O'Strien Alleges Ron Zook Promised Him Rose Bowl Back in 2005

In the spring of my senior year at U of I, I was sitting in what was then Panera (around the corner from Joe's and Clybourne on John St., next door to That's Rentertainment) while between classes when I noticed Ron Zook, the new football coach in line. Several minutes later, it just so happened that he and I found ourselves side by side at the trash can. I muttered something along the lines of, "Bring back something to cheer for, Coach." To which Zook replied, "I'll see what I can do."

I graduated shortly thereafter and Zook and I went out separate ways: he coaching football, me moving on to law school. But the other day, I got a phone call out of the blue. It was Ron. "Did I keep my promise?" he jokingly asked. Surprised by the voice of my friend from that one fateful day so long ago, the only response I could muster was "Sure did, Coach, sure did."

After a few more laughs on the phone, we went water-skiing together and I snapped this photo of him:



(Please note that only the first paragraph of this post is actually true. Furthermore, portions of the first paragraph may not be entirely true, such as the implication that Coach Zook and I's meeting at the trash was purely random and not the result of my own calculated and intentional actions).