This is not a defense of Thomas. However, I graduated in 92. I was a 4 year season ticket holder in BB and FB. Moved to Chicago suburbs for work. I made annual return visits for at least 1 FB game with my close knit college friends in 93-94-95-96 until I moved from the midwest. Went to multiple BB games when I'd come back to midwest for Xmas after moving. Went to see Illinois in the city I live or close to it. Bought tickets through the alumni association, etc. Bought lots of merch through the Illini store.
As any college grad, I received multiple, repeated, and constant requests for donating to UIUC as a whole and a lot from my major's school.
I didn't receive one request from anyone in the athletic department during Guenther's tenure. I was a season ticket holder for all 4 years in both major revenue sports. I came back post grad multiple years in a row. Bought merch. All through means that anyone in the athletic department with any desire could have identified and targeted. Not once was I approached by Guenther's athletic department to support/donate/etc.
In 2012 less than a year after Thomas took over, I got a request from the athletic department for the first time. I was an EASY target to go after for anyone that had any semblance of competence at all.
No one has done more damage to this program than Ron Guenther.