They knew they wanted the 'interim' plan and they had to extend before the game today... can you imagine what would happen if extending HCBC after a loss?
Bill Cubit gets 2-year deal as Illinois Head Football Coach
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This was the best decision they could have possibly made for the long term health of the program. I commend them for doing this one right. To create the best environment possible, they need to get a president, chancellor, AD and coach that are all linked. If you hire a coach now and give him a four or five year contract, then who knows what happens when you start hiring the other positions. This way you can do it the right way and allow the full-time chancellor and athletic director to hire who they want. We didn't tie our hands like we normally would.
It amazes me how many people on here were complaining about the interim chancellor and interim AD choosing the next coach so now we are setup to allow the next full-time chancellor and AD to make that choice.
Besides, our football program has been less than mediocre for so many years that adding two more to the list just doesn't seem that bad. And, who knows, maybe Cubit has learned lessens and continues to keep the train moving slowly forward.
Lovethechief78
- Bellevue, WA
That's a valid point, VA. How to get to a consistently respectable/winning program without *real* support from the UI administration? I guess that is the $64,000 question. ...Washington State w/Leach is a good example. . I know, I'm an adopted Coug and have watched LOTS of Coug games that were, well..VERY winnable for the Illini had they been the opponent..But WSU doesn't have the admission standards that UI does, the administration DOES care, took a big chunk of their new PAC-12 Network $$$$ and went after Leach. They got a bad break with their QB Lunt going down and got hammered by the Fuskies (who are every bit as arrogant as Michigan, btw), but they will go to their 2nd bowl game in 4 years, probably the Sun Bowl. ...As I see it, it's a crap shoot either way: roll the dice w/Cubit for continuity/stability vs. bring in yet another coach/coaches/new system. . Perhaps the biggest weapon is lack of donations for the I-FUND..ticket sales have to be peanuts compared to lack of donations. . I'll never donate to the I-FUND because of the Chief (and granted that's another story) but I've had a couple season tickets while living here in the PNW and selling the seats when I could. Wish there was an easier answer but I don't see it
skamin7
- Wellington, FL
I just don't know what to say. I am not sure I have ever been speechless before so this is new territory for me. Just when I thought our school couldn't do something stupid to top the last time then they do something like this. I give up ever trying to figure them out. I guess I can check out for a while. See you when they wake up.
:thumb:dgcrow
- Kelso, WA
Good post. But please stick around.
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Good point.
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Dan
Admin
#illini AD Paul Kowalczyk on 2-year deal: "It's not ideal but for now, I don't think it'll put a dagger in the heart of the program."
https://twitter.com/JWernerScout/status/670695865862852608
https://twitter.com/JWernerScout/status/670695865862852608
illini68
I
Guest
This has to be one of the worst hires the U of I has made, believe me when i say this because i work for the U of I. You can't tell me that he didn't know what was going on with beckmen. Every coach on the staff knew what was going on and none of them said anything. The old AD knew what was going on, hell he is neighbors with beckmen. I have been an Illini Fan my whole life but the university machine is more worried about money than educating the students. I have gone to my last football game.
mattcoldagelli
- The Transfer Portal with Do Not Contact Tag
High five, Paul!
Deleted member 19448
D
Guest
That is a ringing endorsement
I wonder if Cubit would even go on to fire the DC? Now that Paul Rhoads is out of a job, I wouldn't mind seeing what he could do back in the DC position. Too bad Bud Foster is probably going to be retained by VT, if I was him. I would consider that a slap in the face for how many years he has been an assistant. However, I will be in the minority as well, although I don't think this is the long term answer for Illinois football retaining Cubit but it has to be best decision for now with all the turmoil not only at U of I but the state as well.
Sas
S
Guest
Not convinced on Cubit, but support the decision to hire him for two years. As a Cleveland Browns I have watched the coach, Pettine, hired before the GM, Farmer, and it has been a disaster. Totally not on the same page.
The U of I needs to hire a competent AD, update the facilities and change the admissions policy and then they may be able to hire a top notch coach.
The U of I needs to hire a competent AD, update the facilities and change the admissions policy and then they may be able to hire a top notch coach.
I don't get how people support the 2 year hire b/c we have an interim AD. Why do we have an interim AD in the first place??
Illinifan1951
- Southeastern Illinois
Might possibly be in the silent majority. The name of this site is Illinois Loyalty and it is time to show some loyalty to the athletes and coaches that we have. Go Illini!!
I understand, conceptually at least, this feeling that some people have that this was the best choice under the circumstances. What I don't get is why these same people aren't outraged about the circumstances. We fired Beckman and knew pretty much everything we needed to know about Mike Thomas THREE MONTHS AGO. If there ever was an opportunity to clean house and smoothly transition into a new AD during the season and a new head coach after the season, this was it.
Instead we squandered that whole critical time period when we could have addressed this crisis with zero activity or planning, only to unnecessarily put ourselves in a position where "we had no choice" but punt all the important decisions a year or more down the road, potentially flushing at least one and possibly multiple seasons down the drain in the process. And yet the response on here for so many seems to be, "Aw shucks, what else were we supposed to do?" I don't know, how about everything else differently?
Praising this decision as the most practical solution to our current problems is like praising the captain of the Costa Concordia for giving the order to abandon ship once the list reached 20 degrees to starboard. "Well, under the circumstances, it was the right move. I mean, what else was he supposed to do?"
Instead we squandered that whole critical time period when we could have addressed this crisis with zero activity or planning, only to unnecessarily put ourselves in a position where "we had no choice" but punt all the important decisions a year or more down the road, potentially flushing at least one and possibly multiple seasons down the drain in the process. And yet the response on here for so many seems to be, "Aw shucks, what else were we supposed to do?" I don't know, how about everything else differently?
Praising this decision as the most practical solution to our current problems is like praising the captain of the Costa Concordia for giving the order to abandon ship once the list reached 20 degrees to starboard. "Well, under the circumstances, it was the right move. I mean, what else was he supposed to do?"
A friend of mine told me the news in person before I read anything... I thought he was joking... it took 5 minutes of him telling me he was serious before I finally figured it out. The joke is most definitely on us. I will always cheer for the Illini, but I do not agree with this at all. Well, at least we didn't have to sweat it out.
I seriously laughed out loud after reading his quote!
Illwinsagain
- Cary, IL
Well said. I guess, the reality is that they were not going to rush and hire a new AD without a new chancellor. And they were not going to rush to that, just for the football program.
this +1000. Anything we could have mishandled,we did. Absolutely disgusted with this university right now
It's such an inspirational comment. It should make everyone want to spend a bunch of money on tickets at MS, shouldn't it?
robertgoulet
IL Board Resident Crooner
- Austin, TX
Ok so who's printing up the "Illinois Football: It's not ideal" Tshirts?
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