Zooker Coached Illini to Rose Bowl

Ron Zook made a big splash in February of 2007 when he inked a top 15 nationally recruiting class. The Zooker made a bigger splash in December of 2007 when his Fighting Illini gridiron squad earned a bid to the Rose Bowl. But let's be very clear, those two facts are very unrelated.

With few exceptions, the top flight recruits Zook swayed to come to Champaign were stuck on the sideline watching a bunch of Ron Turner recruits take the field beside the San Gabriel Mountains. The Illini offense started only five Zook recruits and the defense only three. Running back Rashard Mendenhall served as the poster boy for the Illini resurgence, hailed to be due to a surge in talent brought in by Zook. However, Mendenhall committed to Turner.

The Zook recruited offensive starters were sophomores Jon Asamoah (RG), Michael Hoomanawanoi (TE), Juice Williams (QB), and freshman Arrelious Benn (WR). Zook also welcomed the transfer of Akim Millington, who left Oklahoma and became a two year starter on the offensive line. The defensive starters recruited by Zook were senior Antonio Steele (LB-JUCO), and sophomores Dere Hicks (CB) and Vontae Davis (CB). Benn is the only starter from Zook's hailed 2007 recruiting class.

After some growing pains, Zook turned Illinois into one of the most ruggedly physical teams in the nation. Behind an offensive line of three Turner recruits and Mendenhall, Illinois led the Big Ten in rushing for the second straight year (5th nationally in '07). Zook's defense allowed the fewest points per game in Champaign since Lou Tepper's 1995 team.

The point is Zook took Turner's talent to the Rose Bowl, something Turner likely wouldn't have done. Zook brought Illinois to the Rose Bowl primarily because of his coaching ability. When the Zooker returns to the Rose Bowl, his coaching ability will again be a major reason why.