Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach

EfremWinters84 · Mar 5, 2016

AutoPoster 3000 said:
People that aren't feeling the Lovie need to look at this thing big picture. In one move we go from the lowest paid and lowest profile coach in the B1G to probably the third highest paid and third highest profile after Harbaugh and Meyer. The Chicago media that we complain always ignores us will be obsessed with Illini football whichever direction we go in the W-L column. It's also about the caliber of assistant that someone like him can bring in. And donor money. And social media mentions. And rear-ends in the seats. It's a huge game changer even if you hated Lovie as the Bears coach and think his vanilla approach will be a failure here. Worst case scenario, we go from being small-time losers to big-time losers. Considering the place where this program currently stands, that's a grand slam in the bottom of the ninth with two outs down by three.

Absolutely nailed it. A-B-S-O-L-U-T-E-L-Y!!

And I'm onboard.

deadpool81 · Mar 5, 2016

Kramer116 said:
Not trying to be a jerk, but who would be better?

Take a look at the B1G coaches, where would you rank Lovie if true?

in terms of name recognition, i'd say solid 3rd behind urban meyer and harbaugh. so... home run for us

Second and Chalmers · Mar 5, 2016

Love My Alma Mater said:
Personally speaking, I agree Lovie is a step up from Cubit. However, I do not view him as a home run hire. See my first post.

I think, just my opinion, is some pushback is because others on here are acting like he is Nick Saban, and are throwing around NFL names as if they will jump from NFL jobs to Illinois. Some hyperbole, some honestly believe these names will happen.

We could do worse, we could do better, although probably not at this time of the year.

He's not Nick Saban by a longshot. There is plenty of downside risk here. But is this a hire good enough to eschew the opportunity to go through a full year of beating the bushes for a coach? I'm inclined to say yes, and I'm biased in favor of thorough processes generally.

The worry here is being able to construct a staff. Are the guys we can get right now going to be long-term solutions?

FatGreg · Mar 5, 2016

It's just hitting me how brilliant this is. What do top prep prospects want above all else? NFL preparation. NFL connections. Media exposure. It might not play out exactly this way, but imagine Lovie bringing on Frazier as DC, Hardy Nickerson as LB coach/ADC, Tice or Ron Turner as OC. Maybe you bring in Kittner to work with QBs. Lovie's sons have NFL experience. Make Scheelhaase special assistant to the HC. Keep Juice around the program. This could be very, very big!

GreenwoodAve · Mar 5, 2016

It's Illinois football for crying our loud. Lovie just needs to go and recruit and he will probably win 7 games a year.

Kramer116 · Mar 5, 2016

Second and Chalmers said:
He's not Nick Saban by a longshot. There is plenty of downside risk here. But is this a hire good enough to eschew the opportunity to go through a full year of beating the bushes for a coach? I'm inclined to say yes, and I'm biased in favor of thorough processes generally.

The worry here is being able to construct a staff. Are the guys we can get right now going to be long-term solutions?

To me the real "test" is the staff that would follow... If we spend money to bring in assistants to compete with the legit B1G programs I'm ready to believe.

mattcoldagelli · Mar 5, 2016

It's great, if true. A better hire than we have any business making, frankly. Don't overthink it.

BillyBob1 · Mar 5, 2016

Since this has been in the works for a week or two, you have to think he has been contacting potential staff members.

IlliniDent · Mar 5, 2016

Love My Alma Mater said:
Personally speaking, I agree Lovie is a step up from Cubit. However, I do not view him as a home run hire. See my first post.

I think, just my opinion, is some pushback is because others on here are acting like he is Nick Saban, and are throwing around NFL names as if they will jump from NFL jobs to Illinois. Some hyperbole, some honestly believe these names will happen.

We could do worse, we could do better, although probably not at this time of the year.

With the state of our current team and where we were at no one would have predicted we could get a coach of this level

IlliniOX08 · Mar 5, 2016

mattcoldagelli said:
It's great, if true. A better hire than we have any business making, frankly. Don't overthink it.

Yep. Absolutely.

hooraybeer · Mar 5, 2016

Frazier as a DC would be simply too good to be true.

FeelYourPaign · Mar 5, 2016

Is there a basis for all this Frazier talk our is it just hope?

spillini · Mar 5, 2016

We are a 4 or 5 on a 10 scale and might be dating an 8. No need to complain that there are 9's and 10's out there. Just say yes.

IlliniCaboose · Mar 5, 2016

mattcoldagelli said:
It's great, if true. A better hire than we have any business making, frankly. Don't overthink it.

Exactly, I'm a Packer fan and even I realize this. There's no one better (especially in March) that we could have gotten. Instant credibility. He'll most likely have other's do the heavy lifting with regards to recruiting and he can just focus on the Xs and Os.

ILLINIFAN2 · Mar 5, 2016

http://www.scout.com/college/illinois/story/1648836-lovie-smith-expected-be-next-illini-coach

ILLINIFAN2 · Mar 5, 2016

Wonder who is next!!

CencalIllini · Mar 5, 2016

GreenwoodAve said:
It's Illinois football for crying our loud. Lovie just needs to go and recruit and he will probably win 7 games a year.

and here that gets you a statue

EfremWinters84 · Mar 5, 2016

I think Phair remains DC. Natural fit.....

Illin1 · Mar 5, 2016

I know I've made my stance on Lovie pretty clear on IL before. If it is true that he is the next HC I hope it works out for us and at the very least he brings stability and competition to this team.

ThreatLevelMidnight · Mar 5, 2016

FeelYourPaign said:
Is there a basis for all this Frazier talk our is it just hope?

It's just hope. I wouldn't expect him to come aboard and be DC.

hermie1985 · Mar 5, 2016

Kramer116 said:
To me the real "test" is the staff that would follow... If we spend money to bring in assistants to compete with the legit B1G programs I'm ready to believe.

I don't see Whitman as a 1/2 in guy. He's a football guy so he knows staffing makes or breaks the CEO. The best part of a Lovie hire is probably the fact that he can get top assistants to come here.

CasualObserver05 · Mar 5, 2016

Anyone care to take a guess at what type of contract this is going to take to bring in Lovie?

Redbirds33333 · Mar 5, 2016

CasualObserver05 said:
Anyone care to take a guess at what type of contract this is going to take to bring in Lovie?

Agree. Also I wonder who his assistants are. Hopefully great recruiters and a solid offensive mind.

rhymeswithorange · Mar 5, 2016

Assuming that any of this is true, how did we end up getting from Thomas/Beckman to Whitman/Smith? It's truly amazing and I feel energized. #WECOULDPOSSIBLYSTARTWINNINGSOMETIMESOON

EJ33 · Mar 5, 2016

Enjoy your crow if you're one of the naysayers who thought the problem with Mike Thomas' coaching hires was that Illinois could no longer attract a big name coach.