More of the Illini football team’s dirty laundry got a little aired out last week and it not only put a stink on last year’s campaign, it may do harm to future seasons and undeservingly, head coach Ron Zook.

Rumors of former Illini Rashard Mendenhall’s disapproval of his head coach came full circle last week when he was quoted by the News-Gazette saying “as long as Ron Zook is there it will be hard for me to support the University of Illinois football team” and that he won’t be in Champaign for Homecoming this fall, despite the weekend overlapping with his new team’s bye week.

The Pittsburgh Steeler running back dismissed longtime speculation that he was upset with his brother Walter’s playing time and that the elder Mendenhall — who is transferring to Illinois State for his final year of eligibility – had much to do with why he was “ready to start walking out.” But his vagueness and willingness to denigrate the program that made him successful came off as classless and baseless without more details.

His complaints not only put a smear on the team’s recent success, it jeopardizes its future because other coaches will use the comments to woo recruits away from Illinois. Never mind the effect it may have on team morale on top of losing vital components of the team’s Rose Bowl run like himself, J Leman and Kevin Mitchell.

What makes this particularly galling is that Mendenhall got everything he needed to make it to the NFL; a strong group of players around him, a system that played into his abilities and a dream season that skyrocketed his stock to first-round value. Considering this season’s success, Zook should be given the benefit of the doubt in usual coach-player disputes about strategy, playing time and discipline. An unwillingness to treat one player as a prima donna would indicate he’s doing his job well.

If Mendenhall thinks his snub of Illinois football will cause a rift between the Illini faithful and Zook, he’s very mistaken. We wish him well in the NFL and will miss his contribution to the University, but we’ll still support the team each weekend this fall.