Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach

hermie1985 · Mar 6, 2016

I feel like the Lovie story could have been "leaked" to stop a run of bad media for the Illini. Imagine the headlines in the Chicago papers if the story had stopped at the release of Cubit. It also holds every recruit and player with us.

Plus, we get another whole day of coverage at the announcement. And then Lovie at spring ball. Players should Lovie it.

TCTORNADO · Mar 6, 2016

1970 John said:
Is this a regularly scheduled flight? Is that plane turning around? If it's a charter , who else would be going from Champaign to Tampa Bay and back?
:thumb:

The University uses Flightstar Corp to lease out Lear jets. This is one (FSR103) that is headed to TPA and back to Willard. today.

DrewD007 · Mar 6, 2016

BZuppke said:
Clarification on buy out:

"It's good news for Smith but also for the Bucs — they were due to pay him $10 million over the next two years as part of the firing, but his contract has "offset" language that calls for the team to be reimbursed for any salary he earns from other jobs. It's reasonable to think the Glazer family, which owns the Bucs, would get half of that $10 million back, an unexpected bonus this late in the football hiring season."

Hope he keeps Phair who previously coached for him. Phair was getting it done.

I doubt it'd happen, but I'd hope that years 1 and 2 of the deal would be a small dollar amount since he's still getting money from the Bucs. Then escalate to whatever the going rate is after year 3.

InterimLoyalty · Mar 6, 2016

I think we have to give a tip of the cap to Ron Turner on this hire if it happens. Sounds like there was a familiarity between Lovie and JW through him correct?

ijustkrushalot · Mar 6, 2016

WesterveltVictoryCigar said:
Great point made on Tay and Jay show (listening to the podcast), if Simon C doesn't start tweeting about his mistreatment, none of this happens.

Odds are Beckman goes 5-7/6-6, get's fired, and possibly have Dino Babers with Thomas on very thin ice.

THAT SAID... we seemed to have rescued ourselves from a pretty awful situation. soo.. horray.

if you're going to blame someone blame David Reisner for hitting that field goal against Penn State

Lake Camelot · Mar 6, 2016

InterimLoyalty said:
I think we have to give a tip of the cap to Ron Turner on this hire if it happens. Sounds like there was a familiarity between Lovie and JW through him correct?

By the way. Are you going to keep your name as interim? Or change if things go well?

RyanK · Mar 6, 2016

Purely speculative...but I think we should keep an eye out for this guy joining the staff.

Former Illinois asst. coach, also coached under Lovie in Chicago.

http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/harry_hiestand_792671.html

Edit -- looks like it was already alluded to the he coached Whitman during his time here. Still trying to catch up on all the posts from yesterday.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 6, 2016

InterimLoyalty said:
I think we have to give a tip of the cap to Ron Turner on this hire if it happens. Sounds like there was a familiarity between Lovie and JW through him correct?

Leslie Frazier and Harry Hiestand are also both through-lines between Whitman and Lovie FWIW.

InterimLoyalty · Mar 6, 2016

Lake Camelot said:
By the way. Are you going to keep your name as interim? Or change if things go well?

How about we hire Lovie officially first??:thumb:

BZuppke · Mar 6, 2016

Ron Turner undoubtedly helped. I didn't like him as our coach but RG handled the firing well and Turner has continued to support us and his former players. He's a good man.

AeroIllini · Mar 6, 2016

Illinoiser33 said:
As I said yesterday, it's a done deal guys. "Yep, she talked to him. He's the new HC of Illinois"

Does your source have any idea on a timetable? It'd be nice to know :thumb:

alexander58 · Mar 6, 2016

It will be interesting to see what kind of staff can be assembled this late in the game. With many years behind him , I'm sure Lovie is well connected. I'm sure he'd hire people with experience in the college game.

Lake Camelot · Mar 6, 2016

https://twitter.com/therealJeffJ97

FYI, some impressive names that want to coach with Lovie at Illinois, of course his kid will be on the staff, 2 experienced Oline coaches

Both oline coaches with NFL, Big Ten experience, former NFL, college head coach as offensive coordinator, big, decisive move by Whitman

Hear 3 former Illini now involved in coaching are also being targeted, former Illini admin person who worked for Lovie with the Bears also

ILLINIFAN2 · Mar 6, 2016

1970 John said:
Done. I can't imagine anyone else.

Now, I have a basketball game to go to. Can I hear an I-L-L-?

Ohh MY, I forgot about the basketball team

RyanK · Mar 6, 2016

AeroIllini said:
Does your source have any idea on a timetable? It'd be nice to know :thumb:

I've seen tomorrow or Tuesday been rumored for an announcement. Where's Lovie living nowadays? Someone get the flight tracker going.

Lake Camelot · Mar 6, 2016

RyanK said:
I've seen tomorrow or Tuesday been rumored for an announcement. Where's Lovie living nowadays? Someone get the flight tracker going.

Well you already missed that.

dansaint · Mar 6, 2016

the name I keep hearing for the OC position is Mike Sherman. Former Packers head coach and Texas A&M. Known as a pretty good offensive mind. Has been coaching in HS in Massachusetts.

FT35 · Mar 6, 2016

ILLINIFAN2 said:
Ohh MY, I forgot about the basketball team

Illinois is playing Villanova in baseball in a couple of minutes :thumb:

I'll be following that instead.

AeroIllini · Mar 6, 2016

RyanK said:
I've seen tomorrow or Tuesday been rumored for an announcement. Where's Lovie living nowadays? Someone get the flight tracker going.

Just take a look at the page before this one, plenty of flight stuff there

Lake Camelot · Mar 6, 2016

Is ron Turner as OC a possibilty? With HH as OLine?

Illinoiser33 · Mar 6, 2016

AeroIllini said:
Does your source have any idea on a timetable? It'd be nice to know :thumb:

Nope. But it's going to have to happen soon. It's front page of the newspapers lol

RyanK · Mar 6, 2016

Lake Camelot said:
Well you already missed that.

AeroIllini said:
Just take a look at the page before this one, plenty of flight stuff there

Haha this board is amazing.

GreenwoodAve · Mar 6, 2016

chief2007 said:
What role would Lovie's sons have assistants?

Probably DB Coach and I could see recruiting coordinator.

CUWPC · Mar 6, 2016

chief2007 said:
What role would Lovie's sons have assistants?

Mikal was a safeties coach for TB so a secondaries coach would be my guess. Not sure on the other.

RyanK · Mar 6, 2016

chief2007 said:
What role would Lovie's sons have assistants?

His son, Mikal, coached safeties for him in TB, so that is likely on position filled.

His other son, Miles, worked a variety of roles. So it'll be interesting to see where he is placed. Probably depends who Lovie can get to come coach at Illinois.