McGee to replace Williams against Michigan State
Eddie McGee will start at quarterback in place of Juice Williams against Michigan State, Illinois coach Ron Zook announced on his radio show this morning.
“This is not all on Juice,” he said during an interview on WDWS in Champaign. “The poor guy has at times played extremely well. But the thing you try to do in athletics is get a spark. At times we’ve looked extremely well. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but I think we need to make a little change.”
Williams has made 38 consecutive starts since taking over the job in the fourth game of his freshman season against Iowa. The Illini are 16-22 in games he has started, but they have lost six of their last seven dating back to the 2008 season.
The announcement came days after Williams became the school’s all-time leader in total offense. However, he has been unable to consistently move the Illini offense, which ranks 110th nationally in scoring.
Williams has played all three of the Illini’s games against bowl subdivision opponents with Illinois losing all three. The Illini have scored 26 points in the losses. McGee played against Illinois State after Williams was injured on the first series and led the Illini to a victory.
It’s about time Zook benched Juice. Eddie McGee deserves the chance to lead this team to wins. Juice is a running back trying to play qb. No accuracy at all on Juice throws.
And you think McGee is accurate? I agree that Juice has played horrible, but the run defense is the Illini’s problem! McGee is not nearly as accurate as Juice, which is hard to be and I think this is the wrong move.
Q5630, how can Mcgee be a mistake since Illinois can’t win under Williams. Seems to me you don’t have anything to loose since you haven’t been winning anyway. Williams reminds me of a Vick with a little less talent, can run but a lot of problems with effective passing. Perhaps with McGee, the highly touted Receiveing core can do something good.
No way is McGee LESS ACCURATE than Juice. That’s quite possibly the craziest thing I’ve read in a while.
With Juice in… and it’s been this way since prior to the Rose Bowl… we are a ONE dimensional offense. When he was successful, it was in the triple option, with an NFL caliber RB… He does not have that luxury any more.
McGee has something Juice does not have. Touch.
This may not win us 8 straight games… but it is long overdue and IS DEFINITELY the right move.
The past two years, Zook has looked to McGee to provide a spark and he usually delivers. I think this is a good move. We can’t score, something has to change.
This was the move that should have been made in the 1st game of the season. Obvious to everyone Juice is not a winner. Some great stats but cannot consistently lead a team to the victory circle. Zook waited way too long which is further evidence that he cannot coach. Regardless of how McGee plays I want to see him finish the season. No more Juice.