What's going to happen with the Zooker?

Someone made a comment that Zook was going to be fired by Illinois at the end of the season.  This was my response:

Illinois can't afford to fire him. The state is almost bankrupt and money is scarce at UI.  Zooker's there through 2013.

His contract ends in January 2014.  Only way the school ends his $1.5 million guaranteed salary early is if boosters step up to pay it off early.  They are hemorrhaging money as it is though if attendance declines it is possible firing him might be a bit more attractive. 

Illinois attendance
---------------------
48,097 03
47,852 05
43,445 06
54,872 07
61,707 08
59,545 09

Since Zook was hired attendance has actually increased by over 10,000 per game so he's not done too bad (10,000 x $40/ticket x 7 games = $2.8mm). 

He seems to have a backer in the athletic director who is staying for at least another year.  My guess is the school will work towards a "softer" transition like what happened at Florida State and Bowden.  One thing that Zook is good at is recruiting and he can set up the next regime nicely in the meantime.

Only time will tell if I a right.