Zook likes new look, but restless Illini fans await evidence of progress

Illinois fans, you're looking at a new Ron Zook.

This Zook had so much time on his hands this summer, he went appliance shopping with his wife, Denise, for the first time in his life.

"And will probably never ever do it again," Zook said with a smile.

This Zook spent the final day of his summer vacation so relaxed and confident, the avid water skier set a personal best Sunday on the 900-foot slalom course he frequents with his friends.

This Zook feels so confident in his revamped coaching staff - only three assistants survived last year's 3-9 disappointment - he no longer feels obligated to race between the offense, defense and special teams rooms making every decision.

He put his faith into new offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and defensive coordinator Vic Koenning, both of whom received lucrative two-year contracts.

"Not - throwing anybody under the bus, but it just wasn't working," Zook said. "We weren't doing the things we were capable of doing. The most frustrating thing as a coach is when your players aren't playing up to their potential.

"We've made some serious mistakes on evaluating personnel. We weren't getting players to play the way they're capable of playing as a group."

In that vein, this Zook claims he told athletic director Ron Guenther at the end of last season that, if Guenther intended to fire his head coach, it would have been the perfect time.

Why?

"Because the program's in great shape," Zook said. "It does no good to get your program to where it's beginning to make some progress, and then you (fire the head coach) slide down and start all over."

Pardon skeptical Illini fans if they wonder where the progress happens to be.

Zook's sixth Illinois team features just 13 scholarship seniors and at least as many question marks.

Redshirt freshman Nathan Scheelhaase was named the starting quarterback in early June. Shortly thereafter, backup Jacob Charest opted to transfer to Div. II Catawba College.

That leaves senior Eddie McGee, who primarily has moved to wide receiver, and freshman Chandler Whitmer (Downers Grove South) as the top candidates to be the second-stringer.

McGee, though, said Monday he hasn't increased his minimal quarterback reps since Charest's departure.

"Just the 'D.C. Package,' " said McGee, referring to the special set of plays designed for him. "It wasn't the traditional taking snaps thing."

Zook hopes Whitmer continued to improve during the Illini's two months of voluntary 7-on-7 sessions in Champaign.

"Chandler will have a much better fall because he's been through it," Zook said. "In the spring, he got overloaded there toward the end, which is perfectly normal. It's the same way 'Rejus' (Benn) did. It's the same way Vontae (Davis) did.

"But he's been in there and been working just as hard as everybody else this summer."

Zook expects the defense to benefit from middle linebacker Martez Wilson's return. He missed the final 11 games last year with a neck injury.

On the flip side, senior defensive tackle Josh Brent didn't make grades in the spring at Parkland Junior College and went in the seventh round of the NFL supplemental draft.

Zook doesn't know whether sophomore safety Walt Aikens, who started the final 5 games last year, will return to school.

After pleading guilty to a misdemeanor for possessing a stolen computer, Aikens is wrapping up a 14-day sentence in jail.

"It's in the university's hands," said Zook, who didn't sound optimistic.