The Buckeyes are Getting Zooked!

[WAR DAMN EAGLE]

If an SEC reject like The Zooker can win in The Big 10, that just further proves how great The SEC is.

[Chinaski]

I am watching the game. Its great. Illinois is not only fast but also big and strong. They have been pushing OSU around the whole afternoon...

[raptorcox]

Zook was a better Coach than SEC fans gave him credit for.

He will prove it by winning wherever he goes.

[Chinaski]

Wow, that o-line is doing a great job creating holes and protecting the QB...

[FanSmack]

Zook is a good coach. He just happened to come in right after one of the best Era's UF ever had.

ZOOKED

[Chinaski]

Its over 28-21. A well deserved win for Illinois in Ohio

[gatorunvrsty]

Zook is a good coach. He just happened to come in right after one of the best Era's UF ever had.

ZOOKED

He was, and is, a moron. He just beat a team that's been overrated all season. The Bucks got fu**ed by the first half-decent team they faced... simple as that. Too much go-fast for those big lumbering boys.

EDIT: At UF, he took the best players in the country, who were winning 10+ games a year; and turned them into a team that went 8-5, 8-5, and 7-5 in his 3 years.

[Chinaski]

Hey i cant help but zook reminds me of robert de niro lol

[raptorcox]

Its over 28-21. A well deserved win for Illinois in Ohio


The ESPN announcers really do put curses on teams......

Usually I don't go for jinx' and things of the like, but I have watched Mark May state that USF was the #1 team in the Nation, the very morning they lost their first game. They have lost a few since then....

I watched Corso tell us all why Oregon was the #1 team and Ohio State was the #2 team and would play for it all without a doubt. Down goes OSU......

I think I remember hearing words like they would "win big."

[OffThePorch]

CONGRATS to Zook/Illinois!

[tennesseegirl]

YES!!!!! and Notre Dame is losing . Iam loving this!

[raptorcox]

and Michigan lost......

[crawfish]

Still A Lot Of Football To Be Played, But Lsu And Oregon Just Have To Take Care Of Business.

[Chinaski]

Yes Oregon, LSU and Oklahoma do have the best chances right now...

[tennesseegirl]

and Michigan lost......

That is right ! I forgot about that one ! YEAH!:thumpsup:

[VU#1]

Yeah, Zook's a good coach and a great recruiter. I'm glad someone finally knocked off osu.

[gatorunvrsty]

Yeah, Zook's a coach and a great recruiter. I'm glad someone finally knocked off osu.

There you go... fixed that for you.:laugh:

[raptorcox]

There you go... fixed that for you.:laugh:

your opinion is well documented, but as I said, Zook will prove you wrong.

He has already turned Illinois into a pretty danged good team.

[gatorunvrsty]

your opinion is well documented, but as I said, Zook will prove you wrong.

He has already turned Illinois into a pretty danged good team.

How's he going to do that? After destroying UF; do you realize he won a grand total of 2 games in each of his first 2 years at Illinois? 2-9 in '05, and 2-10 in '06. They're only 8-3 this year; and beating one extremely overrated tOSU team doesn't make him a great coach.

[zartan]

zook lost 10-6 to iowa. the big 10 is wretched, containing no great players or coaches.

[bigsexxxy]

How's he going to do that? After destroying UF; do you realize he won a grand total of 2 games in each of his first 2 years at Illinois? 2-9 in '05, and 2-10 in '06. They're only 8-3 this year; and beating one extremely overrated tOSU team doesn't make him a great coach.

You do realize that Illinois has been terrible since, I don't know, they started their football program? That program was left for dead and Zook has turned it around in 3 years. You're usually a great poster GU, but you're turning up crass in this thread. Sorry Zook had the audacity to lose a few games for your mighty Gators.

Oh, I almost forgot that he recruited that entire team that the Golden Boy won a NC with.

[FanSmack]

Zook deserves more credit than that GU.

[gatorunvrsty]

You do realize that Illinois has been terrible since, I don't know, they started their football program? That program was left for dead and Zook has turned it around in 3 years. You're usually a great poster GU, but you're turning up crass in this thread. Sorry Zook had the audacity to lose a few games for your mighty Gators.

Oh, I almost forgot that he recruited that entire team that the Golden Boy won a NC with.

That's right; and I've always said he was a great recruiter. But, he lost 5 games a year with those great players, and Meyer won a NC with them in just his second year. The man ran the most uninspired offense I've ever seen. Rush it off left tackle... rush it off right tackle... throw it on 3rd and long. That was it. Now he's running a spread offense, so he gets credit for coming around; but he's no great coach. And, Illinois wasn't that bad when he got there. They were 10-2 and Big 10 Champions in '01. They had been bad since then, but they weren't bad for years and years or anything. He's always been an outstanding recruiter... no doubt.

This ain't the definition of a good coach... by anyone's definition:
Zook, Ron 2002-2006 27-33-0 0.450

[iacolb12]

Sigh. I really didn't want State to lose. I wanted another SEC school (LSU) to go in and b*tch-slap them in the championship game.

Boy is this year a testament for a college football playoff? (Forgive if that's been mentioned above. I was too lazy to read the whole thread.) ;)

[gatorunvrsty]

Sigh. I really didn't want State to lose. I wanted another SEC school (LSU) to go in and b*tch-slap them in the championship game.

Boy is this year a testament for a college football playoff? (Forgive if that's been mentioned above. I was too lazy to read the whole thread.) ;)

Well, look at it this way... it didn't even take an SEC team to expose them for poseurs. I'd have been even more upset if an undeserving team took a NCG spot away from a truly deserving team with a loss.

[KillerNut]

Well, look at it this way... it didn't even take an SEC team to expose them for poseurs. I'd have been even more upset if an undeserving team took a NCG spot away from a truly deserving team with a loss.

We'll see GU. Zook did have the a top ten recruiting class last year at Illinois. They are progressing at a good rate. As far as Zook, he is a bred Big 10 guy in his coaching and play calling. Thats why he sucked at Florida and is doing a lot better this year at Illinois. Becareful what you say because Illinois will most likely play a SEC team in either the Outback or Capital One bowl and dare I say might beat one! :ohmy: We might have been overrated for the top spot but we are still a top five team IMHO.

Here are some of my quick thoughts.

1. Illinois played determined and outplayed us in the second half.
2. You can't win running three plays in the fourth and they have the ball the entire 4th quarter.
3. Juice Williams is going to be a good one. For a guy that had 57% passing completion the entire year. We made him look like a Hall of Famer yesterday.
4. Illinois is sixth in the nation in rushing! WOW! And they lead the Big 10!
5. Second year in a row that tOSU has played a nailbitter and a bad game againist the Illini
6. At least we Buckeye fans don't have to hear anymore of this "LSU is going to smash you talk".
7. Were not the only #1 or #2 team to fall this year.
8. Illinois is 8-3
9. Illinois defense is underrated and very fast.
10. Next week vs. Michigan is battle for the Rose Bowl
11. 10-1 is still better than I expected for us at the beginning of the year.
12. Illinois might be the favorite for the Big 10 crown next year!
13. 10-1 odds that tOSU lays a huge smackdown on Michigan next week.
14. Anything can happen!
15. We'll never know if both tOSU and Michigan were looking ahead to next week. Maybe, but definitely not a worthy excuse IMHO.
16. Who would've guess that Kansas and Hawaii are the only two undefeated teams!

[gatorunvrsty]

I replied in the other thread. I agree with your thoughts, and added some over there. You're right about Zook. That's always been my assessment... he played Big 10 ball in the wrong conference. I still harbor major resentments for what he did to our team, and all those great players who were expecting bigger and better things when they committed to UF. Fortunately, Meyer came along soon enough to at least let Leak realize his dream.

[KillerNut]

I replied in the other thread. I agree with your thoughts, and added some over there. You're right about Zook. That's always been my assessment... he played Big 10 ball in the wrong conference. I still harbor major resentments for what he did to our team, and all those great players who were expecting bigger and better things when they committed to UF. Fortunately, Meyer came along soon enough to at least let Leak realize his dream.

I agree with that. He is a great recruiter and will be a long time coach at Illinois IMO. Zook has been a coach in the Big 10 for most of his career as an assistant and such so he knows how the physical football is played. BTW, as far a you stating that we were severly overrated the entire year, would you say the same thing about LSU and USC after getting beat being the #1 team? We might just see Illinois vs. Florida in either the Outback or Capital One bowl. That would be crazy. However, I think Zook is taking a page from SEC football and recruiting more and more fast players. If he keeps this up, they might be dangerous for years to come. BTW, Illinois is 8-3 this year and they were in close games for their three losses.

Well at least I can start my "Hate" Michigan week with all of my lovely photos! Early Prediction... Ohio State 42 Michigan 17

[sheluvsbama]

This is a game of violent emotions! I look for the Wolverines to be at the top of their game, for the first time this year. It will not be enough to stuff tOSU, though. 28-10 Buckeyes.

[Gator2753]

I agree with that. He is a great recruiter and will be a long time coach at Illinois IMO. Zook has been a coach in the Big 10 for most of his career as an assistant and such so he knows how the physical football is played. BTW, as far a you stating that we were severly overrated the entire year, would you say the same thing about LSU and USC after getting beat being the #1 team? We might just see Illinois vs. Florida in either the Outback or Capital One bowl. That would be crazy. However, I think Zook is taking a page from SEC football and recruiting more and more fast players. If he keeps this up, they might be dangerous for years to come. BTW, Illinois is 8-3 this year and they were in close games for their three losses.

Well at least I can start my "Hate" Michigan week with all of my lovely photos! Early Prediction... Ohio State 42 Michigan 17

There are still 2 different ways we can get to the Sugar bowl.

1. The most unlikely was is for UT to lose to either UK or Vandy and for UGA to lose to UK. Then we beat LSU in Atlanta to get the automatic bid.

2. The best chance we have is for UK to upset UGA, UT to win out then lose to LSU in the SECCG, then the sugar bowl would select UF since LSU is in the NCG and UF would be ranked higher than anyone else in the SEC.

But thats still a bit of a stretch. I wouldn't mind a playing Zook either:thumpsup:

[Tennessee Ted]

I think Florida took a chance by hiring Zook as he was inexperienced as a head coach and got burned. Then they fired him after giving him experience. It is only natural do get better and to progress unless you are a dumb as#. I think many think that you are either a great coach or you are not. What people do not account for is that coaches learn on the job with experience just like we all do in whatever we are doing. I would tend to think that Zook is now a better coach than when he was at UF.

[gatorunvrsty]

I agree with that. He is a great recruiter and will be a long time coach at Illinois IMO. Zook has been a coach in the Big 10 for most of his career as an assistant and such so he knows how the physical football is played. BTW, as far a you stating that we were severly overrated the entire year, would you say the same thing about LSU and USC after getting beat being the #1 team? We might just see Illinois vs. Florida in either the Outback or Capital One bowl. That would be crazy. However, I think Zook is taking a page from SEC football and recruiting more and more fast players. If he keeps this up, they might be dangerous for years to come. BTW, Illinois is 8-3 this year and they were in close games for their three losses.

Well at least I can start my "Hate" Michigan week with all of my lovely photos! Early Prediction... Ohio State 42 Michigan 17

I wouldn't say the same thing about those teams, because they've played great teams all year. Continually playing other powerful teams takes a huge toll on your own team, so staying undefeated, or losing once is exceptional. tOSU didn't have any of those demanding games to challenge their endurance and durability all year... until yesterday. As far as Zook, they were saying he has slowly instituted his own spread attack; and I gave him props for coming around earlier in the thread. They should be a formidable team with the right game plan for their team speed and talent.

The tOSU/UM score... that looks about right.:laugh:

[Chinaski]

You do realize that Illinois has been terrible since, I don't know, they started their football program? That program was left for dead and Zook has turned it around in 3 years. You're usually a great poster GU, but you're turning up crass in this thread. Sorry Zook had the audacity to lose a few games for your mighty Gators.

Oh, I almost forgot that he recruited that entire team that the Golden Boy won a NC with.

I agree with that.

GU is a very level headed poster and he knows the game. But in this case i feel like he has a little bias. I mean yes, Zook has not been successfull at Florida but he is still the guy who brought in all those talented young guys to fill all those big holes with. He deserves to be respected for that.

I am not a Florida fan and i think he is also a very good coach. He has done a great job on a long time dead program at Illinois and i think he will continue to establish that team in the top of that conference along with Ohio State and Michigan.

[the Paradox]

Zook left the Florida program better than he found it.

RTR

[KillerNut]

I agree with that.

GU is a very level headed poster and he knows the game. But in this case i feel like he has a little bias. I mean yes, Zook has not been successfull at Florida but he is still the guy who brought in all those talented young guys to fill all those big holes with. He deserves to be respected for that.

I am not a Florida fan and i think he is also a very good coach. He has done a great job on a long time dead program at Illinois and i think he will continue to establish that team in the top of that conference along with Ohio State and Michigan.

I agree with that! Zook might have been horrible his first year playing with the scrubs left over from the previous coach but last year they showed promise even thought they posted a 3-8 record. This year those freshmen that Zook recruited his first year are maturing and becoming a team with unity. The state of Illinois has some good talent and if Zook can sell that program, he could be successful for a long time. The only other school that he has to compete with is Northwestern. :laugh: Hats off to the Illini for their hard fought deserved win. They never gave up yesterday and gave us all we could handle. BTW, Illini linebacker J Leman has to be one of the better under the radar players in the country. I would say that either Illinois or tOSU should be favored to win the Big 10 next year.

Here is Zook's recruiting class for 2008. From Rivals.com

http://rivals100.rivals.com/commitlist.asp

[gatorunvrsty]

Zook left the Florida program better than he found it.

RTR

:blink: What?! This is how he found it:

2001 10-2
2000 10-3 SEC Champs
1999 9-4 SEC East Champs
1998 10-2
1997 10-2
1996 12-1 SEC Champs, National Champs
1995 12-1 SEC Champs, lost NCG
1994 10-2-1 SEC Champs
1993 11-2 SEC Champs
1992 9-4 SEC East Champs
1991 10-2 SEC Champs
1990 9-2 Best in the SEC, but on probation

This is what he did to it:

2004 7-5
2003 8-5
2002 8-5

Now, I agree that he left us with great players, and that goes to his recruiting prowess. And, I'll agree that he's likely learned a great deal in his time with and since UF; but he didn't leave the program better off.

[GatorHunter]

Zook wins one big game and now he's the Gipper...:D

It's easy to "judge" from the outside looking in...but as Gators...GU and I have a better "understanding" of Zook than most of you. He's a great recruiter...nobody is arguing that...but as has been proven with this Gator team the past nearly 3 seasons...Zook recruits guys of "questionable" character (as evidenced by the shenanigans following yesterday's win)...also, Zook had no idea how to recruit depth. When Meyer got to Gainesville...we had 13 OL on scholly but only 3 WRs...we had 11 DL but only 2 LBs....9 DBs but only 1 QB.

Yesterday's win is completely characteristic of Zook's career. He will win a game from time to time that he's not suppose to (UF beating eventual NC LSU in '03)...and he'll lose plenty that he's suppose to win.

BTW, saying that Zook recruited the players that won Meyer the NC is like saying Galen Hall recruited the players that won Spurrier his first 2 SEC Championships...doesn't hold water. Besides...if not for Harvin, Tebow, Nelson and R. Smith...the Gators don't win the SEC or the NC...all of those guys courtesy of Urban Meyer.

[zartan]

i'm with GU on this one. let me repeat, zook lost 10-6 to iowa. they are 5-2 in a pathetic conference playing a poor imitation of gator football. illinois would not win one game in the SEC. nice guy, nice little story, but let's put away the anointing oil.

[the Paradox]

i'm with GU on this one. let me repeat, zook lost 10-6 to iowa. they are 5-2 in a pathetic conference playing a poor imitation of gator football. illinois would not win one game in the SEC. nice guy, nice little story, but let's put away the anointing oil.

That is laughable.

RTR

[GatorHunter]

Another problem with Zook...he's a micro-manager. Strong admitted that Zook would usually change his defensive gameplans prior to games when at UF. Zook played "not to lose" defense...and it showed in UF's games...we lost a dozen games during Zook's tenure in the closing minutes.

Also...look at UF's roster...check out how many SRs we have...11 on the entire team...only 3 of which actually play (Joiner, Miller, Caldwell). That was Zook's last class...most of which have been kicked off the team.

[KillerNut]

i'm with GU on this one. let me repeat, zook lost 10-6 to iowa. they are 5-2 in a pathetic conference playing a poor imitation of gator football. illinois would not win one game in the SEC. nice guy, nice little story, but let's put away the anointing oil.

A pathetic conference with 9 bowl eligible teams. :wacko: The Big 10 has more parity this year across the board so it appears to everyone that we are down this year especially when tOSU and Michigan aren't running the table. IMHO the Big 10 this year is similar to the SEC whereas any team can beat one another no matter if they are horrible or what not.

[the Paradox]

Florida aside, Zook has revived a morbid program.


RTR

[zartan]

That is laughable.

RTR
you're right. illinois might be able to beat bama.

only joking.

[zartan]

A pathetic conference with 9 bowl eligible teams. :wacko: The Big 10 has more parity this year across the board so it appears to everyone that we are down this year especially when tOSU and Michigan aren't running the table. IMHO the Big 10 this year is similar to the SEC whereas any team can beat one another no matter if they are horrible or what not.
i live in the same town as you and i'm an OSU grad but at some point you have to face reality. the conference is horrible. the OOC schedules are laughable; there have been 2 big games against big OOC schools and the big 10 lost both of em (ore/mich and ill/mizzou).

[KillerNut]

i live in the same town as you and i'm an OSU grad but at some point you have to face reality. the conference is horrible. the OOC schedules are laughable; there have been 2 big games against big OOC schools and the big 10 lost both of em (ore/mich and ill/mizzou).

We'll I don't live in C-bus anymore but my heart and soul lies in Columbus on CFB saturdays during home games. Yes our schedule this year is pretty pathetic but just an inbetween year until our 2 game OOC series with So Cal starting next year. Illinois was in the game vs. Mizzou and as for Michigan vs. Oregon...well we know how that turned out. :laugh: