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The Illini are 5-2 this season, and though the season is only halfway over, no matter what happens this season has been a success for the program. Which is probably why the school has given Ron Zook a three-year contract extension.

The three-year extension now means Zook is under contract until 2012. There are also provisions in the contract that give Zook a bonus if the team makes a bowl game. So that means with one more win, Ron Zook's salary will jump from $1.055 million to $1.505 million.

Zook is obviously happy with his new deal.

"It makes you feel good that they feel like we've made progress,'' the 53-year-old Ohio native said. ''This is where I want to be. I'm excited about the opportunity to stay here.

''We've just seen the tip of the iceberg, where the program can go. We just have to continue the things we've been doing. It's a lot of fun for everybody.''

Considering what Zook's accomplishing in Champaign, this deal isn't unexpected, and it's definitely not undeserved. Zook has taken over a football program at a basketball school in the heart of a basketball state, and he's turned that team into the center of attention. The turnaround in Zook's three years has been nothing short of amazing.