Lovie Smith to coach Illini

They're hoping some old Bears fans who loved Lovie... :) will start buying tickets to the games in Schlitz (a more appropriate name for Champaign)
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
They're hoping some old Bears fans who loved Lovie... :) will start buying tickets to the games in Schlitz (a more appropriate name for Champaign)
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schlitz.jpg


:eek:
 
He was hired before they fired the other guy... It could be the shot in the arm they need to get out of the gutter they've been in. I've always wondered how good of a HC he is. Not sure how he is at rebuilding at the college level but we are about to see. They need such an overhaul of talent that they'll need to be patient. They won't be able to do it the same way Harbaugh is. People thought this year was so miraculous what he did but his cupboard was far from empty. Hoke had 4 star kids, he just couldn't coach worth a darn. Lovie will have to do it the old fashioned way unless he can get a stud qb with a stud receiver or 2 right away. I just think he's got a tougher hill to climb for sure
 
Hawkfnntn said:
He was hired before they fired the other guy... It could be the shot in the arm they need to get out of the gutter they've been in. I've always wondered how good of a HC he is. Not sure how he is at rebuilding at the college level but we are about to see. They need such an overhaul of talent that they'll need to be patient. They won't be able to do it the same way Harbaugh is. People thought this year was so miraculous what he did but his cupboard was far from empty. Hoke had 4 star kids, he just couldn't coach worth a darn. Lovie will have to do it the old fashioned way unless he can get a stud qb with a stud receiver or 2 right away. I just think he's got a tougher hill to climb for sure
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Everyone is so impatient these days he goes 2-10 next year and there will be fireloviesmith.com websites popping up. If he is allowed to methodically build the program the way KF was able to rebuild the Iowa program you might have something.
 
Wow, didn't see that coming. Explains why they were so eager to let Cubit go as they had one in the wings. I think Bill Cubit deserves another legit chance somewhere. It will be interesting to see what Smith can do in Complain.
 
Oh, not a bad hire at this point as I think a team at least gets a couple years recruiting boost with an ex NFL coach coming in as head coach. Undoubtedly, this played into the decision to bring him on board. They had to recruit better and that was probably the one question mark with Cubit.
 
ChosenChildren said:
Not sure this is a great hire
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Who knows for sure. But this, imho, is a home run hire for Illinois. Again, only time will tell, but this has been an awful program for quite some time and this is a huge get.

What's really funny is people all over here in nebby land are screaming "why didn't we get a guy like this, we're Nebraska!" Haha.
 
rschneider said:
If Illinois and Nebraska become good, is Iowa screwed?
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I don't believe so. It's all circular eventually. Teams will rise and fall but I think Iowa will be competitive for a few years.

Nebby will likely be better, record wise, next year, but the mid to late 90's level is nowhere in their near future.

Illinois should have been far better than what they've been in many years, and might bump a bit in a year or 2.

Ebbs and flows.
 
hawkeyebob62 said:
When--not if--Lovie tanks, good luck finding the next coach. Cubit got screwed.
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If you are Illinois, you take this risk every time. Cubit only had a 2 year deal so not so bad really.

I could be very wrong but I think it's a good hire, maybe a great hire. We probably won't know for a year or 2, maybe 3.
 
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