Illini coach talks about football, motivation at Sarah Bush lecture
Amy Foster / Staff Reporter
Issue date: 2/25/09 Section: News
The Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center "painted their hall" orange Tuesday night as Ron Zook, head football coach at the University of Illinois, spoke to a group of around 50 people about teamwork, football and motivation.
Zook explained the past and upcoming football season and the upset at the 2008 Rose Bowl.
"You do it for the good days," Zook said about coaching football.
Not every day will be good for a team, he said, but players need to have passion and work as a team.
Zook attributes the defeat at the Rose Bowl to the team not acting like one. He believes Illinois' football program can be number one.
"We have everything they have," Zook said about other teams. "It's a mindset we have to change."
When recruiting players for a season, Zook said he looks for three things.
One is if the player can help and benefit the football program and the second is if the player will be able to graduate from the university.
Zook finds the third quality most significant. "The most important thing to me is character," Zook said. "You either have it or you don't."
Zook is anticipating this coming season and he explained that the team has good quality in this recruiting class. He is having the players work on teamwork because he believes it is important in order to win.
Also in attendance was his wife, Denise Zook.
Denise said she travels to every game and tries to get to know the players personally.
She stops by Ron Zook's office to bring lunch most days and visits the players. The Zooks have the players over sometimes to watch television and socialize.
"Ron spoke very positively about the team," said Mattoon resident Teresa Riegle.
She is glad Ron Zook cares so much about teamwork.
Riegle and her husband attended the speech because it was a part of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center's Heart to Heart program.
The Heart to Heart program promotes screening and education for heart disease. Before Zook spoke, those in attendance could have their cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and muscular strength tested, and their cholesterol screened.
Before finishing, Zook showed his appreciation for the community.
"I love this town. I love this area."
Amy Foster can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
Zook explained the past and upcoming football season and the upset at the 2008 Rose Bowl.
"You do it for the good days," Zook said about coaching football.
Not every day will be good for a team, he said, but players need to have passion and work as a team.
Zook attributes the defeat at the Rose Bowl to the team not acting like one. He believes Illinois' football program can be number one.
"We have everything they have," Zook said about other teams. "It's a mindset we have to change."
When recruiting players for a season, Zook said he looks for three things.
One is if the player can help and benefit the football program and the second is if the player will be able to graduate from the university.
Zook finds the third quality most significant. "The most important thing to me is character," Zook said. "You either have it or you don't."
Zook is anticipating this coming season and he explained that the team has good quality in this recruiting class. He is having the players work on teamwork because he believes it is important in order to win.
Also in attendance was his wife, Denise Zook.
Denise said she travels to every game and tries to get to know the players personally.
She stops by Ron Zook's office to bring lunch most days and visits the players. The Zooks have the players over sometimes to watch television and socialize.
"Ron spoke very positively about the team," said Mattoon resident Teresa Riegle.
She is glad Ron Zook cares so much about teamwork.
Riegle and her husband attended the speech because it was a part of Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center's Heart to Heart program.
The Heart to Heart program promotes screening and education for heart disease. Before Zook spoke, those in attendance could have their cardiovascular endurance, flexibility and muscular strength tested, and their cholesterol screened.
Before finishing, Zook showed his appreciation for the community.
"I love this town. I love this area."
Amy Foster can be reached at 581-7942 or at DENnewsdesk@gmail.com.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Bryce
posted 2/25/09 @ 12:34 PM CST
Interesting article. Ron Zook is a good man. Eastern's Football team could learn a lot from him!
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