Anyone know what happened between these 2 last year. B&B had a story today, how Mendenhall said it will be hard for him to support Illinois football while Zook is still coaching. The piece went on to say that Mendenhall was to the point of quitting last season, but his brother talked him out of it, and that he didn't really enjoy the season as much as he should have. Any insight on what happened between these 2?

I read something about Rashard being upset that his brother wasn't getting more playing time last year and that he thought the brother should be the guy this year now that he is gone. That all went bad, brother leaves school and Rashard has bad feeling toward Zook and staff.

Not sure if that's the story but that's what I remember reading.

_________________
You know me like that.

Wasn't the added piece to the story that Zook and the Mendenhall family sat down well after Rashard declared and talked about how Walter fit in the plans for next year and Zook basically told him he didn't.

Well, they probably didn't start off well because RM was a Ron Turner recruit and many times a new coach comes in and recruits his own players to play and alienates the former recruits. I don't get that friendly-guy vibe from Zook. I think he's the win at any cost type, which i'm sure many Illinois fans want since they haven't done much of that lately until last season.

_________________
Forward, Together Forward

Go Huskies!!!

This was a "cut and paste" of someone else on this board who claimed to have the inside scoop on the Mendenhall's vs. Zook. I tend to be on the Zook side of things... sounds like Ms. Mendenhall was one of those maniac Mom;s who do more harm than good by sowing discontent about Walter's playing time.




"Last year, before Rashard's junior season, the players' mother came in and discussed a possible transfer to Cincinnati for both players, the impetus being that Walter wasn't being given a fair shake and that the brothers wanted to play together in the same backfield. They only would stay if Zook would adhere to certain playing conditions for both.

Zook said sorry, we think highly of both kids and Walter would be given a fair look, but there would be no conditions and no promises. And if they wanted to transfer, Zook said he would be sorry to see that because both are good students and have made significant progress toward degrees, but agreed he would sign the release papers if that really is what they wanted. At that point, the mother backed off and both players stayed. And of course, Rashard had the big season.

Before and during the season, the coaches tried to give Walter fair chances during spring, camp, etc. A chance to be the backup ahead of Dufrene and/or Pollard. You would much rather have a veteran player who knows the offense and has put in his time win the job over two new guys.

But despite that, the coaches just didn't believe he was as good as them. Didn't change directions, didn't have quick feet, didn't find the hole. A kid that worked hard and tried, but a player that just wasn't a Big Ten running back, in their opinion. And their first responsibility is to the University of Illinois to put the best players are the field.

Obviously, you are trying like crazy to win games, so if Walter would have been the second best back, why wouldn't you play him? They just didn't think he was.

During the season, the mother was upset he wasn't playing more. At least one parent of a prominent Illinois player told Zook that the Mendenhall's Mom told her that she should pull her kid out of Illinois, that he should transfer because the coaches wouldn't be fair to him. The parent was very upset about it and told Zook. The player is a very, very good player who starts.

That was a big red flag to Zook -- that the Mendenhall's mother would tell another mother that she should take her kid out of Illinois.

Then, at season's end, came the conversation that got very heated.

In most programs, most fifth year players who haven't played much and who have a degree (Walter is earning his this semester) and who probably aren't going to play much usually choose not to return. Whether it's Chris Pazan or Billy Garza or J.J. Simmons or Walter Mendenhall or whoever. They have their degree, they have a fully paid for education, and why go through another camp and 6 a.m.'s and all of that to not play very much for a fifth year.

So when Zook and Reggie Mitchell explained to Walter that and asked if he still wanted to come back given all of that, Walter became very upset. He believed he was the team's best running back, that he wasn't being given a chance.

Later, Walter, Rashard and the mother all came in to discuss it further. Zook reiterated that the important thing was the degree. And that he didn't think Walter would play very much if he came back. But, if given all of that, he wanted to come back and play his fifth year, he again would be on scholarship and given a fair chance.

At that point, the mother was very angry. She said why would he come back when it is clear they didn't want him. And all three of them got up and left. None of them have spoken since."