Bret Bielema Takes Reins of Illinois Football

#78      
ChiefGritty
Ander1345 said:
He said in an interview with College Game Day(from his car on the side of the road no less) that offense and defense would look different from Wisconsin so take that as you will.

With regards to defense specifically said 3-4 instead of 4-3 like when he was at Wisconsin. I'm guessing his staff is mostly in place.
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Oh interesting, is there video of this?
 
#86      
Illinivek23
I think he will be on BTN coming up. I want to hear what Gerry and Howard say (and how Howard says it - would love to get him back in Illini Nation after his kid finishes up at ND)
 
#87      
Deleted member 747660
redwingillini11 said:
This is an example of a hire that isn’t supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy good. It’s a shrewd move to bring in a guy who is up to the challenge of recruiting against Pat Fitzgerald, Iowa, Wisconsin, and pj fleck. He knows the formula to win. Will it work? Like every option, the odds aren’t brilliant. But at least we won’t be saying in 5 years “well I guess this guy’s formula to win doesn’t work in the big ten.” It does. We’ll just have to see if BB can make it work at Illinois.

I’m very excited to give him the opportunity. He has said all of the right things so far. Welcome coach. Let’s get to work!
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He will also have to recruit against Michigan, Ohio State and Notre Dame. As well as any national power coming after a top prospect.
 
#90      
ILLjuice
Orangetool said:
Why do I feel that we will be playing, and losing, to a Leipold coached team in the future?
This will probably assure that Leipold will have a stellar career at another power school.
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Because it's easy to make that prediction with nothing to lose if you're wrong but if you're right you can say I told you so. Something something hindsight.
 
#91      
champaignchris
I’m surprised. I don’t hate it.

Anyone have an idea what happened at Arkansas? He seemed to have that program more on less on track, competitive in an absolute beast of a division, bowl games and wins over top 10 teams in three consecutive seasons, and then the wheels came off in season 5.

If someone could convince me there was something flukish to his end at Arkansas and not the gradual erosion of talent that bottomed out when his predecessor’s last recruit left town, I’d feel better about this hire.
 
#97      
Ander1345
MoCoMdIllini said:
3-4 defense is interesting. How is our current roster set up for it? Will it be a couple of recruiting classes to get that squared away?
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Not a coach but I imagine going from the 4-3 to the 3-4(there's teams that line up in both sometimes) is easier than say, going from spread option to pro style. I think we'll be a better defensive team than we will offensive initially.
 
#98      
Boomauer
But, but, but...Darren Sunkett doesn't like him!!
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#99      
Illini fan in Iowa
Will be interesting to see how the spring signing period/transfer market goes. Some of the players who he had recruited at Arkansas are now free game to play right away next year here. Have to think that we will still have roughly 10 spots to fill with transfers and 2021’s. This position starts and ends with recruiting.
 
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