Lovie Smith Out at Illinois

W

WinOneThisCentury

Well-Known Member
He's definitely upgraded their athletes. They look more like a B10 team now.

I watched the NW game yesterday and he just makes some weird decisions. They are the massive underdog and he decides to try a 54 yard field goal on fourth and two at the 37 yard line when the game was tied. You are the freaking underdog Lovie. Play to win a game no one expects you to win.

I'm really not sure this is the right decision for Illinois. Sure...the record this year isn't what it could be...but this year shouldn't count in my opinion. They looked great against Nebraska...and play some decent football in spots. They went to a bowl last year.

Please, please hire Jim Leonhard from Wisconsin. It will suck going against Illinois defensively...but it weakens Wisconsin immeasurably.
 
This surprised me. They had success last year and played competitively this year. He clearly was getting better talent to Illinois. I would think this COVID year would be a punt year as far as coaches at schools like Illinois. Doesn't make sense to me. Good luck with the revolving coaching door Illinois. See Nebraska, Michigan, etc..

Lovie was bringing consistency there.
 
I think this was made because Lovie wasn't down for the college coach duties...the booster meetings, and the administration stuff. He wants to coach...and not deal with the bullsh$t.

There is alot of pomp and circumstance that you have to deal with...and I think he shined it as much as he could.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
I think this was made because Lovie wasn't down for the college coach duties...the booster meetings, and the administration stuff. He wants to coach...and not deal with the bullsh$t.

There is alot of pomp and circumstance that you have to deal with...and I think he shined it as much as he could.
Click to expand...

Very good point. I can definitely see that.
 
Yeah, a very surprising move during such a disruptive season. to get this Illini program to a bowl last year took a hell of a lot of work, they beat wisky last year, they needed better QB play overall but had a good team. They laid down a bit yesterday.

Who the hell they have who wants to go to the graveyard in urbana. Eventually they will get a coach who can bring them back to prominence but it never seems to last there.

I guess we are somewhat lucky over the last 40 years to only have a few bad seasons.
 
Malzahn just got the axe at Auburn....really don't want to hear about schools afraid to pull the trigger because of money.
 
I'm just saying, when you owe someone $21 million to buy him out...you better have a big name that wants the job. You don't fire someone with that big a buyout if you haven't laid some groundwork. I don't know who...but they know.

We can only hope it's PJ Fleck...LOL. I'd love to see him row his boat somewhere else...although that would eliminate a sure win for Iowa every year.
 
WinOneThisCentury said:
I'm just saying, when you owe someone $21 million to buy him out...you better have a big name that wants the job. You don't fire someone with that big a buyout if you haven't laid some groundwork. I don't know who...but they know.

We can only hope it's PJ Fleck...LOL. I'd love to see him row his boat somewhere else...although that would eliminate a sure win for Iowa every year.
Click to expand...
Fair. Bet money it is Hugh Freeze.
 
As a Hawkeye fan I'm thrilled to see this. Illinois is about as stupid as Nebraska. Lovie was turning the corner at Illinois and this will set them back.
 
Cripes, the last decent hire they had was John "Cheatin" Mackovic, 88-91.
Since then, it's been Tepper, Turner, Zook, Beckman and now Lovie.

That string of horrors ranks up there with Iowa's succession of Burns, Nagel, Lauterbur and Commings.
 
Last edited:
Dear lord people. He won 10 big ten games in 5 years. 10-33. 5 years is more than most coaches get these days. I know they are unlikely to do so, but if you are Illinois, why not roll out the red carpet for Phil and float him like a 5 year $20 million deal? He's probably not interested, but why not find out? If nothing else, you cause a little heartburn for a rival in the division, and maybe force them to to give Phil a big raise. And if you get really lucky, you nab a guy who quickly builds a salty team, knows how to pull 2 and 3 star gems from Illinois' recruiting footprint, and probably brings some Iowa assistants with him.
 
SwirlinLingerie said:
Dear lord people. He won 10 big ten games in 5 years. 10-33. 5 years is more than most coaches get these days. I know they are unlikely to do so, but if you are Illinois, why not roll out the red carpet for Phil and float him like a 5 year $20 million deal? He's probably not interested, but why not find out? If nothing else, you cause a little heartburn for a rival in the division, and maybe force them to to give Phil a big raise. And if you get really lucky, you nab a guy who quickly builds a salty team, knows how to pull 2 and 3 star gems from Illinois' recruiting footprint, and probably brings some Iowa assistants with him.
Click to expand...

Agreed. If I were running Illini football call number 1 would be Phil. Number 2 would be Leonhard up at Wisconsin. If I needed a third call it would be Pelini. But then again, I'm not a complete fucking idiot.
 
Wouldn't I be your first call since I recommended Phil? Maybe I could go work for one of those search firms. That seems like a racket.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Share this page

Top