Mrs. Mendenhall May Be The Driving Force Behind Her Son's Dislike of Ron Zook

Yesterday I wrote about Rashard Mendenhall and his feelings towards his former college coach Ron Zook. Those feelings not exactly being positive, as Mendenhall said that as long as Zook is still coaching at Illinois, he won't be returning to the school or watching games from the sidelines.

This also means that when Rashard makes his debut on Monday Night Football or Sunday Night Football, he's probably going to say "Rashard Mendenhall, running back, Niles West High School."

In the post I theorized that Rashard's feelings towards Zook probably stem from the fact that his brother, Walter, never got any real playing time in Champaign, and has recently transferred to Illinois State. Rashard was often quoted saying that his brother was just as good as he is, and should get more playing time.

Well, it turns out that may be the case after all, but it may have been Rashard's mother who was stirring the pot. According to something I read on the PJStar.com forums, Rashard's mother wanted to take her kids out if Illinois before last season.

From a poster named Wholinson:

OK, you want the details of the rift between the Mendenhalls and the staff. Here is the story:

Last year, before Rashard's junior season, the players' mother came in and discussed a possible transfer to Cincinnati for both players, the impetus being that Walter wasn't being given a fair shake and that the brothers wanted to play together in the same backfield. They only would stay if Zook would adhere to certain playing conditions for both.

Zook said sorry, we think highly of both kids and Walter would be given a fair look, but there would be no conditions and no promises. And if they wanted to transfer, Zook said he would be sorry to see that because both are good students and have made significant progress toward degrees, but agreed he would sign the release papers if that really is what they wanted. At that point, the mother backed off and both players stayed. And of course, Rashard had the big season.

Before and during the season, the coaches tried to give Walter fair chances during spring, camp, etc. A chance to be the backup ahead of Dufrene and/or Pollard. You would much rather have a veteran player who knows the offense and has put in his time win the job over two new guys.

But despite that, the coaches just didn't believe he was as good as them. Didn't change directions, didn't have quick feet, didn't find the hole. A kid that worked hard and tried, but a player that just wasn't a Big Ten running back, in their opinion. And their first responsibility is to the University of Illinois to put the best players are the field.

Obviously, you are trying like crazy to win games, so if Walter would have been the second best back, why wouldn't you play him? They just didn't think he was.

During the season, the mother was upset he wasn't playing more. At least one parent of a prominent Illinois player told Zook that the Mendenhall's Mom told her that she should pull her kid out of Illinois, that he should transfer because the coaches wouldn't be fair to him. The parent was very upset about it and told Zook. The player is a very, very good player (Edit. Note: I guess that rules out Juice Williams) who starts.

That was a big red flag to Zook -- that the Mendenhall's mother would tell another mother that she should take her kid out of Illinois.

Then, at season's end, came the conversation that got very heated.

In most programs, most fifth year players who haven't played much and who have a degree (Walter is earning his this semester) and who probably aren't going to play much usually choose not to return. Whether it's Chris Pazan or Billy Garza or J.J. Simmons or Walter Mendenhall or whoever. They have their degree, they have a fully paid for education, and why go through another camp and 6 a.m.'s and all of that to not play very much for a fifth year.

So when Zook and Reggie Mitchell explained to Walter that and asked if he still wanted to come back given all of that, Walter became very upset. He believed he was the team's best running back, that he wasn't being given a chance.

Later, Walter, Rashard and the mother all came in to discuss it further. Zook reiterated that the important thing was the degree. And that he didn't think Walter would play very much if he came back. But, if given all of that, he wanted to come back and play his fifth year, he again would be on scholarship and given a fair chance.

At that point, the mother was very angry. She said why would he come back when it is clear they didn't want him. And all three of them got up and left. None of them have spoken since.

Now, obviously, this is from a post on a message board and it's entirely possible that this is just somebody making crap up. At the same time, though, it's just as possible this entire story is true. You'd be surprised how often I read things on these message boards (particularly when it comes to college sports) while researching stories at FanHouse, ignore them because of the source, and then see the same story hitting ESPN a week or so later.

Personally, I'm inclined to believe it right now because it supports my theory from yesterday, but you'll have to decide for yourself what you think.