Noblesville Illini
- Nappanee, IN
The Illinois AD Search
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IlliniOX08
- Bucktown, Chicago
If they can't get Rick George then Sean Frazier is on the same level as Craig Tiley for me. Would be a home run hire. Given his playing days at Alabama, his experience at Wisconsin, and his Chicago ties now with NIU he is someone who should be able to come in, steady the ship and start to turn us around.
I would have no problem with him if he is selected. "Home run hire" might be a bit strong. He's more like the obvious, low risk, high floor, nobody-would-criticize-it choice. He's already been identified as a finalist in previous searches at Syracuse, Pitt, Boston College, and Rutgers, and interviewed for that last one, so I would imagine he'd be interested in the job here. Not an "Ilini" guy if that matters to you, but knows the B1G, Midwest. Coming from Wisconsin he has some grasp of the challenges our inflated academic standards present. And he would be considered a minority hire which will please some segments of the university. The reason I say not home run is that he doesn't have a proven track record of rebuilding a broken program (yet) and doesn't have a home run hire of his own on his resume yet either. From that standpoint, MT was a stronger hire on paper. And we'd just be plucking the top guy from the area lower division group of schools, which is nobody's idea of out-of-the-box. Pretty much the standard blueprint for AD hires, actually.
Of course, one way of looking at a potential Frazier hire would be to compare it to a guy who spends months miserably walking a mile to work in the ice and snow all winter long while researching and test driving dozens of cars trying to find the one special model that's his perfect fit, only to turn around a pay sticker price on a Toyota Camry on the first warm day of spring. Nothing wrong with the Camry per se, but the dealer had thirty of them sitting in the lot three months ago.
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Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Not a home run. Prefer Tiley and Small. Solid double. Could be great, who knows?
Agree w/a lot of your thoughts. Just not your Camry analogy.
IlliniOX08
- Bucktown, Chicago
Yea sorry, I probably should have clarified my definition of home run. There are true home runs and then there are Illinois home runs. An obvious, low-risk, high floor, nobody would criticize it choice is a home run for this administration in my book.
I also heard something today that made me very, very optimistic.
More than anything I'm just happy this nightmare is over. Hopefully this ushers in a new and unprecedented era of competence in Illinois athletics.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Cue the Ron Paul GIF?
Optimistic in who they hire? Or that this fiasco is going to come to a close?
I spoke with someone in the administration who said there are two finalists. George is one of them.
from the rumor I heard...all i gotta say is... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi1LMIUOOAI
orangeswarm76
- hastings Nebraska
Josh Whitman?
Interesting, I mean I wonder if George is a finalist because we want him to be and he has no interest, or if he has gone through the process of "interviewing?
Seems like there wouldn't be much debate if he wanted to come on board.
Hoping we have hit rock bottom already and am underwhelmed here.
Do we have a name on the second finalist? Are we even sure Rick George would come if offered? Remind me again why he's our number 1 choice? Is it his ties to the program/area? I admit that I think an Illinois guy is probably a good bet at this point, but what about his experience? Colorado isn't exactly a powerhouse in the Pac 12...
orangeswarm76
- hastings Nebraska
What's the Honest opinion of him I do not know much about his background.
ChainsawRevItUp
- Chicago
Whitman bio from the WUSTL site. http://bearsports.wustl.edu/information/directory/bios/Whitman
Either you heard a different name than everyone else or you don't know much about Whitman.
Edit: Wouldn't call him a current HR but has potential to be. But many worse candidates out there.
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Deleted member 346957
D
Guest
Haven't followed the AD search closely, Whitman a good hire? If so, why?
Thank you in advance.
Thank you in advance.
ChainsawRevItUp
- Chicago
Whitman's is a great hire. Young, charismatic and extremely intelligent guy. While he is certainly young, I truly believe he will be a superstar here and be our AD for the next couple of decades.
Dan
Admin
I have no inside info, but if it is Whitman plz recall that he scored 2 TDs in Illinois' win at Ohio State in 1999. That right there imho proves that he would be a great AD at Illinois 
If George is interest, you hire him on the spot.
He's been a success at every thing he's done, including significant roles in pro baseball and golf.
He unites the fan base.
He knows how to handle ECI and the power brokers in Urbana-Champaign.
He has pushed fundraising at Colorado to another level and they are making huge investments and improvements all over campus.
His football and basketball programs at Colorado are improving - he didn't make the hires so he's owed some patience there on the football side especially.
Those associated with Colorado view him as a superstar that must be retained at all costs.
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