CHAMPAIGN - It may be four months until the season-opening Illini football game against Missouri, but there's plenty going on in what could become known as Zookapalooza.

For instance:

Recruiting

Most of the bountiful recruiting class coach Ron Zook signed in February won't arrive on campus until the first week of June, but Zook is never idle when it comes to recruiting. That's why he was in Cleveland on Tuesday during a period in which he can visit with high school coaches, view game films and offer only a courtesy greeting if he just happens to bump into a prospect in the halls.

This is relationship-building time for college and prep coaches.

Two recruits already are on campus, awaiting the start of classes. They are offensive lineman Mark Jackson, who arrives from Harmony Prep in Ohio, and junior college running back Daniel Dufrene of College of the Sequoias in California.

Meet 'n greets

Zook will be back soon and will be the star attraction at the six stops on the Fighting Illini Meet 'n Greet Tour, which opens May 10 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

Zook will be joined by various other coaches at each stop, including visits planned for Springfield (May 18, Illini Country Club), Peoria (May 21, Packard Plaza), Decatur (May 22, Decatur Conference Center and Hotel), Danville (May 23, Turtle Run Golf Club) and Bloomington-Normal (May 24, Bloomington Country Club). Each event begins at 7 p.m.

It's also possible (although not yet finalized) that select players might be involved in the visits. For instance, the school would love to bring Decatur players Brit Miller or Marques Wilkins to the Decatur stop, or Justin Harrison to Bloomington-Normal.

The university's compliance department is reviewing the idea.

The events are free of charge, but fans must reserve their admission at www.fightingillini.com or via a direct Internet link at www.athletics.uiuc.edu/MeetNGreet07/

The first 500 people (age 18 and over) to sign up for each event will be granted admission.

The idea of these gatherings is to seize on the building buzz for the upcoming Illini football season and to get Zook out in front of the public.

Stadium renovation

The meet 'n greets are not, however, needed to sell season tickets in the south horseshoe.

The university put those seats on sale for $60 for a complete six-game home package, calling it a "construction special," during this period of Memorial Stadium renovation. This week the complete allotment of more than 7,000 horseshoe seats was sold out, prompting the school to put on sale another 2,000 seats in the "south extensions," also for $60 for the six-game package.

The renovation project is a massive, two-year undertaking. Currently, the most visible renovation is taking place in the north end zone, where more than 7,000 permanent seats are under construction. Pre-cast concrete seating platforms are being moved into place. Seven weeks from now, this new student seating section (with the Block-I in the middle) should be finished.

The scoreboard is being moved from the north end zone and is being relocated above the middle of the south horseshoe. Supports for the scoreboard are being positioned now.

None of the luxury suites will be completed for this season, and fans entering Memorial Stadium through the Great West Hall are likely to be ushered in through temporary tunnels that send them past the dust and debris.

After the Illinois High School Association state championship games are completed in late November, the press box will be taken down, and construction of the suites and new press box will begin.

Currently, one elevator serves the stadium. Once the project is complete, six elevators will be in use.

New radio voice

A new analyst on the Illini football radio broadcast team should be announced within the next couple weeks, replacing Jim Grabowski, who retired.

Four former players are in the running. They are former quarterbacks Kurt Kittner and Jack Trudeau, former running back Howard Griffith and former tight end Matt Cushing.

At least three of the candidates have some broadcast experience.

Trudeau has done radio work in Indianapolis. Griffith has TV experience in Denver. Kittner actually sat in as an analyst on the Illini Radio Network in 2004 when Grabowski had to attend a wedding.

Free agent

Pierre Thomas has signed a free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints.

The former Illini running back was not selected in the recent NFL draft, but the Saints signed him in part because he can return kicks as well as rush from the backfield.

It also means that Thomas reunites with former Illini special teams coach Greg McMahon, who is a special teams assistant with the Saints.

It won't be easy for Thomas. The Saints already have running backs Deuce McAllister and Reggie Bush and also drafted Ohio State's Antonio Pittman in the fourth round.

Thomas led the Illini in rushing three of his four years.

Time to sing

Zook will be singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game" on Saturday, June 2, leading Cubs fans in the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field.

That's "Illini Day" at Wrigley, and basketball coach Bruce Weber will throw out the first pitch. That's a 12:05 p.m. start.

New option

Illinois plans to wear the same uniform colors this season (blue jersey, white pants at home; white jersey, orange pants on the road). But Nike has supplied new orange jerseys, giving the Illini another option, perhaps something to wear for a special occasion.

Kickoff for the Illinois-Michigan game on Oct. 20 has been set for 7 p.m. The game will be televised by ABC, ESPN or ESPN2.

Mark Tupper can be reached at mtupper@herald-review.com or 421-7983.