Illinois Football Staff Thread

#477      

EfremWinters84

E
S. Carolina
EfremWinters84
Illinifanatic4ever said:
So we have so far confirmed
McGee as OC/QB Coach
Hayes-Stoker WR Coach
Butkus OL Coach
Phair DL Coach
Is this correct and am I missing anyone?
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Thinking back to our earliest prognostications, we were essentially correct about Phair. As for the rest, Lovie seems to be doing his own thing. Glad he's not reading this forum.

Out with the old.......
 
#482      

champaignchris

C
champaignchris
So in about 6 days, we went from having the coach's son as Offensive Coordinator to picking off the OC from one of the top programs in the ACC?

I got that right?
 
#483      

ivwilsoniv

I
Aurora, IL
ivwilsoniv
champaignchris said:
So in about 6 days, we went from having the coach's son as Offensive Coordinator to picking off the OC from one of the top programs in the ACC?

I got that right?
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Hopefully we can pick off DeCalon Brooks (due to Lovie's familiarity with his dad, Derrick Brooks) and AJ Epenesa too. That would be quite the coup. :thumb:
 
#485      

TownieMatt

T
CU Expat
Chicago
TownieMatt
champaignchris said:
So in about 6 days, we went from having the coach's son as Offensive Coordinator to picking off the OC from one of the top programs in the ACC?

I got that right?
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Indeed. And I'd say McGee is more than just an OC from a top ACC program. He's one of the most sought after OCs in the country.
 
#486      

Deleted member 29907

D
Guest
Deleted member 29907
TownieMatt said:
Indeed. And I'd say McGee is more than just an OC from a top ACC program. He's one of the most sought after OCs in the country.
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Says alot that these guys are coming on board and willing to make that uncomfortable call to their existing coach at this time of the year. In Lovie we trust.
 
#487      

UofI08

U
Chicago
UofI08
I don't think enough can be said about Lovie's ability to relate and create personal bonds with players and coaches alike. Lovie was the LB coach at Arizona State when he was recruiting McGee as a quarterback. They spend all of 1 season, 1991, together there, on opposite sides of the ball, when Lovie was still a very young coach (33 years old). 25 years later, McGee is comfortable leaving a great, high paying coordinator position to join Lovie at an underachieving school. McGee must have immense respect for Lovie. This is unbelievable and really speaks to Lovie's character and reputation.
 
#488      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
respect my decision™
Joel Goodson
UofI08 said:
I don't think enough can be said about Lovie's ability to relate and create personal bonds with players and coaches alike. Lovie was the LB coach at Arizona State when he was recruiting McGee as a quarterback. They spend all of 1 season, 1991, together there, on opposite sides of the ball, when Lovie was still a very young coach (33 years old). 25 years later, McGee is comfortable leaving a great, high paying coordinator position to join Lovie at an underachieving school. McGee must have immense respect for Lovie. This is unbelievable and really speaks to Lovie's character and reputation.
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Right. Which is why fears of Lovie's lack of recruiting prowess are way overblown.
 
#489      

ritster

R
Wheaton, IL
ritster
Hardy Nickerson, come on down ( over I should say) . Anyone read that when he coached HS at an Oakland Area powerhouse he got 20 kids scholarships? To think we will be able to recruit the Oakland area if he comes on board . Wow!! :D:ms: #WeWillWin
 
#490      

dweebs19

dweebs19
dweebs19
I think it's easier for McGee to leave because I don't think he was calling plays at Louisville. I think he now gets a chance to call his own plays and be his own OC
 
#492      

illiniobserver22

illiniobserver22
Chicago
illiniobserver22
UofI08 said:
I don't think enough can be said about Lovie's ability to relate and create personal bonds with players and coaches alike. Lovie was the LB coach at Arizona State when he was recruiting McGee as a quarterback. They spend all of 1 season, 1991, together there, on opposite sides of the ball, when Lovie was still a very young coach (33 years old). 25 years later, McGee is comfortable leaving a great, high paying coordinator position to join Lovie at an underachieving school. McGee must have immense respect for Lovie. This is unbelievable and really speaks to Lovie's character and reputation.
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You definitely see this trend of him becoming involved in many people's lives and remaining involved, which is awesome for a college coach. Like you said he clearly can connect with people quickly and gain their respect.

The other aspect is that he has a legion of people in football who would endorse Lovie to anyone who would listen. That should pay off as he recruits.

My one concern is if he starts just recruiting friends kids and stuff, maybe we take lots of non B1G caliber players. But I'm just looking for a problem at this point
 
#493      

wIn

W
wIn
What are the pros/cons of Hardy Nickerson? Is it expected that he'd have decent recruiting chops? I wish that he'd have a stop with some play-calling responsibilities, but is he at least well-regarded as a LB coach?
 
#494      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
respect my decision™
Joel Goodson
illiniobserver22 said:
You definitely see this trend of him becoming involved in many people's lives and remaining involved, which is awesome for a college coach. Like you said he clearly can connect with people quickly and gain their respect.

The other aspect is that he has a legion of people in football who would endorse Lovie to anyone who would listen. That should pay off as he recruits.

My one concern is if he starts just recruiting friends kids and stuff, maybe we take lots of non B1G caliber players. But I'm just looking for a problem at this point
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Don't see this happening. At all.
 
#496      

bigruss22

B
bigruss22
Any word on recruiting coordinator yet? Still seems like we'd have a good pile of money to throw at a top guy (Brewster doesn't look to be happening at this point).
 
#497      

FatGreg

F
FatGreg
As far as I've been able to gather, Hardy Nickerson is well respected as a position coach. I listened to a few interviews on youtube and he comes across as earnest (if a bit reserved) and articulate - not dissimilar to Lovie and McGee in terms of demeanor. He was tremendously successful in his stint at Bishop O'Dowd in Oakland. Overall, he's fairly unproven as a coach, but he seems to be an up-and-comer and obviously he's regarded as one of the best and most ferocious linebackers in recent NFL history.

I can see Lovie, McGee, and Nickerson really impressing kids and parents in recruiting situations. All three have a kind of gravity about them. You listen to them talk and you can tell they mean business. I think when they leave a living room, the kid's going to be thinking, "if I want to go to the NFL, these guys will get me there."
 
#498      

IlliniBacker

IlliniBacker
IlliniBacker
bigruss22 said:
Any word on recruiting coordinator yet? Still seems like we'd have a good pile of money to throw at a top guy (Brewster doesn't look to be happening at this point).
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I don't know if Lovie has any connection to Brewster, but he could do some serious recruiting damage with Lovie to sell as HC along with a quality staff that develops players. Serious damage. Brewster would be the fb staff equivalent of Whitman in terms of having an Illini guy to passionately sell the program. He knows what the potential here is.

I'd guess recruiting would pass Zook levels in fairly short order with Brewster here as RC.
 
#499      

Smacko

S
Lexington, KY
Smacko
GeorgiaIllini said:
Any chance he is being told that he'll be the heir apparent to the HC job when Lovie retires?
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Lovie just signed a 6 year deal. I don't think anyone at this point is trying to make decisions or promises about what will happen in 2021. At least I hope not.
 
#500      

Second and Chalmers

S
Second and Chalmers
wIn said:
What are the pros/cons of Hardy Nickerson? Is it expected that he'd have decent recruiting chops? I wish that he'd have a stop with some play-calling responsibilities, but is he at least well-regarded as a LB coach?
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My faith that Lovie knows what he needs on offense is optimistic but guarded and conditional. McGee seems like a good hire to me, so I'm happy.

My faith that Lovie knows what he needs on defense is absolute.