Illinois Fires Zook

[Mark Seifert]

As a longtime UI fan (I went to school there, and the BC offices are near Champaign-Urbana), I think we all saw this coming. It was definitely time.

I'm hoping we hire Mike Leach.

[Joe Kalicki]

One guy on sports talk here (Matt Spiegel maybe?) has really been pushing for Mike Leach, but everyone seems to think it's unlikely.

Also, I had no idea you guys were so close.

[Mark Seifert]

Yep. I've lived in Central IL my whole life.

Seeing people discussing Thomas' presser over on the illinoisloyalty.com boards, apparently he mentioned "regional fit" would be considered, so I'm not sure where that'd leave Leach in that regard. I read Leach's book over the summer and loved it, he's definitely an interesting thinker.

[Joe Kalicki]

Too bad Urban Meyer is taken!

. . . Joe Paterno is available.

[Mark Seifert]

I'm really surprised Urban is jumping back in it after the somewhat awkward departure from Florida. He's got his two NCs, I figured he'd be the guy to just jump to commentating and be done with it.

It's been noted that this is Illinois' first big coaching hire since the fabled BTN dollars started rolling in, so it'll be interesting if we break with UI tradition and spend the money for an A-list hire.