He's 13-12 as a coach here. Dont build the statute yet.
Correct. Bielema will need to win 8 games consistently, let's say 20 seasons, to even be considered for a statue. That would put Bielema at age 73, so maybe he wouldn't get to enjoy his bronziness as an active coach.
But a lot needs to go right to win 8 games at Illinois. Like so damn much.
The 13-12 record for BB after two seasons with Illinois football is worth discussing historically, or at least generationally. The last coach to begin their coaching stint at Illinois to have an above .500 winning percentage after two seasons was John Mackovic in 1989-1990 (which was before my time on Earth), 16-7-1. Mackovic was also the last coach to leave with an above .500 record at Illinois, 30-16-1 (.649).
This one surprised me a bit, but the last coach to have two 8 win seasons at Illinois was Ron Turner. The Sugar Bowl team in 2001 (10-2) and in 1999 (8-4).
Though the flirtations and musing of statues in July are fun, these dreams do have a statute of limitations. During August our Illini will grind and slog through camp, but September is coming. Will we rise to our fanbases loftiest of ceilings or crash like so many other Illini teams before them?