I want to give a shout out to Cubit and the staff! Despite our administration screwing up over the last few years, Bill and his staff handled things with class! We should have a thank you page that makes sure he knows that we are proud of his contribution to our university and our student athletes. Thank you Coach!
Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach
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BZuppke
- Plainfield
Timing comes down to whether we can waive the job posting period. I think we can and that's what JFW was alluding to when he mentioned adhering to the process etc. again I would think with spring practice coming and let's face it this being a minority hire, no one will complain about waiving the posting period. Nor should they
ILL in IA
- Iowa City
I will admit I have always been a "get me through football season with 6 wins and a bowl game, so I can start basketball season in a good mood" fan of Illinois football. That has now changed. I'm not saying I now have national championship or bust hopes, but making this move has me excited for Illinois football, for the first time in......ever. No longer a stop gap till hoops season.
South Farms
- near Ogden & Rt 83
A Monday presser (between 10-1 ) makes most sense.
Highly doubt they have any assistant coaches to announce yet.
Look for spring practice to be delayed until spring break is over
sdfidaho
- Boise, Idaho
Good post!
I'm very curious about this. People are making it sound like we could pay him nothing and he would still earn the same amount of money (up to $10 million). That's obviously not right...
Dan
Admin
Learjet is heading back to CU
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/FSR103
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/FSR103
ChainsawRevItUp
- Chicago
No, that's right
Xfactr
- Lake Forest, IL
I'm excited with the direction but unsure of what Lovie can do. His hiring definitely brings interest back into the program but what can he do will be the big question. Here are some things to ponder.
1. An excellent personnel coach. Great at motivating his players in a no nonsense manner. Players were very loyal to him.
2. Excellent defensive coach, however was not very innovative. Lived and died under the Tampa 2 defensive scheme.
3. Not very good in finding the right assistants. Remember these names? Rivera, Babich, Martz, Tice. However Marinelli was a great assistant.
4. Recruiting???????
5. Remember Charlie Weis? A great offensive coordinator but lousy at the Golden Dome. Same big name hire hopefully a better outcome.
I'm just hoping that they hire some past Illini (Holocek) that can do the aspects of coaching Lovie didn't do so well in Chicago.
Go Illini
1. An excellent personnel coach. Great at motivating his players in a no nonsense manner. Players were very loyal to him.
2. Excellent defensive coach, however was not very innovative. Lived and died under the Tampa 2 defensive scheme.
3. Not very good in finding the right assistants. Remember these names? Rivera, Babich, Martz, Tice. However Marinelli was a great assistant.
4. Recruiting???????
5. Remember Charlie Weis? A great offensive coordinator but lousy at the Golden Dome. Same big name hire hopefully a better outcome.
I'm just hoping that they hire some past Illini (Holocek) that can do the aspects of coaching Lovie didn't do so well in Chicago.
Go Illini
Trakis
- Chicago, IL
I'm excited with the direction but unsure of what Lovie can do. His hiring definitely brings interest back into the program but what can he do will be the big question. Here are some things to ponder.
1. An excellent personnel coach. Great at motivating his players in a no nonsense manner. Players were very loyal to him.
2. Excellent defensive coach, however was not very innovative. Lived and died under the Tampa 2 defensive scheme.
3. Not very good in finding the right assistants. Remember these names? Rivera, Babich, Martz, Tice. However Marinelli was a great assistant.
4. Recruiting???????
5. Remember Charlie Weis? A great offensive coordinator but lousy at the Golden Dome. Same big name hire hopefully a better outcome.
I'm just hoping that they hire some past Illini (Holocek) that can do the aspects of coaching Lovie didn't do so well in Chicago.
Go Illini
Ron Rivera wasn't a good assistant?
And in terms of recruiting: Imagine being a high school kid with Smith walking into your living room instead of Cubit. Smith has had success in both college and the NFL. He knows what it takes to get to the next level and win there. Cubit can't touch any of that. Not many college coaches can.
I'm excited with the direction but unsure of what Lovie can do. His hiring definitely brings interest back into the program but what can he do will be the big question. Here are some things to ponder.
1. An excellent personnel coach. Great at motivating his players in a no nonsense manner. Players were very loyal to him.
2. Excellent defensive coach, however was not very innovative. Lived and died under the Tampa 2 defensive scheme.
3. Not very good in finding the right assistants. Remember these names? Rivera, Babich, Martz, Tice. However Marinelli was a great assistant.
4. Recruiting???????
5. Remember Charlie Weis? A great offensive coordinator but lousy at the Golden Dome. Same big name hire hopefully a better outcome.
I'm just hoping that they hire some past Illini (Holocek) that can do the aspects of coaching Lovie didn't do so well in Chicago.
Go Illini
I didn't think Charlie Weis has ever been a head coach at any level prior to taking over at Notre Dame....Also Notre Dame's expectations and fan base may be one of the few that are more out of touch than Illinois'
I mean, holy crap, that seems like a pretty big deal. Did we just get Lovie Smith and we don't have to pay that much upfront for him because Tampa is paying the difference? This seems too good to be true.
EfremWinters84
- S. Carolina
Well, as I piece together the puzzle following the (1) sudden and unexpected Bill Cubit announcement, (2) Lovie leaks to all of the news outlets, and (3) lear jet updates this morning, and..........
It's obvious. It's logical. It's masterfully done. We should be hearing about that Monday presser at some point very soon. JW is not going to screw this up. It's the way it has to come down. It's all part of the Plan.
WEWILLWIN
It's obvious. It's logical. It's masterfully done. We should be hearing about that Monday presser at some point very soon. JW is not going to screw this up. It's the way it has to come down. It's all part of the Plan.
WEWILLWIN
ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
Mike Sherman OC rumor has some legs. Texas ties. Think it could be Tedford or Sherman.
Xfactr
- Lake Forest, IL
Good post! I feel for the new assistants he hired.
There's $20 in it for you if you do.
South Farms
- near Ogden & Rt 83
Lovie is a proven winner in the NFL . Never had a great QB in Chicago, and that is how you win the big games consistently in that league. That paired with great defense.
He turned the ship around in Tampa. They were fools to let him go.
If ever there was a time for Holecek to come to Champaign, now is it. Lovie can coach awhile yet, but at 58 (almost) , odds are its not more than 7-8 years. It would be awesome if he could be persuaded to come down
AeroIllini
- 3rd Floor talbot lab
Xfactr
- Lake Forest, IL
Ron was a great assistant, but left too early and was replaced by who? Babich Aaaargh! Don't get me wrong Lovie brings appeal but can he bring us to the promised land? Lovie was great the first half of his career in Chicago but coupled with lousy management he didn't fare well in the latter years. I'm Hoping he can bring some life to the program as he did when he first came to Chicago.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
When people cite "recruiting" as a concern, they mean the time commitment/grind of the process, right? And not Hub Arkush's silly criticism of "when was the last time Lovie had to talk to teenagers?"
You mean teenagers that dream of playing in the NFL, Hub? Whatever could they talk about, I wonder?
You mean teenagers that dream of playing in the NFL, Hub? Whatever could they talk about, I wonder?
Trakis
- Chicago, IL
Correct. Here's a guy who basically the term "Player's Coach" at the top of his resume, and he wouldn't know how to talk to kids about playing in the NFL. Okay.
- Status