DC Bobby Hauck out at Illinois

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#326      
Mr. Tibbs
fuddrules said:
It's certainly possible but I didn't think so before the presser.

BB may have told him he's demoted, he may have said, no I'm not, I'm gone.

Or

He told BB it's my defense, I'm doing what I want and BB said, bye.

At least the way BB lead into today talking about the prior in-season demotions, it may be the first scenario.
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BB said Houck contacted him & initiated the discussion . That tells me he bailed .

All signs point to Houck NOT enjoying his tenure here , especially after the season started and his defense was full of holes like swiss cheese

I think BB had realized this , and perhaps a negotiated settlement of some partial amounts for the remainder of this season with nothing for next year. BB simply needed to run it past JW and legal staff on Sat night after they all returned
 
#328      
fuddrules
Mr. Tibbs said:
BB said Houck contacted him & initiated the discussion . That tells me he bailed .

All signs point to Houck NOT enjoying his tenure here , especially after the season started and his defense was full of holes like swiss cheese

I think BB had realized this , and perhaps a negotiated settlement of some partial amounts for the remainder of this season with nothing for next year. BB simply needed to run it past JW and legal staff on Sat night after they all returned
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I think it was more than not enjoying it (probably true). BB brought up without prompt, in-season demotions and dealing with them 2 previous times. Why bring that up?
 
#329      
fuddrules
STLini25 said:
It has been stated what happened. Nothing you claim is close to what has been said what happened. In short, Bobby initiated the conversation and said I’m not feeling it and I might not be the best for the team. Coach B said ok we will move on.
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And I don't believe at all it was that clean.
 
#330      
OrangeBlue98
so one would then assume we owe him nothing more on his 2026 and/or 2027 contract
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If we do, I’d rather see Larry Gies cover this than pay for the video board…….
 
#331      
fuddrules
I also don't believe this happened just by happenstance:

Feb. 1st - Henry announcement to ND
Feb. 4th - Hauck announcement - Retirement
Feb. 9th - Hauck announcement - IL DC

So BB didn't know Henry was leaving. Then it just so happened Hauck retired and was planning on spending his golden years between the mountains and a hammock in the Caribbean. As luck would have it, the 3-3-5 that BB had been talking about for some time - an experienced vet just fell into his lap. Talk about timing. He then talked Hauck out of the hammock and back into the saddle at Illinois. All within essentially a weeks time.

I don't believe it. Others can, no problem, I don't.

Edit: Oh, and by retiring, Hauck (or IL) didn't owe Montana anything vs. paying a buyout clause if he left for another job. Talk about incredible effing timing.
 
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#332      
Mr. Tibbs
fuddrules said:
And I don't believe at all it was that clean.
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these things that are without cause , often get negotiated . He was making more than twice his highest salary . taking a decent sized prorated portion of his 2026 money & leaving now might have made it an easy decision .

fwiw, he NEVER seemed happy nor excited with the gig
 
#333      
Todd99
Hingle McCringleberry said:
Besides some espoused Sommelier level olfactory capabilities, what do you have to support your opinion that is contrary to what was on this board from good sources that played out throughout the offseason of 25'-early 26'?

No-one is saying that he was committed to totally changing the defense, what is being said that he adopted the change in defensive scheme due to the coach he decided to hire out of lack of alternatives.

But maybe you have a hotline to Miss Cleo that is still active.
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Maybe Brett should have checked with Miss Cleo before hiring this cat in the first place!

Miss Cleo Infomercial GIF
 
#334      
therealmiket86
fuddrules said:
It's certainly possible but I didn't think so before the presser.

BB may have told him he's demoted, he may have said, no I'm not, I'm gone.

Or

He told BB it's my defense, I'm doing what I want and BB said, bye.

At least the way BB lead into today talking about the prior in-season demotions, it may be the first scenario.
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He’s a guy that’s been a HC most of career. I’m sure he didn’t like being called out or told what to do. He’s also a guy who retired because he didn’t like the current landscape of college football. I also don’t think he’s ever coached at the P4 level.
 
#335      
STLini25
fuddrules said:
And I don't believe at all it was that clean.
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I do. There is no reason not to.

Was Coach B happy with Bobby’s performance? No.

Were there “discussions” like what happen daily on a college football team? Yes.

Did Bobby know he was doing poorly or possibly over his head? Probably

Did Bobby get fired or asked to leave? No.
 
#337      
ptgrd23
I liked the idea of 3-3-5 just to be different. I would not give up on it. Hauk was just the wrong guy.

All these HS kids payed 43 or 34 in HS. You could shift them back to that in a week. It would be plain vanilla with cover 1 or cover 2 but it could be done with you wanted to bring in Wilcox or soembody else
 
#340      
ChiefGritty
Hingle McCringleberry said:
what do you have to support your opinion that is contrary to what was on this board from good sources that played out throughout the offseason of 25'-early 26'?
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As a matter of fact it is precisely what we heard from those good sources that makes me think this way.

During the period days after the transfer window had opened, when it looked like we were on track for the smaller number of departures we had been used to, defensive front seven guys started trickling out, and the response from the insiders was that the staff didn't think these players were worth the money they were asking for and that we could do better replacing them. Later the insiders told us there was a deal in the works to bring Tomiwa Durojaiye back which didn't come to fruition.

And then of course the insiders (and other sources) told us we had a deal in place with Chris Partridge that he backed out of when they won the Super Bowl. What the Seahawks do isn't exactly a Rocky Long 3-3-5, but the principles are comparable in terms of a tradeoff of size for speed within the box and generating uncertainty as to who is rushing and who is dropping on any given play. Both are ways of answering the question "how do we get results on defense if we can't afford quality and depth among 300+lb DT's?"

It's not my speculation that our change in defensive philosophy was forced by the price level for size on the interior going through the roof, Bret Bielema has said that publicly. But that's not something that became apparent until pretty late in our process, when we suffered something that has hit every program in the country at one time or another: sticker shock at the portal prices.

That's a much more coherent and plausible story than us spending five critical weeks sending letters of recommendation around for someone to relieve us of the burden of firing our incompetent DC. That line actually doesn't align with the information we've gotten here at all, nor does it follow basic common sense, but it DOES stoke the dedicated anti-Henry campaign around here that certain of our wise sages have chosen to lend their credibility to for reasons that I can't fathom.
 
#341      
Mr. Tibbs
ptgrd23 said:
I liked the idea of 3-3-5 just to be different. I would not give up on it. Hauk was just the wrong guy.

All these HS kids payed 43 or 34 in HS. You could shift them back to that in a week. It would be plain vanilla with cover 1 or cover 2 but it could be done with you wanted to bring in Wilcox or soembody else
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you can pretty much bank on it that we ditch the 3-3-5 in the off season if we hire a long term DC who hasnt run it.
 
#342      
therealmiket86
ptgrd23 said:
I liked the idea of 3-3-5 just to be different. I would not give up on it. Hauk was just the wrong guy.

All these HS kids payed 43 or 34 in HS. You could shift them back to that in a week. It would be plain vanilla with cover 1 or cover 2 but it could be done with you wanted to bring in Wilcox or soembody else
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You 100% can’t change the defense in a week. You also aren’t bringing in a new coach to call the defense in week 5. My guess is that Bradford will call the defense for the rest of the season.
 
#344      
AirTran
therealmiket86 said:
You 100% can’t change the defense in a week. You also aren’t bringing in a new coach to call the defense in week 5. My guess is that Bradford will call the defense for the rest of the season.
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What makes you think they are going to change anything? All of these guys coached 3-5-3 at Montana. I can only go by what I have heard from BB. And some of it is BS. But unless you have Buddy Ryan and 13 defensive players the Bears had - for any defense to be successful what they do has to fit into an overall game plan.

Since i have already commented on this more than once, the Illinois offense is quick strike, fast pace approach which leaves the defense on the field for more than 30 mins/game.

Therefore the "best fit" defense is one that (1) doesn't give up big plays and (2) finishes on 3rd and long. With the returning players we have, that would be the correct strategy regardless of formation. Its all about personnel an match ups.

Now I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to see BBs frustration. The defensive mechanics that Hauk was using (firing linebackers and leaving corners in man cover) is designed to make the big play. But when it doesn't make the big play, it gives up large yardage.

BB wants his defensive backfield to be the strength and by isolating them so often, bigger or more athletic receivers are going to be able to get the ball. And we certainly saw enough of that on Saturday.
 
#345      
OrangeBlue98
#346      
jmw
I do. There is no reason not to.

Was Coach B happy with Bobby’s performance? No.

Were there “discussions” like what happen daily on a college football team? Yes.

Did Bobby know he was doing poorly or possibly over his head? Probably

Did Bobby get fired or asked to leave? No.
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This reads like a J Leman podcast episode
 
#348      
therealmiket86
AirTran said:
What makes you think they are going to change anything? All of these guys coached 3-5-3 at Montana. I can only go by what I have heard from BB. And some of it is BS. But unless you have Buddy Ryan and 13 defensive players the Bears had - for any defense to be successful what they do has to fit into an overall game plan.

Since i have already commented on this more than once, the Illinois offense is quick strike, fast pace approach which leaves the defense on the field for more than 30 mins/game.

Therefore the "best fit" defense is one that (1) doesn't give up big plays and (2) finishes on 3rd and long. With the returning players we have, that would be the correct strategy regardless of formation. Its all about personnel an match ups.

Now I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to see BBs frustration. The defensive mechanics that Hauk was using (firing linebackers and leaving corners in man cover) is designed to make the big play. But when it doesn't make the big play, it gives up large yardage.

BB wants his defensive backfield to be the strength and by isolating them so often, bigger or more athletic receivers are going to be able to get the ball. And we certainly saw enough of that on Saturday.
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I literally said they aren’t going to change anything. The other poster had said about changing to a 3-4 or a 4-3 for this weeks game and brining in Wilcox as the dc for the rest of the season. Also Hauck ran zone a majority of the time. He wasn’t leaving guys out in man all game
 
#349      
Fly Illini Fly!
The Maestro of Mayhem said:
a. henry's No. 3-ranked ND defense is ranked #1 in total defense (3.6 yards/play) and #2 scoring defense (8.0 pts./game)....

maybe we're pointing the finger at the wrong guy?
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1) Chris Ash is their defensive coordinator, not Henry.

2) ND’s talent on defense is about 100x better than Illinois. Starting with one of the best CB prospects of all time.

(No opinionated statement on whether firing Henry was the right or wrong move)
 
#350      
Jet Jockey
Mr. Tibbs said:
I will say this with 100% certainty
the change would not have been made without BB knowing exactly how to finish out the season from a defense play calling basis
it’s either himself or someone else he has identified already
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Sounds like from the press conference that BB was completely in the dark and taken by surprise
 
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