Signing Day Eve

Ah, it's everyone's favorite made-up February holiday (yes, even moreso than Valentine's Day). It's football signing day, and Illinois finally has reason to celebrate the day. Tomorrow they are going to lock down a top 20 recruiting class, despite the loss of QB Clint Brewster to his father's Minnesota team. The Zooker still has Arrelious Benn, Martez Wilson, Craig Wilson and a slew of other top shelf recruits that have nowhere to go but up in the standings.

As I've mentioned before, Coach Zook's website will be running a live blog on the event. And just for a bit of overkill, I'll be doing a live blog on the day's events starting bright and early at 7 in the morning. I look forward to any questions you kids end up asking the Zooker.

Team Recruiting Rankings (Rivals.com)

Illini Lose Football Recruit to Gophers (State Journal Register)

Signing Day with the Zooker (The Blogging Illini)

Ron Zook's Homepage (Coach Ron Zook.com)

Signing Day with the Zooker!

Yes, I stole this picture from Deadspin, but it's so incredible I just needed it to be at the top of this post. Aside from some barefoot water skiing prowess, the Zooker can recruit. And so with signing day just a week away, the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics announced that CoachRonZook.com will host a live blog of the day's events. Yes, I'm completely serious.

Here are the event plans:

7 a.m. -- "War Room" Blog (all day, leading up to press conference)
10 a.m. -- Live online chat with Illini Recruiting Coordinator Reggie Mitchell
11 a.m. -- Live video interviews with assistant coaches
Noon -- Live online chat with Illinois Head Coach Ron Zook
1 p.m. -- Live video interviews with assistant coaches
2 p.m. -- Live online chat with quarterback Juice Williams
3:00 p.m. -- Live radio show with assistant coaches and current players
3:30 p.m. -- Press Conference with Ron Zook (live audio and video available); biographies, photos and video highlights of Class of 2007

Some suggested questions include:

10 a.m. - Are you guys actually going to remember to cover on passing downs or is the defensive strategy still going to be "please God let them run the ball"?

Noon - How do I go about being a non-uptight white guy?

2 p.m. - Is Rex Grossman your hero and do you plan on being the next Sex Cannon?

DIA Announces Second Annual Signing Day Coverage (FighitngIllini.com)

Ron Zook, Water Skiing (Deadspin)