Pressure builds on Illini coach Weber
Mike Thomas has been athletic director at Illinois for five very busy months.
He fired football coach Ron Zook three months after being hired and then hired Zook's replacement, Tim Beckman, over the protests of two university trustees who complained that the new coach wasn't black.
Thomas is now about to launch a campaign to raise more than $100 million to redo Assembly...
Via AP on Fox
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3 hours ago
Discuss
Whitney Mercilus scouting report
Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois #85
Ht: 6’4″
Wt: 265
Strengths:
Prototypical size for a 4-3 end or 3-4 outside linebacker. Uses his speed to consistently get into the backfield. Does a nice job keeping his eyes on the quarterback and getting his hands up into passing lanes. Impressive motor; saw a lot of double teams, but continued to fight through the whistle...
Via DraftAce
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15 days ago
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15 days ago
Illinois Linebacker Trulon Henry Suffers Gunshot to Wrist While Trying to Assist Teammates at Party
Trulon Henry admits he made a mistake when he was younger, when he committed an armed robbery in an attempt to keep his parents from losing their home in Washington, D.C. After serving a five-year prison sentence and entering college late, Henry, 27, has turned his life around as a linebacker at Illinois. Still, trouble found Henry on Sunday morning, according to a report in the...
Via NESN.com
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November 14, 2011
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November 14, 2011
Illinois hires Beckman to replace Zook
Tim Beckman of Toledo is the new football coach at Illinois.
The school announced the hiring Friday and Beckman said he plans to build a program that can win championships.
''We will work tirelessly in building the football program to compete for Big Ten and national championships, and be a source of pride for Fighting Illini fans across the nation,'' he said in a news release...
Via AP on Fox
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December 09, 2011
So Where Does Ron Zook, a True Nice Guy, Go From Here?
A funny thing happened on the way to Illinois cleansing and ridding itself of the Ron Zook era.
Honestly, as someone who has written numerous pieces for The Sports Bank about how much Zook needed to be fired over the years, I just didn’t see it coming.
I felt bad.
I really did.
(guest post from Paul Schmidt)
There’s a fundamental problem with dancing on the grave of any head...
Via The Sports Bank
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November 30, 2011
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November 30, 2011
Ron Zook to Interview With Jax Jaguars
Ron Zook, who was fired at Illinois in November, may find a soft landing spot thanks to some past...
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Via Lost Lettermen
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26 days ago
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26 days ago
Illinois DE Mercilus earns Hendricks Award
Illinois junior Whitney Mercilus has won the Hendricks Award given to the nation's best defensive end.
Mercilus leads the nation in sacks, sacks per game and forced fumbles. He's also ranked sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game.
The Akron, Ohio, native has 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles in 2011.
Mercilus has had at least one sack...
Via Fox Sports
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December 07, 2011
Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl – Illinois Illini vs UCLA Bruins
Illinois Illini (6-6) vs. UCLA Bruins (6-7)
On December 31, the Illinois Fighting Illini will play the UCLA Bruins in the Kraft Fight Hunger Sadness Bowl. They will meet in San Francisco in AT&T Park (Giant’s Stadium).
Illinois… what to say about Illinois. For the first time in NCAA history a team won their first 6 games and lost their last 6 games to finish with...
Via College Football Section
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December 29, 2011
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December 29, 2011
Illinois snaps six-game losing streak
Terry Hawthorne returned an interception 39 yards for Illinois' first touchdown late in the third quarter and the Illini snapped a six-game losing streak by beating UCLA 20-14 in the Fight Hunger Bowl.
Nathan Scheelhaase added a 60-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Jenkins midway through the fourth quarter to seal the first victory for Illinois (7-6) since beating Indiana 12 weeks...
Via AP on Fox
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December 31, 2011
Illinois coach Petrino leaves for Arkansas
Illinois offensive coordinator Paul Petrino has left the school to return to Arkansas.
Interim head coach Vic Koenning said Tuesday that Petrino will return to work for his brother, Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino. Paul Petrino was a Razorbacks coach before coming to Illinois two seasons ago.
Quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm will be offensive coordinator for the Fight Hunger Bowl...
Via AP on Fox
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December 06, 2011
Defensive coordinator Koenning will leave Illinois
Defensive coordinator and interim head coach Vic Koenning has turned down an offer to stay at Illinois.
He will leave after coaching the Illini in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl against UCLA on New Year's Eve.
New coach Tim Beckman said Wednesday that Koenning declined an offer to remain coordinator. He praised Koenning's work during his two seasons at Illinois.
In a statement...
Via AP on Fox
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December 14, 2011
Illini add assistants but short at back for bowl
Illinois may be thin at running back for its New Year's Eve bowl game against UCLA.
Interim head coach Vic Koenning said starting fullback Jay Prosch is hospitalized with a staph infection while starting tailback Jason Ford may be academically ineligible for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl. Prosch was hospitalized Dec. 14, Illinois sports information director Kent Brown said, and...
Via AP on Fox
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December 20, 2011
Sources: Illinois Fires Ron Zook on Sunday
After watching his Illinois Fighting Illini collapse after an inspiring 6-0 start, it appears that head coach Ron Zook is on the way out.
According to sources, both Bob Asmussen of the Champaign News-Gazette and John Surpinie of GateHouse News Service are reporting via twitter that Illinois has fired Zook on Sunday morning.
The firing comes less than 24 hours after Zook's...
Via STLSportsMinute
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November 27, 2011
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November 27, 2011
Zook ends press conference over job question
Illinois coach Ron Zook isn't interested in talking about job security.
Zook told reporters Tuesday that he would end his weekly news conference if anyone asked about his job following four straight losses and a weekend of off-field trouble for his players. He kept his promise, walking out after he was asked if had talked to his players about handling questions about his future...
Via AP on Fox
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November 15, 2011
Illinois DE earns Hendricks Award
Illinois junior Whitney Mercilus has won the Hendricks Award given to the nation's best defensive end.
Mercilus leads the nation in sacks, sacks per game and forced fumbles. He's also ranked sixth nationally in tackles for loss per game.
The Akron, Ohio, native has 52 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks and nine forced fumbles in 2011.
Mercilus has had at least...
Via AP on Fox
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December 07, 2011
Illini Leading Rusher to Miss Bowl Game
Illinois football announced today that senior running back Jason Ford and redshirt freshman wide receiver Jake Kumerow are academically ineligible under NCAA rules and will not participate in the 2011 Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl versus UCLA on New Year’s Eve in San Francisco.
Ford is the Illini leading rusher this year with 600 yards on 155 carries (3.9 ypc) and seven touchdowns...
Via The Sports Bank
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December 23, 2011
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December 23, 2011
Tim Beckman Leaving Toledo for Illinois Head Coaching Job
Champaign, IL (Sports Network) - Illinois has reportedly selected Tim Beckman as its new head football coach.
According to the News-Gazette of Champaign-Urbana, the Illini will introduce Beckman at a Friday news conference.
Beckman has spent the past three seasons at Toledo and has guided the Rockets to a record of 21-16, including an 8-4 mark this season. Toledo, which went to...
Via Football Nation
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December 09, 2011
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December 09, 2011
Report: Illinois hires Toledo's Beckman
Illinois has hired Toledo's Tim Beckman as its head football coach.
An official at the University of Toledo who spoke on condition of anonymity because Beckman's hiring hasn't been announced by Illinois has confirmed that he told his players Friday that he has taken the Illini job.
Beckman replaces Ron Zook who was fired late last month after seven seasons.
Beckman...
Via AP on Fox
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December 09, 2011
AP source: Illinois hires Toledo's Beckman
Illinois has hired Toledo's Tim Beckman as its head football coach.
An official at the University of Toledo who spoke on condition of anonymity because Beckman's hiring hasn't been announced by Illinois has confirmed that he told his players Friday that he has taken the Illini job.
Beckman replaces Ron Zook who was fired late last month after seven seasons.
Beckman...
Via AP on Fox
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December 09, 2011
Zook walks out of press conference
Illinois coach Ron Zook isn't interested in talking about job security.
Zook told reporters Tuesday he would end his weekly news conference if anyone asked about his job following four straight losses and a weekend of off-field trouble for his players. He kept his promise, walking out after he was asked if had talked to his players about handling questions about his future....
Via AP on Fox
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November 15, 2011
Illinois' Henry out for season after being shot
Illinois safety Trulon Henry will miss the rest of the season after he was shot in the hand while trying to play the role of peacemaker when a fight broke out at a party early Sunday, the team said.
Two unidentified men were also wounded in the incident.
Illinois coach Ron Zook said Henry had driven to the house party near campus in Champaign, Ill., to pick up five or six teammates...
Via Fox Sports
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November 13, 2011
Illini's Henry out for season after shot
Illinois says starting linebacker Trulon Henry will miss the rest of the season after he was wounded during a shooting early Sunday near campus.
Illini coach Ron Zook says Henry is recovering from hand surgery following the shooting that Urbana police say also wounded two other people before 3:30 a.m. Sunday at a large house party.
Zook says a handful of Illinois players - largely...
Via AP on Fox
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November 13, 2011
Scouting the Kraft Bowl: Illinois vs UCLA
UCLA received a bowl invitation despite it's losing record. This will be Rick Neuheisal's last game as the Bruin's head coach. After starting 6-0 Illinois set a record by losing their last 6 games. Ron Zook was fired during the latter streak. The Illini defense has the best players in defensive end Whitney Mercillus and tackle Akeem Spence. James Franklin, the talented...
Via draftinsider.net
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December 31, 2011
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December 31, 2011
Illini Whitney Mercilus Entering the NFL Draft
University of Illinois junior defensive end Whitney Mercilus announced today that he will forgo his senior season at Illinois to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.
Mercilus who has the best name a defensive line man can have, emerged from total obscurity to have a banner year for the Fighting Illini, tying Simeon Rice’s single-season record and leading the nation with 16 sacks.
He also...
Via The Sports Bank
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January 03, 2012
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January 03, 2012
Ron Zook Admits He Didn’t Know Score of Game When he Went for Two
Ron Zook may have Illinois 6-0 on the season, but that doesn’t mean he’s not the same Ron Zook we love to mock. After Illinois scored a touchdown to go up 20-13 Saturday in the second quarter against Indiana, Zook elected to go for two. A simple extra point would have put his team up [...]
Via Larry Brown Sports
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October 10, 2011
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October 10, 2011
THE FIGHTING ILLINI HOT 4
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