Given that they are/were both Illinois Fighting Illini, wore the same jersey number, played the same position, and didn't break out until their junior year (and when they broke out, they really did it in style) it's inevitable to compare current Illini tailback Mikel Leshoure to current Pittsbrugh Steelers star running back Rashard Mendenhall. Heck, I wrote a column about it … [Read more...] about Mikel Leshoure to Rashard Mendenhall Comparisons Running Wild Now
Ron Zook
Texas Bowl Sees Illinois and Baylor Break Numerous Records
Last night's college football match-up won38-14 by the Illinois Fighting Illini over Baylor broke a bunch of Texas Bowl, bowl history in the city of Houston, as well as Illinois and Baylor records. Seriously, there were a ton, but here are some of the most notable. -The Illini tied the Texas Bowl record for most points scored 38 and most net yards gained at 533. -Leshoure … [Read more...] about Texas Bowl Sees Illinois and Baylor Break Numerous Records
Scheelhaase, Illini Put Texas (Bowl) Sized Whooping on Baylor
It was exactly like the first (and only) time Chicago and Houston met in a major postseason sporting event. Granted the stakes in the college football Texas Bowl were much lower than that of the 2005 MLB World Series between the Chicago White Sox and Houston Astros; and Baylor University is about as geographically far from Houston as the University of Illinois is from … [Read more...] about Scheelhaase, Illini Put Texas (Bowl) Sized Whooping on Baylor
Ron Zook Delivers Jim Mora Style Mini-Rant (Video)
Last week the Illini football team imploded and lost at home to the Minnesota Golden Gophers, one of the worst teams in recent Big Ten football history. Words can't really express a college football let-down of this proportion, although we tried to do so here. Now a really promising 5-3 team that many pundits believed would finish 8-4 or even 9-3 doesn't even look like a … [Read more...] about Ron Zook Delivers Jim Mora Style Mini-Rant (Video)
Illinois Loses to Minnesota
So. I suppose that headline really says it all, doesn't it? I mean...what more is there to say when a team that was 1-9, 0-6 in the Big Ten, and had lost to a 1-AA team, comes into your house and beats you. Well, maybe there is one more thing to say: We're not going to a bowl game, folks. … [Read more...] about Illinois Loses to Minnesota
Did Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook Blow The Ohio State Game?
Is there any more activity over at fireronzook.com? After Saturday's "moral victory" loss against #2-ranked Ohio State, it definitely should be. While the Illini were not expected to be close, and weren't supposed to win the game, they were driving to tie late in the game, and had a chance to completely turn the college football world on its ear. That's when Zook … [Read more...] about Did Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook Blow The Ohio State Game?
#2 Ohio State-Illinois: the Brutally Honest Game Preview
The last three times Illinois beat Ohio State: 2007, 2001, 1999, it was in Columbus. For some reason, the Illini play the Buckeyes much better in the Buckeye state than they do at home. The last time they beat Ohio State in Champaign, Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer were at the peak of their popularity. Whenever Illinois is having a good season, they seem to beat the Buckeyes, as … [Read more...] about #2 Ohio State-Illinois: the Brutally Honest Game Preview
Illinois Stays Perfect Against “Directional” Illinois
For the Illinois Fighting Illini, the win was sort of like one of those guys who had a close shave and says, "Yup, yeah, I'm good, no worries. Had it under control the whooooole time." The Illini certainly "had it under control" on Saturday with their 28-22 victory over Northern Illinois in front of 50,000-plus sweaty fans. While the Illini led for a good portion of the … [Read more...] about Illinois Stays Perfect Against “Directional” Illinois