Transfers Thread
Not that this is an original thought, because most of us said it back in November, but the events of this week just once again underscore how disconnected from reality this administration really is. They justified the Cubit retention believing the move somehow promoted stability and continuity in the football program while utterly missing the point that, even though Beckman and Cubit might have been members of the same staff, they were not in fact the same human being. (Not to mention the anecdotal evidence that they were entrenched separately in their own camps within the program and did not like each other much.) It was the timing of the Beckman firing -- not some mystical synergy between him and his replacement -- that prevented an immediate exodus of players who felt their loyalties betrayed. You can't transfer in August; all you can do is give up your scholarship and quit playing football. Yet somehow the administration read this short-term, situational, September-November "stability" as a unified endorsement of Cubit himself. Because they don't understand how college football works. And worse yet, they don't know that they don't understand how college football works. They think we are the idiots for pointing out that their weird decisions run counter to what every other football program in America does every year.
The fact is, it didn't matter if the transition was from Beckman to Cubit, or from Beckman/Cubit (as interim) to an entirely new head coach -- either way, it was a regime change that was going to produce shuffling amongst the assistants, player transfers, and mass disruptions and decommitments in the recruiting effort. The main effect of retaining Cubit for one more season, as opposed to hiring a new coach last December, is that we're now going to have to endure two periods of mass upheaval -- one now and one after the 2016 season too. Sadly, the only people that somehow did not realize that were the ones making it happen.
The fact is, it didn't matter if the transition was from Beckman to Cubit, or from Beckman/Cubit (as interim) to an entirely new head coach -- either way, it was a regime change that was going to produce shuffling amongst the assistants, player transfers, and mass disruptions and decommitments in the recruiting effort. The main effect of retaining Cubit for one more season, as opposed to hiring a new coach last December, is that we're now going to have to endure two periods of mass upheaval -- one now and one after the 2016 season too. Sadly, the only people that somehow did not realize that were the ones making it happen.
I think this is obviously phase 1 in Sergio McClain's evil scheme.
Defense has one of the biggest improvements in all categories in all of FBS except sacks by the D line where we actually had 4 fewer. So......let's fire LB coach, DB Coach and Defensive Coordinator....then why don't we not offer fifth years to 2 Senior LBs one of which saw significant playing time, then give our 2 year starting Mike LB the cold shoulder and cause him to leave. Now we have a redshirt soph with zero starts anchoring our defense. And while we are at it let's give the D coordinator job to the the who was coaching the fellas who went down in the only category on defense (sacks) .
Ok...that's fixed
Now offensively where we were worse in every category (98th overall) by a long shot, I think the solution is to make the QB coach our Off Coordinator and the former OC our head coach...seeing how they did such a bang up job and all.
yep.
Ok...that's fixed
Now offensively where we were worse in every category (98th overall) by a long shot, I think the solution is to make the QB coach our Off Coordinator and the former OC our head coach...seeing how they did such a bang up job and all.
yep.
The above bolded part is going overlooked by many people. This did not sit well with many players, as I am sure 5knots can confirm.
This. This +1,000,000 :tsk:
orangeswarm76
- hastings Nebraska
Beautifully put 5knots
I admit I attributed a lot of the defense's success last year to an impact from Mike Phair, but that's an outsiders perspective and have no idea what he really brought to the team.
Other than that I thought 5Knots reply was really good, brought some new info while reiterating some things we fans have seen.
Other than that I thought 5Knots reply was really good, brought some new info while reiterating some things we fans have seen.
As someone who thought hiring Cubit was lunacy. I am now torn. I catch myself thinking "Oh no we lost another contributor" Or "Oh know we lost another recruit"
I really probably should be hoping for that so after one year we can start rebuilding with a new coach. But it is hard to get myself to feel that.
Soxfreak64
- Bloomington
Cubit is going to be the HC at Illinois for one year, yet will manage to pile on top of Beckman to completely destroy the 2016 & 17 classes, miring Illinois in mediocrity until at least 2019.
This is Illinois. It can always get worse.
This is Illinois. It can always get worse.
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
Effing nailed it
I laughed
One thing I find interesting (as another poster pointed out) is that several of us were convinced the players would run through walls for ol Bill. I mean, I'll admit that I was fooled.
Yet, Tim Beckman, who was a buffoon, somehow got his players to fight from a 4-5 record, win 2 of their last 3 (with some good defense) and go bowling.
Then Bill Cubit, who is a respectable and well spoken gentleman, has his team primed for a bowl at 5-4 and they (the offense really...) crap themselves and go 0-3.
It took the season, but I think we all saw the real Bill Cubit and it keeps on showing.
Yet, Tim Beckman, who was a buffoon, somehow got his players to fight from a 4-5 record, win 2 of their last 3 (with some good defense) and go bowling.
Then Bill Cubit, who is a respectable and well spoken gentleman, has his team primed for a bowl at 5-4 and they (the offense really...) crap themselves and go 0-3.
It took the season, but I think we all saw the real Bill Cubit and it keeps on showing.
Oh, and one other thing. I remember ol Barb Wilson saying that the "Interim" tag for her and Paul Kowalcyzk were just adjectives. She was doing actual chancellor stuff so she was THE chancellor until another hire was made. Too bad she was double speaking when she mentioned PK in that same breath.
If he was allowed to be the "real" AD until another one was hired, I think we would have Dino Babers. I don't think PK signed off on this 2 year charlie foxtrot and my rationale for that is the whole "not ideal/dagger" comment. I may be wrong but I just don't see him making those comments if he was happy with the decision.
If he was allowed to be the "real" AD until another one was hired, I think we would have Dino Babers. I don't think PK signed off on this 2 year charlie foxtrot and my rationale for that is the whole "not ideal/dagger" comment. I may be wrong but I just don't see him making those comments if he was happy with the decision.
Appreciate 5knots post.
Amazing that Cubit appears to have fleeced everyone (at least in the administration) in this process. That's a "giggle."
The offensive coordinator debacle was the last straw for me - no season ticket renewal, no IFund contribution until someone can show some leadership in the administration. It's chaos.
Joel Goodson
- ties will be resolved
+infinity
Regardless of the improvement of the D, can you imagine what would have happened if they named Banks HC before the season? It probably really wouldn't have mattered too much either way, but the bashing of Cubit in favor of Banks can only be done with the benefit of hindsight.
Before this season, what other choice was there than Cubit?
Before this season, what other choice was there than Cubit?
RHITIllini
- Chicago, IL
Nobody questions the decision to keep Cubit as interim HC after Beckman was fired a week before the season. What makes absolutely zero sense is why Cubit was even considered for the full-time job after how poorly his offense performed last year. Illinois needed a change, but instead the administration was totally cool with just sitting there in its own stool.
I don't think people are saying Banks should have been the HC, just that his defense (along with Phair) were the reason we were in games this year, yet the offense is getting all the positive attention now while the defense has been cleaned out.
And also after claiming a "clean start" as the reason for firing Thomas.
I completely agree with that, but if there was a new HC, all of these coaches would be gone anyway. But if they were going to go this 2 year route, it's not like they would have put Bill back to OC and elevate Banks to HC for the 2 year deal.
1 million percent agree we should have a new AD and staff already in place. But remember, you had guys on the team like Karras also saying Bill should have the interim tag removed.
There is no good in where we're at now...I guess there is only slightly less bad. The 2 year thing is lunacy, but if you're going to do it, it shouldn't be too surprising the remaining original Beckman guys would go.
1 million percent agree we should have a new AD and staff already in place. But remember, you had guys on the team like Karras also saying Bill should have the interim tag removed.
There is no good in where we're at now...I guess there is only slightly less bad. The 2 year thing is lunacy, but if you're going to do it, it shouldn't be too surprising the remaining original Beckman guys would go.
The TJ Neal transfer hurts, but the rest of the players were depth at best and were looking at not playing barring injuries to younger/better players in front of them.
This opens up scholarships for recruits.
This opens up scholarships for recruits.
Soxfreak64
- Bloomington
First, you can only take 25 kids in a class. If enough guys transfer out, we won't fill the amount of allotted scholarships without promoting some walkons.
Second, LaKeith Walls and BJ Bello are losses when you throw in TJ Neal.
We have ZERO LB depth right now.
