Game 1 Reactions

My mother taught me long ago to never speak when my anger is fresh and raw; so I waited an extra day before reflecting on the 37-9 drubbing our Illini received at the hands of the dreaded Tigers from Missouri. I have gradually worked my way through anger, denial, bargaining and depression, but as I approached acceptance, I determined that I will never accept failure or mediocrity with passivity or resignation.

Illini Nation is viewing our soap opera of a football team like a tragic opera where its demise is a fait accompli and our destiny is predetermined. A quick glance at Saturdays game is useful if we learn from the mistakes and vow to correct them. The events leading up to the game including scheduling by the Athletic Director and personnel and game planning decisions by the staff may have sealed our fate irrespective of the injuries to Benn, Dufrene and Ford. One thing is perfectly clear; no one connected to the upper echelons of the program should escape blame.

Let me pose the following question; which of the following are/is true:
1) is Pinkel a better recruiter than Zook;
2) is he a better game day strategist (this is the knock on Pinkel);
3) is he better at coaching talent "up";
4) is he a superior motivator;
5) all of the above.

As we enter the fifth addition in the year of our Zook, it's clear that if Missouri is our measuring stick, Danny Devito should be our new mascot.

For all Ron Guenther's protestations that he is a football guy, he has never selected or presided over a coaching tenure that produced a winning record. The Zook era which took on so much promise after its unexpected Rose Bowl appearance in 2007, is now a team in turmoil as it teeters on the brink. Guenther for all the facility building he has completed, has presided over one National Championship in Gymnastics and a superb tennis program that now appears to disintegrating before our very eyes.
Guenther's scheduling woes have angered sky box and premium seat holders as well as local merchants and just about anyone else who follows Illinois Football. As Zook and Illinois try to build a brand and create a culture of winning, the AD is defending the toughest schedule in the Conference which includes only six home games.

September 5th 2009, "a date that shall live in infamy" will either be remembered, like its truly serious forerunner, as monument to Zook's pluckiness and perseverance or the first line on his Illinois football obituary. We may not learn much from this weeks matchup with 1AA opponent, Illinois State, but rest assured, by mid-October, the tea leaves will be clearly read and the future of Illinois Football hangs in the balance.

Fans affections are a fickle mistress and Zook has as many detractors as fans; we shall see what he is made of in the coming weeks; stay tuned "as the world turns."