Wait till next decade fan,

Actually, there are some pretty good players on the Illinois team. Terry Hawthorne, Nathan Scheelhaase, Mikel Leshoure, etc, etc.

But talented players alone don't make a team. It takes chemistry, good coaching, luck, to make it work. Maybe it will be like 2007 again. Or maybe it will be like 2009.

I wouldn't put Indiana and Northern Illinois in the win column for Illinois. And I wouldn't put Missouri, Michigan and Minnesota in the loss column. Let it play out. You will be happier that way.

I love football, but I try not to get depressed about it. There is always another game. Always another day.

Richard,

You make some very good points. Everybody, and I mean everybody, schedules winnable games at home. Florida is playing Appalachian State. Alabama is playing Georgia State. LSU is playing McNeese State. Everybody does it.

Bottom line for an athletic department is to make sure you get enough home games in football to help pay the bills. And if that includes a winnable game for your football team that's part of the deal. The rules allow for one win to count against a I-AA team. Unless that rule changes, Illinois would be foolish to not take advantage of it.

Ken,

I have only skimmed it. But I'm sure it's good. I'm fascinated by both Zuppke and Ray Eliot. And anything to do with Red Grange. And Buddy Young. And Bill Burrell.

Zuppke was not only a great coach but a great innovator. I'm not sure he gets enough credit outside of Illinois for all that he brought to football.

I admit to having visited his grave, which is lined up with the 50 at Memorial Stadium. Kind of cool actually.

I'm glad to see his name get proper recognition inside the stadium.

Charley,

I'll have to come up with the quotes and questions later. But Joe Paterno always shines because of his humor.

I also think Wisconsin's Bret Bielema had a very good day. So did Pat Fitzgerald. Rich Rodriguez came off as a little defensive.

Jason,

My ballot was due Aug. 1. The poll will be released Aug. 21. We will post it on HQ as soon as it's available.

Chuck,

Question of the Day. The school is saying things are going well. The answer will come the week of the home opener. Certainly, the season ticket sales will drop from last season. How far is the question.

Illinigator,

I think Ron Zook will let his coaches coach. From listening to him talk in the last couple of weeks, he will have less involvement in the day to day operations. Not that he won't give his opinion. But he will let the coaches come up with the game plan.
I really believe this is happening. And I think it explains why Ron Zook seems more relaxed this summer. It's hard for coaches to let go of areas they've been a big part of, but sometimes it is for the best.

Salt,

The latest report I got was that everybody is in good shape. Clay Nurse said he is all better. Martez Wilson has been cleared to play.
Illinois can beat Missouri. But right now, I'd have to go with the Tigers. Blaine Gabbert is back, has plenty of help and is a year better.

Brad,

Normally, this would be a Paul Klee question, but I'll give it a try. Nebraska hasn't been to the NCAA tournament in a long time and has never won an NCAA tournament game. I think the move is pretty lateral for Nebraska because Big Ten basketball is very good right now.
Tracy Webster should help. And so should a new arena that is being built. But winning in Big Ten basketball won't be easy for Nebraska. Just like it hasn't been easy for Penn State.

Charley,

Not to be easy on them, but the coaches were all well-prepared. They know this is coming every year. Some look better on the stage than others.

Ohio State's players were very good with the media. I thought Cameron Heyward was interesting. The Penn State players were also very good. And Northwestern.

Tough to pick who was the least ready. They all had their high points and low points.

Brian,

Normally, I'd go with the obvious (Trulon Henry). I've heard good reports about him from the summer.

I want to see what some of the backup receivers can do. Like Steve Hull. And Jack Ramsey. And Fred Sykes. And the incoming receivers. It can't just be A.J. Jenkins and Jarred Fayson if the Illinois offense wants to have any success.

Steve,

To me, the most interesting thing was when Jim Delany said Notre Dame is not in play for future Big Ten expansion. I'm not sure I believe it, but I thought it was funny how blunt he was with the comment. Kind of like, "We don't want you anyway." Good move by commissioner Delany in my opinion.

The fact that they are taking more time on the divisions tells me it isn't going to be geographic. I could be wrong. We'll know in a month.

I'd give Ron Zook a B. He was very relaxed, especially in the stuff away from the stage. He is much more comfortable in this situation than he was when he first got to Illinois.

Dr. Phil,

Thanks for the kind words. Always appreciated.

I think John Mackovic doesn't get more credit in C-U for two reasons. First, he left after four years. He made the right decision then. You can't say no to Texas football even if it didn't work out. Also, he didn't have a warm and fuzzy personality. I like him and always thought he was pleasant. And he's been great since leaving Illinois.
I don't believe Chicago will ever belong to Northwestern. Good try by the school but it isn't true. Chicago is a Bears/Cubs/Blackhawks/Bulls city. Period. Of course, Ron Guenther wants the football team to have recruiting success in the area, but it will never be able to get every player it wants from Chicago. Too many other options for the players.
I think Northern Illinois will play a great game in Champaign and I won't be surprised if the Huskies win. History tells us that Northern Illinois will compete with the Illini. And Jerry Kill's team won at Purdue last year. Illinois didn't win at Purdue last year.

Sam,

I want there to be snow on Christmas, but that isn't your real point.

You are right about Ron Zook. He is definitely more relaxed. He'll get fired up when training camp starts, but he seems to be less agitated than in the past. And I think that's a good thing for him and the program. Fans should confuse that relaxed attitude with him not putting time and effort into the program. He is still working long hours. But I think his down time is better.

Gary,

Illinois brought in coaches with high levels of success at other places, especially the two coordinators. So, there is no reason to think that can't happen here. It won't be easy. And it is likely more than a one-year project. Look at the schedule next year and you see the possibility for a turnaround year in 2011.
Illinois is looking for linebackers and defensive linemen. Like all schools, Illinois has a wish list and is going down it, trying to bring in the best available. Winning games in 2010 would make it easier.

BW,

I hadn't thought of moving the chat times around because of the games. Very funny. We'll go back to the usual time after Camp Rantoul. During Camp Rantoul, I'm going to be doing a daily chat at noon, though they won't run as long as the weekly chat.

I talked to Coach Long the day he got hired. He seems like a good guy and is very familiar with the offense. He looks young, but I think that might be a good thing. He is on campus and has been working long hours with the rest of the staff.

Rich,

I will ask Ron Zook about it next time I see him. He did say this week that Derek Dimke has improved his distance. He also said Dimke is willing to punt if Anthony Santella needs a break.

Jacob,

The easy answer would be "he's just cranky." But that wouldn't be nice.

I will always defend Loren's right to write what he thinks. He has followed Illinois football for a long time and has covered more unsuccessful teams than successful teams. So, in his mind, Illinois can't sustain success in football.

I don't think that is right. I often point out examples to him of football programs that got turned around. And most of those didn't have the advantages enjoyed by Illinois.

Even though you get tired of Loren, we want you to keep reading. Maybe he'll change his mind.

Ted,

There are hits and misses in recruiting at every school. I believe the farther you go away from your school geographically, the greater danger it won't work out. But many of the guys who haven't panned out at Illinois weren't from far away. When you are trying to build a program, you might take more chances of guys with character issues because you need the talent. I think Ron Zook's staff is doing less of that now. You can't predict who is going to make a mistake when he gets to college.

There isn't a cure. But you can lessen the problem by eliminating from consideration guys you have questions about. I think that's the direction the Illinois program is taking now. But in recruiting, there are no guarantees. You do the best you can, try to keep a handle on it when the players arrive on campus and try to get as much external help (counselors, parents, teachers) as possible.

Raheem,

I think Mikel Leshoure and Jason Ford will get the ball a lot. But I don't think you should discount the Illinois passing game. Nathan Scheelhaase has worked hard since his arrival to improve his passing and Paul Petrino is supposed to be a receivers guru. I want to see them in a game before saying they can't play.

Jim,

Leon Hill is not at Illinois. He was supposed to play at Northern Illinois, but is instead going to Joliet Junior College. Our former recruiting ace Jeremy Werner just reported that for DeKalb paper.

Bill G,

Right now, I don't think so. I think maybe next year. That could always change, of course, but I think the coaches want him concentrating on defense.

Todd,

Northern Illinois is definitely good enough. Southern Illinois will hang for a half, then I think Illinois takes control.

Don,

They can't wait. I think last year's game has been a motivating point for them all summer.