Head coach is in charge of everything - winning (most important), offense, defense, special teams, recruiting, roster building, and much to their typical dislike - PR, booster relations, and off the field discipline.. I personally liked the hire four years ago; it was a brand name, an AA for the first time, a great person and it brought some good national PR immediately to a bad, forgotten program. Lovie started with nothing and ran a lot of what he felt were negative people off the roster. I would imagine this was with JW's approval and commitment to a total rebuild timeframe. Some on here say he should be winning because the roster is good enough now, which by default means his recruiting is good. Youngest team in the country two years running and now we should be seeing improvement. I get that the improvements are not enough.
I don't know as much about the details of football as most of you. Never played it past middle school, but enjoy watching the Illini. I get that Lovie is failing in a few areas; winning the most obvious, but my gosh Board. When "we" start posting that "we" are glad the refs screwed us so we can lose and get Lovie fired, I can't jump on that train. If the body of work this year is 3-9 or worse, I am all for a change. 5-7 or better, with projections of a better year in 2020, I am behind the program 100%. 4-8, I will wait to see how the games play out and how we lose. Right now, I feel we are one Roundtree away from 4-0, he would mean that much to the pass rush and RPO defense.
The refs were not Illini fans on Saturday, and that used to rile this board up - with all of us on the same side. If I recall correctly, every reviewed call went Illini's way, which shows me the refs were by default, calling in Nebraska's favor. It means every real time call went Nebraska's way. The spot on third down, the 15 yard jersey tug on the pass, both quarterback hits that were reversed, the override on the block in the back and the last pass interference no-call. Even the Robinson run, that he fumbled but the ref called him down made sure no turnover happened. This used to get all us fired up and pissed off. Now some seemed to prefer the lose. I don't get that at all.
So that brings us to a desired coaching change, and names that have been floated. One that would end the need for Viagra for many of you is Mike Leach. The ultimate hire. The fun coach to watch. Saturday night WSU (a 19 point favorite) gave up 50 points in the last 19 minutes of the game to lose to an 0-3 team at home. They were up 49-17, still scored 14 more and lost. Think about our fans reaction to that. That's on the head coach, whether his an offensive guru or not. Leach is 52-41 at WSU after a great run at TT. In bowls, he is 2-3 in 8 years. He has faced B10 opponents in 2 bowls, MSU and Minnesota. WSU scored 12 and 17 points in those bowls against defenses he would face 9 times a year. (Insert Illini defense comments here - and I agree they are bad.) Some other names come up and comments follow of we need to hire XXX and give him time to put his roster together. More time.
I watch the Illini for entertainment value. I was entertained Saturday night because right up to end, they had a chance to win against a team that destroyed them last year and was favored by a lot this year. I was entertained because at midnight on Saturday I was yelling at my TV because the Illini got the ball back two minutes left, and within a TD of a win. I was pissed because it should have been 1st and ten at the 35 with 1:30 left and a chance to win. The penalty wasn't a close call and the replay showed the ref staring right at it, the waist hold in full view. The board should still be lit up and we should be waiting for our annual Conference Letter of Apology. I am pissed because the Illini got jobbed and I don't care if that means more years with Lovie, I wanted a win. I know it is a long shot, but I want Lovie to win. But fire him if he doesn't.
And I don't care if I am the only one that feels this way. I am happy to pay $100 a year to read opinions on a team I love to watch, even if they are opposite of mine. I learn a hell of lot from this board and I am grateful that most of us can share opinions and not attack personally those that don't agree with us. Tough times, but I am an Illini fan forever.
I don't know as much about the details of football as most of you. Never played it past middle school, but enjoy watching the Illini. I get that Lovie is failing in a few areas; winning the most obvious, but my gosh Board. When "we" start posting that "we" are glad the refs screwed us so we can lose and get Lovie fired, I can't jump on that train. If the body of work this year is 3-9 or worse, I am all for a change. 5-7 or better, with projections of a better year in 2020, I am behind the program 100%. 4-8, I will wait to see how the games play out and how we lose. Right now, I feel we are one Roundtree away from 4-0, he would mean that much to the pass rush and RPO defense.
The refs were not Illini fans on Saturday, and that used to rile this board up - with all of us on the same side. If I recall correctly, every reviewed call went Illini's way, which shows me the refs were by default, calling in Nebraska's favor. It means every real time call went Nebraska's way. The spot on third down, the 15 yard jersey tug on the pass, both quarterback hits that were reversed, the override on the block in the back and the last pass interference no-call. Even the Robinson run, that he fumbled but the ref called him down made sure no turnover happened. This used to get all us fired up and pissed off. Now some seemed to prefer the lose. I don't get that at all.
So that brings us to a desired coaching change, and names that have been floated. One that would end the need for Viagra for many of you is Mike Leach. The ultimate hire. The fun coach to watch. Saturday night WSU (a 19 point favorite) gave up 50 points in the last 19 minutes of the game to lose to an 0-3 team at home. They were up 49-17, still scored 14 more and lost. Think about our fans reaction to that. That's on the head coach, whether his an offensive guru or not. Leach is 52-41 at WSU after a great run at TT. In bowls, he is 2-3 in 8 years. He has faced B10 opponents in 2 bowls, MSU and Minnesota. WSU scored 12 and 17 points in those bowls against defenses he would face 9 times a year. (Insert Illini defense comments here - and I agree they are bad.) Some other names come up and comments follow of we need to hire XXX and give him time to put his roster together. More time.
I watch the Illini for entertainment value. I was entertained Saturday night because right up to end, they had a chance to win against a team that destroyed them last year and was favored by a lot this year. I was entertained because at midnight on Saturday I was yelling at my TV because the Illini got the ball back two minutes left, and within a TD of a win. I was pissed because it should have been 1st and ten at the 35 with 1:30 left and a chance to win. The penalty wasn't a close call and the replay showed the ref staring right at it, the waist hold in full view. The board should still be lit up and we should be waiting for our annual Conference Letter of Apology. I am pissed because the Illini got jobbed and I don't care if that means more years with Lovie, I wanted a win. I know it is a long shot, but I want Lovie to win. But fire him if he doesn't.
And I don't care if I am the only one that feels this way. I am happy to pay $100 a year to read opinions on a team I love to watch, even if they are opposite of mine. I learn a hell of lot from this board and I am grateful that most of us can share opinions and not attack personally those that don't agree with us. Tough times, but I am an Illini fan forever.
