Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach

combes · Mar 7, 2016

IrishIllini said:
A coworker of mine is a big OSU fan. He's trying to down play it by saying the East is still better and that he doesn't expect much out of us. Would be nice to curb stomp them in the B1G Championship game this December, no?

Lovie will still have the last coaches' talent on the team, though. That is still an issue for the next year or two.

Love My Alma Mater · Mar 7, 2016

Keisersose said:
Pretty sure it's Mike Sherman for OC.

If true, I like the move. I have always been a fan of the pro style offense , which according to wiki he runs. I know it is against the trend of college, but to me this would be instant recognition,,along with Smith, of NFL experience. I love the balance of run and pass, which should be attractive to abs, rbs and wrs, rather than only one group.

Think about it, your head coach is Lovie Smith, a well know defensive guru. Your OC, hopefully, is a former head coach of the Green Bay packers.

I'm not saying five stars will be beating a path to CU, but I gotta think they will listen.

If Lovie pulls off this staff, look out :chief:

CUWPC · Mar 7, 2016

Chambana13 said:
id like to see the traffic increase on the fightingillini.com compared to a few days ago, especially in ticket sales!

Well I've started to put my PowerPoint together for the wife to convince her this is the right move for the family. Hopefully I'll be purchasing five tickets in the near future.

mattcoldagelli · Mar 7, 2016

MA Illini said:
Lovie is not without risks

Of course, but the risk-free hire does not exist.

In a vacuum, we just had absolutely no business hiring someone of Lovie's caliber.

And when you get into the specifics - that he's a character-first type of coach following a player abuse scandal, that he's most well-known in Chicago and St. Louis, that he brings an end to the lack of diversity that has (fairly or unfairly) come to be associated with this position - it's just a start-to-finish coup for Josh Whitman.

Ransom Stoddard · Mar 7, 2016

combes said:
Lovie will still have the last coaches' talent on the team, though. That is still an issue for the next year or two.

This cannot be stressed and remembered enough. The '16 class isn't going to immediately improve because of Lovie. To quote another NFL coach "they are who we thought they are."

Ransom Stoddard · Mar 7, 2016

CUWPC said:
Well I've started to put my PowerPoint together for the wife to convince her this is the right move for the family. Hopefully I'll be purchasing five tickets in the near future.

Prezi will make a better impression. :thumb:

CUWPC · Mar 7, 2016

Ransom Stoddard said:
This cannot be stressed and remembered enough. The '16 class isn't going to immediately improve because of Lovie. To quote another NFL coach "they are who we thought they are."

I think he will be measured on recruiting his first two years vs on the field. If he brings in consecutive top 25 classes he will be in good shape.

Second and Chalmers · Mar 7, 2016

mattcoldagelli said:
Of course, but the risk-free hire does not exist.

In a vacuum, we just had absolutely no business hiring someone of Lovie's caliber.

And when you get into the specifics - that he's a character-first type of coach following a player abuse scandal, that he's most well-known in Chicago and St. Louis, that he brings an end to the lack of diversity that has (fairly or unfairly) come to be associated with this position - it's just a start-to-finish coup for Josh Whitman.

It really is just hand-in-glove with what the program needs. And in freakin' March!

BWBW · Mar 7, 2016

CUWPC said:
Well I've started to put my PowerPoint together for the wife to convince her this is the right move for the family. Hopefully I'll be purchasing five tickets in the near future.

Screw the Powerpoint. Get her something nice at Jared's.

illininks · Mar 7, 2016

I would be interested in renewing the annual border-war games now, if they could make that happen? #WeWillWin

Illinell · Mar 7, 2016

South Farms said:
Will be interesting to find out how many season tix are sold this week .

Please please please let Mike Sherman be our OC .

I bought two, and I live in NYC..... Enough said

Now, if we get Sherman as OC I might just buy some more!!

EfremWinters84 · Mar 7, 2016

VAIllini35 said:
Try not to cry in the office.

[YOUTUBE]Ban1WIpwlLE[/YOUTUBE]

I watched, and got Goosebumps......

But then I watched the Beckman YouTube clips. The goosebumps went away and I quickly remembered what a laughing stock we've been for (xxxx) years.

Welcome Lovie!

Kramer · Mar 7, 2016

Ransom Stoddard said:
This cannot be stressed and remembered enough. The '16 class isn't going to immediately improve because of Lovie. To quote another NFL coach "they are who we thought they are."

I think you'll see improvement from the staffs coaching ability.

HowellBrandon · Mar 7, 2016

Anyone know who decided to write the check for Lovie. Maybe Khan was a big fan?

Fillory · Mar 7, 2016

EfremWinters84 said:
I watched, and got Goosebumps......

But then I watched the Beckman YouTube clips. The goosebumps went away and I quickly remembered what a laughing stock we've been for (xxxx) years.

Welcome Lovie!

In the small worldview that is college athletics, maybe, but it's still an amazing school.

When you say you went to Illinois, that means a lot more than any football wins. And I do not live anywhere near Illinois.

Sybok · Mar 7, 2016

CUWPC said:
Can't make everyone happy. You would find people who'd complain if Saban was hired.

Saban is too old and would be here 2 years before jumping to an NFL gig where he can't be recruited against. Am I right?

TheBucket · Mar 7, 2016

I'm sure we'll find out more at the press conference, but I would think that the regularly intended schedule of practice starting March 11th and the Spring Game being April 16th would be a go?

Fillory · Mar 7, 2016

TheBucket said:
I'm sure we'll find out more at the press conference, but I would think that the regularly intended schedule of practice starting March 11th and the Spring Game being April 16th would be a go?

No way they move the spring game. It could be insane this year.

miggytorres · Mar 7, 2016

HowellBrandon said:
Anyone know who decided to write the check for Lovie. Maybe Khan was a big fan?

Bingo. Not necessarily Khan, but a consensus of top-flight boosters had to have made this happen.

My theory: Whitman reaches out to Turner about taking the AD position. Turner brings up Lovie as an interesting coach. The two talk. Whitman walks into his AD interviews with a sales pitch that includes delivery of an NFC Champion head coach on Day 1. AD interviews include high-ranking boosters.

Lovie was fired early January (1/6, 1/7?). Lovie connects with Turner/Whitman mid-January to land job at school with deep, under-utilized resources in a talent-rich state that is STARVING for wins. Check. Mate.

IrishIllini · Mar 7, 2016

combes said:
Lovie will still have the last coaches' talent on the team, though. That is still an issue for the next year or two.

People keep saying this, but Cubit took Beckman's squad and went 5-7. Yes, we had an easier schedule, but I think we can accomplish 7-5 or even 8-4 under Lovie

bigruss22 · Mar 7, 2016

mattcoldagelli said:
Of course, but the risk-free hire does not exist.

In a vacuum, we just had absolutely no business hiring someone of Lovie's caliber.

And when you get into the specifics - that he's a character-first type of coach following a player abuse scandal, that he's most well-known in Chicago and St. Louis, that he brings an end to the lack of diversity that has (fairly or unfairly) come to be associated with this position - it's just a start-to-finish coup for Josh Whitman.

This.

Will Lovie get us to a national championship or even a Big Ten title? Doubtful. But he will get us in a better position, his hiring has already re-legitimized Illinois football. This is a huge step for the program, that step doesn't necessarily mean NC or title, but huge step forward.

Johnny Lawrence · Mar 7, 2016

BWBW said:
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?

No

Fighter of the Nightman · Mar 7, 2016

1) I literally died at that Beckman video.

2) Holy cow, JFW is a stud.

UIUC1867 · Mar 7, 2016

Old Illini narrative used by some people-"We're too cheap and won't spend the money to attract a good coach".

R.I.P. to that narrative once and for all. :thumb:

EJ33 · Mar 7, 2016

mattcoldagelli said:
Of course, but the risk-free hire does not exist.

In a vacuum, we just had absolutely no business hiring someone of Lovie's caliber.

And when you get into the specifics - that he's a character-first type of coach following a player abuse scandal, that he's most well-known in Chicago and St. Louis, that he brings an end to the lack of diversity that has (fairly or unfairly) come to be associated with this position - it's just a start-to-finish coup for Josh Whitman.

+1

Agreed. Lovie is no guarantee of success, but this is just an incredible, jaw-dropping hire.

More importantly, we have JFW. I knew this guy was good, but it looks like we've found the next big time AD. Imagine where we'd be right now if Tom Michael got the job and JFW went to Purdue.

Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach

combes

Love My Alma Mater

CUWPC

mattcoldagelli

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest

Ransom Stoddard

Ordained Dudeist Priest

CUWPC

Second and Chalmers

BWBW

illininks

Illinell

'03 IMPE All Star

EfremWinters84

Kramer

HowellBrandon

Fillory

Sybok

TheBucket

Fillory

miggytorres

IrishIllini

bigruss22

Johnny Lawrence

Fighter of the Nightman

UIUC1867

EJ33