Least Favorite Big Ten Coach and Why?

#26      
I was thinking about Beckman just in the last couple days. Mike Thomas looked at Toledo and picked Beckman over Campbell. Not that Campbell was necessarily ready and not like we all would have exploded, but it's pretty remarkable to think of the trajectories of those two.
Wish I could go back and find it, and I am definitely not saying it was from me, but I swear there was at least one poster at the time who said we were taking the wrong guy from Toledo.
 
#27      
Wish I could go back and find it, and I am definitely not saying it was from me, but I swear there was at least one poster at the time who said we were taking the wrong guy from Toledo.
it may have been Gritty (or under his previous name) . he was in on Campbell’s value to that coaching staff
 
#29      
I was thinking about Beckman just in the last couple days. Mike Thomas looked at Toledo and picked Beckman over Campbell. Not that Campbell was necessarily ready and not like we all would have exploded, but it's pretty remarkable to think of the trajectories of those two.
Wish I could go back and find it, and I am definitely not saying it was from me, but I swear there was at least one poster at the time who said we were taking the wrong guy from Toledo.
As Beckman said publicly at his introductory presser (not a smart thing to do of course), the plan was to bring Campbell with him, he was a core part of what they were hoping to build at Illinois. They didn't anticipate that Toledo would make him the youngest HC in Division 1 after two years as a coordinator. Toledo took a risk and it paid off.

Everybody, most of all Beckman himself, recognized what a talent Campbell was.

As it happened, Beckman compiled a very strong staff full of guys who have continued to have strong careers at major college programs and in the NFL. A good eye for assistants was always part of his sell.

But you could have given him 11 Nick Sabans as a staff and it wouldn't have made any difference at the end of the day. The problem was not that there was secretly "the good one" elsewhere on his Toledo staff, the problem was not that his record at Toledo wasn't good enough, nor that the defenses weren't good enough or the MAC wasn't good enough, it was never hiding in plain sight on the resume. The problem was that Beckman was and is a buffoon. His objectively strong resume and reputation in the business circa 2011 is just one of life's mysteries.

Mike Thomas' reputation among Illini fans is distorted through all sorts of Guentherite propaganda. But it's a fact that he sat in an interview with a moron and decided to stake his tenure and reputation on him. You don't survive decisions like that.
 
#31      
As Beckman said publicly at his introductory presser (not a smart thing to do of course), the plan was to bring Campbell with him, he was a core part of what they were hoping to build at Illinois. They didn't anticipate that Toledo would make him the youngest HC in Division 1 after two years as a coordinator. Toledo took a risk and it paid off.

Everybody, most of all Beckman himself, recognized what a talent Campbell was.

As it happened, Beckman compiled a very strong staff full of guys who have continued to have strong careers at major college programs and in the NFL. A good eye for assistants was always part of his sell.

But you could have given him 11 Nick Sabans as a staff and it wouldn't have made any difference at the end of the day. The problem was not that there was secretly "the good one" elsewhere on his Toledo staff, the problem was not that his record at Toledo wasn't good enough, nor that the defenses weren't good enough or the MAC wasn't good enough, it was never hiding in plain sight on the resume. The problem was that Beckman was and is a buffoon. His objectively strong resume and reputation in the business circa 2011 is just one of life's mysteries.

Mike Thomas' reputation among Illini fans is distorted through all sorts of Guentherite propaganda. But it's a fact that he sat in an interview with a moron and decided to stake his tenure and reputation on him. You don't survive decisions like that.
I saw the first press conference for Groce and I was pretty pumped. I got why the hire was made.

I saw the first for Beckman and like thousands of other fans went WTF?
 
#32      
Worth pointing out that Ryan Day has been a head coach at Ohio State since starting as acting head coach early in 2018 and still hasn't coached against Illinois.
Yeah, that's ludicrous. Not that I'm complaining about not having that most likely automatic loss, but still...
 
#36      
Fleck just doesn't bother me that much. A lot of college football coaches are a little weird and kinda nuts. He's the most successful Minnesota coach in ages and I kinda like that's he stayed as long as he has at a program with a lower ceiling instead of trying to force his way elsewhere. Plus we still beat them with regularity, so win-win all around.
 
#37      
I was thinking about Beckman just in the last couple days. Mike Thomas looked at Toledo and picked Beckman over Campbell. Not that Campbell was necessarily ready and not like we all would have exploded, but it's pretty remarkable to think of the trajectories of those two.
Thomas was also dumb enough to listen to Urban Meyer's recommendation
 
#39      
Unpopular opinion but I don't have a strong hate for Fleck like many here. Yeah I find his schtick bush-league but I find him more corny than hateable. I'm old enough to remember when this board wanted him to come coach at Illinois before he went to Minny and we would all gladly have his win total here. But to answer the question, I can't stand Lincoln Riley. At Oklahoma it was clear he was an average coach who was an amazing recruiter that benefitted from Stoops' culture. He constantly had poor starts in games only to be bailed out by the talent on his team and the way he complains to officials would make Tom Izzo and Fran McCaffery blush. I'm thrilled he's getting exposed right now in the Big Ten.
 
#40      
Some of the potential dislike I might have had for Fleck is tempered by the fact that Bielema has never lost to him, and we have owned him since he got here, lol.

I would put them like this:

LEGITIMATELY DISLIKE
- Luke Fickell (WISC) ... that bush league BS last year will not be forgotten.
- Ryan Walters (PUR) ... seemed to have handled moving on to a bigger opportunity with an almost bewilderingly classless and petty attitude that seemed to come out of nowhere.

KIND OF DISLIKE
- Curt Cignetti (IND) ... respect what he's doing but seems arrogant.
- PJ Fleck (MINN) ... insufferable dork, sure, but he's been our punching bag and taken it surprisingly well, lol.
- David Braun (NU) ... mostly just for keeping us out of a bowl last year, haha.

DEFAULT TO DISLIKE BECAUSE COMPETITOR
- Dan Lanning (ORE) ... didn't help he just embarrassed us, but I don't know that much about him, and he's obviously a great coach.
- James Franklin (PSU) ... dorkiness is good for laughs and no REAL reason to dislike him, plus I have a soft spot for how they jus CANNOT get over the hump of the Michigan/OSU curse, lol.
- Sherrone Moore (MICH) ... don't know enough about him besides the meme of him crying; however, I assume a Harbaugh guy at Michigan is somewhat of a tool.
- Lincoln Riley (USC) ... seems inoffensive overall, but his comment about making USC the "Mecca of College Football" is kind of funny now!

NEUTRAL
- Kirk Ferentz (IOWA) ... used to be "Kind of Like," but running up the score 63-0 was not cool.
- Jonathan Smith (MSU) ... know nothing about him.
- Jedd Fisch (WASH) ... also know nothing about him.
- DeShaun Foster (UCLA) ... know nothing about him besides the press conference.

KIND OF LIKE
- Matt Rhule (NEB) ... my good friend's wife interviewed him and said he's an awesome guy.
- Mike Locksley (UMD) ... will never dislike him, gave us some really fun memories after a dark stretch of futility.
- Greg Schiano (RUT) ... a living reminder of a time when college sports were set up much better.

In summary, there are really only two that I honestly dislike - Walters and Fickell. Of the two, at least Walters wore the orange and blue for a bit and helped lead a defense that was truly a joy to watch.
Dan Lanning: So last Halloween, I'm pretty sure it was Dan and his wife standing back in the street watching their kids trick or treat at our house. He's a good guy. He lives a few blocks from my place and my neighborhood is one of those places that just draws trick or treaters.
 
#41      
I say Ryan Day is most annoying to me. He is Jason Garrett/Mike McCarthy/Jerry Jones with a near Buddy Ryan arrogance.

Walters is going downhill fast.

I get Fleck and Franklln.

Y'all are sleeping on Benedict Brisket, I mean Lincoln Riley. The way he ended up at USC made me have sympathy for Oklahoma and my old Texan school heart that is hard to do. Also Oregon St fans disliked the Smith breakup with them for more than just "left for a better job" reasons.
 
#42      
He’s not my least favorite but separated at birth? Matt Rhule?
 

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#43      
Lincoln Riley. At Oklahoma it was clear he was an average coach who was an amazing recruiter that benefitted from Stoops' culture. He constantly had poor starts in games only to be bailed out by the talent on his team and the way he complains to officials would make Tom Izzo and Fran McCaffery blush. I'm thrilled he's getting exposed right now in the Big Ten.

In the prior era of college football, I would welcome a great recruiter that couldn't coach. We were so used to the basement that getting some pro talent on the roster at least made it more fun to watch. If it didn't result in wins, the next guy would have something better to start with.
 
#44      
Fleck just doesn't bother me that much. A lot of college football coaches are a little weird and kinda nuts. He's the most successful Minnesota coach in ages and I kinda like that's he stayed as long as he has at a program with a lower ceiling instead of trying to force his way elsewhere. Plus we still beat them with regularity, so win-win all around.
He has tried to force himself elsewhere just no one wants to hire him.
 
#47      
It's interesting to see the variety of opinions here. I'm more likely to dismiss those who don't have much effect on us (like Fleck) and really dislike those that have stolen a win from us (like Fickell). Since Fickell is a cheat, he's top of the list for me.
 
#48      
Thomas was also dumb enough to listen to Urban Meyer's recommendation
Jim Tressel actually.

And of course the biggest mistake of all in that process was that Thomas interviewed Pat Narduzzi, who he had worked with at Cincinnati and liked, and who was eager for the job, but Thomas had the misbegotten idea that head coaching experience was a necessity for the position. Terrible process.

Also, you know who this thread really misses? Fitz. What a great villain that guy was.
 
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#49      
Jim Tressel actually.

And of course the biggest mistake of all in that process was that Thomas interviewed Pat Narduzzi, who he had worked with at Cincinnati and liked, and who was eager for the job, but Thomas had the misbegotten idea that head coaching experience was a necessity for the position. Terrible process.

Also, you know who this thread really misses? Fitz. What a great villain that guy was.

Okay: Fitzy is Love to Hate, Emeritus.
 
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