NIce try!
The Illinois Football Coaching Search
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My money is on LL.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
If those 3 guys happen to be Josh's finalists (from that little black book in his back pocket), then I agree with all your comments.
illini80
- Forgottonia
Listening to J break down how to read and react after one of the earlier losses was outstanding. Think it was a Werner podcast but not sure. He was basically saying there’s no reason for guys being out of position all the time. Know the reads and you will be in the right spot. Our guys were not doing that. Can he teach it? I don’t know but he sure as hell knows his stuff.
Deleted member 747671
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MAC championship is at 6:30 tonight. In 12 hours (10:30 tonight) I think we hear at least something, right? Also, if it is LL, is the MAC championship that important that we wouldn't want to announce it early or even have him leave Buffalo to take over right away? I mean it's the end of December, we're nearly a month behind when these changes would happen in a normal year.
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
On the one hand, Lovie and Underwood came totally out of the blue from not a name being discussed to everyone knowing it was done in a matter of hours, minutes really.
On the other hand, the Lovie situation was totally different as no one knew to be looking for a coaching search, and Underwood would have been a much discussed name if there was any reason for us to suspect the situation at OSU had deteriorated to the extent it had within a year. Whitman himself said he started the search not thinking Underwood was available.
So is there any real reason to think the hire is going to come from left field? Not really, not to the level of the Whitman myth certainly. But I do think boards insiders and the Werners and Doug Buschon's of the world don't know anything meaningful. If they did, there would have been whispers of Lovie and Underwood, and there were none whatsoever.
On the other hand, the Lovie situation was totally different as no one knew to be looking for a coaching search, and Underwood would have been a much discussed name if there was any reason for us to suspect the situation at OSU had deteriorated to the extent it had within a year. Whitman himself said he started the search not thinking Underwood was available.
So is there any real reason to think the hire is going to come from left field? Not really, not to the level of the Whitman myth certainly. But I do think boards insiders and the Werners and Doug Buschon's of the world don't know anything meaningful. If they did, there would have been whispers of Lovie and Underwood, and there were none whatsoever.
3 point girl
- texas
Both my kids went to Arkanasas, my ex went there, his whole family went there, the whole state goes to University of Arkansas and NO ONE liked BB when he was the head coach there. Just saying............
In agreement. I believe LL is not only an excellent fit for the football team but also will blend in well with the community (culture). BB is a misfit culturally on many levels. I watched several videos involving LL, and I truly like his demeanor and brings positive mindset in optimizing the strengths of the players and creating the right chemistry on both sides of the ball. He delegates and trusts his coordinators and assistant coaches quite well. Trust builds loyalty, and I anticipate a good number of his coaches will follow him plus a few strategic hires to ensure a healthy balance between coaching and recruiting. The good days are coming along with patience and steady support from JW and fans.
Deleted member 747671
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I think I look at JW's searches a little differently. Like I don't think he goes into it looking for some out of left field candidate.
1. I think the secrecy thing is by design. I don't think he wants rumors out there and that's one reason he doesn't use a search firm. (good)
2. I think he is very meticulous and doesn't want to leave any stone unturned. I think that's how he moved on to Underwood, looked in the pro ranks, etc. (good)
3. I think he values this university more than probably any other AD would due to his experience playing here and is not afraid to shoot for targets that most would consider out of our league. (good)
All good things. I just think the Lovie thing really added almost a mystique to JW that was more crazy circumstance and timing than anything.
AirNeezy
Orange Krush '13 -'14
Count me in the disappointed column if we get LL. Older, MAC coach, not known as a star recruiter. Is there a reason why prior to Buffalo he barely had any experience at the P5 or even FBS level as a coordinator or even a position coach?
Man I really hoped we could've have snagged a young, up and coming OC/DC from a P5 school.
Man I really hoped we could've have snagged a young, up and coming OC/DC from a P5 school.
Deleted member 747784
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by all means we can wait until Sat night or Sunday aft
I would actually be upset if he DIDNT coach them tonite . It is most likely a scenario where he has not yet signed a contract .
Let the process play out . His players at Buffalo deserve respect
I know the D3 landscape very well, so a couple thoughts....the very top of D3....talking like 5-7 programs....are run like FCS programs. They look more like EIU than St Norberts. Examples are Mount Union, Whitewater, St Johns, North Central and Mary Hardin Baylor. St Thomas is one of those programs as well, and they are actually moving directly from D3 to FCS in 2021 (they just signed their first D1 class this week, also no changes in the coaching staff either). What does that mean? It means full times coaching staffs, extensive film study, extensive recruiting and not just on a local basis, installation of offensive and defensive concepts that mirror what's being done at the D1 level, deep rosters of very talented players, etc.
Tops kids at these programs typically have FCS offers or even PWO at D1's. They're not Big 10 material, don't get me wrong, but they are very talented athletes who are just an inch or two shorter or a step slower.
I have zero issues w/ LL and his Buffalo staff...football translates at any level, and what he was doing at Whitewater was very impressive. If LL can make the move from Whitewater to Buffalo, he can certainly make the move from Buffalo to Illinois.
Deleted member 747671
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You're right. There is some risk though. If he was your guy early in the week, you could've made it official. There's also the off chance that they look terrible tonight (don't see that happening) or another job making a better offer (also unlikely). You'd eliminate the risk and have him on board for early signing day. Just throwing it out there with how weird the schedules are this year.
Im on team bb, even with everyones disappointing stories of him. Not that hes had public news like a Sarkisian or petrino. But you cant ignore his sucess at Wisconsin. LL no doubt has done a great job at buffalo but im not sold on the fact that he can recruit the horses needed to turn it around. It’ll be a 4-5 year waiting game of how hes a great leader of men(sounds exactly like what we just went through) and hope his mac level recruiting somehow is better than lovies mac level talent.. Or hopefully theres a wildcard (manning, Leonhard, grinch, harrell) out there that’ll surprise us all..
I want the guy with the highest upside, not the highest floor. You don't get good by not being bad.
AirNeezy
Orange Krush '13 -'14
For me, ultimately my fandom is based on the kids who willingly choose to come here from all around the world, go to the same school I did, put on the Illinois jersey and compete at the highest collegiate level.
I couldn't care less about the coach's personality as long as he is supporting those kids (and vice versa), putting them in the best position to succeed, and ultimately winning.
mhuml32
- Cincinnati, OH
Haven't had a coach stay at Illinois longer than 7 seasons since Ray Eliot (60+ years ago) and people are concerned about Leipold being "old". Just for context, if Leipold matches the longest stretch run since Eliot (White, Turner) and makes it seven seasons at Illinois, he will be one year older than Lovie is today.
Illinois' coaching search is smack in the middle of when these things normally happen, so we're good.
Deleted member 747671
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I agree with you. But the reason for his lack of P5 experience is that he played at UWW so basically as soon as they offered him the HC job there he took it and never looked back. Before that he was OC at UNO which is a higher level but not FBS.
FinalFour88
- Charlotte, NC
Are you sure about this FCS comment? I played Division II football back in the '90s, and we were nationally ranked in D-II a couple of years, and no one on our team had FCS offers in high school. Maybe times have changed since the late 90s, but I can't see someone getting an FCS offer and going D-III instead.
What if I want both?
Well, if the parents have passed and already did the family thing with grown kids, is it wrong to pick the hookers and blow?
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