Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach

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#576      

Kramer116

Kramer116
Chicago
Kramer116
Also love that Whitman kind of created his own destiny for lack of a better phrase.

I, for one, was getting sick and tired of the defeatist attitude of oh well what can we do, it is not ideal.

Whitman has proven himself to me as a real go getter who is not going to rest to make this better. There was zero reason to wait a year to do the inevitable and just waste time and a whole recruiting class (and really the ground work for the next few).
 
#577      

BZuppke

BZuppke
Plainfield
BZuppke
And I don't agree with any comparisons to Wanny. Wanstedt was always ridiculed and seemed out of his league. Lovie always looks confident and in charge. No comparison.
 
#579      

Xfactr

Xfactr
Lake Forest, IL
Xfactr
IrishIllini said:
Are people really upset with the hire? Have we already forgotten where we come from :D

:chief::shield:
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Touché!

We just need to increase our talent level. Hopefully his name will bring some quality players to Central Illinois!
 
#580      

URH Snyder 490

URH Snyder 490
Orange Crush '89
Northern Illinois
URH Snyder 490
EJ33 said:
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.
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(raises hand)

I was in that camp. You're right-I'm eating crow and it's DELICIOUS ;)
 
#581      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
ties will be resolved
Joel Goodson
It blows my mind that some are carping about this. The program is in a substantially better place than it was yesterday. Yes, there's a lot more to do, but this is a great, virtually unbelievable start.

I think Lovie's going to put together a very, very strong staff. Key hire: OC, obviously.

Kudos to Whitman for utterly flipping the game.
 
#582      

The Rock Says

The Rock Says
The Rock Says
URH Snyder 490 said:
(raises hand)

I was in that camp. You're right-I'm eating crow and it's DELICIOUS ;)
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As with everything, i think the truth's somewhere in the middle. I'm not believing that in 2012 Whitman or a like-minded guy would bring in Kevin Sumlin and Shaka Smart. Absolutely made chicken salad out of chicken *beep* in a very short time, but i think we would have gotten a lot of the same "no's" regardless of AD.

Lovie was a perfect storm that Whitman (skillfully) capitalized on.
 
#584      

BZuppke

BZuppke
Plainfield
BZuppke
As Lovie's sons are part of the equation do you think they can recruit?
 
#586      

illinibb76

I
illinibb76
Another version of JW name conversion.
We currently have JFW
How about JTHMW= Josh "The Hit Man" Whitman
Took several guys out on his first day on the job and then brings in the Big Fish!:cool:
 
#587      

TheBucket

T
TheBucket
When do we think the official announcement will be made? I'm hopeful for a presser tomorrow - but have no reason to believe that is actually the case. :chief:
 
#589      

1970 John

1970 John
1970 John
Jeez, I hate to talk about all this like it's a done deal. Can we knock on a lot of wood here?
 
#590      

Stucash

S
Stucash
If it wasn't a done deal they would have squashed the rumor by now or responded to it.
 
#591      

Juice

Juice
Juice
BZuppke said:
As Lovie's sons are part of the equation do you think they can recruit?
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I definitely like the idea of having some younger guys to recruit. I think they could have some really solid recruiting potential.
 
#593      

IAmChrisFarley

I
IAmChrisFarley
1970 John said:
Jeez, I hate to talk about all this like it's a done deal. Can we knock on a lot of wood here?
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I know this is Illinois, but Whitman hit a walk off grand slam. They're just crossing their t's and dotting i's as we speak. IE trying to the state to expedite the hiring process, and finishing out the staff
 
#594      

TEYPAY

T
Springfield
TEYPAY
wonder the logic of not keeping Bellamy?
 
#595      

Joel Goodson

Joel Goodson
ties will be resolved
Joel Goodson
I have no doubt that Smith will assemble a very strong staff. I hope we can create some junior assistant positions for guys like Bellamy.
 
#596      

Butkuser

B
Butkuser
The Chicago press can spew all they want; JW made a big noise with this hire, and we are IMMEDIATELY a program of national interest, which will only increase when we start playing in the fall.

This is a fantastic turnaround.
 
#597      

Deleted member 346957

D
Guest
Deleted member 346957
When do you guys think this will be official? Tomorrow?
 
#598      

dansaint

D
Middletown, IL
dansaint
GGGFightingIllini18 said:
When do you guys think this will be official? Tomorrow?
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I'm guessing next week. He has to wait until HR gives him the go ahead. Has to wait for that waiver from posting the job. So that could be a week or two before Whitman hears back.
 
#599      

Psycho 86

Psycho 86
King Monkey Nut
Mooresville,Indiana
Psycho 86
I listened to 670am in Chicago talk Illini football for 3 hours this morning !! This hire makes Illini football relevant in a very fast way !!
 
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