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Looks like Lovie Smith

God forbid we are stuck with the best recruiter the MAC has seen in recent memory and the coach who brought us our first ever bowl win. How irritating it will be watching him troll the sidelines while we watch victory after victory... Damn him!

(03-05-2016 06:34 PM)flushtheherd Wrote:  God forbid we are stuck with the best recruiter the MAC has seen in recent memory and the coach who brought us our first ever bowl win. How irritating it will be watching him troll the sidelines while we watch victory after victory... Damn him!

It's the women of Champaigns loss

oh the agony!

Regardless of what anyone thinks of Fleck, starting a head coaching search in March would've been a swift kick to our program's groin (Edit: Although at this stage, we probably would've promoted from within and slapped an "interim" tag on him). If it's Smith, we can breathe easier.

Lovie Smith is a way better choice for Illinois. They need more than just energy and recruiting. That place needs stability and a guy that commands the type of respect Lovie Smith's experience brings. PJ just isn't there yet.

^ Yep, after months of humiliation in Champaign, they needed a big splash hire. A decent MAC coach with a limited resume wouldn't have lit fires.

Although the AD already committed a series of missteps on Day 1, letting players find out through twitter feeds.

I'm guessing Wandstadt at Pitt results when it's said and done.

(03-05-2016 07:48 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  I'm guessing Wandstadt at Pitt results when it's said and done.

Probably. Looks like Illinois is crossing their fingers for Harbaugh Part Deux.

(03-05-2016 07:51 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  

(03-05-2016 07:48 PM)Hiller4Hyz09 Wrote:  I'm guessing Wandstadt at Pitt results when it's said and done.

Probably. Looks like Illinois is crossing their fingers for Harbaugh Part Deux.

Not the same personality. Smith should at the very least start to gather most of the talent in the city of Chicago with his history there. It's going to make it tougher for PJ to get kids from Illinois with Illinois offers from now on.

(03-05-2016 07:29 PM)Motown Bronco Wrote:  ^ Yep, after months of humiliation in Champaign, they needed a big splash hire. A decent MAC coach with a limited resume wouldn't have lit fires.

Although the AD already committed a series of missteps on Day 1, letting players find out through twitter feeds.

It sucks when that happens, but it seems like its happening on a huge % of firings these days. I don't know if its a rash of ADs that don't care, or if it's just really hard to keep these things from leaking early these days.

(03-05-2016 07:22 PM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  Lovie Smith is a way better choice for Illinois. They need more than just energy and recruiting. That place needs stability and a guy that commands the type of respect Lovie Smith's experience brings. PJ just isn't there yet.

You're right, they need a lot more energy and a coach that has been fired twice, is almost 60 years old (but wait, i thought bill was too old!!!) and has a 89-87 record as a Head Coach. Whitman is a moron.

(03-06-2016 01:36 AM)DiaperHead69 Wrote:  

(03-05-2016 07:22 PM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  Lovie Smith is a way better choice for Illinois. They need more than just energy and recruiting. That place needs stability and a guy that commands the type of respect Lovie Smith's experience brings. PJ just isn't there yet.

You're right, they need a lot more energy and a coach that has been fired twice, is almost 60 years old (but wait, i thought bill was too old!!!) and has a 89-87 record as a Head Coach. Whitman is a moron.

You are right. Cubit's 56-54 record is far more impressive.

Smith hasn't coached CFB in over 20 years.

He's obviously a name in Illinois because he took Da Bears to Super Bowl.

Every year they'll be wondering if he's going back to The League. Some stability.

But he's probably the best they could get now.

(03-06-2016 07:52 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  Smith hasn't coached CFB in over 20 years.

He's obviously a name in Illinois because he took Da Bears to Super Bowl.

Every year they'll be wondering if he's going back to The League. Some stability.

But he's probably the best they could get now.

Not a lot out there in March, as you alluded to. He's certainly more proven than, say, Fleck, although Fleck I suppose has a higher risk/reward. Probably didn't want to go the MAC route again so soon and went after the splash.

Since 1980 Illinois has a history of hiring HFCs with NFL experience - Mike White, John Mackovic, Ron Turner, Ron Zook.

But all had previously been HCs at college level too, unlike Lovie Smith.

(03-06-2016 05:02 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  You are right. Cubit's 56-54 record is far more impressive.

Considering where he's coached, yes.

Also, for sake of accuracy, Cubit's HC record should include 34-18-1 in five years at Widener immediately before joining Darnell's staff as OC in '97.

(03-06-2016 10:10 AM)MajorHoople Wrote:  

(03-06-2016 05:02 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  You are right. Cubit's 56-54 record is far more impressive.

Considering where he's coached, yes.

Also, for sake of accuracy, Cubit's HC record should include 34-18-1 in five years at Widener immediately before joining Darnell's staff as OC in '97.

I would frankly put 89-87 with a Super Bowl appearance above Cubit's FBS resume (8 years at a MAC school without a division win). Apples to oranges but I think most would agree with me. Yes the years at Widener count but I'm not really sure how much they factor in re: this discussion.

There are legitimate concerns about Smith at the college level, of course, but to slam his accomplishments comparing him to Cubit rings a little hollow.

FWIW (not much) I think Lovie will probably manage 4 or so mediocre years at Illinois because, well, it's Illinois.

(03-06-2016 05:02 AM)wmubroncopilot Wrote:  

(03-06-2016 01:36 AM)DiaperHead69 Wrote:  

(03-05-2016 07:22 PM)Stampede your face!! Wrote:  Lovie Smith is a way better choice for Illinois. They need more than just energy and recruiting. That place needs stability and a guy that commands the type of respect Lovie Smith's experience brings. PJ just isn't there yet.

You're right, they need a lot more energy and a coach that has been fired twice, is almost 60 years old (but wait, i thought bill was too old!!!) and has a 89-87 record as a Head Coach. Whitman is a moron.

You are right. Cubit's 56-54 record is far more impressive.

Please get your facts straight... Cubits overall record as a HC is 90-72

Thanks.

(03-06-2016 03:20 PM)DiaperHead69 Wrote:  Please get your facts straight... Cubits overall record as a HC is 90-72

Thanks.

90-72-1