CHAMPAIGN — Sign of trouble for an Illinois football player: a text message calling the team together for an unexpected meeting.

On Sunday, it came in the morning and asked the players to report to Memorial Stadium at 1 p.m. They didn't need to be told what the meeting was about.

Ron Zook was relieved of his duties after seven seasons. Some of the players showed up later Sunday afternoon to lend their support to Zook.

"It's unfortunate we didn't get enough wins to keep him around," senior cornerback Tavon Wilson said.

Wilson was one of two Illini seniors who talked to the media after Zook's brief press conference, joining injured linebacker Trulon Henry. Three hours earlier, the players sat and listened as Zook said goodbye.

Was it emotional?

"When you lose your leader to something like this, a lot of emotions get stirred up," Henry said. "He's our leader. Now we've got to look for a new leader."

Henry, who won't play in a bowl after being shot in the arm, is done with his Illinois career. He said he is concerned about the reaction of the younger players.

"They've got to meet a new coaching staff," Henry said. "They have to believe in that coach. There's a lot that goes into it. You've got to love your coach."

Henry said the players are to blame for the end of Zook's tenure.

"We let our coach down," Henry said. "It's messed up to see him go through this because of stuff we could have done on the field. He did everything that's supposed to be done as a coach off the field to get us ready for games. We have to close out games.

"My anger is toward us as a team and not toward the AD or the fans or the media."