Recent content by the Castle on Daniel

Random question - anyone have a link to the I L L commercial that plays during games?

I don't see why we couldn't be at 50%+ capacity next year with the vaccines rolling out and "herd immunity" achieved by June/July. TBH I'd rather the Nebraska game be played in Champaign over Ireland, but I guess both programs need an excuse to travel since bowls have evaded both for much of...

Football is a different animal, one that is much more challenging to make right. The fact that we've gone the better part of a decade w/o making it to the dance is unacceptable in a state like Illinois, but our football fortunes are far less plentiful.

This is anything but a typical year and I don't think that'll play in our favor. I guess we'll wait and see, but I'm down on the hire. Wisconsin and Arkansas are very different than Illinois. He didn't build Wisconsin up and from what I've read, his time at Arkansas wasn't impressive either...

Does he want the job or is it a convenient job? I'm thinking it's the latter.

I agree, but I have a sinking feeling in my gut that tells me we're going 3-9, 3-9, 4-8, 4-8, Bret fired and we're no closer to mediocrity than we are now. There was no rush to find someone this year. A program as lackluster as ours needs to be sold over months to the right person. We should...

That's what most people are already thinking, it seems. There was literally no reason to do this.

We could have spent the year tempting head coaches at P5 schools that are consistent but underpaid. We'd have some post-pandemic clarity on the reality of our situation. This whole season has been a wash. There was no rush to part ways with Lovie. I'd rather be set back one year than 4+. At...

I am not a fan of the hire and would have rather had Lovie stay on for another year and take our time courting someone. I'm guessing the next four years will go something like 3-9, 2-10, 4-8, 4-8, Bret fired. This is among the worst jobs in the P5. There are probably MAC jobs that are more...

I am beyond confused by the posts in this thread. Could anyone explain like I'm 5 where we are in the replacement search? So many names being tossed around and I'm sensing not all of them are serious.

I am way out of the loop, but is the rumor that we already found a coach? How do some of you know we'd been turned down by others? I'm assuming this is within the last few weeks and not years ago? If someone could give me the readers digest I would appreciate it :)

I'm not one to hate on Lovie's time at U of I. It's not like we had options aplenty prior to him coming on. I think the fact that Josh tried to make it work will show to the next guy that we are trying to build a successful football program. That said, I sincerely doubt we get anyone decent to...

Same as every year?

As others have said - doubt the season will go. If it does it'll be interesting to see how ND manages. If they're going to join a conference as a full member I'd rather it be the B1G than the ACC.

If the season is played out and capacities are reduced, be prepared for the Illini to have the season of a lifetime. Undefeated B1G Champs. I don't make the rules.