Luke Butkus to FIU. Now, Luke Butkus to the Jacksonville Jaguars

Dan · Jan 9, 2013, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Sources tell us Illinois OL coach Luke Butkus will join Ron Turner's staff at FIU http://FootballScoop.com/the-scoop

http://twitter.com/footballscoop

HsvIllini · Jan 9, 2013, 06:39 PM

Interesting

DanvIllini · Jan 9, 2013, 06:39 PM

not surprising...

illinidarrin · Jan 9, 2013, 06:40 PM

That is interesting. I wonder who we will get next?

KansasIllini · Jan 9, 2013, 06:46 PM

As far as assistant coaches leaving, this one is absolutely killer in my mind. Granted, we didn't have enough time to see what he can or cannot do as a coach, but to lose a former player, especially one with the name Butkus, doesn't speak very well, and pretty much sums up the current state of the program

RyanK · Jan 9, 2013, 06:47 PM

My guess is that if another coach is leaving, it will be leaked around noon Saturday.

HsvIllini · Jan 9, 2013, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanK

My guess is that if another coach is leaving, it will be leaked around noon Saturday.

Is that a strong hint?

-josh- · Jan 9, 2013, 06:55 PM

That makes wanting him fired a lot less awkward now. Good luck to the fella.

RyanK · Jan 9, 2013, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HsvIllini

Is that a strong hint?

Nope, sorry. The news of both coaches leaving both came about an hour before basketball tip off against a top 10 opponent. It reminds me of teams firing coaches on Friday so weekend news will slide the news under the rug. Who knows, maybe just coincidence.

HsvIllini · Jan 9, 2013, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyanK

Nope, sorry. The news of both coaches leaving both came about an hour before basketball tip off against a top 10 opponent. It reminds me of teams firing coaches on Friday so weekend news will slide the news under the rug. Who knows, maybe just coincidence.

Wow - coincidence maybe, but an interesting observation nonetheless.

AHSIllini32 · Jan 9, 2013, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KansasIllini

As far as assistant coaches leaving, this one is absolutely killer in my mind. Granted, we didn't have enough time to see what he can or cannot do as a coach, but to lose a former player, especially one with the name Butkus, doesn't speak very well, and pretty much sums up the current state of the program

I think you're overstating it a bit...quite a bit in fact.

Illini87InClt · Jan 9, 2013, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

I think you're overstating it a bit...quite a bit in fact.

I was thinking exactly the same. It's better that Luke Butkus moved on his own than being fired. I'm glad that Luke Butkus was given the opportunity to find a position.

AngryOrange · Jan 9, 2013, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

I think you're overstating it a bit...quite a bit in fact.

I think this hurts, but in a different manner. Butkus was our primary Chicagoland recruiter, and now the staff will have to re-establish some relationships that Butkus had already worked on. The new hire will need to have some relationships there to avoid falling backwards. From a personal level, I hate it since I went to school with him and wanted to see him do well. From a career perspective, I think this is a good move for him.

I Hate Lemonier · Jan 9, 2013, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryOrange

I think this hurts, but in a different manner. Butkus was our primary Chicagoland recruiter, and now the staff will have to re-establish some relationships that Butkus had already worked on.

+1

Butkus looked to be an emerging recruiting force and with the loss of Beatty we have now lost the two primary recruiters for AB. Hopefully his commitment remains strong.

Dan · Jan 9, 2013, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Just confirmed Luke Butkus to Florida International as run game coordinator. Makes perfect sense.

http://twitter.com/BobAsmussen

AHSIllini32 · Jan 9, 2013, 08:12 PM

So it seems Turner offered him a bit of a promotion after only one mediocre at best season as a college coach?

Dan · Jan 9, 2013, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Don't be surprised if Ron Turner hires more former Illini to his new staff.

http://twitter.com/BobAsmussen

Calilama · Jan 9, 2013, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryOrange

I think this hurts, but in a different manner. Butkus was our primary Chicagoland recruiter, and now the staff will have to re-establish some relationships that Butkus had already worked on. The new hire will need to have some relationships there to avoid falling backwards. From a personal level, I hate it since I went to school with him and wanted to see him do well. From a career perspective, I think this is a good move for him.

It is good for Luke in the sense that he will get some OC responsibilities under Turner right out of the gate and more freedom to coach, given their history together.....it is bad because Butkus belongs at Illinois...he's young and he will be back....it's also a chance for Beckman to hire an OL coach with more experience with his style of play and coaching style

AHSIllini32 · Jan 9, 2013, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Hate Lemonier

+1

Butkus looked to be an emerging recruiting force and with the loss of Beatty we have now lost the two primary recruiters for AB. Hopefully his commitment remains strong.

Butkus, according to Rivals, recruited Hinkhouse, Bailey, Panfil, and Bryce Douglas...I wouldn't say he was emerging as a recruiting force.

Bailey was reported as being "all-in" on the Illini in a tweet by a recruiting guy (I can't remember who) after Beatty was let go so I don't think losing Butkus would change that.

Calilama · Jan 9, 2013, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

So it seems Turner offered him a bit of a promotion after only one mediocre at best season as a college coach?

Maybe Turner knows more about what was going on with Luke's " mediocre" season than we do

I Hate Lemonier · Jan 9, 2013, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Butkus, according to Rivals, recruited Hinkhouse, Bailey, Panfil, and Bryce Douglas...I wouldn't say he was emerging as a recruiting force.

Bailey was reported as being "all-in" on the Illini in a tweet by a recruiting guy (I can't remember who) after Beatty was let go so I don't think losing Butkus would change that.

4 recruits including our top recruit in his first year as an assistant is pretty good. Hopefully this changes nothing with Bailey's commitment as I said but that reaffirmation came before this release.

Groundhogday · Jan 9, 2013, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KansasIllini

As far as assistant coaches leaving, this one is absolutely killer in my mind. Granted, we didn't have enough time to see what he can or cannot do as a coach, but to lose a former player, especially one with the name Butkus, doesn't speak very well, and pretty much sums up the current state of the program

I think this is a move that is best for everyone involved.

Quote:

Originally Posted by -josh-

That makes wanting him fired a lot less awkward now. Good luck to the fella.

Yes, it would have been VERY awkward to let a guy go with the name Butkus.

Calilama · Jan 9, 2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groundhogday

I think this is a move that is best for everyone involved.

Yes, it would have been VERY awkward to let a guy go with the name Butkus.

I'm with you on this one GHD....never easy being an Illini fan

Groundhogday · Jan 9, 2013, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

Butkus, according to Rivals, recruited Hinkhouse, Bailey, Panfil, and Bryce Douglas...I wouldn't say he was emerging as a recruiting force.

Bailey was reported as being "all-in" on the Illini in a tweet by a recruiting guy (I can't remember who) after Beatty was let go so I don't think losing Butkus would change that.

Butkus was the one guy on staff who was from Illinois. That will hurt, but by now all of the staff have had time to build ties to the state.

I don't see Bailey changing his commitment.

MitchP1 · Jan 9, 2013, 08:33 PM

This was only a matter of time. Butkus couldn't stand working for Beckman I just can't believe it took this long.

Jan 9, 2013, 06:55 PM	#8
-josh- Danger Zone! Location: The paign born and raised Posts: 3,210	That makes wanting him fired a lot less awkward now. Good luck to the fella. __________________ virtus junxit mors non separabit

Jan 9, 2013, 06:39 PM	#2
HsvIllini Location: Alabama Posts: 1,648	Interesting

Jan 9, 2013, 06:39 PM	#3
DanvIllini Super Lurker Location: Danville, IL Posts: 353	not surprising...

Jan 9, 2013, 06:40 PM	#4
illinidarrin Location: from parts unknown Posts: 2,115	That is interesting. I wonder who we will get next?

Jan 9, 2013, 06:46 PM	#5
KansasIllini Posts: 382	As far as assistant coaches leaving, this one is absolutely killer in my mind. Granted, we didn't have enough time to see what he can or cannot do as a coach, but to lose a former player, especially one with the name Butkus, doesn't speak very well, and pretty much sums up the current state of the program

Jan 9, 2013, 06:47 PM	#6
RyanK Posts: 2,715	My guess is that if another coach is leaving, it will be leaked around noon Saturday.

Jan 9, 2013, 08:12 PM	#16
AHSIllini32 Posts: 7,077	So it seems Turner offered him a bit of a promotion after only one mediocre at best season as a college coach?

Jan 9, 2013, 08:33 PM	#25
MitchP1 Location: Quad Cities Posts: 78	This was only a matter of time. Butkus couldn't stand working for Beckman I just can't believe it took this long.