Tate: Time for AD to look around

Dan · Oct 17, 2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

The Big Ten cellar has carved out a place for Illinois again. It is a familiar spot. If the 2009 swoon continues, it'll mark the fifth last-place finish in seven years, and the seventh in 14.

And there is nothing to indicate it won't happen, what with Indiana demolishing the Illini 27-14 Saturday night and with Purdue, shocking conqueror of Ohio State, next on the slate.

It's broke. And coach Ron Zook has no idea how to fix it. A team with ample returnees from 2008, when the Illini ripped Indiana 55-13, is floundering in Zook's briar patch. They've been outscored 116-45 in four conference losses, and most UI points came after the games were decided.

http://illinihq.com/news/football/20...o_look_around/

*ill07* · Oct 17, 2009, 10:47 PM

I think that the under-mentioned thing here is that CURT MALLORY, the god-awful, absolutely incompetent secondary coach, needs to be sacked, post haste.

Guenther, Zook, and Mallory all need to go, and they need to go now.

*mdeming* · Oct 17, 2009, 10:57 PM

Wish this headline read "Tate: Time to look around for a new AD"

FinalFour88 · Oct 17, 2009, 11:00 PM

Time for AD to look around... for a nice, warm place to retire.

sonofagun61 · Oct 17, 2009, 11:04 PM

How bad can they get? How utterly futile can the offensive play calling, AND the defensive pass defense get? This is high school stuff people. When you pass your way down the field and its the only way you get yardage then you automatically return to the run, in particular another of those Juice to whoever come to me and lets talk for 2 seconds before I hand off plays. Its childish. This team was down 20 points and they MILK the clock on every down, 19 seconds every down, walking slow, taking their time, THey scored their last TD in a 5 MINUTE multi play run oriented drive. NOT ONCE did they go down the field over 15 yards . THAT IS SO SICK IT begs the question , what century is Shultz in? THey need to fire him NOW. He has the pre eminent pre season FIRST TEAM all american end in Benn who has 12 catches all year, he had 67 this time last year and you DONT THROW TO HIM. It's simply mind boggling.

THe defense is so porous that Quarterbacks on CRAPPY teams have CAREER days. My great grandmother who has been dead 111 years could catch a pass against this poorly coached team. ZOOK what are you taking? What drug? For only a fool whose job is on the line would stick with a QB who has gone not just backwards but still makes WORSE mistakes than he did as a freshman. HOW WIDE OPEN does a play have to be before Juice see him. Juice couldn't read a cereal box let alone a CRAPPY defense. But he STILL starts. He would be sitting all year on ANY other team. He has more turnovers than any starting QB in the league and ALWAYS at the most important time of the game. What else needs to be said. Zook is an idiot and I used to like him. Believe in him. But no more. Does he not realize how foolish he looks and IS. PLAY CHAREST for gods sake. He already redshirted people, this year counts and he hasn't taken a snap on a 1-5 team with the worse offensive stats in the league and probably the country. Juice simply is not smart enough to lead this team. never has been which is why his record as a winner in games is WAY below .500. Mallory should be run out of town on a rail as should Schultz. GOD AWFUL play calling. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. same ole same ole only now its with great talent, yes GREAT talent. but wasted by some of the densest play calling every seen here. ZOOK , you start Juice again and you are gone from this school. Wise up. You look smart. Please tell me you are that smart.

Groundhogday · Oct 17, 2009, 11:07 PM

Let's stay positive here... and discuss our next coaching staff instead of our current coaching staff.

Is Turner Gill still the hot commodity now that the Buffalo Bulls are 2-4 to start the season?

Sumlin would be great, but any interest in Illinois?

Charlie Strong is one of the top college assistants but no HC experience. Primarily a southern guy, though he did coach at ND for a couple of years and had his first asst job at Southern Illinois.

Randy Edsall's name came up when Zook was hired. Is he settled at UConn? (no real midwest ties)

Retread from the SEC?

*OrangeFever* · Oct 17, 2009, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

Time for AD to look around... for a nice, warm place to retire.

Have been saying this for a few years. Now, it's more than obvious. Guenther, Zook, and the entire coaching staff must go.

*illinied* · Oct 17, 2009, 11:09 PM

We should have know we were in for a disaster during Zook's first news conference when he pronounced the name of our beloved alma mater as The University of "Illinoise"

FinalFour88 · Oct 17, 2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeFever

Have been saying this for a few years. Now, it's more than obvious. Guenther, Zook, and the entire coaching staff must go.

I'll admit, I've only been saying it for a few minutes now.

*OrangeFever* · Oct 17, 2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

I'll admit, I've only been saying it for a few minutes now.

In Guenther's case, it's just time for him to retire. He's done a terrible job picking football coaches. Ron Zook just isn't a head coach. Guenther took a gamble, and it didn't pan out. Time to start over. Again.

FinalFour88 · Oct 17, 2009, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OrangeFever

Have been saying this for a few years. Now, it's more than obvious. Guenther, Zook, and the entire coaching staff must go.

I've been thinking this whole season that Zook would be back next year no matter what. But if the team ends up going 0-8 in the Big Ten, I don't know how his job can be saved.

*illinied* · Oct 17, 2009, 11:17 PM

[QUOTE=Groundhogday;229815]Let's stay positive here... and discuss our next coaching staff instead of our current coaching staff.

Yes, let's stay positive! Let's start with Bob (know as Bobby when he played) Stoops. OU fans are getting tired of "BigGame Bob" and he has BT roots and ...

Seriously, what about Gary Patterson?

-josh- · Oct 17, 2009, 11:19 PM

It all starts with Guenther, he must go.

*illinois_hustle* · Oct 17, 2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

I've been thinking this whole season that Zook would be back next year no matter what.

Me too, and the fear I now have is that Zook (who if anything is a good talker and by all accounts quite persuasive) will talk his way into "one last chance" with "his recruits" next year. And guess what, in 2010 three wins will be "progress", then perhaps six or seven in 2012, and oh sh*t then back down to the bottom again. Those of us who survive without heart attacks will be posting the same crap in 2013, four years and many beers (perhaps bourbon) later.

Does RG have the huevos rancheros to pull the plug on Zook after this year despite his silver tongue? I really, sadly, highly doubt it.

Groundhogday · Oct 17, 2009, 11:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by illinied

Seriously, what about Gary Patterson?

I'd love to have Gary Patterson here, but he has no interest in leaving TCU.

*mdeming* · Oct 17, 2009, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

I've been thinking this whole season that Zook would be back next year no matter what. But if the team ends up going 0-8 in the Big Ten, I don't know how his job can be saved.

and yet Illini coaches have survived similar seasons:

Code:

2003 Football Schedule and Results
DATE	 	OPPONENT	 	 RESULT	 	RECORD
August 30	at Missouri 		 L 22-15	0-1 (0-0)
September 6	Illinois State 		 W 49-22	1-1 (0-0)
September 13	at UCLA 		 L 6-3		1-2 (0-0)
September 20	California 		 L 31-24	1-3 (0-0)
September 27	Wisconsin 		 L 38-20	1-4 (0-1)
October 4	at No. 13 Purdue 	 L 43-10	1-5 (0-2)
October 11	Michigan State 		 L 49-14	1-6 (0-3)
October 18	at No. 4 Michigan 	 L 56-14	1-7 (0-4)
October 25	No. 20 Minnesota 	 L 36-10	1-8 (0-5)
November 1	at No. 12 Iowa 		 L 41-10	1-9 (0-6)
November 8	at Indiana 		 L 17-14	1-10 (0-7)
November 22	Northwestern 		 L 37-20	1-11 (0-8)

Groundhogday · Oct 17, 2009, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mdeming

and yet Illini coaches have survived similar seasons:

Code:

2003 Football Schedule and Results
DATE	 	 OPPONENT	 RESULT	 RECORD
August 30	at Missouri 	L 22-15	0-1 (0-0)
September 6	Illinois State 	W 49-22	1-1 (0-0)
September 13	at UCLA 	L 6-3	1-2 (0-0)
September 20	California 	L 31-24	1-3 (0-0)
September 27	Wisconsin 	L 38-20	1-4 (0-1)
October 4	at No. 13 Purdue 	L 43-10	1-5 (0-2)
October 11	Michigan State 	L 49-14	1-6 (0-3)
October 18	at No. 4 Michigan 	L 56-14	1-7 (0-4)
October 25	No. 20 Minnesota 	L 36-10	1-8 (0-5)
November 1	at No. 12 Iowa 	L 41-10	1-9 (0-6)
November 8	at Indiana 	L 17-14	1-10 (0-7)
November 22	Northwestern 	L 37-20	1-11 (0-8)

This is worse than 2003. We played Missouri and UCLA tough. Were in the game with Cal. Then the wheels came off. Near the end of the season, we played another tight game against IU. This season, we have been WAY out of every game with the exception of a TERRIBLE lower division Illinois State team.

Irish · Oct 18, 2009, 01:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -josh-

It all starts with Guenther, he must go.

Agreed

*krillini76* · Oct 18, 2009, 01:52 AM

agree w/ everything posted so far. this is as bad/if not worse than '03.

we are going to end up 1-11 this yr. are you kidding me?!!11one!?!

sad & pathetic are too kind of words to describe what this season is. it's the worst waste of talent i've ever seen as a football fan in my life. even vegas thought we should have won 2nite. we were 3 1/2 pt favorites. even being 1-4 on the road and we were "expected" to win, yet we lost by 13 pts. wow.

just wow.

sinmyp · Oct 18, 2009, 07:21 AM

Clear the house! This is stupid, there is not excuse for losing last night.

*Thacher_H_Guild* · Oct 18, 2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

This is worse than 2003.

This is worse than any year under Turner and not just because of what has happened on the field (although I agree that this team is even less competitive than Turner's worst--at least so far).

The other thing that makes this worse is the supposed rebirth that was going to happen. Look at all those lovely skyboxes. They are nice, but the bill on those babies and the rest of the stadium facelift also says, "you better win, baby." Sure, they'll get it paid off from private donors and the commitments on the skyboxes, but seeing all that when you go to (or drive by) the stadium is a contant reminder of the raised expectations and total failure to meet them.

I don't understand how Ron G can be so bad at picking football coaches. He seems to have a knack for picking good ones in most other sports. Illinois has done well under him in a lot of sports--just not the one that is most important to the budget. If the football team could have half the success that Illinois has had in most of the other sports, everybody would LOVE RG.

WesterveltVictoryCigar · Oct 18, 2009, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FinalFour88

I've been thinking this whole season that Zook would be back next year no matter what. But if the team ends up going 0-8 in the Big Ten, I don't know how his job can be saved.

I had thought the same, but will admit that a 1-11 season wasn't part of that equation. No way I thought we'd do that bad, and it looks like that might be enough to force their hand. It really has to include Guenter, though. Terrible timing with the admin in disarray/uproar as well.

mmccallum · Oct 18, 2009, 09:10 AM

Reading Tate's column, it sounds like he is already looking for a new coach. Is this tate using journalistic language to suggest Guenther should be looking, or is it Tate stating that Guenther is looking?

"as athletic director Ron Guenther motored home late Saturday night, he had no choice but to consider the unthinkable ... to mull over coaching prospects on his short list ... even as he insists, as he should, that no decision will be made prior to the end of the the season."

mmccallum · Oct 18, 2009, 09:23 AM

I would like to hear a reporter ask Zook this question, and hear Zook's answer:

What do you think your odds are to be coaching this team next year?

HE should be let go now, not at the end of the year, just to send the message that our team wants to win, not flounder.

Illini1956 · Oct 18, 2009, 09:24 AM

TERRY BOWDEN

Oct 17, 2009, 10:47 PM	#2
ill07 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,658	I think that the under-mentioned thing here is that CURT MALLORY, the god-awful, absolutely incompetent secondary coach, needs to be sacked, post haste. Guenther, Zook, and Mallory all need to go, and they need to go now. __________________ And unto thee we pledge our heart and hand, Dear Alma Mater

Oct 17, 2009, 11:04 PM	#5
sonofagun61 Posts: 14	Embarrased How bad can they get? How utterly futile can the offensive play calling, AND the defensive pass defense get? This is high school stuff people. When you pass your way down the field and its the only way you get yardage then you automatically return to the run, in particular another of those Juice to whoever come to me and lets talk for 2 seconds before I hand off plays. Its childish. This team was down 20 points and they MILK the clock on every down, 19 seconds every down, walking slow, taking their time, THey scored their last TD in a 5 MINUTE multi play run oriented drive. NOT ONCE did they go down the field over 15 yards . THAT IS SO SICK IT begs the question , what century is Shultz in? THey need to fire him NOW. He has the pre eminent pre season FIRST TEAM all american end in Benn who has 12 catches all year, he had 67 this time last year and you DONT THROW TO HIM. It's simply mind boggling. THe defense is so porous that Quarterbacks on CRAPPY teams have CAREER days. My great grandmother who has been dead 111 years could catch a pass against this poorly coached team. ZOOK what are you taking? What drug? For only a fool whose job is on the line would stick with a QB who has gone not just backwards but still makes WORSE mistakes than he did as a freshman. HOW WIDE OPEN does a play have to be before Juice see him. Juice couldn't read a cereal box let alone a CRAPPY defense. But he STILL starts. He would be sitting all year on ANY other team. He has more turnovers than any starting QB in the league and ALWAYS at the most important time of the game. What else needs to be said. Zook is an idiot and I used to like him. Believe in him. But no more. Does he not realize how foolish he looks and IS. PLAY CHAREST for gods sake. He already redshirted people, this year counts and he hasn't taken a snap on a 1-5 team with the worse offensive stats in the league and probably the country. Juice simply is not smart enough to lead this team. never has been which is why his record as a winner in games is WAY below .500. Mallory should be run out of town on a rail as should Schultz. GOD AWFUL play calling. ENOUGH is ENOUGH. same ole same ole only now its with great talent, yes GREAT talent. but wasted by some of the densest play calling every seen here. ZOOK , you start Juice again and you are gone from this school. Wise up. You look smart. Please tell me you are that smart.

Oct 17, 2009, 11:19 PM	#13
-josh- My address??? 803 S. Second ;) Location: I forgot now... Posts: 1,170	It all starts with Guenther, he must go. __________________ Take me seriously on everything i say and risk getting worked up for no reason...

Oct 18, 2009, 01:52 AM	#19
krillini76 Dismember Location: LA, LA, big city and dreams. Posts: 252	agree w/ everything posted so far. this is as bad/if not worse than '03. we are going to end up 1-11 this yr. are you kidding me?!!11one!?! sad & pathetic are too kind of words to describe what this season is. it's the worst waste of talent i've ever seen as a football fan in my life. even vegas thought we should have won 2nite. we were 3 1/2 pt favorites. even being 1-4 on the road and we were "expected" to win, yet we lost by 13 pts. wow. just wow. __________________ GO ILLINI!!! GO ILLINI!!! GO ILLINI!!! GO ILLINI!!!

Oct 18, 2009, 07:21 AM	#20
sinmyp Location: Back In Robinson! Posts: 421	Clear the house! This is stupid, there is not excuse for losing last night. __________________ Every Day is a good day to be an ILLINI!

Oct 17, 2009, 10:57 PM	#3
mdeming belIeve Posts: 1,369	Wish this headline read "Tate: Time to look around for a new AD"

Oct 17, 2009, 11:00 PM	#4
FinalFour88 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,323	Time for AD to look around... for a nice, warm place to retire.

Oct 17, 2009, 11:07 PM	#6
Groundhogday Posts: 5,403	Let's stay positive here... and discuss our next coaching staff instead of our current coaching staff. Is Turner Gill still the hot commodity now that the Buffalo Bulls are 2-4 to start the season? Sumlin would be great, but any interest in Illinois? Charlie Strong is one of the top college assistants but no HC experience. Primarily a southern guy, though he did coach at ND for a couple of years and had his first asst job at Southern Illinois. Randy Edsall's name came up when Zook was hired. Is he settled at UConn? (no real midwest ties) Retread from the SEC?

Oct 17, 2009, 11:09 PM	#8
illinied Posts: 286	We should have know we were in for a disaster during Zook's first news conference when he pronounced the name of our beloved alma mater as The University of "Illinoise"

Oct 17, 2009, 11:17 PM	#12
illinied Posts: 286	[QUOTE=Groundhogday;229815]Let's stay positive here... and discuss our next coaching staff instead of our current coaching staff. Yes, let's stay positive! Let's start with Bob (know as Bobby when he played) Stoops. OU fans are getting tired of "BigGame Bob" and he has BT roots and ... Seriously, what about Gary Patterson?

Oct 18, 2009, 09:10 AM	#23
mmccallum Posts: 2,701	Reading Tate's column, it sounds like he is already looking for a new coach. Is this tate using journalistic language to suggest Guenther should be looking, or is it Tate stating that Guenther is looking? "as athletic director Ron Guenther motored home late Saturday night, he had no choice but to consider the unthinkable ... to mull over coaching prospects on his short list ... even as he insists, as he should, that no decision will be made prior to the end of the the season."

Oct 18, 2009, 09:23 AM	#24
mmccallum Posts: 2,701	I would like to hear a reporter ask Zook this question, and hear Zook's answer: What do you think your odds are to be coaching this team next year? HE should be let go now, not at the end of the year, just to send the message that our team wants to win, not flounder.

Oct 18, 2009, 09:24 AM	#25
Illini1956 Location: Ohio Posts: 5,523	TERRY BOWDEN