Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach
- Status
Well, we still have to hire an offensive coordinator, and this is Illinois, which means we'll screw it up and have to settle for ... wait! I just realized I don't have to think like this anymore! I can actually be optimistic! So strange ....
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
This may have already been posted, but there's a presser at 3pm EST today per ESPN.
http://espn.go.com/college-football...is-fighting-illini-hire-lovie-smith-new-coach
http://espn.go.com/college-football...is-fighting-illini-hire-lovie-smith-new-coach
Chambana13
- Charleston, IL
ILL 
Ransom Stoddard
Ordained Dudeist Priest
- Bloomington, IL
This was literally a kitchen table deal. I love it.
A lot of work still to be done, but I think we can now go about it with hope and optimism.
Pretty sure it's Mike Sherman for OC.
Kramer
- Des Moines, Iowa
ILL
INI
Deleted member 29907
D
Guest
The "follicle-y" unchallenged need not apply.
We're the baldest athletic department in the country.
Good, I'd fit right in.
BTW: Congrats, dude. We can celebrate now.
As fast as things are now moving, is it too much to dream that in just a few years we may be in the NC Hunt?
Yes, probably.
ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
Thought this was in someone's kitchen but it looks like one of the break rooms at Memorial Stadium.
Another observation is that Whitman is a lefty. Interesting...
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
If my math is correct, that's $3.5 million per year over 6 years.
Depends a lot on how he coaches this bad team. If he can get the most out of them, he has tons of NFL player connections. Guys like Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, and Peanut Tillman would go to bat for this guy. He is the ultimate player's coach in that regard, so we will see where this goes. NC? Probably not, but I would expect to challenge the big ten with annual bowl visits.
As fast as things are now moving, is it too much to dream that in just a few years we may be in the NC Hunt?
Baby steps. Our goal is to be like Wisky or Iowa - 8 or 9 wins a year. We have to get there before national title talk.
ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
Which would put him 24th in the country, right between Butch Jones and Chris Petersen (two of the guys who turned MT down, ironically)
We're the baldest athletic department in the country.
I would fit right in!
JDHalfrack
- Springfield, IL
- Status