Who would have ever thought Ron Zook would be in his seventh season as Illinois’ coach?
Hell, I’d argue the Zooker never thought he’d get this far.
It doesn’t matter if he forgets the score or goes for two-points when it’s a stupid move, because the Fighting Illini are 6-0 and ranked. Of course Illinois has a big game against a reeling Ohio State team, so the Illini fans are naturally planning for the worst-case scenario.
However, we at The Crystal Ball Run have turned to Joe Kutsunis from Hail to the Orange to offer everyone some insight into one of the biggest surprises this fall, as well as provide some sound reasons as to why we should believe in Illinois.
1. After a 3-9 season in 2009, most of the nation just assumed Ron Zook was done at Illinois. But the administration backed the beleaguered coach and allowed him to bring in some new blood on the coaching staff. Well, that new blood—Paul Petrino and Vic Koenning—is starting to pay off this season. How much of an impact have these two hires meant to Illinois football and Zook’s future?
They were crucial to Zook still being the coach of this Illini team. Without the improvements that were seen on both sides of the ball, it is hard to imagine the Illini getting out of their 3- and 4-win season funk. The Illini have usually had the athletes to compete at a high level, but have rarely shown the coaching and discipline to actually play up to their potential. One has to wonder now with two years under Paul Petrino and the sudden success they have had, whether or not Petrino will be a head coach somewhere else next year, and where that will leave Illinois.
2. Illinois is 6-0 and ranked. Is the record and ranking deceiving because of a easy slate of games to start the season, or is this a precursor of what we should expect from the Illini in the second half of the season?
The schedule has been very favorable for Illinois, and not just because of the teams on the docket. All of the toughest games for Illinois—ASU, OSU, Michigan and Wisconsin—come at Memorial Stadium, and Illinois has eight home games to enjoy their homefield advantage this year. This is the sort of schedule Illini fans have been begging for for years, without a tough Missouri game on opening weekend and plenty of easier teams to ramp up toward the heavier part of the schedule. The Illini won’t stay undefeated but they won’t fall apart in the second half either.
3. Despite being undefeated, I’d argue the average college fan doesn’t know much about Illinois. Maybe they’ve heard of Nathan Scheelhaase or A.J. Jenkins, but who are the players they should really know about?
Running back Donovonn Young looks like he will have a great future at Illinois. He is only a freshman, but he is already getting a ton of carries and has had some significant impact already. Jonathan Brown too has already made himself infamous with his personal foul against NU that earned him a suspension, but this guy is so talented that if he can contain himself these next few games he will be a breakout star.
4. It seems Illinois always plays Ohio State tough, even in a loss. But now the script has been flipped and Illinois is the team trying to avoid a letdown at home against a reeling OSU squad. Is it fair to say Illinois fans concerned that this is the week Ohio State puts together a perfect game and ends the Illini’s perfect season?
Absolutely they should be concerned. Even though this team is without a Terrelle Pryor at QB, this is still a defense that won the Sugar Bowl against Arkansas last year. Luke Fickell, Joe Bauserman and Braxton Miller’s leg have done their damnest to keep this still talented Buckeye team from succeeding, but Illinois should know that the Buckeyes are the best defense they have seen all year, and can’t turn the ball over like they have. Illinois has the talent on offense to win this game, and more than enough on defense to overcome OSU, but I for one still worry about self-inflicted wounds from the special teams, turnovers and penalties, all three of which have been big liabilities.
5. There are still plenty of games to play, but how would you summarize the first half of the season for Illinois?
As perfect a start as one can ask for. The Illini have rolled over the teams they are much more talented than, have come back from large deficits when they have needed to, and have protected slim leads down the stretch of their games, all things that have been lacking from past Illinois teams. This front half of the season provided the Illini the opportunity to prove to their fans and to the national media that they can improve even when losing three players to the NFL draft, and can maybe even be consistently strong from now on.
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