Regarding Illinois vs. Texas as a job, I think these would be categories I would consider if I were Underwood:
Hassle of Moving: Huge advantage Illinois ... this is an underrated factor, as uprooting one's family always does.
Family/Past Connections to Area: Advantage Illinois ... given his time at Western and the years he's spent in Champaign, I'd say that far outweighs whatever past he had down in Big XII Country south of Kansas.
College Town/City: Advantage Texas, as Austin is (apparently) great ... but some people prefer smaller college towns, too! I also can't get inside Brad's head for the type of culture and atmosphere he wants in an area, what his weather preferences are, how much he likes certain types of foods and other smaller personal preferences that factor into where we all decide to live.
Program Ceiling: About even ... Illinois has more history of Tournament runs and conference championships (the latter very recent), but Texas would have more overall resources.
Fan Enthusiasm: Huge advantage Illinois ... on UT's own board, there was skepticism basketball could ever become more than a stop-gap between football and spring football.
Fan Pressure: Slight advantage Texas, as (surprising or not) I think expectations would be higher here. However, it might be close enough to not matter, plus some coaches don't view the high expectations as a negative ... these guys are winners and competitors.
Recruiting Ground: Slight advantage Texas (especially if you view the Chicago politics as a negative). However, I would argue the Midwest as a whole might be better than Texas and the surrounding states?
Facilities: About even ... Texas' arena is newer but pretty small, and Illinois likely has them beat on practice facilities? Either way, this would likely not be a make-or-break thing in either direction.
Salary: About even ... at this point, I think we'd match Texas' offer, even if they could come up with more money overall. I'd like to think whatever slight pay increase they could provide would not outweigh other factors in our favor, too.
NIL Resources: Advantage Texas ... we might care more about hoops and we have PLENTY of money, but they're still the wealthiest athletic program in the nation.
Conference Affiliation: Slight advantage Illinois once UT is in the SEC ... equal conferences overall but more hoops mania in the Big Ten. It's pretty much down to personal preference, but if you want to coach in a conference that treats basketball as extremely important, I just get that vibe a whole lot more from the Midwest where it's a true tradition.
Like I said earlier, though, I am not worried ... this was just for fun. Is Kansas a better job than Michigan? Y-E-S every day of the week and twice on Sunday. Would Michigan fans ever expect to lose a coach to KU, though? No. They might sweat it out for a bit, but they'd expect to pony up the cash necessary and keep their man. Illinois must think the same way, and I think Josh Whitman does. I would even be confident we could keep Underwood from going to a UNC or Kentucky with the right money, so I certainly will not expect us to lose him to a program a tier below like Texas.
I like your break-down…well thought out as usual. Mine is gonna be less thorough and scientific:
Advantage Texas:
-Live Music…BU says he likes
Country Music. Austin is the kind of place
you might see Willie Nelson staggering out of a bar in the wee hours.
-Barbecue, here it is something you do outside in the summer. No disrespect to
Blackdog, (amazing) but they run out of
stuff by early afternoon sometimes. Texas
is a whole start devoted to it. If he’s a bbq
dude…and let’s face it, who isn’t? HUGE
advantage Texas.
-Grey, Drizzly, Wet, WARM Winters…they don’t know what putting
salt on the roads is. They use
sand. It’s pretty much all they need. If you don’t like snow…don’t go out that one day that happens about once every 3 years.
-Summers are arguably less humid.
-Austin has cool vibe for a college town. IMO It is a legit city that somehow has a small-town feel…(yes it actually does.)
-I almost
forgot about the Alamo. If you’re history buff I guess??
Fun fact: A regiment from
Illinois took Santa Anna’s leg.
-Armadillos
Advantage Illinois:
-Not everything is BIGGER in Texas.
Ask a deerhunter.
-Too many things can kill you…especially the drivers. Don’t get me started on the spiders…FAR Less god-durn Brown-Recluse Spiders up here.
-It’s all about rodeo clowns and shooting cannons at half-time…those fans don’t respect the greatest game ever invented…
I mean not really.
-Actual Seasons…orange, yellow, and red leaves. All they have is red dirt.
- White Christmases (sometimes)
-Champaign is an excellent, traditional college town; albeit on a smaller scale
-I’m guessing Josh is cooler than their dude.
-No armadillos
-Moving DOES suck.
*
Macomb and Nacogdoches are both depressing IMO..,that one is a draw.
To sum up, they can kiss our Yankee butts;
we’re keeping our guy. Go poach elsewhere.
