BoolahBoolah
- Scottsdale, AZ
It's definitely not unanimous. I know a couple people that do speak highly of him. I also know of a couple donors who have stopped donating completely until we have a new AD.
Illini Women's Basketball Allegations
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It's definitely not unanimous. I know a couple people that do speak highly of him. I also know of a couple donors who have stopped donating completely until we have a new AD.
Yes. Many considered Bollant to be the really great get at the time. Ultimately the revenue sports are how he is measured, but at the time, Bollant was the splashiest hire of the three.
Wow. Holy cow is right!
I agree as to the negative assessment of MT on a personal level. Let's just say that sincerity and warmth, at least by outward appearances, are not strengths.
But, even if MT were Mr. Charming, he should be nervous about his job after this. His hires in the high profile sports are either unsuccessful, and/or bringing bad publicity (Beckman and Bollant), and/or the jury is still out (JG).
But, even if MT were Mr. Charming, he should be nervous about his job after this. His hires in the high profile sports are either unsuccessful, and/or bringing bad publicity (Beckman and Bollant), and/or the jury is still out (JG).
I have to assume it is. If either Bollant or Beckman had these types of issues previously, you would think they would have surfaced previously, but as we have seen many times, things may not surface for years or never surface. With the WBB situation, that would seem to me to be something more likely to have surfaced because of the sport and female athletes. Also wouldn't seem like something a coach/staff would just start to do at a new school, but not the old.
What's frightening, if true, is the claim in one of the letters that Divilbiss had almost a 20 year history of player abuse at Idaho and Green Bay - and that Bollant was aware of it and still hired him.
IlliWilson
I
Guest
The entire women's bball staff has to go. And probably Mike Thomas as well.
Try to get Tom Michael back as the new AD, and let's start over.
As a fan and alum, those letters are disgusting. These are multiple players in the same program highlighting a wide array of issues. This makes Simon C's accusations look like nothing.
Bollant needs to be fired immediately, based on that. Wow. Terrible.
I'm starting to lean towards a full housecleaning. Bollant and Thomas need to go immediately. Beckman and Groce have one last chance.
Exactly - I'm not even a parent and they disgust me. I cannot imagine having a child go through that.
Yep. Sad stuff.
This is just awful. I will say that I appreciate how these student athletes and parents have handled this. If Simon C. had taken the same approach, we may have taken his claims more seriously. Let's hope the University does the right thing in both cases and gets to the facts and hold all responsible parties accountable. This is not reflective of the University of Illinois we all love.
Illiniaaron
- Geneseo, IL
I do not follow the women's basketball program at Illinois but i do have daughters. Reading those parents' letters made me sick to my stomach and feel terrible for those girls and their parents. I'm not trying to sound like a "tough guy" but if my daughters were being treated that way I would have made a personal trip down to the university and laid my hands on the coach that was doing it, and then would have gotten my child the hell out of there. If any of those allegations are true the whole staff needs to go and Thomas put on a very short leash.
Bollant has got to go
sbillini
- st petersburg, fl
Even if what's alleged in those letters is half true, the whole WBB coaching staff has to go. Just sickening. And it has to be done now. No excuses, no qualifications.
In terms of MT, I agree that he has to be put on a short leash, but he should go if it becomes clear he knew but did not do anything about it. One of the letters mentioned they spoke to him about it but didn't seem to specify the timeline. If he wasn't aware, then I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
Even with the ebbs and seemingly more ebbs of the Illini athletics program, I've always been proud of the fact that we run a clean program that holds integrity and academics above all else. SC's allegations are still, in my opinion, largely unsubstantiated. This seems very much the opposite, and admin will need to make it clear that they will work to restore faith of the staff, student, and alumni base.
In terms of MT, I agree that he has to be put on a short leash, but he should go if it becomes clear he knew but did not do anything about it. One of the letters mentioned they spoke to him about it but didn't seem to specify the timeline. If he wasn't aware, then I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
Even with the ebbs and seemingly more ebbs of the Illini athletics program, I've always been proud of the fact that we run a clean program that holds integrity and academics above all else. SC's allegations are still, in my opinion, largely unsubstantiated. This seems very much the opposite, and admin will need to make it clear that they will work to restore faith of the staff, student, and alumni base.
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I agree that at a minimum Bollant must go and probably the entire staff should be dismissed. My question about MT is did he have exit interviews with the young women that were leaving the program and what did they tell him. I do think that MT needs to be put on a very short lease and watched closely.
You would have to think there's at least some truth to it, otherwise I don't know that Divilbiss would be gone already.
sbillini
- st petersburg, fl
Yes, I agree with that. But typically you want to have a hard piece of evidence to hang your hat on as to why it's happening. I'm guessing they had that for Divilbiss but maybe not for Bollant (yet). Otherwise why not do all at once? Maybe the whole discussing the depression situation on a radio show would be it (although then the questions becomes why it took so long). Regardless, my expectation of what's occurring right now is admin substantiating what they can and putting together the ammo that they need (which I'm assuming shouldn't be terribly difficult). Once that happens, announcements should be coming, and coming quick.
I would agree with that.
A certain clarity of focus for deliberate action comes into play, Dad-wise. I agree.
Starting to get national attention now
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