Friday my four year old daughter got admitted to the hospital. I was supposed to be at the game, so that in a sense is a blessing. But it was no fun watching the game...period...especially in a hospital room.
I kept getting texts during the game about Tre Watson. I have met him and his Dad, and they both seemed classy. I'm a poor judge of character evidently. He was cussing at administrators, staff, ... ok, whatever ... but the game started and he kept yelling he was going to take someone out. Not a good defensive play, or hard hit, but injure someone. After hitting MJ, and while he was still on the ground not moving, Tre went around hi fiving his teamates, yelling "mission accomplished". MJ is still not moving, mind you. He gets tossed, and then is hamming it up with the crowd about his targeting of a helpless player who had nothing to do with him leaving.
He is a punk.
MJ is in concussion protocol, so it is hard to predict, but he could be done for the year.
The game? As bad as I have ever seen a defense at UI. Maybe that PSU game with Zook, or when USC beat us 55-3 under Tepper. I kept yelling "contain, how hard is it to contain !!!", until my wife said I was waking my daughter.
Lovie (I'm told) was as upset as he has been at UI after the game. He yelled at Hardy on the sidelines, which he never does. He made it clear changes would be made, but I didn't think it would be that soon. BTW, none of this should be construed as being excuses for or pro-Lovie, as some people go crazy if you don't spend the entire post ragging on him. Just what was texted or told to me by people at the game. Right now, someone identify something positive this year?
There is some truth to the health issue for Hardy, but not enough for him to leave, imo. It was not completely made up. He was in over his head, and his demeanor changed a lot during practice for the past month. BTW, Hardy called the plays. I'll repeat that, Hardy called the plays, but Lovie could jump in and override, kind of like Paterno did at PSU.
Now, this is just me, and it is speculation. I think it is possible to see a negotiated buyout after the season. I have no information on this, but things are bad. I cannot believe Lovie is enjoying this ... why not walk away?
JW has done as great job raising money. But a big part of it was hiring Lovie, and a commitment to football. Kahn and a couple others helped get others to buy in. And JW brought in millions. With this scenario, and Lovie leaving, getting that type of money so soon will not be easy. We could go the MAC route and hope its not a Beckman or Hazzell. But if Lovie leaves so soon, it will be even tougher to get a high profile coach or one of the 2 or 3 top up and comers we see each year. There is something to be said about stability.
Recruiting? Too early to tell, but the can't win at Illinois mantra will continue as long as this continues. Should get some indication later this week.
The good news is my 4 year old was released this morning. That puts a lot of this in perspective. There are more important things in life than watching 18-22 year olds playing football.
I kept getting texts during the game about Tre Watson. I have met him and his Dad, and they both seemed classy. I'm a poor judge of character evidently. He was cussing at administrators, staff, ... ok, whatever ... but the game started and he kept yelling he was going to take someone out. Not a good defensive play, or hard hit, but injure someone. After hitting MJ, and while he was still on the ground not moving, Tre went around hi fiving his teamates, yelling "mission accomplished". MJ is still not moving, mind you. He gets tossed, and then is hamming it up with the crowd about his targeting of a helpless player who had nothing to do with him leaving.
He is a punk.
MJ is in concussion protocol, so it is hard to predict, but he could be done for the year.
The game? As bad as I have ever seen a defense at UI. Maybe that PSU game with Zook, or when USC beat us 55-3 under Tepper. I kept yelling "contain, how hard is it to contain !!!", until my wife said I was waking my daughter.
Lovie (I'm told) was as upset as he has been at UI after the game. He yelled at Hardy on the sidelines, which he never does. He made it clear changes would be made, but I didn't think it would be that soon. BTW, none of this should be construed as being excuses for or pro-Lovie, as some people go crazy if you don't spend the entire post ragging on him. Just what was texted or told to me by people at the game. Right now, someone identify something positive this year?
There is some truth to the health issue for Hardy, but not enough for him to leave, imo. It was not completely made up. He was in over his head, and his demeanor changed a lot during practice for the past month. BTW, Hardy called the plays. I'll repeat that, Hardy called the plays, but Lovie could jump in and override, kind of like Paterno did at PSU.
Now, this is just me, and it is speculation. I think it is possible to see a negotiated buyout after the season. I have no information on this, but things are bad. I cannot believe Lovie is enjoying this ... why not walk away?
JW has done as great job raising money. But a big part of it was hiring Lovie, and a commitment to football. Kahn and a couple others helped get others to buy in. And JW brought in millions. With this scenario, and Lovie leaving, getting that type of money so soon will not be easy. We could go the MAC route and hope its not a Beckman or Hazzell. But if Lovie leaves so soon, it will be even tougher to get a high profile coach or one of the 2 or 3 top up and comers we see each year. There is something to be said about stability.
Recruiting? Too early to tell, but the can't win at Illinois mantra will continue as long as this continues. Should get some indication later this week.
The good news is my 4 year old was released this morning. That puts a lot of this in perspective. There are more important things in life than watching 18-22 year olds playing football.
