The November 20th football game between Illinois and Northwestern next year will most likely be played in Chicago at Wrigley Field.

“It would be great national exposure and a neat thing for both sides,” said Zook, who visited Chicago on Tuesday. “Wrigley Field transcends the whole country.”

Northwestern officials, buoyed by the success of the NHL’s Winter Classic, have been trying for more than a year to make a Wrigley Field game a reality.

On Jan. 17, NU athletic director Jim Phillips said: “Within the next month or so, we’ll decide if it’s something that can work. There are a lot of moving parts.”

Bottom line, officials involved are confident the game will become a reality. But at least two hurdles remain: revenue sharing (between the Big Ten and the Cubs) and the fact if Northwestern moves a 2010 game to Wrigley, it will have just five at Ryan Field.

Phillips will meet Wednesday with Cubs President Crane Kenney in an effort to get the game closer to fruition. For a 2010 game, Northwestern probably needs to nail down details by the end of March.

Check out the graphic with the potential field orientation, and the full article from the Chicago Tribune.

Coach Zook is beginning to build his coaching team for next year.

University of Illinois head football coach Ron Zook announced the hiring of former UNLV running backs coach DeAndre Smith as the newest member of the Illini coaching staff. Smith, a St. Louis native, has tutored six 1,000-yard rushers in his 11 years of collegiate coaching.

Illini hire new running backs coach

Hopefully this will help the team play well next year!

The Fighting Illini football team will play their last game of the season this Saturday at Memorial Stadium against Fresno State. This year has had it’s ups and downs; mostly downs with the Illini ’s current record of 3-8. It hasn’t looked good for the Illini all season. From that first kickoff in St. Louis, it seemed like they never really had it under control. They were expected to be a great team, and Big Ten contender with Juice Williams and Arrelious Benn in their prime. What happened? Nobody really knows. It has been a disappointing season to say the least, and this Saturday it is all going to come to an end.

That said, I want to encourage all of you to attend this Saturday’s finale: all of you students, all of you alumni, and all of you Fighting Illini fans. You say we aren’t going to a bowl anyway, so why does this game matter? You say that you have to stay home and study for finals. You say that it’s going to be freezing cold and you’d rather stay in your nice warm bed. You’ll find any excuse not to come and watch your team lose again. But I say no. There is no excuse. This is senior day. The team deserves our attendance.The least you can do is give up three hours of your life to come out and support your team. They may be bad, but they are still our team.

Do It For The Seniors

Fifteen Illini seniors will be honored at the game. This will be the last game they ever play in an Illinois uniform. Over the past four years, we’ve been through a lot with these guys, and through it all, they’ve stayed strong and given it all they’ve had. Let’s support them one last time on Saturday. Here’s to you seniors!

Jon Asamoah, OL
Eric Block, OL
Michael Cklamovski, PK
Jeff Cumberland, WR
Daniel Dufrene, RB
Chris Duvalt, WR
Donsay Hardeman, DB
Dere Hicks, DB
Michael Hoomanawanui, TE
Antonio James, DL
Doug Pilcher, DL
Rahkeem Smith, DL
Juice Williams, QB
Sirod Williams, DL
Kyle Yelton, P

Do It For Juice

One senior in particular, has taken a lot of heat over the past couple of years. Mr. Juice Williams is one of those players that you either love or hate. He has his good days, and his bad days. There is a lot that one can say about our senior quarterback, but let’s just let the numbers speak for themselves. Even if you hate Juice, or think that he shouldn’t be starting on Saturday, you can’t ignore that he:

• Already holds the Illinois total offense records for a career (10,327) and season (3,892)
• Ranks fifth in total offense in Big Ten history
• Already holds the Illinois QB rushing records for a career (2,501), season (755) and game (174)
• Ranks third in school history in passing yardage (7,826)
• Is the Illinois career leader in starts by a quarterback with 43
• Needs 45 rushing yards to move up to sixth on the Illinois career rushing list
• Needs three touchdown passes to move to second on the UI list for career scoring strikes

So one last time, let’s give Juice the applause that he deserves. He, along with the rest of the team, have come in day after day and given it their all. Despite the weather forecast, let’s give them all we’ve got on Saturday. I’m expecting a sea of orange, and the loudest stands of the season. They deserve it.

Let’s do it for the orange and blue!

Illinois vs. Fresno St. // Dec. 5 // 11:30am

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Go Illini!

The Illini and Northwestern will be battling today for the ownership of the first Land of Lincoln Trophy. The two schools have been fighting for a rivalry trophy since 1945 with the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy. Last year was the final year for that award, and with Northwestern’s victory, they have claimed permenant ownership of the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk Trophy (even though the Illini have a better series record).

The new trophy idea was the result of an online vote by Northwestern and Illinois fans this past spring. “Land of Lincoln” edged three other finalists: President’s Trophy (named after the state’s four presidents), Popcorn Bowl (named after the Illinois state snack) and the Graham-Grange Fire Bell (named after two of the greatest players at each school).

Once the name was determined, an artist was chosen to design a stove-top hat, a signature apparel item of President Abraham Lincoln. The man who designed the trophy was Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Dick Locher, an editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune as well as the artist who helped bring the Dick Tracy cartoon strip to life.

The trpohy resembles the hat worn by Lincoln while delivering the Gettysburg Address. It, along with a walnut base, weighs 28.5 pounds. The trophy will reside in the press box for the first half of Saturday’s game and then on the field for the second half.

When asked about the trophy, Coach Zook said “You want it every year, but you’re right. This is the first time that I have not seen it. I’ve seen pictures, but I have not seen it. I’ve seen pictures and heard talk about it. It’s shaped like Abraham Lincoln’s hat. No question, we’d like to bring it home.”

Illinois vs. Northwestern // Nov. 14 // 11am

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Let’s bring it home. Go Illini!

Northwestern, Illinois Set to Play for First Land of Lincoln Trophy – FightingIllini.com

The 1-6 Illinois will take on the 5-3 Michigan Wolverines this Saturday at Memorial Stadium. The game begins at 2:30pm and will be broadcast on ABC.

The Illini will be using their two quarterback rotation, as used last week, with Juice Williams and Jacob Charest. This game has been looked at as a must-win for the Illini and especially for Coach Zook, but can they really do it? The following is an excerpt from a letter by the News-Gazette’s Loren Tate to Coach Ron Zook:

Dear Coach Zook,

Here’s the best deal you’ll get this week. Beat Michigan on Saturday and all is forgiven. OK, maybe not all, but a long overdue triumph would certainly take pressure off you and your boss.

This is the stadium, remember, that was dedicated with a 39-14 defeat of the Wolverines. Red Grange ran wild. It was here that the Illini upset Tommy Harmon & Co., 7-0, in 1936. It was on this snow-covered field that Tommy O’Connell passed to Rex Smith for a 7-0 win in the UI’s last undefeated season of 1951. There is history in this series, but it is long-ago history. Now, all these decades later, we look back on a single home win – 16-6 in 1983 – in the last 51 years.

Imagine how a victory would uplift your athletes and your fans. And imagine what it would do for your guy, Coach Guenther. In what might be described as psychological transference, the heat has switched from you to the athletic director. By coming out publicly for you in the midst of a nine-game losing streak against I-A teams, he has taken a position opposed by more than 90 percent of Illini Nation.

If this tailspin isn’t turned, at some point you’ll be able to take your millions and go to the next stop in your quasi-military career. It’ll be your 12th station since 1980. You’re accustomed to it. But Ron Guenther LIVES HERE. This is his home. He was a teammate of Dick Butkus and Jim Grabowski, the Illini MVP in 1966, the director who cleaned up the mess left by Neale Stoner, the visionary who changed the look of the south campus and renovated Memorial Stadium. He succeeded Ray Eliot and Dike Eddleman as Mr. Illini.

But now, after announcing his determination to retain you another year, his legacy is changing. He is the center target on the dartboard. Irate fans are firing up Internet Web sites while planning all manner of insults from bumper stickers to paper bags with punched eyeholes.

…

There is only one good answer. Turn this losing stampede, Coach Zook. Give Illini Nation a week to smile. This is becoming much too grim.

Regards, Loren

This letter has come under much heat from fans on both sides of the fence sharing their opinions. What do you think? I think that we as fans need to continue to support our team. It may not be pretty, and it may not be fun, but that’s what makes this game interesting. For those of you who don’t want to go to the game (because you think we will lose), I encourage you to think differently. Let’s give them this one more chance.

I guess we’ll see what happens on Saturday. According to Red Grange (or the the Twitter account established by his statue), the Illini have pulled out the stops for the Wolverines: http://www.twitpic.com/na8xl

Illinois vs. Michigan // Oct. 31 // 2:30pm

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Go Illini, beat Michigan!

Tate: An open letter to Coach Zook – IlliniHQ.com   
Game 8: Illinois (1-6, 0-5) vs. Michigan (5-3, 1-3) – FightingIllini.com

The Illini traveled to Columbus, Ohio last Saturday to play Ohio State.  The Illini put up 170 offensive yards and scored 0 points. OSU put up 318 offensive yards and scored 30 points. The Ohio State game was another disappointing showing by the Illini.

News-Gazette reporter Loren Tate said it best in a recent article:

What were they thinking?

When the game settled down in the early rain-soaked stages, Ohio State attacked Illinois at its strength, the defensive line, and took control.

So give the Buckeyes credit. They dominated in the trenches and deserved to win.

That said, the Illini seemed disengaged. They contributed to their own downfall. Maybe “dumb” is too strong a word. Let’s just say the Illini didn’t use their heads … repeatedly … when the game was still in the formative stage. Count the ways:

– When a flubbed Ohio State punt put Illinois in early position at midfield, the Illini punched out two first downs and reached the 24 where a penalty was assessed for 12 men in the huddle. What were they thinking?. After being set back, Williams threw directly to linebacker Brian Rolle who returned 39 yards.

– After Aaron Pettrey boomed a 50-yard field goal, Illini A.J. Jenkins caught the kickoff in the end zone, started to run, stopped and then made a fateful step over the line. He was swarmed at the 10. What was he thinking?

– Unable to capitalize as Williams’ passes went awry (he was 6 of 15 for 30 yards at the half), the Illini nevertheless had the Buckeyes back on their 20 early in the second quarter. Pryor was trapped near the sideline when Clay Nurse unnecessarily grabbed his facemask. Fifteen yards! Then Pryor ran to the other sideline and Illini Supo Sanni hit him much too late. Another 15 yards! What were they thinking? Ohio State, without so much as a completed pass in the half, marched in for a 13-0 lead.

– The next time Ohio State punted, Jarred Fayson stood under the high boot around the 20, and stepped away from an obvious fair catch, allowing the ball to bounce to the 6-yard line. Again, what was he thinking?

– The Buckeyes made an uncharacteristic turnover just before halftime, a fumbled punt giving the Illini the ball at the Ohio State 45. Three penalties and a Fayson drop found Illinois punting from the 50. Three penalties!

What were they thinking?

The Illini battle Penn State this Saturday at 2:30pm at Memorial Stadium.

Illinois vs. Penn State // Oct. 3 // 2:30 PM
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Tags: Football, Juice Williams, loren tate, ncaa, ohio state, Ron Zook, ui sports