All i want for Xmas is a DC
Perhaps it's time to admit that UI is not ever going to be any more than a door mat in the conference. I love the University as all of us do but it's time to be realistic. The major men's athletic programs are sorely and blatantly outmatched and the prospects of that changing for the better are remote, at best. Why continue to humiliate ourselves in front of the whole nation year after year. It may well be that this situation can't be fixed. In all the years I've been cognizant of what goes on with UI athletics I can't recall a more humiliating period. The basketball program is just marginally better.
Fire Lovie? Can't disagree but who, prey tell, would even remotely consider taking this job. It's impossible to recruit championship caliber players. Hell, it's impossible to recruit average players on a consistent basis. What blue chip athlete coming out of high school would want to be a part of a program that gets knocked around and made fun of week after week, year after year.
I'm sorry if this sounds fatalistic but reality is what it is. Either go into a conference where the level of competition is attainable and the programs can compete or shut them down. It ain't workin' folks, and the two major athletic programs are no more than a source of shame.
Perhaps it's time to admit that UI is not ever going to be any more than a door mat in the conference. I love the University as all of us do but it's time to be realistic. The major men's athletic programs are sorely and blatantly outmatched and the prospects of that changing for the better are remote, at best.
If that wasn't a program breaking performance yesterday, nothing is.From the start I wondered if Lovie/Illinoiswould be able to attract the type of players to run the Defense Lovie wants to run. That being guys who are disciplined enough to consistently be in the right place/proper tackling for the bend but dont break and force the offense into mistakes/turnovers. And the elite athletes in the key areas up the middle that make everything happen.
Up till yesterday I didnt question guys at least wanting to always play hard for him.
I dont want JW to make a knee jerk reaction off a blow out, but damn that felt like a program breaking performance.
I can't disagree, but the question that begs answering is how many times can a dud hire be replaced with yet another dud hire before no one will touch the job with a 10' pole. I think the program has reached that depth. The Illini brand is so deep into the crapper that a decent, self respecting high school coach wouldn't lower himself to take the job. It hurts immensely to say that but at some point the truth becomes quite clear and that point may be now. I'm tired of being laughed at and ridiculed for merely being a loyal Illini supporter, I can't imagine how the kids feel. It's hard enough to get top flight athletes to come play in what is often referred to as "a corn field" and when the brand is somewhere south of a good junior college program expectations of winning consistently in the conference is just a bit unrealistic. We just can't sugar coat it any longer.I would have agreed with this, and did so for many years, when we were under the small-time budget constraints and investment in athletics dollars that was in place under Guenther and Thomas. When Whitman managed to get the school to commit to spending big money on coaches, assistant coaches, facilities, etc., my thoughts changed.
The problem is, we’ve invested the money but are still getting nickel and dime results. That screams we hired a dud to me. Pay it out and go a different direction.
The Illini brand is so deep into the crapper that a decent, self respecting high school coach wouldn't lower himself to take the job.
With respect, those calling for Lovie's head seem to forget about every other coach we have had for about 20 years.
Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre has been fired
https://twitter.com/ClowESPN/
Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre has been fired
https://twitter.com/ClowESPN/
With respect, those calling for Lovie's head seem to forget about every other coach we have had for about 20 years.
Which was the shining recent example of a long term rebuild that worked. Except it didn't. 14-39 in conference in the end.
Rick George will now make his first revenue sport hire.
I really hate this notion that our past determines our future.
Perhaps it's time to admit that UI is not ever going to be any more than a door mat in the conference. I love the University as all of us do but it's time to be realistic. The major men's athletic programs are sorely and blatantly outmatched and the prospects of that changing for the better are remote, at best. Why continue to humiliate ourselves in front of the whole nation year after year. It may well be that this situation can't be fixed. In all the years I've been cognizant of what goes on with UI athletics I can't recall a more humiliating period. The basketball program is just marginally better.
Fire Lovie? Can't disagree but who, prey tell, would even remotely consider taking this job. It's impossible to recruit championship caliber players. Hell, it's impossible to recruit average players on a consistent basis. What blue chip athlete coming out of high school would want to be a part of a program that gets knocked around and made fun of week after week, year after year.
I'm sorry if this sounds fatalistic but reality is what it is. Either go into a conference where the level of competition is attainable and the programs can compete or shut them down. It ain't workin' folks, and the two major athletic programs are no more than a source of shame.