Lovie was a failure as a CFB coach, that goes without saying. He clearly did not understand the modern college game, he refused or was incapable of developing players, and his offensive philosophy/understanding bordered on negligence. AND...
In a lot of respects, Illinois, as a program, needs to thank Lovie. As a lifelong fan, it was hard to see how Thomas & Beckman mismanaged the program. It was even harder knowing that we would not be even mediocre for some time. Whitman made a huge gamble when he fired Cubit, but it was necessary to start fresh. Hiring Lovie gave Illinois instant credibility within the state and was a clear signal that Illinois was attempting to get the best coach it could, at that time. Lovie was never going to lead the program to prominence, but he could set the table for the next coach, specifically with public perception and facilities. And I believe that is exactly what he has done.
Sure, the recruiting department needs to be drastically overhauled and the S&C needs to be modernized. But we are in a much better position than we were. Lovie has his faults to be sure, but BB needs to thank him.