Bret Bielema Press Conference (Jan. 27th)

#1      

Dan

Admin

Catching up with #illini coach Bret Bielema

Had first full staff meeting on Sunday afternoon. "It's been awesome." Putting finishing touches on support staff.

"Couldn't be more excited about this group of guys."

Bielema: Players went through a physical assessment with medical team and strength coach Tank Wright. Started winter workouts on Monday, do four days a week. Off on the weekend.

Bielema said he wanted to hire coordinators he hasn't worked with in the past.

Bielema: I only offered the defensive coordinator job to one guy and that guy was Ryan Walters.

Bielema: Next six weeks will be about building a playbook around our athletes.

Bielema's family is building a house in Champaign. Right now in a rental.

Bielema on staff: Joke that George McDonald "left me at the altar" at Arkansas but he "quickly got over it."

Bielema: McDonald will work on a lot of player development, as well as WRs. He's always touched players' lives.

Bielema: Kevin Kane originally was on my DC list. Didn't think he'd have option to bring him as position coach, but Mark Taurisani kept in touch and they worked out associate HC role. He'll be involved in "gameday management" and recruiting/personnel on defense.

Bielema: Ryan Walters and Tony Petersen will focus more on X's and O's while McDonald and Kane will focus on building roster through recruiting on their sides of the ball.

Bielema turned an office into "a Zoom room." This is where Illini do interviews but also Zooms with recruits, players, staff, alumni, donors, etc.

Bielema: Staff holdover Travis Perry, head of graphics, came up with #FamILLy hashtag.

Bielema: "I know I got a lot of good recruiters because they got a lot of wives that are out of their league."

Bielema: Like to promote coaches from within once he gets going, but hired outside coordinators this time to do something unique in the league.

"Build it the Illini way. ...I want to build off our strengths here and work together as a staff."

Bielema purposefully staggered hires to give each their media attention (he gets it) but also staggered his hires so that he could build off his previous hires.

Bielema didn't know Cory Patterson before but was blown away in his interviews.

Bielema: Divided state into 10 areas and each assistant coach will recruit that area in state.

Bielema: Coordinators Tony Petersen and Ryan Walters will have minimal recruiting area while the other eight coaches will have huge responsibility in recruiting.

Bielema: I can't control anything that Illinois has done in the past, all I can control is what they do in the future.

Bielema told Owen Carney that if he wants to be an NFL defensive linemen, he was an NFL defensive line coach.

Bielema: We're getting tight on scholarships. I'm trying to get the best players so we can have the best team we can have this year.

 
#7      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
The rubber meets the road on the field but I have to say at this point that I haven't been this optimistic about a newly-hired Illini football head coach... ever. I had no idea how good Mackovic was when he was hired. Everyone since I've either shrugged or winced.
 
#9      

pruman91

Paducah, Ky
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We hired a tough, blunt, no nonsense coach WITH a good sense of humor.......I predict an upward ascent to regaining respect in college FB....WOW
 
#10      

Illinivek23

Gurnee
Could it be that we will truly be the beneficiary of BB leaving Barry's comfy nest, trying to make it on his own at AR and learning some tough lessons along the way? I think so

Still jacked about the quality of the staff. They are real and knowledgeable. Anxious to see what they do with the pieces they have inherited.
 
#16      

altgeld88

Arlington, Virginia
Yes, funny line. But be careful, Coach Bret, of the sex stuff. Straight and narrow, please.
I could handle a Rick Majerus of the gridiron w/similar W-L figures. We've had decades of straight, narrow, and mostly losing.

BB has a certain... zzzzzest for living.
 
#17      
Such a contrast from Lovie......Big Boy College Football experience, NFL experience. Lovie was so DULL

Question: Lovie, your response to our loss today
LOVIE: Well, I saw some good football today and some bad football today

Question: Lovie, your response to our win today
LOVIE: Well, I saw some good football today and some bad football today.
 
#19      
The rubber meets the road on the field but I have to say at this point that I haven't been this optimistic about a newly-hired Illini football head coach... ever. I had no idea how good Mackovic was when he was hired. Everyone since I've either shrugged or winced.
As one of the old timers, the buzz surrounding BB is identical the the buzz around Mike White when he arrived. I remember going to a meet and great with White at the Madison County CC in Edwardsville in 79 and as I walked to my car thinking "I'm not sure where this is going to end up but it's going to be a wild ride".
 
#20      
It’s funny you mention Mike White. I had the same thought. When the term “Sleeping Giant” came up the other day, it was the first time I’d heard that about U of I since Mike White.
 
#21      

chiefini

Rockford, Illinois
As one of the old timers, the buzz surrounding BB is identical the the buzz around Mike White when he arrived. I remember going to a meet and great with White at the Madison County CC in Edwardsville in 79 and as I walked to my car thinking "I'm not sure where this is going to end up but it's going to be a wild ride".
Thought the same exact thing. In my capacity with the Rockford Area Illini Club, I organized a cocktail party to meet and greet Mike in Rockford. I picked him up at the little Rockford airport after a rough flight on a small plane, and he was shaky, but dynamic. After a steadied him with a few glasses of his favorite white wine, he was ready to go. The 200+ crowd was mesmerized. He was fun, charismatic, and talked a great game. He just had “it.” I was forever a fan...
 
#25      
It’s funny you mention Mike White. I had the same thought. When the term “Sleeping Giant” came up the other day, it was the first time I’d heard that about U of I since Mike White.
BB also has a ~150lbs on Mike White too, for your "sleeping giant reference". Give me Mike White era of football back and I would be happy.