Taking the field for the first day of spring practice Tuesday, the Illini football team looked a little different.

Among the new coaching staff and a few players changing positions, quarterback Brad Bower’s absence was the most noticeable change on the field.

Bower, a redshirt freshman in the 2004 season, told head coach Ron Zook of his intention to leave the squad Tuesday morning. He missed practice Monday.

“We tried to keep him here but he felt like he maybe wants to go a different direction,” Zook said.

Bower had been working out with the team until Monday, and Zook said the decision to leave was unexpected.

Zook said Bower has not decided anything about playing football in the future.

“I think it wasn’t a football issue, I think it was more of a personal issue,” Zook said.

Bower played in seven games for the Illini last season. He jumped between first and second on the depth chart, filling in when senior Jon Beutjer struggled with his game.

He completed 57 of 100 passes, passing for 658 yards and four touchdowns.

“We wish him well, wish him the best of luck,” Zook said.

Old players struggle with

new offense

In Ron Zook’s first practice as head coach, the Illini got their first chance to execute his new offense. Zook’s style is vastly different from former coach Ron Turner’s, using a spread formation that requires the athletes to remember more plays.

“I know with a lot of young guys coming in, that’s going to be kind of difficult, and for older guys being used to one system and now going to a new system, trying to memorize everything, it’s a learning process,” said running back E.B. Halsey.

While the first day with the new offense showed that there is still a long way to go before the players face Rutgers on Sept. 4, it was a good first step.

“There’s a lot of mental mistakes out here today, but we played pretty hard and I think it’s just going to keep building up and building up until next season,” defensive tackle Ryan Matha said.

Halsey said the players are eager to prove their skills and get back to the game.

“It was just good to get back out here and run around and do something in the football aspect of things,” Halsey said.

Injury report

Defensive back Justin Harrison will sit out spring workouts with a hip injury, but will be back for the fall.

Other injuries include lineman Dan Motuliak and tight end Zach Gray, who has suffered back problems lately.

Quote of the day:

“In our meeting yesterday I used a lot of examples of our basketball team and how good of a job they’ve done, how good of a team they are, which is a tribute to our basketball team. It’s a tribute to Coach Weber and his staff and the job that they’ve done.”

– Football coach Ron Zook on the Illini basketball team