Illinois Football Staff Thread

#501      

bigtiny

B
bigtiny
FatGreg said:
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."
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ln2-PUWEHE

Nickerson is a great interview. This guy seems like he'd be a great recruiter and personality to have associated with Illinois football. And love at the end the nod to the experience of being on a campus of bright students. Would be a good fit for U of I.
 
#502      

Epsilon

Epsilon
M tipping over
Pdx
Epsilon
Joel Goodson said:
Right. Which is why fears of Lovie's lack of recruiting prowess are way overblown.
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Yeah these talking heads are totally full of hot air. If you can build relationships like he has, I think it's an easy transition. People act like you had to be doing the same freakin' thing the last 20 years to get something right. Some people just have that je ne sais quoi.
 
#508      

illinidarrin

illinidarrin
from parts unknown
illinidarrin
It looks like Nickerson. Werner tweeted or retweeted Thamel saying Nickerson will be named DC.
 
#509      

Paignt It Orange

Paignt It Orange
Paignt It Orange
I've pinched myself about a 1000 times in the last few days, but can't believe
vwMin.gif
 
#511      

BigStan97

B
Cincinnati OH
BigStan97
I am so pumped..... Not just Lovie. But the fact that he's getting HIS guys. Can't wait to see the end result of the coaching staff!!
 
#512      

Epsilon

Epsilon
M tipping over
Pdx
Epsilon
Don't you just love how we're the ones creating the wrinkles for once, and not picking up the crumbs afterwards?
 
#513      

UofI08

U
Chicago
UofI08
BigStan97 said:
I am so pumped..... Not just Lovie. But the fact that he's getting HIS guys. Can't wait to see the end result of the coaching staff!!
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I know we've always made questionable HC hires, but it seemed like every new hire always had trouble getting the assistants he wanted and had to settle for other choices. It's great seeing Lovie land his top choices.
 
#517      

FatGreg

F
FatGreg
My lord. This is an NFL staff. We're suddenly, in every respect, running an NFL-caliber operation. The 5-stars are coming and we're going to package them for the 1st round of the NFL draft; we're going to start competing for B1G titles and New Year's Day bowl games. If we land a top-notch recruiting coordinator, this thing is about to get real big. The giant is no longer asleep.

For the record, I've been an Illini football pessimist for a long time. When I was a sophomore at UI, I road tripped to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl against LSU. That was the high point of my optimism (along with the Rose Bowl a few years later, obviously), but it still didn't feel like we were going to be a long term national power. Over the last several years, I've come to terms with the mediocrity of the program. I can't believe what's happening now. I really think this is the start of a golden age - I feel it in my bones.
 
#520      

breadman

B
Herndon, VA
breadman
Ever since Saturday, I have had only one thought go through my mind and it just won't stop:
He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!!
I didn't know kids that young were allowed to do these kinds of things!!!
 
#521      

IrishIllini

I
IrishIllini
FatGreg said:
My lord. This is an NFL staff. We're suddenly, in every respect, running an NFL-caliber operation. The 5-stars are coming and we're going to package them for the 1st round of the NFL draft; we're going to start competing for B1G titles and New Year's Day bowl games. If we land a top-notch recruiting coordinator, this thing is about to get real big. The giant is no longer asleep.

For the record, I've been an Illini football pessimist for a long time. When I was a sophomore at UI, I road tripped to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl against LSU. That was the high point of my optimism (along with the Rose Bowl a few years later, obviously), but it still didn't feel like we were going to be a long term national power. Over the last several years, I've come to terms with the mediocrity of the program. I can't believe what's happening now. I really think this is the start of a golden age - I feel it in my bones.
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We're going to be something special, that's for sure. When do OSU/Michigan next come to town? I'm feeling it's about time we crushed the hopes and dreams of some Buckeye/Wolverine fans. Illinois Football being a serious program in our lifetimes...who would have thought?

:chief::shield:
 
#522      

Epsilon

Epsilon
M tipping over
Pdx
Epsilon
breadman said:
Ever since Saturday, I have had only one thought go through my mind and it just won't stop:
He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!! He's ONLY 37!!
I didn't know kids that young were allowed to do these kinds of things!!!
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Yes, some people have a failure of imagination when it comes to understanding what great people can accomplish, even at a young age. Just sit back and enjoy the show.

Edit: my comment is not directed at you, mostly at the airbags on TV.
 
#524      

Klondike

K
Klondike
From all reports, Nickerson and McGee were the top choices at their respective spots. Fantastic gets.

HC: Lovie Smith
OC: Garrick McGee
DC: Hardy Nickerson

:eek: