Illini football team's success only bodes well for the future
Editors: Please update radio information and betting line in preview capsule.
No longer does Illinois coach Ron Zook and his staff filled with recruiters have to pitch a dream, an imaginary concept about what might happen in the future.
When No. 18 Illinois plays at Iowa in a Big Ten Conference game today, the Illini carry a five-game winning streak and an undefeated record in Big Ten play. Illinois would lock up a bowl berth with a victory against the stumbling Hawkeyes, leaving the last five weeks of the season for the conference race and climbing the bowl's pecking order.
The big year might have arrived just in time. Had Illinois logged another dismal record for the third consecutive season under Zook, recruiting would have suffered, said Chicago-based recruiting analyst Tom Lemming.
"It was crucial,'' Lemming said. "If they had three bad years in a row, they have trouble selling a vision. It could have been disastrous. It would have been tough to rebound. They probably have an average year at best this year and even worse next year.
"This season will really help in the class of 2009. It's not going to hurt in the 2008 class either, but there's a lot of legwork already done. They're probably going to get who they're going to get. It will really give them a major push in 2009.''
While he was only interested in talking about the next opponent, Zook admitted the strong start "probably does help a little bit,'' he said. "People across the country now hear about the University of Illinois.''
The Illini will likely have a top-20 recruiting class nationally, although it won't likely reach top-10 status, Lemming said.
"With each year in a program, selling a vision becomes less and less,'' offensive coordinator Mike Locksley said. "You have more evidence of where you are. Any time you get a national ranking and get national media attention, it opens up a few more doors outside your primary recruiting area.''
The success on the field will help the Illini in Florida and the D.C.-Maryland area, where the Illini have already plucked playmakers, and it will help Illinois protect its turf. That's hard in Chicago, because every Big Ten school plus most national powers recruit there.
"You're not going to get everybody,'' Lemming said. "You can dominate if you dominate on the field.''
Illinois has three four-star commitments among the class of 2008, including Lemont tackle Graham Pocic, a 6-foot-7, 315-pounder.
Meanwhile, Notre Dame used its success a year or two ago to build a foundation in landing commitments from Chicago Mount Carmel linebacker Steven Filer, Chicago St. Rita linebacker Darius Fleming and Woodstock Marian Catholic defensive tackle Sean Cwynar.
Michigan has a tradition in Chicago, and Ohio State also made an impact in the fertile recruiting market. But Illinois' success will make it harder for other schools, such as Wisconsin and Iowa. The Hawkeyes landed a six-man class from Illinois in 2005, a little more than two months after Zook came to Illinois. Included in the group is starting quarterback Jake Christensen.
"Iowa hasn't done anything (in Illinois) since Zook got here,'' Lemming said. "The only school that has is Notre Dame. If Notre Dame doesn't win next year, Zook will have clear sailing inside Chicago.''
Belleville Althoff running back Jason Ford has backed off an earlier commitment to Iowa. He apparently will consider the Illini. Ford ranks fifth all-time in state history with 6,196 career yards.
"Certainly, they've recruited the state of Illinois aggressively,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said.
Illinois' appearance in the Sugar Bowl after winning the 2001 Big Ten title outright helped in recruiting the class of 2003, if Lemming's analysis holds true. If so, players such as linebacker J Leman, safety Kevin Mitchell and left guard Martin O'Donnell are results of Illinois' last big season.
Running back Rashard Mendenhall was the final big recruit from former coach Ron Turner. Mendenhall committed before Zook arrived.
"Turner should get some credit now,'' Lemming said. "People are sweeping him under the rug like he never existed. A lot of Turner's guys are making a difference on this team.''
Winning this year will make a difference down the road in recruiting, where the Illini have already won big.
John Supinie can be reached at Johnsupinie@aol.com. For more coverage, read Illini Talk blog at www.sj-r.com and www.pjstar.com.
PREVIEW CAPSULE
No. 18 Illinois (5-1, 3-0) vs. Iowa (2-4, 0-3)
When: 11 a.m. today
Where: Kinnick Stadium (70,585), Iowa City
Series record: Illinois leads 37-28-2
Last meeting: Iowa 24-7 (2006)
Radio: Illini Sports Network
TV: ESPN2
The line:
Coaches: Ron Zook, 9-20 in third season at Illinois, 32-34 in sixth season overall; Kirk Ferentz, 57-47 in ninth season at Iowa, 69-68 in 12th season overall.
NCAA rankings: Illinois offense -- rushing 5th, 261.2; passing 112th, 151.3; scoring 47th, 30.2; total 50th, 412.5. Illinois defense -- rushing 22nd, 100.7; passing 101st, 267.6; scoring 25th, 20.0; total 56th, 368.3. Iowa offense -- rushing 92nd, 118.3; passing 89th, 194.0; scoring 114th, 17.3; total 106th, 312.3. Iowa defense -- rushing 30th, 113.8; passing 24th, 190.5; scoring 14th, 16.7; total 19th, 304.3.
Notable: Illinois quarterback Juice Williams (knee) and wide receiver Arrelious Benn (shoulder) are expected to play after suffering injuries last week. … Illinois lost the last four meetings with Iowa and hasn't won at Kinnick Stadium since 1999. Illinois' winning streak is its longest since a seven-game streak to end the Big Ten season in 2001. … Illinois leads the Big Ten in rushing offense. Iowa ranks last in the Big Ten in rushing offense and scoring offense. … Iowa has a four-game losing streak and an eight-game Big Ten losing streak. The Hawkeyes have lost 10 of their last 13 games. … Iowa sophomore quarterback Jake Christensen is a former all-stater from Lockport. … Iowa ranks first in the Big Ten and ninth in the country in turnover margin at plus eight.
Quotable: "We've not had success with Iowa. It's important that we understand we're going into a stadium and in the back of (the Hawkeyes') minds, they think they're going to win.'' -- Illinois coach Ron Zook.
Prediction: Illinois 20, Iowa 13