Fading into the light

Stress was a topic during the Big Ten football coaches teleconference this week. That leads us directly to Champaign, Ill., where Ron Zook is feeling the heat.

After a 6-0 start, the Fighting Illini are 6-4 heading into their final two games of the season, against Leaders Division power Wisconsin and at Minnesota.

Zook began his Tuesday news conference by warning reporters he would end the session if they asked about his job security. He took questions for 20 minutes before being asked if he talked to his players about taking questions on his situation.

"You just couldn't let it go, could you?" Zook said before he walked away from the podium.

Not only have the Illini lost four straight, after last week's home loss to Michigan, Illinois linebacker Trulon Henry was lost for the season after being shot in the hand and two other players were arrested in another incident.

First-year athletics director Mike Thomas said this week he will evaluate Zook's performance at the end of the season. Zook has two years remaining on his contract at $1.3 million a year. If he was fired at the end of the season, the university would have to pay him the full $2.6 million buyout.

Coincidentally, each coach was asked about the stress the job of a Big Ten football coach carries.

"The one difference between our jobs and many, what we do is out there a little bit more to be discussed or critiqued," Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. "Times have changed . . . there are more critiquers and more watchers than 30 years ago. Maybe not more, but there are so many more ways to communicate.

"It's a great job, and in some ways you enjoy that stress, if you want to call it stress."

Zook did finish his 10 minutes on the teleconference. Whether or not he finishes his contract in Champaign, where he's 4-20 against ranked opponents, remains to be seen.

"We've got some changes we're going to take a look at," he said. "Hopefully, that will give us a spur, give us a shot in the arm."