Home
Forums
New Posts
Illini Basketball
Illini Football
Sports Talk
Log in
Register
What's new
Menu
Log in
Register
Install the app
Install
Forums
Sports
Illini Basketball
2021-22 College Hoops Coaching Carousel
JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding.
You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an
alternative browser
.
Reply to thread
Message
<blockquote data-quote="Fighter of the Nightman" data-source="post: 1768934" data-attributes="member: 590800"><p>Also, RE: Mike Thomas ... as far as I can tell, he was literally good for one thing, and that was a "fresh perspective" from RG. It was always my perception, FWIW, that RG ran Illinois almost like a private school - an elite institution for alumni only and with limited "bandwagon appeal" outside of East Central Illinois. While I understand U of I alums are rightfully very proud of their degrees, this is obviously no way to run an athletic department for the flagship state school of a state of 13 million people. This might be incorrect, but I would argue it's worth something, being my perspective as a non-alum fan who lived in Iowa City during RG's tenure. To see the contrast with how Iowa was run and how Iowans grew up as default Hawkeye fans no matter where their parents went. I always watched from afar knowing that Illinois could be more like that with sports while not sacrificing any academic reputation (cough, cough, MICHIGAN!).</p><p></p><p>MT seemed a disaster in many ways, but I did like that he targeted Chicago with ad campaigns and AT LEAST seemed to want Illinois to have a perspective closer to Ohio State than to Purdue. And that was good. We need kids growing up from Chicago to Cairo as rabid Illini fans simply because they were born within the borders of the Land of Lincoln. The more "T-shirt fans" (like me!!) you have, the better ... you need a big fan base to win big, and instate recruits need the same pressure on them to consider Illinois that recruits in Indiana have to consider IU. Given the unique nature of Chicago, perhaps we will never get there, but that must always be the goal. I at least like that MT set us in that direction.</p><p></p><p>With that said, I don't think there's a soul on this board who'd trade Josh for either of our two previous ADs. Whitman is an absolute keeper, and I am so thankful we got him.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Fighter of the Nightman, post: 1768934, member: 590800"] Also, RE: Mike Thomas ... as far as I can tell, he was literally good for one thing, and that was a "fresh perspective" from RG. It was always my perception, FWIW, that RG ran Illinois almost like a private school - an elite institution for alumni only and with limited "bandwagon appeal" outside of East Central Illinois. While I understand U of I alums are rightfully very proud of their degrees, this is obviously no way to run an athletic department for the flagship state school of a state of 13 million people. This might be incorrect, but I would argue it's worth something, being my perspective as a non-alum fan who lived in Iowa City during RG's tenure. To see the contrast with how Iowa was run and how Iowans grew up as default Hawkeye fans no matter where their parents went. I always watched from afar knowing that Illinois could be more like that with sports while not sacrificing any academic reputation (cough, cough, MICHIGAN!). MT seemed a disaster in many ways, but I did like that he targeted Chicago with ad campaigns and AT LEAST seemed to want Illinois to have a perspective closer to Ohio State than to Purdue. And that was good. We need kids growing up from Chicago to Cairo as rabid Illini fans simply because they were born within the borders of the Land of Lincoln. The more "T-shirt fans" (like me!!) you have, the better ... you need a big fan base to win big, and instate recruits need the same pressure on them to consider Illinois that recruits in Indiana have to consider IU. Given the unique nature of Chicago, perhaps we will never get there, but that must always be the goal. I at least like that MT set us in that direction. With that said, I don't think there's a soul on this board who'd trade Josh for either of our two previous ADs. Whitman is an absolute keeper, and I am so thankful we got him. [/QUOTE]
Verification
Post reply
Forums
Sports
Illini Basketball
2021-22 College Hoops Coaching Carousel
This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
Accept
Learn more…