Ron Zook Is Ready for His Closeup

Now that the Big Ten Network and Comcast cable have finally come to an agreement that will actually allow the majority of Big Ten fans to see the network, it's time to figure out what exactly they're going to be showing to fill all that dead air between Iowa/Indiana lacrosse matches and Minnesota/Penn State tennis.

Last season the BTN did a series called "The Journey" in which they followed Tubby Smith and the Minnesota basketball team around during the season and chronicled the changes taking place under Smith. The series was a success, and the network will be doing it again this season, with the focus of the show being on Ron Zook and Illinois' football program.

BTN officials plan to announce Thursday the Illini will be featured in Season 2. Minnesota and its first-year basketball coach, Tubby Smith, were the series' guinea pigs.

"I talked with Tubby and he was impressed with their professionalism," Zook said. "He had the same fears in the beginning as I do."

Chief among those fears?

"This will be like having someone in your bedroom," Zook said.

Whether or not there will be any segments in which we follow the Zooker as he goes water skiing, I don't know, but I have my fingers crossed.

Illinois wasn't actually the BTN's first choice, as they also considered following Joe Tiller at Purdue as he enters his final season as head coach of the Boilers, or Rich Rodriguez as he enters his first season at Michigan. They only made the pitch to Michigan, though, and Rodriguez turned them down. I guess he has enough on his plate already.

Personally, I would have been fine if they covered Wisconsin's water polo team. I'm just happy to finally have the Big Ten Network here in Chicago. It tends to make covering the conference somewhat easier when you can actually see the games.