Cue the LOLs, baby.
But honestly, I have very little hope as an Illini fan right now. Honestly, we hired a good coach, and three games in this looks like Tim Beckman 2012 Part Deux (albeit one with somewhat less talent).
I frankly don't want to hear "BUT THE RECRUITING," because, while I think the recruiting is off to a nice start, it's not looking like The Zooker 2006-9 right now, either (and there's no evidence that this staff evaluates talent like Zook did, that's undetermined).
What I'm really wondering why it would be so hard for Illinois to have just rolled the dice on someone we know is a major schematic upgrade, before said person became "too good" for Illinois (like happened with Kevin Sumlin). Guys on this list would be Chad Morris (HC - SMU), Sterlin Gilbert (OC - Texas), PJ Fleck (HC - WMU, sort of a combo scheme/high energy recruiter type), Beau "Slayer of Leach" Baldwin (HC - Eastern Washington), Dino Babers (HC - BGSU and available when we decided to retain Cubit), and so on.
I do think Lovie Smith is a good football coach, and I've stated as much. But honestly, I'm really concerned that won't be enough to elevate Illinois past anything but mediocrity without a schematic advantage on offense. And with this "focus on football," mediocrity isn't going to be enough unless we totally change things in basketball and football returns to its "nice distraction" status. I have my doubts that is happening anytime soon.
Convince me how I'm wrong. Or at least make me feel better. Because right now, I honestly feel pretty comfortable that shutting out Illinois athletics is the better course for time usage (excepting the entertainment of this board, hehehe).
But honestly, I have very little hope as an Illini fan right now. Honestly, we hired a good coach, and three games in this looks like Tim Beckman 2012 Part Deux (albeit one with somewhat less talent).
I frankly don't want to hear "BUT THE RECRUITING," because, while I think the recruiting is off to a nice start, it's not looking like The Zooker 2006-9 right now, either (and there's no evidence that this staff evaluates talent like Zook did, that's undetermined).
What I'm really wondering why it would be so hard for Illinois to have just rolled the dice on someone we know is a major schematic upgrade, before said person became "too good" for Illinois (like happened with Kevin Sumlin). Guys on this list would be Chad Morris (HC - SMU), Sterlin Gilbert (OC - Texas), PJ Fleck (HC - WMU, sort of a combo scheme/high energy recruiter type), Beau "Slayer of Leach" Baldwin (HC - Eastern Washington), Dino Babers (HC - BGSU and available when we decided to retain Cubit), and so on.
I do think Lovie Smith is a good football coach, and I've stated as much. But honestly, I'm really concerned that won't be enough to elevate Illinois past anything but mediocrity without a schematic advantage on offense. And with this "focus on football," mediocrity isn't going to be enough unless we totally change things in basketball and football returns to its "nice distraction" status. I have my doubts that is happening anytime soon.
Convince me how I'm wrong. Or at least make me feel better. Because right now, I honestly feel pretty comfortable that shutting out Illinois athletics is the better course for time usage (excepting the entertainment of this board, hehehe).
