skyIdub
Winged Warrior
My father in-law owes me a pie if the Illini win, and I him if the hawkeyes win. He likes pecan. What type of pie should I ask for? (of course we will win)
My father in-law owes me a pie if the Illini win, and I him if the hawkeyes win. He likes pecan. What type of pie should I ask for? (of course we will win)
The kool aid is strong with these posters. If we win more than three games this year I will be EX-FREAKIN-STATIC. With an 'X'. Yes.
With a 3 - 4 win season for the Illini, what is the status of Lovie Smith as HC? Personally, I think the clock is running on this tenure if that's the win total for the season. I really wanted him to succeed but I'm not seeing the progress I expected. I didn't expect a National Championship, but I did expect to be watching the Illini play in a bowl game this year. Another goal I set for the 2018 season was to have the Illini to at least be competitive in all of their games. I wish I could offer a solution other than a coaching change because I really hate a revolving HC door for the Illini. I'll leave it at this, hopefully the Illini overachieve and make it to 6 wins and show signs of improving that for the 2019 season. Its a shame how far Illini football has fallen given the money spent on the stadium renovations and football campus as a whole. I canceled my season tickets long ago, the trip to see the games consumed a full day, and put forth an inferior product. I look forward to the day when I once again consider purchasing season tickets.
Everyone needs to remember that this is really Lovie's second season. He was hired in the spring of 2016, and the 2016 season was really nothing more than getting a staff together and getting a team on the field. My daughter was in Marching Illini for three years under the Becks regime. Those were three of the most unwatchable years of football in the history of the University. To call our program a dumpster fire would have been an insult to dumpster fires. We can all have "goals" (even though we have no ability to cause them to happen), but to think that ANYONE could come in here, and turn it in two full years is foolish and will lead to unrealistic hopes. I want to see our program back where it was in the "glory days", but it simply is not going to happen over the period of a couple of years.
If the product on the field does not improve by the eye test, I could understand potential concerns. However, even discussing the staff at this time is foolish, and does not help the program in any way. JW gave Lovie a six year deal, and staked his reputation and career on him. I put my trust in JW a lot more than (justifiably) disgruntled fans who think this job can be done in two years.
Correct. Lovie's first class are now just Sophomores. It has been a long time since I have been optimistic. I mean, last year I walked out of the 3rd quarter of the Rutgers game and did not come back the rest of the year. However, hope springs eternal and I am back with my season tickets and will be making the 3 hour one way drive yet again this Labor Day weekend.
With a 3 - 4 win season for the Illini, what is the status of Lovie Smith as HC? Personally, I think the clock is running on this tenure if that's the win total for the season. I really wanted him to succeed but I'm not seeing the progress I expected. I didn't expect a National Championship, but I did expect to be watching the Illini play in a bowl game this year. Another goal I set for the 2018 season was to have the Illini to at least be competitive in all of their games. I wish I could offer a solution other than a coaching change because I really hate a revolving HC door for the Illini. I'll leave it at this, hopefully the Illini overachieve and make it to 6 wins and show signs of improving that for the 2019 season. Its a shame how far Illini football has fallen given the money spent on the stadium renovations and football campus as a whole. I canceled my season tickets long ago, the trip to see the games consumed a full day, and put forth an inferior product. I look forward to the day when I once again consider purchasing season tickets.
If progress expected was measured in wins, I agree. I also get very frustrated by the win total. However, there is definitely progress being made. It WILL translate into wins, but it's going to be a MUCH longer process than a lot hoped for. I think Whitman sees it that way too, so unless we only win 2 games again this year (and even then), I doubt this is Lovie's last year.With a 3 - 4 win season for the Illini, what is the status of Lovie Smith as HC? Personally, I think the clock is running on this tenure if that's the win total for the season. I really wanted him to succeed but I'm not seeing the progress I expected.
I don't think this is necessarily NOT going to happen. I do think it's likely the ceiling though. If all the pieces go Illinois' way this year, a bowl game is likely the outcome. That said, I also think it's slightly naive to have expected a bowl game by season 3. We were literally at a FCS level of ability when Cubit took over, and it got worse when Lovie took over (transfers, and such). He has us looking like an actual FBS team again, and the team will compete. For a bowl this year? probably not. But in each game? We better see that.I didn't expect a National Championship, but I did expect to be watching the Illini play in a bowl game this year.
This is absolutely a realistic goal. And I think this will be the main measure of how is the "Lovie plan" working.Another goal I set for the 2018 season was to have the Illini to at least be competitive in all of their games.
You can: patience. I don't have it, and neither do a lot of NCAA football fans. It's dricing me crazy because I want 8+ wins NOW. Not 2 years from now. But... I have to fight that urge.I wish I could offer a solution other than a coaching change because I really hate a revolving HC door for the Illini.
Most of the stadium/football campus renovations happened simultaneously with or after the collapse of the football program (which I view as pretty much everything after the last Rose Bowl season). Plus, I think the Stadium renovations themselves (not the surrounding football campus) were very short sighted and misguided. Those renovations have ruined the atmosphere at Memorial Stadium just as much as poor team play.I'll leave it at this, hopefully the Illini overachieve and make it to 6 wins and show signs of improving that for the 2019 season. Its a shame how far Illini football has fallen given the money spent on the stadium renovations and football campus as a whole.
I do hope you reconsider. I get so frustrated at the games, but the day as a whole is always fun. Grange Grove is the best addition to the Illinois football program in almost 3 decades. The campus and all of Champaign/Urbana is just wonderful on fall days. If you forget about the catastrophe of the game (and that is getting better), the rest of the day/weekend is awesome!I canceled my season tickets long ago, the trip to see the games consumed a full day, and put forth an inferior product. I look forward to the day when I once again consider purchasing season tickets.
Whenever someone hints at firing Lovie, I am always curious what they think step 2 is. Who takes the job knowing they only have 2 years to turn it around before they get fired too? Do you really want a coach that desperate for a P5 job?
You are talking like this year is already played out. We have good enough players to win 4 or 5 games. The key has been our quarterback play or lack thereof. I agree with Lovie that a dual threat quatrterback is the best for college. We have always had a passer or runner, but not a combo. We are not going to attract the top pro passing guys anyway. Give us a chance. I think the key to the season is keeping AJ and some other key players healthy.With a 3 - 4 win season for the Illini, what is the status of Lovie Smith as HC? Personally, I think the clock is running on this tenure if that's the win total for the season. I really wanted him to succeed but I'm not seeing the progress I expected. I didn't expect a National Championship, but I did expect to be watching the Illini play in a bowl game this year. Another goal I set for the 2018 season was to have the Illini to at least be competitive in all of their games. I wish I could offer a solution other than a coaching change because I really hate a revolving HC door for the Illini. I'll leave it at this, hopefully the Illini overachieve and make it to 6 wins and show signs of improving that for the 2019 season. Its a shame how far Illini football has fallen given the money spent on the stadium renovations and football campus as a whole. I canceled my season tickets long ago, the trip to see the games consumed a full day, and put forth an inferior product. I look forward to the day when I once again consider purchasing season tickets.
Any pie at Rick’s Bakery in UrbanaMy father in-law owes me a pie if the Illini win, and I him if the hawkeyes win. He likes pecan. What type of pie should I ask for? (of course we will win)
If I needed to describe this thread with one GIF...
I am to the point of wanting the next two seasons to get over with NOT because of the expected product on the field, but just to stop having this conversation about Lovie getting fired!
Slight eye roll with the Miles Smith promotion. If its just for this year, I'm 1000% ok with it. I'll be skeptical if he remains in the role next year.
If you look at coaches' resumes, they bounce around the positions all the time. You pick up X's and O's and techniques by being around football since they get out of diapers. How did Beckman qualify as DBs coach? Even if he did play there ...Does that make him the d-back coach? Did he play d-back? I don't know that I could take instructions from somebody who's never played my position.
At least they'll have an extra body out there recruiting. Is it possible to demote someone back to a GA? I don't think Lovie would just outright fire him.