Ask beat writer Bob Asmussen about the Illinois football team
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:29 PM on Sat, 08/14/2010
Welcome back to another chat. It looks like it's going to be a short one today. It's a good to mow the lawn and clean the gutters. Or, I can stay in the air-conditioned office and answer a few questions.
Don't forget, we are going to have a live report from tonight's Camp Rantoul scrimmage starting at 6:30 p.m. Hopefully, the rain stays away and the temperatures don't get too nasty.
Ralph from Chicago, IL — 12:29 PM on Sat, 08/14/2010
Assuming the illini as an offense and defense look very good and stat wise. If Petrino is offered a HC job elsewhere next year do you fire Zook to keep Petrino? Or if not fire Zook give him a different role in the program. I think Vic will want a long term deal and wouldn't mind stayin CU for as long as he wants. Petrino however wants to be a HC and I believe he is going to be a good one for years to come and if he can turn around this team offensively, we cannot let him leave freely or so easily. I would offer him top money with a promise that Zook will move on in two years or move Zook to a different part of the program. Its a hard decision to make. Zook took the job no one wanted and stacked talent here to win. Petrino potentially will be responsible for improving the talent and turning it into wins. What would you do?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:36 PM on Sat, 08/14/2010
Ralph,
I've heard some version of that from other folks. Let me tell you what I think will happen.
First, if Illinois has a successful season, Ron Zook will deserve a big share of the credit. He was the one who picked Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning. To me, a big part of being a head coach in college football today is putting a together a staff of capable people who can execute a winning plan. If it works that way at Illinois season, and we don't know if that will be the case, then you have to point first to Ron Zook.
I do think Paul Petrino is going to be a head coach. Probably very soon. The perfect scenario for Illinois would be for him to have patience, let Ron Zook coach as long as he wants and have Petrino take over after that. That's a few steps away, of course. The team has to start winning, which I think is possible.
Not many get to start their head coaching careers in the Big Ten. So, it might make some sense for Paul Petrino to stick around for some time if a job here is possible in later seasons. He's getting paid plenty of money and will only enhance his chances to become a head coach by staying in one place. Plus, if it works in 2010, he'll have his starting quarterback returning for three more seasons.
I get a strong feeling that Vic Koenning wants to stay put for years. It was hard for him to be away from his family last season. And I've heard they really like their home in the Monticello area.
Bottom line, I don't think you ever fire a head coach to keep an assistant coach after a successful season. You try to recreate that situation and continue it.
Kent from Sprngfield, IL — 12:38 PM on Sat, 08/14/2010
who do you really think will be the backup quarterback?
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:41 PM on Sat, 08/14/2010
Kent,
Great question with a complicated answer. The coaches would like to have Nathan Scheelhaase play the whole season, redshirt one of the freshmen and use the other (whoever wins the job) to play late in games in a mopup/learning role. That's the perfect scenario for Illinois and seems like a reasonable possibility.
You'll hear Eddie McGee's name mentioned a lot as a possible backup. It makes sense because he is the only one on the team who has played the position in a real game. But the bulk of his practice time is at receiver and he seems to be playing well. So, the coaches would like to keep him there if possible. The one case where McGee might be called on as the quarterback is if Nathan Scheelhaase were to sustain an injury that would keep him out a game or two. Especially early in the season, it would be difficult to send a true freshman on the field as the starting quarterback. So, that's when McGee could possibly get the call.
Bob Asmussen (moderator) — 12:42 PM on Sat, 08/14/2010
Like I wrote, it's going to be a short one.
Don't forget to check out live report from tonight's scrimmage starting at 6:30.
Welcome back to another chat. It looks like it's going to be a short one today. It's a good to mow the lawn and clean the gutters. Or, I can stay in the air-conditioned office and answer a few questions.
Don't forget, we are going to have a live report from tonight's Camp Rantoul scrimmage starting at 6:30 p.m. Hopefully, the rain stays away and the temperatures don't get too nasty.
Assuming the illini as an offense and defense look very good and stat wise. If Petrino is offered a HC job elsewhere next year do you fire Zook to keep Petrino? Or if not fire Zook give him a different role in the program. I think Vic will want a long term deal and wouldn't mind stayin CU for as long as he wants. Petrino however wants to be a HC and I believe he is going to be a good one for years to come and if he can turn around this team offensively, we cannot let him leave freely or so easily. I would offer him top money with a promise that Zook will move on in two years or move Zook to a different part of the program. Its a hard decision to make. Zook took the job no one wanted and stacked talent here to win. Petrino potentially will be responsible for improving the talent and turning it into wins. What would you do?
Ralph,
I've heard some version of that from other folks. Let me tell you what I think will happen.
First, if Illinois has a successful season, Ron Zook will deserve a big share of the credit. He was the one who picked Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning. To me, a big part of being a head coach in college football today is putting a together a staff of capable people who can execute a winning plan. If it works that way at Illinois season, and we don't know if that will be the case, then you have to point first to Ron Zook.
I do think Paul Petrino is going to be a head coach. Probably very soon. The perfect scenario for Illinois would be for him to have patience, let Ron Zook coach as long as he wants and have Petrino take over after that. That's a few steps away, of course. The team has to start winning, which I think is possible.
Not many get to start their head coaching careers in the Big Ten. So, it might make some sense for Paul Petrino to stick around for some time if a job here is possible in later seasons. He's getting paid plenty of money and will only enhance his chances to become a head coach by staying in one place. Plus, if it works in 2010, he'll have his starting quarterback returning for three more seasons.
I get a strong feeling that Vic Koenning wants to stay put for years. It was hard for him to be away from his family last season. And I've heard they really like their home in the Monticello area.
Bottom line, I don't think you ever fire a head coach to keep an assistant coach after a successful season. You try to recreate that situation and continue it.
who do you really think will be the backup quarterback?
Kent,
Great question with a complicated answer. The coaches would like to have Nathan Scheelhaase play the whole season, redshirt one of the freshmen and use the other (whoever wins the job) to play late in games in a mopup/learning role. That's the perfect scenario for Illinois and seems like a reasonable possibility.
You'll hear Eddie McGee's name mentioned a lot as a possible backup. It makes sense because he is the only one on the team who has played the position in a real game. But the bulk of his practice time is at receiver and he seems to be playing well. So, the coaches would like to keep him there if possible. The one case where McGee might be called on as the quarterback is if Nathan Scheelhaase were to sustain an injury that would keep him out a game or two. Especially early in the season, it would be difficult to send a true freshman on the field as the starting quarterback. So, that's when McGee could possibly get the call.
Like I wrote, it's going to be a short one.
Don't forget to check out live report from tonight's scrimmage starting at 6:30.
Chat with you again on Monday.