Bill Cubit gets 2-year deal as Illinois Head Football Coach

Status
Not open for further replies.
#276      
drwillini
A few weeks ago I said this was the best alternative. Not saying at all that I like it, but no coach worth anything is going to step into our dysfunctional athletic department unless he is flat out bought, and I don't think anybody in the decision making hierarchy is going to go out on that limb at this point. You all need to face facts, the state is in disarray. The university is a mess, and frankly has bigger things to sort out than a football program that has not garnered intense fan interest since the 80s.

Anybody that thinks there was a choice between Bill Cubit and Les Miles is nuts. Let's take I guy I would like to see, but many folks on the board would not be happy with - Brock Spack. Why would Brock Spack take our job, short of having money thrown at him, when he is happy at ISU, would be leaving to work for an unknown boss working for an unknown boss, and there is a good chance that Purdue will be open in a year when Hazell's buyout is manageable. Honestly, most of you would be disappointed with Spack, and I don't think we would move for us. We are a delusional fan base. There are many things that make our program attractive, but from a football coaches perspective, it starts with having an AD than can build on them.
 
#277      
Hoppy2105
So I'm going to step back and see this for what it is, a stop-gap. It could have been a hidden stop-gap but PK's quote highlighted it for the world to see. I'm also going to ASSUME (please let this happen) it's because we are on the verge of getting the AD we want and know that hot shot AD will be able to pull in an awesome HC. That's the plan...awesome.

What really pisses me off is that they fired MT because he had some peripheral exposure to the TB scandal, and would "remind" the players of all this bad stuff that happened. YET, they are keeping the freaking staff that LITERALLY worked with the guy every day, the players will see way more often than MT, and could very well have known more than MT.

That hypocrisy and talking out of both sides of their mouth is what really pisses me off about this thing.

In the next press conference, I think someone needs to ask them this question and keep asking until they get an honest answer. Make em sweat...
 
#278      
IlliniFanHere
We should have fired Beckman last year, now we've completed another losing season and signed on to 2 more years of losing football. That puts us at least 4 years behind other football programs. It's heartbraking how far this program has slipped, with no logical end in sight. All we have now is an Interim Chancellor who has no clue about football and it's significance to Illinois.
 
#279      
WesterveltVictoryCigar
IlliniFanHere said:
We should have fired Beckman last year, now we've completed another losing season and signed on to 2 more years of losing football. That puts us at least 4 years behind other football programs. It's heartbraking how far this program has slipped, with no logical end in sight. All we have now is an Interim Chancellor who has no clue about football and it's significance to Illinois.
Click to expand...

The real sad part is we haven't "slipped", we're pretty much right where we've been since the Tepper days. We've had rare moments of brilliance (Sugar Bowl, Rose Bowl), but this is really our "normal" state, unfortunately.
 
#280      
Joel Goodson
If Thomas really was a dead man walking, why didn't we cut ties with him sooner? Then we could've had a new AD and he'd be able to select a coach. Instead, we get this. No bueno.
 
#281      
Cymoin
Another key reason none of the existing players will leave and why they support Cubit is because 90% of them would never see the field with a power 5 school...except the other 1 or 2 bottom-feeders in those conferences.

Seriously, how many players on the existing roster are the result of recruiting battles with other power 5 schools where the competition fought hard to the end and we won out?

You know why there have been so many drops this year by receivers? That is the level of talent we have right now. You could argue that, overall, the defense has played far better than the offense this year.

BTW, did you see Aaron Bailey's highlights from Northern Iowa's destruction of EIU yesterday? His passing was as impressive as his running.

And spare me the talk about withholding donations. The DIA gets 90% of their funding from about 20% of the donors/B1G revenue sharing. They won't miss your donations unless your last name is Khan and I don't think he comes on this site much.

Recruiting won't suffer because this has become a destination for kids who want to play in a power 5 conference AND get a top shelf degree (emphasis on the latter)...and know this is one of about 5 or 6 potential landing spots based on their skill sets.

Of the players recruited by Beckman/Cubit, how many do you REALLY think are going to be playing on Sundays in the future? 2? 3?

The leadership at the U of I is non-existent right now. None of what we are seeing should surprise us. So if you are beyond angry, take a break. Spend more time with your family, take up a new hobby, focus more on the pro sports teams you follow. We're talking about a college football team that has almost never been relevant on the national scene. Who invests tons of time in something that never produces a return? The fault lies with us if we fuss and fume yet stay in the dysfunctional relationship.
 
#282      
JucoIllini10
drwillini said:
A few weeks ago I said this was the best alternative. Not saying at all that I like it, but no coach worth anything is going to step into our dysfunctional athletic department unless he is flat out bought, and I don't think anybody in the decision making hierarchy is going to go out on that limb at this point. You all need to face facts, the state is in disarray. The university is a mess, and frankly has bigger things to sort out than a football program that has not garnered intense fan interest since the 80s.

Anybody that thinks there was a choice between Bill Cubit and Les Miles is nuts. Let's take I guy I would like to see, but many folks on the board would not be happy with - Brock Spack. Why would Brock Spack take our job, short of having money thrown at him, when he is happy at ISU, would be leaving to work for an unknown boss working for an unknown boss, and there is a good chance that Purdue will be open in a year when Hazell's buyout is manageable. Honestly, most of you would be disappointed with Spack, and I don't think we would move for us. We are a delusional fan base. There are many things that make our program attractive, but from a football coaches perspective, it starts with having an AD than can build on them.
Click to expand...

I'm really not buying that not one quality coach would have taken this job. Someone has already mentioned that a number of quality coaches have been hired at other schools without a perminent AD in place. Do not underestimate the draw of becoming a HC at a Power5 school no matter how dismal the history of the team or current state of the administration. Many on here would argue that Matt Campbell is a talented young coach. He is rumored to be interested in Iowa State. We are bad but we are no Iowa State. I'm no Fleck superfan but at the very least he would have added a recruiting boost beyond Cubit's collection of 2* and 3* recruits. Babers is rumored to be interviewing at UCF. They have potential as an organization but we have to be a better landing spot than an 0-12 AAC team.

Any of these guys could fall flat on their face at Illinois but at least there would be potential for growth. We have seen the peak of Cubit's ability, 6-6. Arguing that no one will come here is an unrealistic, defeatist thought process.
 
#283      
IlliniFanHere
Interim Chancellor Wilson insists we need to Move Forward ... regardless of where "Forward" really is.
 
#284      
Chris Yates
IlliniFanHere said:
Interim Chancellor Wilson insists we need to Move Forward ... regardless of where "Forward" really is.
Click to expand...

Let's stoke this dumpster fire a little more: hire Julie Hermann as our new athletic director! :thumb:
 
#286      
drwillini
I would rather give Cubit an extra year to let our dysfunctional administration get its house in order than to commit to Fleck or Babers having 4 years to win with their own players. Fleck and Babers first years in the MAC are not significantly different from Beckman or Cubits over their first years. I think we can get a big name. We have a lot going for us. But what we need is an energetic AD selling his vision to the right coach.

We will probably just have to disagree on this. I don't think any coach that has options is going to sign up for this madness w/o knowing who his boss or boss's boss is. The only guy I could see taking the job is Fleck, and I think that says a lot about both the job and Fleck.

There is a lot going for Illinois, but at this point it is all hypothetical and theoretical, not reality. We need an AD with a vision to sell it to a coach that has other good options. I'm talking about a Miles or a Foster kind of guy. Maybe even a Peyton or Childress. We can get this kind of guys, but nobody is going to trust Barb what's her name to hire a Cecil Coleman type of AD.

As much as it stinks, this was the right move, and I'm happy about it. All you can do it play the cards your dealt as best you can.
 
#287      
Sybok
drwillini said:
I would rather give Cubit an extra year to let our dysfunctional administration get its house in order than to commit to Fleck or Babers having 4 years to win with their own players. Fleck and Babers first years in the MAC are not significantly different from Beckman or Cubits over their first years. I think we can get a big name. We have a lot going for us. But what we need is an energetic AD selling his vision to the right coach.
Click to expand...
Well let's see if this passes the smell test with each coach's first two years in the MAC...

Babers
2014, 8-6, 5-3, 1st MAC East and wins bowl game
2015 9-3 7-1 1st Place MAC East and bowl game TBD
Record with BGSU so far, 17-9 overall, 12-4 in conference

Beckman
2009 Toledo, 5-7, 3-5, 4th MAC West and no bowl game
2010 Toledo, 8-5, 7-1, 2nd MAC West and lost Little Caesars Pizza Bowl
Record first two years with Toledo, 13-12 overall and 10-6 in conference.

Babers will have two bowl appearances with at least one bowl win. Beckman? Not so much. One is not like the other.
 
#288      
Deleted member 29907
The University of Illinois announced today Bill Cubit and the school have agreed to a two-year agreement making Cubit the Head Football Coach, pending approval by the U of I Board of Trustees.

---------

Did the U of I Board of Trustees approve this yet?
 
#289      
sigint
Shaign said:
I'm interested to see if he makes any coaching changes. I don't know if there are upgrades willing to come here but this staff really needs to coach these kids up especially when you're getting average recruits.
Click to expand...

I'd be pretty surprised if Cubit would be able to attract anything resembling a coaching upgrade in assistants (interim status hurts more than just player recruiting).

However, to take a break from my constant complaining, I believe Beckman's departure leaves us a coach short as far as the staff overall is concerned? If that's correct, I wonder what we do with that position.
 
#290      
HerbertFish
sigint said:
I'd be pretty surprised if Cubit would be able to attract anything resembling a coaching upgrade in assistants (interim status hurts more than just player recruiting).

However, to take a break from my constant complaining, I believe Beckman's departure leaves us a coach short as far as the staff overall is concerned? If that's correct, I wonder what we do with that position.
Click to expand...
Ryan Cubit will be offensive coordinator
 
#291      
Hoppy2105
sigint said:
I'd be pretty surprised if Cubit would be able to attract anything resembling a coaching upgrade in assistants (interim status hurts more than just player recruiting).

However, to take a break from my constant complaining, I believe Beckman's departure leaves us a coach short as far as the staff overall is concerned? If that's correct, I wonder what we do with that position.
Click to expand...

Wasn't Nate Scheelhaase promoted?
 
#295      
Lancelot
VAIllini35 said:
Did the U of I Board of Trustees approve this yet?
Click to expand...

The BOT meets every other month, and usually things need to get on the agenda a week or two in advance. Looks like the next meeting is January 21, 2016 in Chicago, my guess is approval would be at that meeting.
 
#298      
illinibb76
Innuendo's

Since our HC was suggesting during an interview that there were recruits waiting to see if he got the HC job should we not be anticipating a "Boatload" of top recruits committing this week?:popcorn::whoo::rock:
 
#299      
dgcrow
illinibb76 said:
Since our HC was suggesting during an interview that there were recruits waiting to see if he got the HC job should we not be anticipating a "Boatload" of top recruits committing this week?:popcorn::whoo::rock:
Click to expand...

Well, at least a kayak load. :thumb:
 
#300      
breadman
Don't we already have a good example of an upgrade in coaching with Phair? If so, I would be expecting to see at last one more upgrade of similar quality. After all, we all experienced the magic of Zook bringing in Koenning on D and whoever that was on O. And if Cubit Jr. is going to be the defacto OC, maybe he will have a better series of play calling than the head coach from here on out.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back