https://www.offtackleempire.com/2019/9/1...ith-satire

I always thought his coaching ability was overrated


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I thought it was an odd hire.

Illinois is what a friend calls a "brittle" program. Capable of being strong but subject to shattering into a bunch of pieces if you make a mistake.

If you are Illinois and the inevitable happens this year and you fire Lovie Smith what direction do you go? You've tried them all.

You tried the NFL to CFB route with Smith.

You tried the hot new up and comer in Beckman.

You tried the reclaimation project in Zook.

You tried the well traveled veteran in Turner.

You tried the coordinator route in Tepper.

You tried the experienced HC route in Mackovic.

None have been able to get you over the hump, although Mackovic was possibly getting there before he left for Austin.

The amount of talent in Illinois along with decent recruiting elsewhere should be enough to fuel a solid top 25 level program, so why have they failed no matter what they have tried? What am I missing about the Illini program?

Hire Mike Leach.

(09-18-2019 04:05 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  If you are Illinois and the inevitable happens this year and you fire Lovie Smith what direction do you go? You've tried them all.

You tried the NFL to CFB route with Smith.

You tried the hot new up and comer in Beckman.

You tried the reclaimation project in Zook.

You tried the well traveled veteran in Turner.

You tried the coordinator route in Tepper.

You tried the experienced HC route in Mackovic.

None have been able to get you over the hump, although Mackovic was possibly getting there before he left for Austin.

The amount of talent in Illinois along with decent recruiting elsewhere should be enough to fuel a solid top 25 level program, so why have they failed no matter what they have tried? What am I missing about the Illini program?

Most likely drive and broad based support.

That tends to be what separates good programs from the rest. The Illini aren't particularly good at any major sport so I would assume the issue is more about the institutional culture.

(09-19-2019 11:44 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(09-18-2019 04:05 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  If you are Illinois and the inevitable happens this year and you fire Lovie Smith what direction do you go? You've tried them all.

You tried the NFL to CFB route with Smith.

You tried the hot new up and comer in Beckman.

You tried the reclaimation project in Zook.

You tried the well traveled veteran in Turner.

You tried the coordinator route in Tepper.

You tried the experienced HC route in Mackovic.

None have been able to get you over the hump, although Mackovic was possibly getting there before he left for Austin.

The amount of talent in Illinois along with decent recruiting elsewhere should be enough to fuel a solid top 25 level program, so why have they failed no matter what they have tried? What am I missing about the Illini program?

Most likely drive and broad based support.

That tends to be what separates good programs from the rest. The Illini aren't particularly good at any major sport so I would assume the issue is more about the institutional culture.

IMO blaming the university administration when the football team doesn't have as much money as Ohio State or Texas is waaaay overrated.

At the top level, lots and lots of money from ticket revenue and donations has to be there. The money has to come from there, not from the university general fund. The only thing for which a university administration should be blamed is not trying hard enough to develop generous donors to athletics, if that's the case.

If there is a "culture" issue, it's an issue of alums and other donors not pouring as much money into athletics as they do in the wealthier athletic departments.

In February, Lovie hired a LB coach in his 20s who never played college football, graduated from Lake Forest College 6 years ago, and had no experience other than grad assistant.

His name was Miles Smith, Lovie’s son.

Illinois, a B1G school, likely has the weakest LB coach of 131 FBS programs.

(09-19-2019 12:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(09-19-2019 11:44 AM)AllTideUp Wrote:  

(09-18-2019 04:05 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  If you are Illinois and the inevitable happens this year and you fire Lovie Smith what direction do you go? You've tried them all.

You tried the NFL to CFB route with Smith.

You tried the hot new up and comer in Beckman.

You tried the reclaimation project in Zook.

You tried the well traveled veteran in Turner.

You tried the coordinator route in Tepper.

You tried the experienced HC route in Mackovic.

None have been able to get you over the hump, although Mackovic was possibly getting there before he left for Austin.

The amount of talent in Illinois along with decent recruiting elsewhere should be enough to fuel a solid top 25 level program, so why have they failed no matter what they have tried? What am I missing about the Illini program?

Most likely drive and broad based support.

That tends to be what separates good programs from the rest. The Illini aren't particularly good at any major sport so I would assume the issue is more about the institutional culture.

IMO blaming the university administration when the football team doesn't have as much money as Ohio State or Texas is waaaay overrated.

At the top level, lots and lots of money from ticket revenue and donations has to be there. The money has to come from there, not from the university general fund. The only thing for which a university administration should be blamed is not trying hard enough to develop generous donors to athletics, if that's the case.

If there is a "culture" issue, it's an issue of alums and other donors not pouring as much money into athletics as they do in the wealthier athletic departments.

That's actually more what I was referring to. The administration plays a role in that, I believe, but I intended to highlight the culture of the institution itself....the institution at all levels.

Other than that, I don't expect them to compete with Ohio State when the money difference is significant, but they should be a relevant program with all their advantages. As it stands, they are consistently one of the weakest P5s and are beaten by G5s fairly regularly. It shouldn't be that bad.

I wish he would have hired Dave Steckel as his DC.

Illinois biggest problem is they can't keep Chicago basketball talent in-state. Way bigger concern than football IMO.

(09-19-2019 12:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  If there is a "culture" issue, it's an issue of alums and other donors not pouring as much money into athletics as they do in the wealthier athletic departments.

Well, could be that you have a donor pipeline that could be alienated by leadership that doesn't allow them a spot at the table as they do in other places.

Well, this now appears to be a brilliant move by Lovie. Illinois is on fire.