Illinois football coach Ron Zook opened his weekly news conference by warning reporters he would walk out if they asked about his job security. He ended it by keeping his word.
The Illini have lost four straight games following their 6-0 start. The most recent loss, to Michigan at home on Saturday, was followed by a weekend of off-field trouble that included starting linebacker Trulon Henry being shot in the hand and two other players getting arrested in another incident.
“I want to make one thing clear before we get going here,” Zook said. “This thing’s about our football team, it’s about the team that we’re playing, about the things going on with our football team. It’s not about me, it’s not about my future. ... If you feel compelled to talk about that, then my part will be over with.”
After about 20 minutes of questions, a reporter asked Zook if he had counseled his players on fielding questions about his situation and preventing them from becoming a distraction.
“You just couldn’t let it go, could you?” Zook asked the reporter before walking away.
EXTRA POINTS
Mississippi coach Houston Nutt, who will not return next season, suspended starting quarterback Randall Mackey and leading rusher Jeff Scott for Saturday’s game against top-ranked LSU as well as the season finale against Mississippi State for violating team rules. … Miami linebacker Jordan Futch was recovering from a suspected case of heat exhaustion, which necessitated him being taken from the Hurricanes’ practice field by paramedics and transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital. … Iowa State backup receiver Albert Gary was charged with first-degree robbery stemming from a campus robbery in June. … Former North Carolina coach Butch Davis posted a video on YouTube defending himself from allegations following an NCAA investigation into the football program, saying he is “absolutely committed to a clean program.”
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