For Zook's spring practice Q&A, click here
For video of Zook's spring practice news conference, click here
Ron Zook's Illinois football team started spring practice Tuesday. Here's a look:
TODAY'S NOTES
-- Illinois coach Ron Zook is impatiently awaiting the return of cornerback Patrick Nixon-Youman. The 2008 signee hasn't been cleared academically to begin practice.
"I don't understand it either, because he's like .007 away," Zook said. "It should be a done deal. I'm a little surprised and disappointed that he wasn't out here today."
Zook said he hopes to have Nixon-Youman in practice soon.
-- Zook is now on Twitter. Here's a sample of his most recent work:
"Just finished my first press conference. They took it easy on me today."
Zook said he didn't know about Twitter until recently.
"I couldn't even spell it," Zook said. "Obviously, I'm on it for one
reason, give people an opportunity to follow where the program's going."
To find The News-Gazette's Twitter feed, go to www.twitter.com/news_gazette.
-- Three Illini are missing spring practice because of injuries: defensive
lineman Daryl Ballew (shoulder), safety Donsay Hardeman (neck) and
cornerback Miami Thomas (shoulder).
Zook said Thomas might be back earlier than expected.
"Miami, he's ahead of me," said Zook, who had shoulder surgery during the
winter. "I think Miami can get in there and do some stuff right now. He's
going to be ready by the end of spring or halfway through
spring."
-- Two players have changed positions. Former fullback Rahkeem Smith is now
working on the defensive line. And safety Nate Bussey is now playing
linebacker.
TODAY'S QUOTES
-- "We've been away from the game so long seeing as we didn't make it to a bowl game last year. Like I've been telling everybody, I think that's one of the best things to happen to us. It gave everybody the sense of urgency. Things need to happen now in order to get back to where we want to go. Especially myself and the other seniors. It's our last year, our last opportunity to go out with a bang and leave here on a great legacy,"
quarterback Juice Williams.
-- "I like blue. Blue's a pretty color. I'm color blind, so I can't tell the difference anyway," new offensive coordinator Mike Schultz, who traded in TCU's purple for Illinois' orange and blue.
-- "I want to make it an uncomfortable environment on the other side of the football. That means we want to go fast. We want to be in control of the pace," Schultz on his offensive philosophy.
-- "It feels good to get out here, run around with everybody and for us, the offense, get associated with Coach (Mike) Schultz. For me personally, having the offensive coordinator as my position coach is kind of nice. He's always on our tails, but we learn a lot more than just our position," tight end Michael Hoomanawanui.
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