Mort Weir chose poorly
Illinois Football Recruiting Thread
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If you look a little closer, what I'm guessing you'll find is that we've had consistently mediocre recruiting. We get a big time guy occasionally, and we've had some guys much better than their ranking. Then when we've been able to put it together and have an upperclassmen led team, we've been able to have success, sometimes a lot of success. However, since we had to wait 3-4 years to get that team to gel, they graduate and we're back to step 1. Ultimately, it's the inability to land consistently strong recruiting classes that lead to this. We don't have the next wave waiting in the wings.
Honestly, I don't think it will ever happen. Especially with the conference only getting more difficult. The only way we are going to get consist success is through money. Money to land top recruits, money to bring in and keep top coaches. I just don't think that's going to happen, especially for a school like Illinois. I personally think it's ridiculous that fans have to pay the players, but at Illinois where the basketball team has much more success than the football team, how long does it take before donors say, I'm wasting my money on the football program, but if I send that same money to the basketball side, we can be consistently great?
I know this kid's family personally. His dad is the HS coach. Great defensive mind. I think we missed out big time
Any idea why we whiffed on this one?
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
Iowa has produced several linebackers recently shining in the NFL.I can see the attraction despite my orange colored glasses.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
Family really likes Seth Wallace at Iowa. We also don't have a LB coach right now, writing was on the wall.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Did not know where to put this… sorry!
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ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
If we're scared of Mizzou the war is already lost.
The problem was playing it Week 1 in St. Louis. I think making it a long-term home and home is a great idea.
For better or for worse there is no hiding from competition anymore. We could have scheduled our way to the bowl streak the program was desperate for in the 2000's, Ron Guenther murdered that with his bare hands, but that's the age of horses and buggy's now.
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
I live near STL and this just makes me sick to my stomach. It's like money is growing on trees for them And we have to collect pennies to try to make things happen here. Tired of hearing Mizzou fans and media talk about how they are a powerhouse now in football, and then get more help to make them even better.
Eh, it's being smart. We get 3 games a year to schedule outside the conference. The conference is only getting stronger. We need to be 3-0 for OOC. Although it was a smart move to schedule KU at the time, if that was a patsy W, and we went bowling, the entire fanbase attitude would be different right now
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
I mean maybe?
I dunno, the 6-6 minor bowl does not seem to be worth what it used to, and I'm pretty skeptical those bowls will even exist in the relatively near future.
And I say that as someone who believes we would be living in Eden with flying cars if RG had paid for home cupcakes in 2002 and 2008.
Mike Thomas scheduled Kansas series in 2014.
Josh, himself, set up the Missery home and home series in 2017.
So, do you believe there’s any serious possibility that Josh now cancels said series?
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
I understand that the logistics of a major football game require more advance planning than basketball, but it is insane to me that these OOC games should be scheduled nearly a decade out. We'd definitely have a couple more bowls under our belt if we could be more reasonably sure our opponents won't happen to be performing at historical highs when we meet.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
crappin' us? in the context of the massive crater we were in, a minor bowl is a major W (for us and that's all I'm referring to). digging out takes time.
the 2023 class was really encouraging for in-state recruiting and it really felt like we built on the 22 class and season
we are just getting slaughtered in-state in 2024 recruiting and that is making me gravely worried for the whole bielema administration.
we are just getting slaughtered in-state in 2024 recruiting and that is making me gravely worried for the whole bielema administration.
setting up that series in 2017 was essentially setting a timer: by 2026, the football program must be Good, or at least competitive with missouri.
the implications of that same athletic director canceling it with two years left on that timer are...depressing.
1m4tr
Cliffmas
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
they will exist as long as host city/bowl committee and both teams/conferences in the game can make money.
So 1 of the Waltons is getting frisky with mizzou? Yep! Love that Walmart money.
Mr. Tibbs
- southeast DuPage
pretty much my guess - with an outside chance its Johnny Morris of Bass Pro Shop fame.
what year was the last time it went well? What would you consider a good in state year recruiting? Genuinely wondering. I’m thinking of it now, and it doesn’t seem easy, for realistic expectations.
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