I'd be worried if this were an SEC school we are talking about, but not Illinois and not in the state the whole school finds itself in.

NO coach with other options is going to take this job right now. Not Fleck, not Fuente. The whole administration is in flux which means your very job future is uncertain.

It'll be an older coach who needs a job to get back into the game.

(08-31-2015 07:35 PM)Bearcats#1 Wrote:  Chess: Tubs isn't going to Illinois hahah but thanks for the laugh.

Tubs has said that the only way he would voluntarily leave Cincinnati is divorced.

^ I dont see him leaving due to age. But if he does go somwehere else it wont be crud B1G rebuild.

(08-30-2015 01:55 PM)tigerjeb Wrote:  Illinois is NOT one of the places Fuente will leave for. That's a fact.

Please explain why you call it a "FACT" and not pure speculation on your part?

(08-30-2015 01:13 PM)PirateMarv Wrote:  Seriously though. Some people in this thread have no clue about the University of Illinois football history. Illinois has been to 5 Rose Bowls, the Sugar Bowl and the Peach Bowl. The school has produced Heisman trophy finalists and all time great players like Dick Butkus and Red Grange; as well as guys like Simeon Rice. Another thing that you all don't seem to realize is that George Halas was a University of Illinois graduate. Yes that George Halas, the founder of the Chicago Bears and one of the co-founders of the NFL. In fact the Chicago Bears color scheme and uniforms are based upon the University of Illinois.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_F...i_football
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Halas

I am pretty sure that if the University of Illinois wanted to hire a coach from the AAC; then I think that they could probably do it, because they certainly have enough money to do it. And on top of that a couple of really good coaches would realize pretty quickly that they would be in the same conference as Nebraska, Wisconsin, Ohio State, Michigan and Michigan State.

With all of that said; Illinois always end up hiring the lamest guys as coach. They will just end up going out and hiring one of those washed up Turner brothers (Norv or Ron) again. Or they will hire some washed up retread coach like Ron Zook or some never was coach out of the MAC. So no; the University of Illinois is not likely to hire an up and comer AAC coach or an established veteran coach out of the AAC; because the University of Illinois needs to a real A.D. first. And even after getting the real A.D., Illinois is still not going to hire a real coach.

History is great. Army has a storied past too. However, this is all in the past. Illinois last major bowl game was the Sugar, 14 years ago. They were curb stomped by USC in that one. Their last major bowl win was the Rose in 1964. Their all-time bowl record is 8-10. Since 1980 they have 3 B10 CH's. They are 26-37 over the last 5 years.

(08-30-2015 02:33 PM)JHG722 Wrote:  Would you rather face Cincy in front of 35K with the chance to win, or coach against Ohio State and 100K+ and lose 60-3? If lots of fans being there is so cool, just buy a ticket to an NFL game.

Actually, he would be coaching in front of 100k and consistently losing. In three years he would be fired and back coaching in the AAC, MAC or Sun Belt.

The smart up and comers wait for the right fit and then jump, ie. Brian Kelly, Lyle Jones, Charlie Strong.

(09-01-2015 02:01 PM)don41 Wrote:  

(08-30-2015 01:55 PM)tigerjeb Wrote:  Illinois is NOT one of the places Fuente will leave for. That's a fact.

Please explain why you call it a "FACT" and not pure speculation on your part?

Does Fuente privately telling people at Memphis count?

He's actually publicly open about listening to certain job offers in the future. We all realize he could leave at any time, maybe even AFTER this coming season. But he sure as hell isn't leaving before this season starts on Saturday. Or during it, either.

And Illinois appears not to be on his list.