But I could see Purdue picking up Johnson after he gets turfed by the Jackets. It just seems like a Purdue thing to do.
At the school that trademarked the term Cradle of Quarterbacks? I don't think so. They learned their lesson with Fred Akers.
But I could see Purdue picking up Johnson after he gets turfed by the Jackets. It just seems like a Purdue thing to do.
Adam Rittenberg twitter implying Lovie Smith not enjoying it in Champaign and may be 1 and done.
Adam Rittenberg twitter implying Lovie Smith not enjoying it in Champaign and may be 1 and done.
Who is Adam Rittenberg? Anyone worth listening to?
AM coaching notes: Is Tom Herman's stock cooling? Lovie one-and-done at Illinois? What to do at Minnesota? (In): https://t.co/7vHRP3ev1v
@CGreen63 Read the story. Didn't say he'd be fired. He may decide it's not for him because of all the problems. But he might not.
@CGreen63 Read the story. Didn't say he'd be fired. He may decide it's not for him because of all the problems. But he might not.
@STLIlliniGuy @CGreen63 The roster is in disastrous shape. He may want to wait out the upgrades, but he's also 58 and basically an NFL lifer
@STLIlliniGuy @CGreen63 Someone close to Lovie said his recruits will help a lot and lift his outlook. Still think he's back.
@STLIlliniGuy @CGreen63 Came from three sources. Also cited someone close to Lovie I trust who thinks he'll be back. All in the story.
Great click bait if nothing else.
I'm pretty sure Smith knew exactly what he was getting into
You never know, but so much of reporting reflects the hopes and concerns of the fans (and plays to those hopes and concerns). September starts out and all is good and we fans feel good about Lovie and the future. Team suffers a bunch of losses revealing the false hope we once had and the hard work ahead. Fans and reporters then project these feelings on to the coach. It is more likely this than any reality coming from Lovie. No one goes into a non traditional power job and thinks it is going to be a cake walk.
I think anyone with some knowledge of the team knew we weren't going to be very good. Sure lots of people tried to talk themselves (and others) into thinking we had a realistic chance at a bowl game, but I doubt you'd have very many of those people willing to lay down some hard earned cash on the prospect. There was one guy who did that for a few games, sorry can't remember who, but I was rooting for you/us!! If you look back at all the predictions of wins that would get us into a bowl game about half of those wins were based on 'best case scenarios'. And we all know that over the course of a season no one gets that lucky. You can't really blame the fans though, this is what real fans do. We want our team to win and we search for reasons/answers that will make that come true. What might appear to be 'false hope' is actually 'wishful thinking'.
He didn't think he was winning a national title in year one, but I think it's pretty clear that he thought it was going to be somewhat easier both on the field and in recruiting in August versus what he's facing now.
If he wants to give up and become and NFL DC, he'll have that opportunity. But that would cost him a bunch of money and be a personal embarrassment, so I really doubt it.
Going into year, I was expecting 5-6 wins. This optimism was based on returning seniors and a stout defense ( expected) and a relatively weak big ten west.
However, I expected us to fall back for two years before hopefully becoming a consistently solid program.
I still feel we underachieved v unrealistic expectations. Only place I really s e me wrong thus far was WMU.
I've been disappointed in Lovie and staff coaching so far.
I'm also extremely disappointed in the lack of productivity from the upperclassmen, missing assignments, etc and getting demoted in the lineup is just sad. I expected way more from them.
Combine the lack of stellar recruiting, too many jucos, and upperclassmen who either digressed, didn't buy in, or whatever this roster is just in shambles. We have a TON of holes to fill, and at key positions. Of course that has to be a major concern for Lovie. I hope it is, and I hope he realizes that he needs another stud recruiter or two on staff. Get those this offseason, recruit like hell, and let's see what happens in 2019.
What makes you think he thought it would be easier?
The ongoing radical lineup changes and open disgust with the way his team is playing. Not to mention some of the foibles on the recruiting trail.
And I guess we shouldn't say "easier". It's not like he'd be working any less hard if we were 6-2 instead of 2-6. It's more about the scale of the rebuilding project. It was always going to be big in a roster sense going forward, but the full scale of the Illinoisitude was something Lovie didn't know and couldn't have known going in.
I've been disappointed in Lovie and staff coaching so far.
I'm also extremely disappointed in the lack of productivity from the upperclassmen, missing assignments, etc and getting demoted in the lineup is just sad. I expected way more from them.
Combine the lack of stellar recruiting, too many jucos, and upperclassmen who either digressed, didn't buy in, or whatever this roster is just in shambles. We have a TON of holes to fill, and at key positions. Of course that has to be a major concern for Lovie. I hope it is, and I hope he realizes that he needs another stud recruiter or two on staff. Get those this offseason, recruit like hell, and let's see what happens in 2019.
There needs to be some changes to the staff for sure. Remember the skill set of these players is not in tune what they are trying to teach on both sides of he ball. Plus the skill level is average MAC level at that, even though they are upperclassman.
Things Lovie may have thought he had going for him when looking at this job: decent senior QB, stud RB, experienced OL , experienced DL . His type of football : run the ball behind said OL , shorten game for maturing defense. Injuries and inconsistencies have derailed the plan . I agree with Lake ; he needs to strongly deny he's going anywhere or other coaches are going to feast on this .