altenberger22
- South Carolina
Nicely stated. However, it's Haden Fry -- not Ferentz. (Ferentz is just one of those guys who deserves no credit because he's simply maintaining a program that was built by his predecessor.)
The Illinois Football Coaching Search
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So, Austin Clark it is
lstewart53x3
- Scottsdale, Arizona
Building success is hard. Maintaining success is just as difficult.
Two friends who flew with me to Pittsburgh for that game are no longer with us. But I will presume to speak for Bob Auler when I say without fear of contradiction that we were well served by that team and HC.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Robert was indeed really good on TV. I think that was probably his #1 video performance since I've started following him. Very much at ease; on point; knowledgeable; and, fact-based. It was a great discussion/interview!
With that said, he surprised me with Sarkisian. Thought he'd go with one of the 30-something youngsters since that's the one approach we've not yet taken as a program.
sacraig
- The desert
But the trend is the wrong way. That record is heavily influenced by his first two years. In his 3rd year through now, he is 19-18. His conference record in that time is similar at 14-12. I mean, it's better than where we are at now, but he's working with a historically better program than we are.
Fuente was 19-8 his first two years, but has been 19-18 his last 3 years, including this year. Seems to have peaked/plateaued at VT.
Leipold was 13-23, his first 3 years. He's 23-9, his last 3 years, including this year.
Two very different trajectories. Both are vastly better than Illinois over the last 5-6 years.
I was referring to Bielema
I agree with 22’s post. If you look at Is, Wis, and Nw there is no reason why we are not in that group year in and out. No matter who comes in it will be I believe another rebuild. It shouldn’t take 5 years. When we played Iathis year I heard the announcer say it was interesting how many I’ll kids sre playing at IA.
I give you November 1979 and Gary Moeller departing having won four BT games in three seasons, and tying two. The Sept. 1978 scoreless tie in Memorial Stadium with eventually-winless Northwestern (0-10-1 that year, while we went 1-8-2) is reputed to have been the worst BT football game in decades. (Did anyone here actually see it?)
Forty years ago, Illinois and Northwestern played the worst football game of all time
The Pointless Game turns 40www.offtackleempire.com
And then Mike White, who had coached Steve Bartowski and Chuck Munice as HC at Cal in the mid-'70s, came to town.
I was there, visiting my big brother. After the first quarter, we decamped to his fraternity's tailgate tent.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Being in SC, I know that Brent Venables pulls-in $2.3M at Clemson. Quite sure that puts him in the top 5 for DC's.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Hand goes up. Yes, I sat through every minute of that one with my Dad.I give you November 1979 and Gary Moeller departing having won four BT games in three seasons, and tying two. The Sept. 1978 scoreless tie in Memorial Stadium with eventually-winless Northwestern (0-10-1 that year, while we went 1-8-2) is reputed to have been the worst BT football game in decades. (Did anyone here actually see it?)
Forty years ago, Illinois and Northwestern played the worst football game of all time
The Pointless Game turns 40
And then Mike White, who had coached Steve Bartowski and Chuck Munice as HC at Cal in the mid-'70s, came to town.
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VT fans not pleased with the Fuente results. He'd be an upgrade for us, but only slightly. Tends to lose games he should win and some interesting game management. He does (did) get some good athletes, but that's probably more the school rep lingering. His recruiting is sliding.
Patterson is in the portal if anyone is interested. The team has had some pretty bad COVID problems this year which begs the question of team control. Any one of their top 3 qbs would be a starter for us sadly.
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Awesome point! It took just (1) a dynamic new coach, and (2) a couple of years. Resulting in 70,000 screaming fans in the stands for multiple years in a row.And on the flip side of that awful 1978 scoreless tie with the Mildcats, here's something that might give us hope for the future. It was only five seasons later:
B1G Historical Perspective: Running the Table
Recalling how the 1983 Illinois football team earned a 9-0 clean sweep in conference play.
The gap between Arkansas and the blue bloods of the SEC West is far bigger than the gap between Illinois and the better teams of the Big 10 West. They aren’t even comparable.
There’s lot bigger gap between Arkansas and Alabama, than Illinois and Wisconsin
And Iowa was trending strongly down when Fry retired. Ferentz has done a phenomenal job
We went with an NFL coach in Mackovic and did awfully well. If Turner doesn't turn away Cutler or Rodgers he may very well have continued the success he had in 99 and 01. We also did well with a redemption coach in White. So you really can't base anything on Robert's criteria. There are good coaches in each of the above categories; we just have to find the right one.
I was told today by a source that we are looking at the wrong WR coach. Whitman reportedly is interested in another WR coach. He’s pretty young, a BIG time recruiter, has NFL experience.
I don’t know if this guy has been mentioned or not.. If so, I must have missed it. I’m sure some of you can figure out who it is by the info I gave...
Which of the coaches on the lists might be best able to resurrect "Air Illini?"
48-38 at Army
Ryllini
- Lombard
Aaron Morehead?
Brian Hartline?
altenberger22
- South Carolina
To be fair, Robert acknowledged that White and Mackovic led our last sustained success --- where we pretty much had a "real football program" albeit for only 10 years. His comments pertained to everything that had occurred since Mackovic left 30 years ago.
My initial thoughts as well. 3 years of experience as OSU’s WR coach
altenberger22
- South Carolina
Gus Malzahn is the author of "The Hurry-up-No-Huddle; An Offensive Philosophy". He might be the answer to your question.
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