The Illinois AD Search

SaltLakeIllini · Feb 1, 2016

Flight 33 said:
Here's an interesting quote about Bowen, from this article:

http://www.commercialappeal.com/col...83-d560-14ab-e053-0100007fdee9-331779371.html

"Beyond that, Bowen has brought a basic level of competence and professionalism to a department that used to be — let's be honest about it — a clown show."

-if he can fix one clown show, why not take on another?

Not sure if he's still a candidate. He made a mistake by extending Pastner, that's for sure. He did hire a football coach, but that guy hasn't coached a game yet.

I didn't realize Pastner was on such a hot seat. Interesting.

thenoodler · Feb 1, 2016

EthanM said:
Are we really so far down the list of AD candidates that a "basic level of competence" is the best thing that can be said about him? I don't know the first thing about Bowen, and in fairness haven't read the entire article yet, but yikes.

I like the Bowen news because it signifies that we are considering individuals without UI ties. What better way to ensure a hiring failure than to eliminate 99% of your candidates because they have no prior history with the university?

Flight 33 · Feb 1, 2016

EthanM said:
Are we really so far down the list of AD candidates that a "basic level of competence" is the best thing that can be said about him? I don't know the first thing about Bowen, and in fairness haven't read the entire article yet, but yikes.

well, it's been a while since we've had a basic level of competence...might be nice!

sdillini · Feb 1, 2016

WesterveltVictoryCigar said:
Are you Earle Bruce?

Might as well be

Because if Earl Bruce could win 8 games at Ohio St., anyone can.

I think the talk about Jim Tressel is absolutely comical. He's a corrupt, boring, fakey holier-than-thou,sweater-vesting hypocrite. What a great idea--let's bring back the slush fund while we're at it.

HeartofaChampion · Feb 2, 2016

AutoPoster 3000 said:
"Tom [Micheal's] fingerprints are on a lot . . . that's happened at the University of Illinois," said [Illinois Athletic Director Mike] Thomas [commenting on Michael being hired as the new AD at EIU in 2014]. "Not just as a student athlete, but as an administrator."

Of course, at the time, that was intended to be a compliment.

I can't stop laughing after reading your last sentence.

HeartofaChampion · Feb 2, 2016

Cubby Blue said:
If Father in Law reads it on the crapper, he's an insider :thumb:

I nearly spit up my dessert after reading this line. Good stuff

.

AaronB28 · Feb 2, 2016

should we expect an a.d announcement on national signing day??lol

KJKobs · Feb 2, 2016

AaronB28 said:
should we expect an a.d announcement on national signing day??lol

No

Cubby Blue · Feb 2, 2016

KJKobs said:
No

depends on what the a.d. stands for. If it means After Donuts then yes, there will be an announcement or two on Wednesday after that...

Second and Chalmers · Feb 2, 2016

SaltLakeIllini said:
I didn't realize Pastner was on such a hot seat. Interesting.

Pastner is probably the worst coach of a major school in the country. The talent he's wasted beggars belief.

Jimmy McNulty · Feb 2, 2016

bfjones said:
Pastner is the worst coach at a major school?

147-57 at Memphis in 6 seasons(.720)
2 Sweet 16's
2 Round of 32's
2 Conference titles
1 30 win season
Never a losing conference record

I know it was Conference USA but still, that ain't too shabby. How many of us would take that over the past 6 seasons right now? Plus he recruits some big time players that would at least add some excitement to the program.

Look at what he took over and where its at now. It's been a Weber like decent.

Yost · Feb 2, 2016

bfjones said:
Pastner is the worst coach at a major school?

147-57 at Memphis in 6 seasons(.720)
2 Sweet 16's
2 Round of 32's
2 Conference titles
1 30 win season
Never a losing conference record

I know it was Conference USA but still, that ain't too shabby. How many of us would take that over the past 6 seasons right now? Plus he recruits some big time players that would at least add some excitement to the program.

You've got his tournament history wrong. He's never been to a Sweet 16. He's also got an abysmal record against ranked teams (something like 5-20), while routinely bringing in Top 10 recruiting classes.

Second and Chalmers · Feb 2, 2016

bfjones said:
2 Sweet 16's

Huh? They've never been to the second weekend under Pastner.

From 2012-2014 they were the arguably the most talented team in the country not named Kentucky, just unbelievable depth and athleticism, and they never managed better than a 6 seed and went 5-13 against ranked opponents.

And forget the numbers, just watching the games, they play with no game plan at all. And now the recruiting has dipped somewhat and a lot of elite players have transferred out of there. The Pastner era is circling the drain.

BZuppke · Feb 2, 2016

I wonder why the Bowen vetting has become public. Which side would have leaked it?

IlliniOX08 · Feb 2, 2016

BZuppke said:
I wonder why the Bowen vetting has become public. Which side would have leaked it?

Tupper article made it sound like the leak came from Memphis sources.

Illwinsagain · Feb 2, 2016

IlliniBubba said:
Wow. So neither George nor Tressel make the hypthetical cut because of some past transgressions? We have some high standards around here.

George's was completely minor and nearly 30 years ago, and he's been a successful executive at several stops since.

Tressel's infraction was a bit more severe, but he's served his suspension from coaching, and is now a University President. We're not asking him to coach, but rather run the athletic department. I don't think there's more than a 0.1% chance of it happening, but if he's remotely interested in being AD you talk to him regardless of the past NCAA infractions.

Either of these guys would be a home run hire IMO. But neither of them are coming here. Maybe there's a 5% chance it's Tiley because of the timing, but I'm trying not to get my hopes up. At this point I'm assuming it's Whitman, Frazier, or someone I've never heard of from another school - in which case I'll give them a fair chance. I just hope it's not Michael - he just seems like the most uninspiring choice ever.

Sorry for the misunderstanding. My point was not to say "no" to Tressel or George. It was to remind us that we are not as clean as we wish we were. We are as flawed as many programs.

Illwinsagain · Feb 2, 2016

illinoisportsfan said:
The first NCAA President was a Missouri native and an Iowa alumnus. The second President was an Iowa alumnus. Between them, they ran the NCAA from 1951-1993. The fourth President of the NCAA was the former president of Indiana University.

The headquarters of the NCAA has been located in Kansas City, MO; Mission, KS; Overland Park, KS; and Indianapolis, IN.

Does that give you any idea why Illinois hasn't ever seemed to get fair treatment by the NCAA?

Thank you.

samtheman10 · Feb 2, 2016

Sounds like the Illinois-Bowen interest has been a thing since December.

http://csnbbs.com/thread-763181.html

UIUC1867 · Feb 2, 2016

thenoodler said:
I like the Bowen news because it signifies that we are considering individuals without UI ties. What better way to ensure a hiring failure than to eliminate 99% of your candidates because they have no prior history with the university?

Uh, didn't Mike Thomas fit those descriptors a few years ago?

icengineer · Feb 2, 2016

samtheman10 said:
Sounds like the Illinois-Bowen interest has been a thing since December.

http://csnbbs.com/thread-763181.html

They seem pretty happy with the job Bowen has done over there. Funny no one caught that until now. Good job Sam!

combes · Feb 2, 2016

HDawgg2005 said:
They don't want him because he cheated, they want him because he won.... and they are willing to overlook some indiscretions.

Perhaps, but I think there are better options out there that don't bring the cheating baggage.

Plus, he is the president of a university. He may not want to be involved in sports administration these days.

illinistar · Feb 2, 2016

Search Committee Working on AD Candidates

This appeared in the News Gazette this morning (http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-02-02/search-committee-working-list-ad-finalists.html). This may take longer than hoped for.

TheBucket · Feb 2, 2016

illinistar said:
This appeared in the News Gazette this morning (http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-02-02/search-committee-working-list-ad-finalists.html). This may take longer than hoped for.

I threw up in my mouth a little reading that article.

mhuml32 · Feb 2, 2016

Yost said:
You've got his tournament history wrong. He's never been to a Sweet 16. He's also got an abysmal record against ranked teams (something like 5-20), while routinely bringing in Top 10 recruiting classes.

Top 10 recruiting classes seems like a stretch. They've had two really really good years since 2010, but the rest is inconsistent. Recruiting Rankings for Memphis (Illinois in parentheses)

2010: 2nd (11th)
2011: NR (13th)
2012: NR (NR)
2013: 5th (20th)
2014: NR (NR)
2015:18th (19th)
2016: NR (NR)

AutoPoster 3000 · Feb 2, 2016

illinistar said:
This appeared in the News Gazette this morning (http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-02-02/search-committee-working-list-ad-finalists.html). This may take longer than hoped for.

TheBucket said:
I threw up in my mouth a little reading that article.

It's funny how all this info floats around about various candidates and yet the only reports ever confirmed by empirical observation are those that relate how the administration has done essentially nothing.

To paraphrase Churchill, this is not the end. It is not the beginning of the end. It is not even the end of the beginning. It is still the beginning. Rubbish.

Happy Groundhog Day, Illini fans.