Illinois spring game recap

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Fighting Illini head coach Ron Zook divided up his team to create more balanced competition in Saturday's Orange and Blue Game, but the score ended up lopsided as the Blue squad shut out the Orange team 20-0 at Memorial Stadium. With first- and second-teamers playing alongside one another in the game, it was a bit hard to evaluate units, though…
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Zook Says Illini Showing Defensive Intensity

Illinois coach Ron Zook says he’s starting to see progress in his defense as spring football winds down.
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Destination: Champaign

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
The Big Ten road tour continues this morning as I make my way down scenic I-57 toward the Champaign-Urbana area. 
I'm going to spend the afternoon with the Illinois Fighting Illini, who hope to rebound from a disappointing 5-7 season following a surprise run to the Rose Bowl in 2007. The schedule features interviews with head coach Ron Zook, his…
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Illinois moves Fresno State game to Dec. 5

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Head coach Ron Zook sort of let this slip out during Tuesday's news conference, but Illinois' home contest against Fresno State has officially been moved from Nov. 21 to Dec. 5. 
The Illini will wrap up Big Ten play Nov. 14 against Northwestern and then have an open date Nov. 21 before visiting defending Big East champ Cincinnati. The…
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Illinois to play third annual Chicago spring game

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Ron Zook never misses an opportunity to enhance Illinois' recruiting, and for the third consecutive year the Fighting Illini coach will take his team north to Chicago for a spring scrimmage. 
In addition to playing the Orange and Blue game April 25 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois will scrimmage on April 11 at Oak Park River Forest…
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Illinois Wants To Erase Mistakes That Marred 2008

Illinois football coach Ron Zook thinks last season could have been different, if only the Illini had done a few things differently.
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Illinois springs forward after learning experience

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Illinois did a lot of learning last fall, even if it didn't do a lot of winning.
"I learned an awful lot last year," head coach Ron Zook said Tuesday morning. "Our coaches learned an awful lot last year. More importantly, our players learned an awful lot last year."
Zook hopes the learning experience pays off for the Fighting…
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Spring Questions: Big Ten Edition

What does Ron Zook do with Juice Williams?

Williams is a great talent at quarterback for the Illini, but he just can’t seem to take that step to elite status. In his sophomore year, he was so inconsistent that Zook actually pulled him in some games in favor of Eddie McGee. It was the same year that Illinois played in the Rose Bowl.

Last season Williams kept a firm grasp on the starting…
Continue reading at Bleacher Report – Big Ten Football

Disch turns down USF to remain with Illini

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg
Illinois co-defensive coordinator Dan Disch won't be leaving after all. 
Disch turned down an offer today to become South Florida's defensive coordinator and will remain with the Fighting Illini and head coach Ron Zook, who he has worked for coached since 2004.
"I'm very happy that coach Disch has decided to stay here," Zook…
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Appleton reportedly never got Illinois offer

Posted by ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg

One of the Big Ten's top signing day story lines might have been a non-story all along.

When Kraig Appleton signed with Wisconsin on Wednesday, it was believed that the wide receiver from East St. Louis, Ill., had spurned Illinois to play for the Badgers. Numerous recruiting services and other outlets had listed Appleton as verbally committed to Illinois, though rumors escalated leading up to signing day that he was looking elsewhere.

According to Illini head coach Ron Zook, Illinois was never a realistic destination for Appleton because the team never offered him a scholarship. Zook told The (Champaign) News-Gazette's Bob Asmussen that Illinois "did not send him a scholarship. There's no way he could have signed with us."

It's interesting that a scholarship offer was never extended, especially since Appleton visited Illinois the weekend before signing day. Appleton's primary recruiting contact at Wisconsin, defensive coordinator Dave Doeren, was concerned the wideout might be heading to play ball in Champaign.

"Doeren found out Appleton planned a last-minute visit that day to Illinois, where he originally made an oral commitment last August before having second thoughts.

'I was worried, yeah,' Doeren said. 'How can you not be? Especially when he's [at Illinois] by himself, knowing their entire staff is putting the screws to him.'"

As it turned out, Doeren had nothing to be worried about. 

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