entertaining offense? even if we are not national champ every year, at least people would be walking
Mikel,
I don't believe Mike Leach is happy at Texas Tech because of the way he was treated after last season. So, I wouldn't be surprised if he makes a move somewhere.
Bob -
Do you think the guy from Central Michigan would be a good candidate? He's a former Rich-Rod assistant at West Virginia.
Brad,
You wonder how much Coach Jones is winning because of Brian Kelly's guys. Of course, Kelly has Mark Dantonio's guys. So maybe that's a dumb argument. I think he will have a chance to move to a BCS job very soon.
Bob, when one of the big schools that actually cares if their football team wins "buys out" a coaches contract, isn't that money normally put together by a group of boosters? I'm guessing that we don't have any boosters with that deep of pockets after the stadium renovation, do we?
Chris,
There are people who would come up with the money if the school asked. It wouldn't be one lump sum. It would be spread over four years.