Ron Zook’s whirlwind getting-to-know-you spring practice gave the new Illinois football coach a first in his 21 years of college coaching.
“This is the first spring game I’ve ever been to where I wore gloves,” Zook said with a smile after the White squad, made up of first-teamers, defeated the Blue 33-16 Saturday before an estimated 5,000 fans in chilly Memorial Stadium.
Zook, who had spent the last three springs coaching at Florida, had just 15 practices to install a new offense and a new defense. The pace was a little frantic, and sometimes little things like names–he called running back E.B. Halsey “L.B.” when presenting him with a spring practice award–got mangled a little.
“He doesn’t know anybody’s name right now,” Halsey said, laughing.
The new Illinois offense features multiple formations, including a spread that suits former Riverside-Brookfield All-State quarterback Tim Brasic, who had been stuck near the bottom of the depth chart in former coach Ron Turner’s West Coast-style offense. Brasic, who ran the spread in high school, is the leading candidate for the starting spot.
“It’s a totally different offense,” said Brasic, who didn’t play during last fall’s 3-8 season. “It was tough the last couple of years.
“This new offense is something I’m really accustomed to. I did nothing but shotgun in high school.”
Brasic, a junior, was one of five quarterbacks to play Saturday. He completed 18 of 27 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Freshman Kisan Flakes, who is second on the depth chart, completed 2 of 7 passes for 12 yards and ran nine times for 53 yards. Brother Rice’s Chris Pazan, who has started three games in his career, was 7 of 15 for 72 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown.
“Tim did a nice job,” Zook said. “Chris came in, moved the other team and did a nice job as well. He missed a few reads.Kisan is a weapon, he’s different.”
Junior Halsey and sophomore Pierre Thomas of Thornton Fractional South showed that the running game will be Illinois’ strength. Thomas gained 59 yards on 10 carries, while Halsey gained 14 yards on eight carries.
“I’ve never been around anywhere where you have too many good running backs,” Zook said.
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rhanley@tribune.com
