Let's meet the new players in 2011.

Over the next several days we'll talk about the Big 10 football coaches. The coaches represent the culture of the league. After 2010 we won't see the likes of Bob Stoops, Mack Brown, and Turner Gill. What is Turner Gill thinking right now. He gets the chance to go to the Big 12 and now Kansas is going to be looking for a new conference, most likely. The excitement of the matchup of Bo Pelini and Turner Gill on an annual basis is now gone.

Sure we can play some of these teams in our non-conference schedule but realistically we won't have an annual game with Kansas or Oklahoma. Perhaps a non-conference game with Ohio is smart as this area may become a key recruiting area.

The Big 10's top two coaches in the past, in this writer's opinion, is Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes. They were huge in college football and are know nationally as two of the best coaches of all time.

Let's start with Illinois in the Big 10.

ILLINOIS
HEAD COACH-RON ZOOK

Illinois has no Nebraska players on its roster. The Illini played their home games at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Illinois. Ron Zook is entering his sixth season as head coach.In 2009, the Illini finished the season 3–9 (2–6 Big Ten). The Illini failed to live up to the lofty preseason expectations, receiving almost enough votes in the AP Poll to be ranked (and were said to be the unofficial #26 ranked team in the AP Poll because of this).

Ron Zook was named the 2007 National and Big Ten Coach of the Year. Known as a tireless worker and recruiter, Zook led Illinois to the biggest turnaround in college football in 2007 and looks to reestablish the Illini among the elite in the nation. However in 2009, they had a set-back to reach that goal.

Zook was the head coach for Florida for three years before going to Illinois in 2005. His overall head coaching record is 44-53. He is an offensive minded coach as Illinois has let the Big 10 in rushing and passing over his five years. Zook's 2007 team defeated No. 1 Ohio State 28-21. Zook has never played against Nebraska.

"When someone came up with the statement `He has the fire in his belly, to be a great coach,' I think he was evaluating coaches that fit Ron Zook's profile. I had the opportunity to get to know Ron as well as watch him coach while he was at Ohio State and Florida. I recognized a coach with tremendous passion for what he does and a real compassion for those he works with and coaches."

- Dick Vermeil, Long-time NFL Head Coach