Ilini tab Petrino to jumpstart offense

Paul Petrino pronounces Illinois as "Illi-noise" and believes the Illini beat USC in the 2008 Rose Bowl.

But Ron Zook didn't introduce Petrino on Monday as Illinois' new public-address announcer or official historian.

Instead, the 42-year-old Petrino takes over as the offensive coordinator and receivers coach for an Illini attack that finished eighth in the Big Ten in scoring with 24.2 points per game.

"To me, (he's a) terrific offensive mind," Zook said. "All he does is get it done."

And Petrino comes to Illinois to get things done in a different way than Zook's first five seasons in Champaign.

Petrino brings the pro-style attack that he and his brother, Bobby, operated at Arkansas, which means a change from the spread option that Mike Locksley operated and the fired Mike Schultz was required to preserve.

With Paul serving as offensive coordinator but Bobby having the final say as head coach, the Razorbacks rank among the nation's top 10 in scoring (37.3 ppg) and passing (303.3 ypg) this year.

Petrino says his offense most closely resembles that of the NFL's New York Giants - Bobby Petrino worked with Giants coach Tom Coughlin during his time with the Jacksonville Jaguars - and comes equipped with a catchy philosophy.

"One of the things that everything starts with, that we believe in, is what we call 'FTS,' " Petrino said. "That stands for 'Feed the Studs.' We're going to get our best players in a position to go make plays. We're going to be very multiple on offense by formations, by personnel groups - put the pressure on the defense."

Petrino spent his first morning on the job familiarizing himself with Illinois' personnel.

He watched some tape of the 2009 season - "No. 5 (sophomore running back Mikel Leshoure) can really play" - and met with a group of receivers that included Arrelious Benn.

Benn, of course, is expected to turn pro and become a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, but Petrino tried to woo him anyway.

He showed him a list of all the receivers (including those at Arkansas, Louisville and Utah State, as well as the Atlanta Falcons' Roddy White) who piled up big numbers with Petrino as their coach.

"I tried to sell 'We're going to get you the football,' " Petrino told Benn. " 'You've got to kind of see where you're at (in the draft). If it's not there, then you need to come back and lead the country in catches. Lead the country in receiving.' "

Petrino, who worked with his brother at Louisville for a total of six years, apparently wants to rebuild his staff from that successful era.

According to multiple reports, Petrino and Zook are bringing in Florida Atlantic quarterbacks coach Jeff Brohm and Louisville tight ends coach Greg Nord to fill the vacant spots on the offensive staff.

If they can approximate Louisville's success in the middle of this decade, then one of Zook's statements on Monday might turn out to be true.

"I think the last two seasons, we haven't accomplished the things that we need to accomplish," said Zook, whose teams have gone 8-16 since the Rose Bowl loss to USC.

"That's my job, to regain the confidence of this program and those that might have lost confidence in us. We have to earn it. I understand that.

"In this case, we have to re-earn it. Because I think two years ago, everybody felt the program was on the rise. And it was. And it is."