You're here reading on a website devoted to a football team that is sitting o a 3-7 record presently. You are a die-hard Illini Football fan, without question.

That said, if any of you had a son that had the ability to play D-1 football, would you recommend to your son to go play for Ron Zook?

depends
is RZ coaching at Illinois?

if yes, what other offers does the boy have?

Im an alum, and love my beloved, but if my kid was good enough and had offers from solid academic and athletically balanced schools like Stanford, Vandy, UNC , I would have to seriously question playing for Illinois until RZ leaves.

Now nobody can question RM5's reasons for cutting his ties to RZ when he did

Interesting comment. The current plight of the FB program does seem to put RM in a different light though I suspect his complaints probably are less about coaching and more about family issues. I still hope that RM looks more kindly to IL as the years pass. The institution and its programs are bigger than any single coaching staff.

RM was not the only former player that was unhappy with the coaching staff and direction. I think it goes further than just the family.

If it was the only offer, or if my son really wanted to play for the Orange and Blue.

I dont have a problem with Zook in terms of how he treats his kids, I think he is a 'good guy'

But honestly no I would not tell my son to go play for Zook if my son had any aspirations for making the NFL, or if my son wanted to play on a winning team.

I was thinking about trying to walk-on as a field goal kicker.

If he had no aspirations of going to the pros or was walking on thinking he might work into a scholarship, then I would think you could do a lot worse than UI. Given the percentage of kids that actually go pro, I would think a good education would be more of a motivation than delusions of fame and fortune.

Another consideration (not related directly to coaching) would be the possibility of long term injury. More and more studies are showing delayed onset injuries due to repeated head shots etc. that dont show up until past middle age.
I had the opportunity to play ball at EIU, but turned it down due to lack of ambition. Two friends (one at EIU and one at SIU) have many nagging injuries directly related to their playing days in college.

So I guess my answer would be a definite "maybe"

In 2007, my son was givin the option to walk on at IL. he chose instead to play football on scholarship at a D2 school in Missouri. He now has 2 conference championship rings, his team has played on ESPN 4 times, and has been to two National championship games. Yes. this is a big stage, but success can be acheived at any level.

your son, with your advice no doubt, made an excellent choice from a football stand point.

You both appear smart enough to also know the importance of him getting a good education, and I am sure he is. UI is an excellent school in many areas, and a good school in many others. There are lots of good schools out there, at least on an undergrad basis. Im sure he is at one.

Best wishes.