Bret Bielema Takes Reins of Illinois Football

#51      

ChiefGritty

ChiefGritty
Chicago, IL
ChiefGritty
So former Bielema coordinators are all over the place:

Offense
Dan Enos - AHC/RB coach at Cincinnati
Jim Chaney - OC at Tennessee, maybe about to get fired or could jump ship ahead of it?

Defense
Paul Rhoads - DC at Arizona, just got swept out with Sumlin
Charlie Partridge - AHC/DL coach at Pitt
Chris Ash - DC at Texas, maybe about to get fired or could jump ship ahead of it?
Robb Smith - DC at Rutgers, possibly poachable?
 
#52      

EyeoftheIllini

EyeoftheIllini
EyeoftheIllini
Ander1345 said:
Have to imagine JW is aware of the BB memes, so I'm reassured in that sense. BB would not have been my choice but I will support him until there'a reason not to.
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This is where I’m at. Respecting an Illini coach as a man is important to me, so I can’t get really excited about the hire. But if JW thinks he can represent university and program well going forward I’m willing to support him until given a reason not to
 
#55      

redwingillini11

redwingillini11
White and Sixth
North Aurora
redwingillini11
This is an example of a hire that isn’t supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy good. It’s a shrewd move to bring in a guy who is up to the challenge of recruiting against Pat Fitzgerald, Iowa, Wisconsin, and pj fleck. He knows the formula to win. Will it work? Like every option, the odds aren’t brilliant. But at least we won’t be saying in 5 years “well I guess this guy’s formula to win doesn’t work in the big ten.” It does. We’ll just have to see if BB can make it work at Illinois.

I’m very excited to give him the opportunity. He has said all of the right things so far. Welcome coach. Let’s get to work!
 
#62      

kyillinifan

K
kyillinifan
EyeoftheIllini said:
This is where I’m at. Respecting an Illini coach as a man is important to me, so I can’t get really excited about the hire. But if JW thinks he can represent university and program well going forward I’m willing to support him until given a reason not to
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Is IW his type of QB for his system?
 
#63      

Deleted member 747784

D
Guest
Deleted member 747784
mhuml32 said:
I get that there is an expectation for the contract but that term/salary is gross.
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if you want to play like the best you have to pay like the best .
that’s the market today . donors are ponying up for it and ticket sales will definitely improve
 
#64      

Calvin

C
Calvin
ChiefGritty said:
I wish I could be at the press conference. I have so many questions.
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Haven't followed the discussion, so I'm not nearly familiar enough with it all to have a strong opinion. That said, my reaction is to ask why you take a guy with that kind of history, especially recent history with a lower level job after a fall at another college, and throw that much money at him.

Every coaching hire is a roll of the dice in some regards, but why not go with a successful builder at a lower level, and see if he can do it at a struggling P5? If nothing else, you can get him in the door for less, with better terms on a buyout, should things not work out. Not a fan of huge contracts for a program like Illinois until you're actually worried about a poaching situation. Why pay guys walking in the door as though they've turned the program around and are already up among top teams in the conference?

JW will have a lot on the line with this hire. The bar is low, and BB's got a six year deal, so plenty of room to be successful. Will be interesting to see if he's able to replicate his better years here, or at least pull the program up to a bowl level.
 
#66      

ChiefGritty

ChiefGritty
Chicago, IL
ChiefGritty
kyillinifan said:
Is IW his type of QB for his system?
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Not in the slightest.

Either Bielema is running something totally different from when we last saw him, IW is a WR, or IW is transferring.

We're definitely hoping Peters wants another year now.
 
#67      

Deleted member 186590

D
Guest
Deleted member 186590
I feel like JW picks coaches like guys pick girlfriends- you know, when you breakup with a girl and then you pick someone who is completely opposite for your next girlfriend? BB is that - a fiery, very involved HC that dives into recruiting with gusto, a lot of college success, etc.

That strategy usually doesn’t work out with girlfriends- in truth you want someone in the middle- but I’m hoping it works out here. He will certainly know the state and how to recruit- two things Lovie never showed any interest in.
 
#68      

Gregjacksonfan

G
Gregjacksonfan
Back here to eat crow. I told people JE would never hire BB. I was dead wrong!!! Let’s hope he has matured and makes us proud of Illinois football again.
 
#69      

Whitewaterr

W
Whitewaterr

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#70      

KevinC

KevinC
KevinC
Well, if he starts throwing the ball, please let me know and I will consider watching Illinii football again.
 
#71      

mk345

M
mk345
This is disappointing...despite what many say, he’s not a proven winner in a situation like ours. He’s a proven winner at a power house program that was already winning. But, he is now leading the ship, so I hope I’m a ranting fool who knows nothing about how to hire a football coach.
 
#72      

redwingillini11

redwingillini11
White and Sixth
North Aurora
redwingillini11
illiniCA said:
I like the hire given the realistic options
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Yeah, this. Fickell and Campbell were pipe dreams. I was screaming for Malzahn but he has 21 million reasons to take his time and be selective. Other options existed, but I won’t pretend to know a lot about Jay Norvell, etc. I’ll take BB over the MAC options. Good coaches will continue to come out of the MAC. But the wounds are still too fresh, that I am really glad we didn’t play MAC roulette this time. We know exactly what we are getting.
 
#73      

SuperMetroid

SuperMetroid
Evanston
SuperMetroid
TheChief4Life said:
I don't like it. I don't know why I don't like it though. Perhaps in 4 years I'll be able to justify my feelings.

Hopefully not, though
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The word ‘retread’ kept popping into my head every time I heard his name come up. Yes, he’s had success in the past and things could work out... but I just can’t shake the feeling that we’re one of the only P5 programs that would have made this hire.
 
#75      

Ander1345

A
Ander1345
ChiefGritty said:
Not in the slightest.

Either Bielema is running something totally different from when we last saw him, IW is a WR, or IW is transferring.

We're definitely hoping Peters wants another year now.
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He said in an interview with College Game Day(from his car on the side of the road no less) that offense and defense would look different from Wisconsin so take that as you will.

With regards to defense specifically said 3-4 instead of 4-3 like when he was at Wisconsin. I'm guessing his staff is mostly in place.