[NU Sports] Re: Vince Okruch on leave from Illinois

[Christopher Bailey]

My guess: Barnett saw a defense slipping into reverse, unable to get over the hump, (insert metaphor here).

Okruch left Colorado (U of C) after 2003.

In 2001, U of C went 10-2, 7-1 (Big XII champs, lose to Oregon 38-16 in Fiesta Bowl)
In 2002, U of C went 9-5, 7-1 (BigXII north champs, lose by 3 to Wisconsin in Alamo Bowl)
in 2003, U of C went 5-7, 3-5 

Points given up, by year
2000: 284
2001: 318
2002: 325
2003: 398

It is my understanding that Colorado state employees ... with very few exceptions, including the U of C head football coach ... are given one year contracts.  This would likely have included Okruch.

Of course, there's the cynical side of me that says Barnett sacrificed Okruch to save himself.

A fairly good ... albeit pro-Okruch ... read on the matter can be found here:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2004/writers/michael_bradley/07/22/el.hombre/index.html

Christopher Bailey
christopher_bailey at yahoo.com




----- John DeGroat asked ----

Anyone know why Barnett bounced Vince?