So we lost this week.
Is there anything new or surprising about this ? Many posters, especially the usual "suspects" have come out for firing Lovie yesterday or sooner. It's nice to be able to vent, but it's not going to happen this year, not only for the huge buyout, but for the reasonable thought that this rebuild isn't a easy or fast task. Illinois football has been a mostly down program since the ONE year that Turner won the BIG and lost in the Sugar Bowl and Zooks 2 consecutive Bowl Games and those are the HIGH points in the past 15 or so years ! Mostly it's dashed hopes and humiliation or even sympathy when you arrive at another teams home stadium.
Some use the word, excuses, but I prefer the word facts.
1. We have only 2 recruiting classes on campus at this time.
2. We have only 8 Seniors on the team, the lowest in major football.
3. We have the youngest team in major football. ( both are from tv commentators reading their list)
4. We have no depth in experienced players as a result of 2 & 3.
5. We have a new offense this year. (yes it's better than last, but still a learning curve.).
6. We have moved DB's around due to suspensions and injuries.
7. We have an OL where 40 % of the starters are playing a new position now.
8. We have an DL where injuries have destroyed projected pre-season depth.
9. We are unable to restock using multiple numbers of JUCO players.
10. We are essentially a JUCO-like team playing in the BIG, based on age and experience.
11. We have a "brand" that has been destroyed in the State and surrounding States, which is ABI.
Need I continue ?
Sure, several of us have posted over the years of our "fixes" at the Head Coach level that "should" have secured us multiple Bowl Games and relevance in the BIG. Some of them maybe could have done the job. No telling for sure, but History does repeat itself from time to time. But the 'wish list' does nothing, neither for years past, nor for this year or next or in two. Hot Coaches move around while they are hot. Coaches from 'hot' programs move around, some are OK, some (see Ash) struggle, no matter how great the program they arrive from. So who is hot is usually gone soon, and some off that list succeed and some don't. The CRG pocket list of coaches isn't a sure thing.
So what to do ?
Support the team, come out to Memorial and root for Illinois. They are out on the fields, in the S & C lifting, in team and position meetings and still studying and attending school.
Is there anything new or surprising about this ? Many posters, especially the usual "suspects" have come out for firing Lovie yesterday or sooner. It's nice to be able to vent, but it's not going to happen this year, not only for the huge buyout, but for the reasonable thought that this rebuild isn't a easy or fast task. Illinois football has been a mostly down program since the ONE year that Turner won the BIG and lost in the Sugar Bowl and Zooks 2 consecutive Bowl Games and those are the HIGH points in the past 15 or so years ! Mostly it's dashed hopes and humiliation or even sympathy when you arrive at another teams home stadium.
Some use the word, excuses, but I prefer the word facts.
1. We have only 2 recruiting classes on campus at this time.
2. We have only 8 Seniors on the team, the lowest in major football.
3. We have the youngest team in major football. ( both are from tv commentators reading their list)
4. We have no depth in experienced players as a result of 2 & 3.
5. We have a new offense this year. (yes it's better than last, but still a learning curve.).
6. We have moved DB's around due to suspensions and injuries.
7. We have an OL where 40 % of the starters are playing a new position now.
8. We have an DL where injuries have destroyed projected pre-season depth.
9. We are unable to restock using multiple numbers of JUCO players.
10. We are essentially a JUCO-like team playing in the BIG, based on age and experience.
11. We have a "brand" that has been destroyed in the State and surrounding States, which is ABI.
Need I continue ?
Sure, several of us have posted over the years of our "fixes" at the Head Coach level that "should" have secured us multiple Bowl Games and relevance in the BIG. Some of them maybe could have done the job. No telling for sure, but History does repeat itself from time to time. But the 'wish list' does nothing, neither for years past, nor for this year or next or in two. Hot Coaches move around while they are hot. Coaches from 'hot' programs move around, some are OK, some (see Ash) struggle, no matter how great the program they arrive from. So who is hot is usually gone soon, and some off that list succeed and some don't. The CRG pocket list of coaches isn't a sure thing.
So what to do ?
Support the team, come out to Memorial and root for Illinois. They are out on the fields, in the S & C lifting, in team and position meetings and still studying and attending school.
