Coaching Discussion/Carousel

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#351      
I find it simply freakin' incredible that there are actual legit posts on this board advocating for us to hire another coach out of the MAC.

Troll Post Checklist:

✅ 1. Ignores historical and recent facts
✅ 2. Insults other posters
✅ 3. Nature of statement is absolute

Nailed it.

You’re either a troll or a dark lord of the sith.
 
#352      

AirNeezy

Orange Krush '13 -'14
Troll Post Checklist:

✅ 1. Ignores historical and recent facts
✅ 2. Insults other posters
✅ 3. Nature of statement is absolute

Nailed it.

You’re either a troll or a dark lord of the sith.
Lighten' up Francis. Merely pointing out that we haven't had the best of luck with up and coming MAC coaches in recent coaching hires.

If we can snag a former NFL coach when the program was at an all time low, I believe (and would prefer) that we could get an up and comer who's shown success coaching and recruiting at a P5 school. Didn't realize that would be such a controversial take lol
 
#353      
Lighten' up Francis. Merely pointing out that we haven't had the best of luck with up and coming MAC coaches in recent coaching hires.

If we can snag a former NFL coach when the program was at an all time low, I believe (and would prefer) that we could get an up and comer who's shown success coaching and recruiting at a P5 school. Didn't realize that would be such a controversial take lol

Not so much controversial as it is extremely unlikely/absurd. We are not in a position to poach an up-and-comer from another power 5 school.

We are one of the WORST power 5 schools out there (and no recent history to prop us up like basketball). At almost every other school in a power 5 conference, leaving for Illinois would be, at best, a lateral move and more than likely a step down.

If a coach has been successful at a school in the P5, he will be looked at by the football powers. (For instance, Penn State took Franklin from Vanderbilt)

And no, you were not “merely pointing out that we haven’t had the best of luck”, you were asserting that anyone that had the opinion we should hire a MAC coach was “simply freakin’ incredible” and I’m guessing you weren’t complimenting them.

If you want to avoid sounding like a troll, adjust the tone of your post. It comes across as insulting.
 
#354      
Not happening this year. I'm not saying it's the right call, but with the 2 wins and cancelled game(s) it's not the "no argument" decision it looked like it might be 3 weeks ago.
I hope we don't suffer any more cancellations. Still three games left and if there was one game that told us nothing about the team, it was OSU so wouldn't call that an impactful cancellation.

You don't think losing out changes anything?
 
#355      
I hope we don't suffer any more cancellations. Still three games left and if there was one game that told us nothing about the team, it was OSU so wouldn't call that an impactful cancellation.

You don't think losing out changes anything?
Not the original poster, but I don’t think losing next 2 will lead to Lovie’s departure. The Wisky game was a bad, no excuse watch, but the next two Illini we’re undermanned, playing 4th string QB. Get second stringer back and squeak by Rutgers, and then pretty much have full team and have big win against Neb. Iowa and NW are both ranked. Maybe if Illini get trounced by both and it truly looks like team has quit then Lovie goes, but so just don’t see that happening and still not a sure thing. Maybe if after the season Lovie seems less than 100% committed during conversations with JW, the idea of stopping down comes up. But I really think it would need to be more a mutual thing for Lovie not to be HC next year. I don’t think this is out of the question. This had to have been a difficult year to coach, Lovie will have fulfilled his commitment to his first class, and I think you can argue (I know a lot on here would disagree) that the program is at least on more solid ground than it was prior to his arrival. Will all that lead Lovie to entertain moving on?

I do think that a bad season next year would lead to Lovie being gone. Lovie would have had 6 seasons to turn things around (hopefully 5 of them relatively Covid restriction free), and I think JW and any others that need to be convinced would be. Hopefully by then fundraising and athletics revenue have returned to some normalcy, which I’m guessing would make it easier to move on.
 
#356      
Not the original poster, but I don’t think losing next 2 will lead to Lovie’s departure. The Wisky game was a bad, no excuse watch, but the next two Illini we’re undermanned, playing 4th string QB. Get second stringer back and squeak by Rutgers, and then pretty much have full team and have big win against Neb. Iowa and NW are both ranked. Maybe if Illini get trounced by both and it truly looks like team has quit then Lovie goes, but so just don’t see that happening and still not a sure thing. Maybe if after the season Lovie seems less than 100% committed during conversations with JW, the idea of stopping down comes up. But I really think it would need to be more a mutual thing for Lovie not to be HC next year. I don’t think this is out of the question. This had to have been a difficult year to coach, Lovie will have fulfilled his commitment to his first class, and I think you can argue (I know a lot on here would disagree) that the program is at least on more solid ground than it was prior to his arrival. Will all that lead Lovie to entertain moving on?

I do think that a bad season next year would lead to Lovie being gone. Lovie would have had 6 seasons to turn things around (hopefully 5 of them relatively Covid restriction free), and I think JW and any others that need to be convinced would be. Hopefully by then fundraising and athletics revenue have returned to some normalcy, which I’m guessing would make it easier to move on.
Don't forget the crossover game. That should be another matchup against a lower tier team (assuming we don't beat NW or iowa).
 
#357      
I agree, very unlikely JW makes a move with Lovie this year. The team has showed great life and competency these last two games, and as more of the season plays out, at a macro level this Covid thing is just so abnormal that you really can't judge results.

That said, two big time tests coming up, looking forward to it, and then a crossover game to finish. Is 4-4 possible??
 
#358      

Deleted member 747671

D
Guest
For those in the know, why is a coaching change off the table now? That seems like the most short-sighted thinking you could have in this situation. Obviously if we win out or 2 of 3, he's coming back, but we most likely won't be favored in any remaining games. We now have 4 1/2 seasons of on-the-field and recruiting performance to judge. What is there to show for it? What is being built? It seems like the "no change" argument is literally only based on Covid and nothing football related.
 
#359      
For those in the know, why is a coaching change off the table now? That seems like the most short-sighted thinking you could have in this situation. Obviously if we win out or 2 of 3, he's coming back, but we most likely won't be favored in any remaining games. We now have 4 1/2 seasons of on-the-field and recruiting performance to judge. What is there to show for it? What is being built? It seems like the "no change" argument is literally only based on Covid and nothing football related.
I’m certainly not in the know, I just don’t think a change will come after this season. Wouldn’t be totally surprised if it did and certainly not against a change, just don’t see it happening.
 
#360      
If we were to lose out, a change is needed. Recruiting is not going good and only see it getting worse (if that's possible) should we lose out to close the season. I'd love nothing more for us to win a couple of the upcoming games and recruiting to pick up, but I feel like that has been my hope for the last 4 years. Beat Iowa!
 
#361      
Lovie should be let go at the end of the season. Will he be? That's the question. Covid might save his job. But JW is not
the kind of man to be sitting around and hoping lovie can finally figure it out in year 6. Attendance, fan interest and prep recruiting are in the toilet. We need a jump start to this program in the worst way.
 
#362      

Deleted member 747671

D
Guest
I guess to me there's just way too many moving parts to simply come to, "well covid, so he's back."
Positive illini fan hit on some: fan interest, attendance, recruiting. There's also the contract situation. I believe Lovie has 2 years remaining after this one. This is when the classic "extend or fire" decision is supposed to be made. That combined with the low buyout, terrible recruiting, poor performance over the majority of his tenure. There's just so much that points clearly to needing a change. The only things pointing to keeping him are literally the Nebraska game and Covid.
 
#364      

AirNeezy

Orange Krush '13 -'14
Not so much controversial as it is extremely unlikely/absurd. We are not in a position to poach an up-and-comer from another power 5 school.

We are one of the WORST power 5 schools out there (and no recent history to prop us up like basketball). At almost every other school in a power 5 conference, leaving for Illinois would be, at best, a lateral move and more than likely a step down.

If a coach has been successful at a school in the P5, he will be looked at by the football powers. (For instance, Penn State took Franklin from Vanderbilt)

And no, you were not “merely pointing out that we haven’t had the best of luck”, you were asserting that anyone that had the opinion we should hire a MAC coach was “simply freakin’ incredible” and I’m guessing you weren’t complimenting them.

If you want to avoid sounding like a troll, adjust the tone of your post. It comes across as insulting.

Haha! Glad to know you're the tone police over here. And I specifically was pointing out how I found certain posts (meaning the contents), not the actual people posting them, were incredulous to me because I disagreed strongly. And guess what, other people commented with valid points disagreeing with me too, because that's what people do on, well, internet sports message boards.

Anyways, this is getting way off topic so to anyone who got offended by me saying I really don't get the idea of hiring another MAC coach, I humbly ask for your forgiveness. ;)(y)
 
#365      
Lovie should be let go at the end of the season. Will he be? That's the question. Covid might save his job. But JW is not
the kind of man to be sitting around and hoping lovie can finally figure it out in year 6. Attendance, fan interest and prep recruiting are in the toilet. We need a jump start to this program in the worst way.

Attendance and fan interest have to be concerning for him. You get a year off with no fans, effectively draining the budget and reserves. What will bring fans in for 2021: the 6th year of a coach with a 17-37 record, or a brand new coach with some history of success? If there has ever been a year to bring in a new coach, it is this year.
 
#366      
Attendance and fan interest have to be concerning for him. You get a year off with no fans, effectively draining the budget and reserves. What will bring fans in for 2021: the 6th year of a coach with a 17-37 record, or a brand new coach with some history of success? If there has ever been a year to bring in a new coach, it is this year.
Our attendance is the crapper and is only gonna continue declining if we stick to the status quo. Our game-day attendance (actual butts in the seats) has gone down almost 7,000 people in the last couple years.

2016- (30,875)
2017- (24,596)
2018- (22,074)
2019- (23,794)

That is a massive dip in attendance. Also our social media interactions are way way down. As someone who works in brand building i can tell you social media interactions are extremely important for seeing how many people are interested. The recruiting isn't going to improve with Lovie constantly being on a warm seat. To me Lovie is a band-aid, he's done his job in patching up the holes left by previous coaches and mike thomas. But in order to give some fresh life into the program and hopefully see an rejuvenated fan base, it is time we rip the band-aid off.
 
#367      
Ummmm that is verging on ancient history. Unless you count Lance Guidry, who coached one game as an interim HC and went on to a 21-12 record at McNeese St., the last Miami HC to have an above 500 record after leaving is Dick Crum who left after the 1977 season. I think Sid, Woody, Ara and Bo are unavailable. I like Lewis and Leopold, but not going to base my argument on the “cradle of coaches,”
Lewis and Leopold? Aren’t those the two kids from Chicago who murdered somebody just to commit the perfect crime?
 
#373      

illini80

Forgottonia
I hope we don't suffer any more cancellations. Still three games left and if there was one game that told us nothing about the team, it was OSU so wouldn't call that an impactful cancellation.

You don't think losing out changes anything?
Personally I don’t think so. Just my opinion on what JW’s opinion will be. If he has any inclination to keep him, the excuses are there. If he fires him, he will have to make the case why the excuses aren’t valid. My current prediction is he will have 2 more years now. Next year’s team will likely still have some very veteran talent and the year after we will be pretty bad. Obviously a lot of things can change in 2 years. Hopefully for the better, but it’s not showing right now.
 
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