New coach Zook gets first look at Illinois football team

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- New Illinois football coach Ron Zook got his first on-the-field look at his team Tuesday, putting the Illini through a 2 1/2-hour session to open spring practice.

"This is the first time I've seen the quarterbacks throw the football, it's the first time I've seen the centers snap the football," said Zook, who took over in early December after Ron Turner was fired. "You're starting from scratch."

He will spend the next three weeks evaluating talent and letting his players absorb offensive and defensive schemes that are brand new. The Illini will have 14 practices before their annual spring intrasquad game April 23.

The Illini are trying to rebuild after three straight losing seasons. Since winning the Big Ten title in 2001, Illinois is just 9-25 with only five Big Ten victories.

Zook came to Illinois from Florida, where he was fired Oct. 25.

Five quarterbacks will compete for the job that was shared last season by Jon Beutjer, who graduated, Chris Pazan and Brad Bower. Pazan, a junior, is back, along with junior Tim Brasic and redshirt freshmen Billy Garza, Kisan Flakes and Mark Venegoni. Bower left the team Tuesday.