What a weird week for former leaders of the Illinois Fighting Illini program. We found out on Monday Ron Zook now works at a small bank in Florida.
And now Ron Turner is apologizing for the public nudity of his Florida International University college football players. Yes, it was very difficult to not commit the typo of “pubic” in place of “public” when you put the word next to “nudity.”
Mistake happens all the time. Just like when you disrobe in public. FIU coach Ron Turner is apologizing on behalf of some players who used a public outdoor shower after a beach workout Friday and got naked for the people of Florida to see.
This happened at Crandon Park Beach in Key Biscayne, Fla., about 20 miles east of FIU. Miami-Dade police were called but no charges were filed, and police say no charges are expected. I don’t see what the big deal is about male nudity at a Florida beach. The STATE ITSELF is shaped exactly like a giant………..anyways, Ron Turner said some players “made a poor decision and changed their clothes in public.”
The team was beachcombing for a cookout celebrating the end of preseason conditioning. The school is investigating this further. Hey, “no shoes, no shirt, no problem.” Of course, “no pants, IS a problem.”
Ron Turner is the brother of fired San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner, and lack of coaching ability runs in the family. Ron Turner was previously offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears twice (1993-96) and (2005-2009). The Bears never won anything under his offenses. He had previously been a head coach at San Jose State and Illinois. Turner led Illinois from 1997-2004 and took the Illini to a Big Ten title in 2001. Turner went just 4-19 over his final two years at Illinois before being fired and replaced by Ron Zook.
And his first two Illini teams went 3-19. Which made him a lot like his Illini predecessor Lou Tepper, and his heir apparent, in having a career record well below .500 Florida International is the same school that gave Isaiah Thomas a job after he wrecked the New York Knicks for years. FIU will pay Ron Turner a base of $500,000; presumably to run a lot of fullback screen passes and have quarterbacks do elbow fakes; which is what Ron Turner offenses do.
Ron Turner has spent the last eight seasons coaching in the NFL. After the Bears, Turner became the wide receivers coach for the Indianapolis Colts under Jim Caldwell and moved to quarterbacks coach in 2011. Ron Turner then joined Greg Schiano’s staff in Tampa Bay as the Bucs QB coach. Again, he apologizes for his players not being able to keep their pants on!
Paul M. Banks is the owner of The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. He’s also an analyst for 95.7 The Fan, and reports on Chicago sports media for Chicago Now. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)