Ron Zook believes steadfastly in the power of positive thinking.
After leading Florida to the Outback Bowl in each of his first two seasons as a head coach, Zook was informed he would be out of a job at the end of his third in 2004.
It was midway through the season when he got the pink slip, but he persevered to guide the Gators to a Peach Bowl bid before leaving in December and taking over at Illinois.
Zook came to Champaign with high hopes, as exemplified by his “Expect Victory” mission statement.
When the Illini rallied to defeat Rutgers in their 2005 opener and then beat San Jose State decisively, the slogan seemed to be catching on.
Then came the unexpected: nine straight losses, with the losing margins ranging from 15 to 53 points.
“I don’t expect to go through another year like that,” Zook says.
“We’re bigger, stronger, faster. There’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to be improved, but we’re judged by wins and losses.”
Illinois:
Will contend for the Big Ten title if . . . You believe in Santa Claus.
Although 10 starters are back on offense and 10 on defense, the room for improvement is gigantic.
Last season the Illini gave up more points (39.5 per game) and scored fewer (17) than any team in the Big Ten. They were last in the league in eight other statistical categories.
The rosters lists 49 newcomers. While that may bode well for the future, a massive on-the-job training program isn’t recommend for a would-be title contender.
Zook says it best: “We are in a construction zone right now, building a foundation for bigger things in the future.”
Will drive Zook nuts if . . . There isn’t a significant improvement in last season’s league-worst minus-11 turnover margin, if the defense remains a sieve and if the offensive line doesn’t start providing quarterback Tim Brasic more protection and opening holes for running backs Pierre Thomas, E.B. Halsey and Rashard Mendenhall.
The Illini’s indispensable players are . . . Thomas, the Illini’s most valuable player in each of the last two years; J Leman, second on the team in tackles last year; offensive tackle Akim Millington, a highly touted transfer from Oklahoma; strong safety Kevin Mitchell, the 2005 team leader in tackles; and cornerback Alan Ball, a three-year starter.
Thomas said before spring practice that Millington talked a good game, so he was eager to see if the newcomer would make an impact.
Seeing Millington block was believing.
“That put a big smile on my face, and I know it put a big smile on E.B.’s face and Rashard’s face,” Thomas says.
Among the Illini’s high-profile newcomers are . . . Defensive end Melvin Alaeze, once ranked the nation’s No. 4 recruit overall when he came out of Randallstown (Md.) High School in 2004; linebacker Antonio Steele, a transfer from Long Beach City College; Isiah Williams, the rocket-armed quarterback from Chicago Vocational; and tight ends Jeff Cumberland and Michael Hoomanawanui.
Last season’s defining moment was . . . Game 3 at California. The Illini led 17-10 at halftime and 17-14 after three quarters but collapsed in the fourth quarter for a 35-20 loss. They then unraveled and lost all eight of their Big Ten games.
In a word, the schedule can be defined as . . . Challenging.
The four non-conference games–Eastern Illinois, at Rutgers, Syracuse and Ohio University (a supposed Oct. 14 breather after three conference games)–aren’t tough by Big Ten standards.
If the Illini can sweep those four and win their Oct. 7 homecoming game against Indiana, they will be better equipped psychologically to cope with Penn State and Wisconsin on the road and Ohio State at home.
The season will be a success if . . . The Illini win two Big Ten games, after going 1-23 in conference during the last three seasons, and three of their four non-conference games.
The season will be a smashing success if . . . The Illini win all four non-conference games, plus three Big Ten games.
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Illini at a glance
Coach: Ron Zook, 2-9, in 2nd year; 25-23 overall, in 5th season.
Coordinators: Mike Locksley, offense; Vince Okruch, defense.
Memorial Stadium, Champaign; turf.
Avg. att. (cap.): 47,852 (69,249).
2006 schedule:
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D OPPONENT SERIES
S2 Eastern Illinois, 7 1st game
S9 at Rutgers, 11 a.m. 1-0
S16 Syracuse, 11 a.m. 9-1
S23 Iowa, TBA 37-27-2
S30 at Mich. St., 11 a.m. 16-23-2
O7 Indiana, 11 a.m. 41-19-3
O14 Ohio, TBA 2-2
O21 at Penn State, TBA 2-11
O28 at Wisconsin, 11 a.m. 35-32-7
N4 Ohio State, TBA 29-59-4
N11 Purdue, TBA 41-36-6
N18 at Northwestern, TBA 51-43-5
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nmilbert@tribune.com
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