I don't have too much room to talk. I have a hard time starting off a verbal response without saying "well,...".
The Illinois Coaching Staff Search
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JFGsCoffeeMug
BU:1 Trash cans:0
- Chicago
Well, what's wrong with that?
MoCoMdIllini
- Montgomery County, Maryland
Well, I do, too. I'm totally, like, in the same boat. You know?
I blame that on Whitman
We have NOT settled for mediocrity. We ASPIRE to HOPEFULLY one day BECOME mediocre. Once we achieve mediocrity and stop trying to improve then you can complain. Let's get there first. You can make the argument we've been aiming for mediocrity but have achieved only bottom of the barrel, sub-basement levels of failure. I however am a glass-half full kind of guy. I think we've been aiming for above average while having achieved last place year after year. So... that. I am always hopeful when I see a new staff. I don't think everyone is going to work out, but I can see the direction BB is going for. It's nice we have a ton of players returning and we can compare this fall's performance to last fall's. Let's see what kind of difference the coaching makes.
So, as someone who is not an insider. My question is are we being slow played by someone waiting on another school? Or are we slow playing someone.
Second question is- Is there any advantage with someone not being part of the staff being able to contact recruits they couldn't if they were official staff members?
Second question is- Is there any advantage with someone not being part of the staff being able to contact recruits they couldn't if they were official staff members?
illini80
- Forgottonia
The indication has been that the hires are in place, just not officially announced yet. Maybe some legal stuff to work out?? Not sure, but yes it's been a little frustrating not seeing the complete staff yet.
On the second question, while there is little doubt that happens it also seems outside of the rules. I would not think that would be a part of any plan. Maybe someone more in the know will comment.
Not Illini staff related, but not sure where to post. NW reportedly hiring Jim O’Neil (currently Raiders DB coach and former DC with Browns and SF) as its DC. Former grad assistant at NW and had a couple stops in college before moving to NFL.
Is there any benefit to recruiting while not officially on staff from a compliance standpoint. Not saying that the unofficial hires can hand out McDonald's bags filled with cash, but could they make more contacts during this time frame?
I was wondering the same about your second question.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Not sure I could tell what you're referencing here.........Tennessee?
How are you rating the new staff so far A-F?
Yeah, just that it reminds me of beckman/cubit timeframe.
seeing how Whitman has handled this coaching search/ internal athletics, Illinois is in a good place it appears.
Depends what benchmark is. It's easy to compare against Lovie staff and think 'A'!
If we look at context of a P5 School I am going to go with a 'C+'. Lots of solid hires, but nothing that would qualify as a 'big splash' hire. The last two roles need to be a little heavier on the recruiting side - hopefully is an absolute recruiting stud because as it stands now I think we have some solid recruiters - Henry, Patterson, Bart Miller, Jamison, Walters - but no one that is Locksley, Reggie Mitchell or even Dan Disch level good/experienced (to use a Zook comparison).
SampsonRelpenk
- Edwardsville, IL
I think this is a reasonable outlook. In a weird way, I'm more interested in what the staff looks like in 2-3 years. Even if progress is made, there are going to be setbacks. Parts of the plan are going to fail, whether for internal reasons or unforeseen externalities. How will those setbacks be addressed? Because it was painfully clear our last coach was unequipped (or unwilling) to navigate those waves.
Brick haley let go by mizzou. Lock him up yesterday!
illini80
- Forgottonia
Making 625k. Or was anyway.
Can't we already have a Brick, don't we?
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
He will be a great addition for a lot of programs but Bielema already tapped Jamison for DL coach and Haley has only coached the defensive line for the past ~10 years. Not sure I see a fit unless he's willing to accept a major responsibility change. Maybe the extra coaching slot could allow him an unconventional title of AHC + defensive run game coordinator? My initial reaction is he's probably been on the way out since Walters left and would have willingly come over to Illinois at the time if Bielema wanted him.
Joel Goodson
- respect my decision™
Need more than one brick to build a foundation.
Whoa.
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