I think the stability of a 6 year deal, the fact he is going to be able to bring in his two sons to coach with him and the possibility of grooming one of them to be the next coach after he retires is a huge selling point. Maybe we'll have a Smith as head coach for many, many years if all goes well.
Lovie Smith Named Illinois Football Coach
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https://twitter.com/IlliniFootball/status/706871936152772608
This right here is what makes me excited. The players have to be jumping with joy.
This right here is what makes me excited. The players have to be jumping with joy.
IlliniDrums89
- Indianapolis
I think the bolded might be a little too far. Especially with how much weaker the West is, I really don't think it's out of the question.
They need to hire a staff before practice starts. I would imagine the start will move to after spring break. Spring schedules vary wildly from school to school, not that big a deal if we go a little later than others.
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?
Under Prior AD's, dreaming was strictly prohibited! Unless of course you were prepared for a DEFCON 1 level nut punch.
It might just be that JFW is a bigger dreamer than all of us...This IMO is a great thing!
Going from Cubit to Lovie in day 1 of the new job tells me its ok to start dreaming again.
Deleted member 569417
D
Guest
Lovie meeting the team. This right here gets me pumped.
P.S. Does the bad spacing between "TO" and "WIN" bother anyone else? #OCD
WOW! What a shot! I'm tearing up!
ivwilsoniv
- Aurora, IL
If Bill "Lame Duck" Cubit and his 2-year contract could bring in a top 50 recruiting class, I hope Lovie "Super Bowl" Smith and his 6-year contract can recruit like we haven't seen since the Zook days of Martez Wilson and Arrelious Benn.
There's an honesty and forthrightness about Whitman that reminds me of Theo Epstein.
Short tem I agree. Long term, I think our goal needs to be fighting for Big west title each year.
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
JOSH CAME IN LIKE A WREEEEEECKING BAAAAAAALLL
ON DAY ONE, MADE A GUTSY CALL
CUT CUBIT OFF BEFORE THE FALL
ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS, HIRE LUH-UH-UH-VIEEEE
AND STICK IT TO THAT LOSER, TEH-EH-EH-DY
ON DAY ONE, MADE A GUTSY CALL
CUT CUBIT OFF BEFORE THE FALL
ALL HE HAD TO DO WAS, HIRE LUH-UH-UH-VIEEEE
AND STICK IT TO THAT LOSER, TEH-EH-EH-DY
I think we will see that Lovie Smith's ability to not only land talent, but develop the talent will exceed anything that Zook ever did during his tenure. Benn, Wilson (and if you want to go there) AJ Jenkins were highly-regarded pro-prospects. They never really panned out for a long stretch at the NFL level.
Lovie will develop men that are ready for the NFL, no matter how many stars are attached to the recruits' names out of high school.
I can definitely say that I am as excited about Illini football as I have been since the Mike White years of the 80's!
illinidarrin
- from parts unknown
Great hire by Illinois! I'm excited about the recruiting again and hopefully we can win a lot of games.
AeroIllini
- 3rd Floor talbot lab
Just got the Block I email, he's going to be in the union at 11:45 to meet the student body.
karmapoliceman
- STL, MO
I can't fault any players that decided to leave for another program after all the debacles they had to go through during their time here, but I wonder how many of them are wishing they would've stayed the course now?
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
I can't fault any players that decided to leave for another program after all the debacles they had to go through during their time here, but I wonder how many of them are wishing they would've stayed the course now?
hindsight is 20/20.. at the time, they needed to make a move to find a home for next year, and as far as they knew, Cubit would be back.. and he was the reason a lot of those guys left.
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