Lovie issued a statement today saying as such. I imagine those 2 are certainly gone.
After a quiet off-season so far, I guess we'll get a jump in Fulmer Cup points now.
There's always the chance that these guys may not be guilty, and are being falsely accused. So being arrested by itself is a conviction. I think we have to, as they say, let it play out. I think that's all that the athletic department should say right now.
Well if it wasn't already, the Lovie Smith honeymoon period is over. The last thing we were supposed to worry about was player discipline and conduct, and if the allegations hold up, this is really bad.
Well if it wasn't already, the Lovie Smith honeymoon period is over. The last thing we were supposed to worry about was player discipline and conduct, and if the allegations hold up, this is really bad.
Well if it wasn't already, the Lovie Smith honeymoon period is over. The last thing we were supposed to worry about was player discipline and conduct, and if the allegations hold up, this is really bad.
Well if it wasn't already, the Lovie Smith honeymoon period is over. The last thing we were supposed to worry about was player discipline and conduct, and if the allegations hold up, this is really bad.
Lovie should be judged on the response and not the actions of these kids. One of the players is "his" recruit but he's not a babysitter.
These guys should be kicked off the team much like Ellis and McPhearson were 10+ years ago.
Interesting article says that when one of them knew they were made and pulled off his mask, also announced that it was a prank. The other two weren't particularly quick on the uptake. Curious to see where this will go.
Will any one of the three--perhaps the one who called it a prank--throw the other two under the bus, saying he didn't that the other two were seriously going to rob the "victim." Who knows, maybe he did think it was a prank. Pranks are all over TV, aren't they?
And how is this Lovie's fault?
As the leader of the program, by default he is responsible for everyone's actions. Even if you don't buy into that, the negative publicity and perception this incident creates damages and embarrasses the program. That is Lovie's problem to fix now- which is why I said the honeymoon phase is over.
Illinois football doesn't have much of anything going for it- except the Lovie Smith brand: player's coach, respected by everyone, great mentor and teacher, etc. If that image is compromised, this whole thing falls apart before it can get any legs to stand on. This will probably not put a knife through the heart of the program, but the ice just got a little thinner...