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" Zook will be out of here when another SEC job opens up. There will be openings over the next 3-4 years at some very big time programs and if he can prove success at u of I he will be gone. Almost any job in the SEC would be better than Illinois with the exception for Vandy or maybe Ole Miss. That conference is loaded. Florida could easily be in last place after this week. That is some tough and big time football being played from top to bottom. Puts the Big Ten to shame! "

" Who knew college coaches made millions? Is this even a full-time job? "

" While it is nice to see Illinois winning again, Zook will be gone the second this team is a success. Illinois is not a football powerhouse and never will be. When a powerhouse like Florida from the SEC comes calling again Zook will be on the first train out of Champaign. "

" Ron Zook is the future of Illinois football! Good luck Ron and to your staff and your team. Go Illini! "

" This is great news for Illinois football. It will help recruiting to know we have some stability going forward. Zook is the man and good things are coming for this program. "

" While Zook has made Illinois football relevant, I can't help but thinking that the extention, at least right now, is a bit premature. Illinois has made significant progress but it seems that the program should have at least 1 full year of success in the books before the coach gets an extension. Think that Nebraska would like a "do over" on the extension they gave Callahan? "

" I laugh when people say that Illinois needs to "secure" Zook and his staff. Even with the new contract he can still leave anytime he chooses for a better position. We've seen other coaches leave early over and over again. Let's hope RZ stays for a while, but let's not be so naive to think he wouldn't go back to the SEC in a heartbeat if offered a position with a more prestigious school down there. "

" Fine, fine. Give Zook and his coaches big raises for half a season of success. But you just lost to an under-achieving Iowa team. You still have Michigan and Ohio State to play. How will you feel if Illinois fails to even get a Bowl game? I'm just saying that thus far Zook has only BEGUN to meet expectations. It is FAR too early to declare the Zook era a success. "

" you do realize that Mcgee also fumbled the ball on the half yardline that Missouri picked up and ran 98 yards for a TD...that was a 14 point swing...not to mention the int late in the game...so you are kind of right, if it werent for Mgee it wouldnt have been close, Illinois would have been up a TD at least! "

" Illinois has shown progress in every game since Zook has taken over. I normally agree that coaches such as Charlie Wiess at Notre Dame and other situations where immediate success leads to contract extensions is wrong, but in this case Zook took a team that was blown out in every game in 2005 to a team that competed in 2006, and now a team that is winning in 2007. Hopefully Zook will be around for a long time and continue to grow in his coaching abilities as well. Fall Saturdays in Champaign are not just about tailgating anymore! Oskee Wow-Wow! "

" It is rather remarkable to see the Illini football team now compared to the last several seasons. Lets face it, he has taken this team out of the cellar that Ron Turner left them in. Rebuilding takes time and patience and it is starting to pay off so I think its good to secure Zook in Champaign. Too many programs, college and professional, don't give a coach enough time to turn around a bottom-feeder team before they throw them to the wayside. Great to see people excited about something other than just basketball in Champaign. "

" Leave Juice in?? have you seen him throw? I will admit that the interception McGee threw at the end of the game against Iowa was inexcusable. He has to realize there's still over a minute to play and they had two more downs to work with. He felt the pressure and tried to force it instead of throwing out of the back on the enc zone and going to third down. If it wasn't for McGee that Missouri game would not have even been close. Juice may look good this weekend agains Michigan due to the fact that they struggle with spread offenses and mobile quarterbacks, but if he is serious about beating OSU, there has to be a valid passing threat and Juice Williams is not it. "

" Good for Zook. He deserves it, he has completely turned this football program around. They are two Eddie McGee throws away from being undefeated and in the top 10. Brings up one thing to Zook: leave Juice in! "

" Illinois has shown remarkable progress thus far in 2007, but one half-season of modest success does not cancel out the previous 2 TERRIBLE seasons, whether or not Zook was totally to blame. Why couldn't the powers-that-be at Champaign at least wait until next year before assessing things? Was the coach likely to leave in the middle of the current campaign? "