Illinois Football Recruiting Thread

[mhuml32]

If we don’t qualify for a bowl, Lovie should be gone. I would almost guarantee that. I think back to back bowls keeps him. 7 or 8 wins in season would grant an extension. 6 would keep him in the bubble. He will get a pass year in 2021 with 4 to 5 wins. But I think he is working to set that roster right now with transfers.

Regardless to what happens in 2020, Lovie is either getting fired or an extension. The culture of coaching contracts and recruiting necessitates that UI will make a decision on his future this year. Passing it on until the next year to make that decision is impractical. Maybe the unprecedented pandemic will change that (delayed or canceled season).

 

[mhuml32]

I'm also not thrilled on the lack of attention being paid to high school prospects. I do enjoy how much Lovie has embraced the transfers, as it raises the floor of the program, but ignoring prep recruits is a decision to lower the ceiling. This means that having a successful season (8-4 w/ bowl game) is no longer capitalized on with creating a strong base on incoming freshmen recruits.

 

[PtownIllini8]

Both those teams had 10 wins....we kinda lucked into 6 wins. Also we are consistently late on offering kids and are outworked big time on the trail. And most of the time it’s not the assistants fault. I want Lovie to succeed but he has to lose his ego and change his attitude towards recruiting.

Outworked big time on the trail, but not generally the assistants fault, don't go together. There are only so many days/hours that one coach can be "on the trail."

 

[thunderwear]

Regardless to what happens in 2020, Lovie is either getting fired or an extension. The culture of coaching contracts and recruiting necessitates that UI will make a decision on his future this year. Passing it on until the next year to make that decision is impractical. Maybe the unprecedented pandemic will change that (delayed or canceled season).

Yes. I agree with this. But the extension means less with a 6 win season than it does with a 10 win season. That was the point I was trying to make.

 

[thunderwear]

I'm also not thrilled on the lack of attention being paid to high school prospects. I do enjoy how much Lovie has embraced the transfers, as it raises the floor of the program, but ignoring prep recruits is a decision to lower the ceiling. This means that having a successful season (8-4 w/ bowl game) is no longer capitalized on with creating a strong base on incoming freshmen recruits.

I agree. This is a problem. Particularly the insistence on seeing senior film. It puts us behind the 8-ball and I don’t see this changing.

 

[thunderwear]

What I’ll say about prep recruiting is that we are looking really good at offensive line, we have solid pieces that can grow into a big ten role. I like where we are with a handful of defensive linemen and linebackers. I’m not confident on our position with running backs, but it’s our position of least need.

 

[thunderwear]

I like where we stand with some tight ends and the lbs are fast and could move to safety.
I’d like to see more wr and cb movement.

 

[Deleted member 656517]

I like what Lovie's doing on the recruiting trail. Sure he doesn't get the huge splash's consistantly like we hoped, but he attracts a specific mindset player. "Attitude reflects leadership." Lovie's a leader of young men, and I trust the player's he brings aboard regardless of stars. Just take a look at Beason and Spoon. Completely diff recruiting profiles, but killer attitudes!

 

[pvaughn8]

I like what Lovie's doing on the recruiting trail. Sure he doesn't get the huge splash's consistantly like we hoped, but he attracts a specific mindset player. "Attitude reflects leadership." Lovie's a leader of young men, and I trust the player's he brings aboard regardless of stars. Just take a look at Beason and Spoon. Completely diff recruiting profiles, but killer attitudes!

I'm sure every other team pushes that mindset

 

[ILLINISON1]

I think a good season this season will quell some. Particularly with our success on the transfer market. But It’s not to underscore our need to improve prep recruiting. Unfortunately,from what I hear, I don’t think Lovie sees himself to have a prep recruiting problem. He likes the people he is bringing in and from where Lovie sits, I think he feels like the class is about where he wants it, with some people, such as trav ion ford, just choosing not to come here.

1) I always hated working for bosses that did not work as hard as me. The work culture sucked big time. I can't imagine what it's like being an assistant knowing your #1 isn't hitting the trail with the same conviction.

2) sitting back and catching transfers will only last so long. Eventually someone or multiple someones will adjust. Mean while the prep market become s less and less engaged. DGMW Ford is an incredible pick up for Illini, but come on.

3) so what are we? Is there a comp for Illini? Can we change the perception of Illini with that kind of recruiting? Can we be a 7 win team consistenty? Transfer U sounds and feels emotionless for a fan base. We are already lifeless as a fan base. There is no comparison between kstate and illini imo. Snyder had a fanatically commitment to culture and process. Lovie is not touching that. It's been soooooo sloppy it's ridiculous.

4) I guess a big part of what I was hoping for was for Lovie to be around long enough and win enough that a real coaching tree emerged. At this point I still see a lot of spare parts. I don't see a transition. I see a cleaning of the house if Lovie moves on.
Yuck. Find a great #2 invest in him set up the program and move on. (Please no son on the team jokes).

 

[Deleted member 656517]

1) I always hated working for bosses that did not work as hard as me. The work culture sucked big time. I can't imagine what it's like being an assistant knowing your #1 isn't hitting the trail with the same conviction.

2) sitting back and catching transfers will only last so long. Eventually someone or multiple someones will adjust. Mean while the prep market become s less and less engaged. DGMW Ford is an incredible pick up for Illini, but come on.

3) so what are we? Is there a comp for Illini? Can we change the perception of Illini with that kind of recruiting? Can we be a 7 win team consistenty? Transfer U sounds and feels emotionless for a fan base. We are already lifeless as a fan base. There is no comparison between kstate and illini imo. Snyder had a fanatically commitment to culture and process. Lovie is not touching that. It's been soooooo sloppy it's ridiculous.

4) I guess a big part of what I was hoping for was for Lovie to be around long enough and win enough that a real coaching tree emerged. At this point I still see a lot of spare parts. I don't see a transition. I see a cleaning of the house if Lovie moves on.
Yuck. Find a great #2 invest in him set up the program and move on. (Please no son on the team jokes).

1) All bosses suck 90% of time
2) We only had a net worth of 2.5 transfer player influence last yr(2=BeBe/Potibon, .5=Betiku). Hardley transfer U
3) Snyder K/State comparison makes no sense. Completely "diff time" in life and he was there for some yrs
4) I agree but we did have a couple quality coaches move on after this season. I think Patterson's being groomed in the mean time

 

[Deleted member 656517]

I'm sure every other team pushes that mindset

Every team push's it, but Lovie comes with the approach actions speak first before words. Very uncommon in today's coaches

 

[HoosierIllini]

1) All bosses suck 90% of time
2) We only had a net worth of 2.5 transfer player influence last yr(2=BeBe/Potibon, .5=Betiku). Hardley transfer U
3) Snyder K/State comparison makes no sense. Completely "diff time" in life and he was there for some yrs
4) I agree but we did have a couple quality coaches move on after this season. I think Patterson's being groomed in the mean time

I don’t know your criteria here, but Brandon Peters and Milo Eifler were pretty significant IMO.

 

[bluemountain]

3) Snyder K/State comparison makes no sense. Completely "diff time" in life and he was there for some yrs

Comparing Snyder to Lovie is crazy. Snyder pulled off maybe the greatest coaching job in history. His attention to detail and ability to identify and develop talent is unparalleled. I hate to say it, but Lovie is just not that good a coach. His teams are not well prepared, the players don't develop like they do at other programs, he's terrible at game and clock management. Now that Schiano is back at Rutgers we have the worst coaching staff in the Big 10

 

[Jguede]

1) All bosses suck 90% of time
2) We only had a net worth of 2.5 transfer player influence last yr(2=BeBe/Potibon, .5=Betiku). Hardley transfer U
3) Snyder K/State comparison makes no sense. Completely "diff time" in life and he was there for some yrs
4) I agree but we did have a couple quality coaches move on after this season. I think Patterson's being groomed in the mean time

Um I think you might of missed a couple....Peter's and Eifler our leading passer and 3rd leading tackler and what about Navarro not counting him?

 

[Jguede]

Comparing Snyder to Lovie is crazy. Snyder pulled off maybe the greatest coaching job in history. His attention to detail and ability to identify and develop talent is unparalleled. I hate to say it, but Lovie is just not that good a coach. His teams are not well prepared, the players don't develop like they do at other programs, he's terrible at game and clock management. Now that Schiano is back at Rutgers we have the worst coaching staff in the Big 10

Bill Snyder. Lovie Smith
Year 1 - 1-10. 2-10
Year 2 - 5-6. 4-8
Year 3 - 7-4. 6-7
Year 4 - 5-6
Not counting Lovies first year because when he was hired.

Wow not a good coach...that's a stretch this team was coming of a scandal and a lame duck coach when Lovie was hired and he has improved our record year over year people on this board need to be more realistic about building this program.

 

[ILL_INI]

Bill Snyder. Lovie Smith
Year 1 - 1-10. 2-10
Year 2 - 5-6. 4-8
Year 3 - 7-4. 6-7
Year 4 - 5-6
Not counting Lovies first year because when he was hired.

Wow not a good coach...that's a stretch this team was coming of a scandal and a lame duck coach when Lovie was hired and he has improved our record year over year people on this board need to be more realistic about building this program.

Don't even try. No, you cannot give Smith a Mulligan for the first year. That's ridiculous. Kansas State was winless the two seasons prior to Snyder, and he led them to 7 wins (no bowl back then) in year three, and 9, 9 and 10 wins in years five through seven. Look, we all understand rebuilding a football program is difficult, but don't bother trying to compare Smith to Snyder.

 

[Butkus68]

Just wondering - how many wins will it take for the Lovie-haters in this group to change their tune? Will he still be a poor recruiter and bad coach if we win 7 this year? What about 8? And the good Lord forbid, what if we finish the regular season at 9-3?

 

[Butkus68]

And for those complain that Lovie is whiling away his time in Arizona, here’s a little bit of truth: http://news-gazette.il.newsmemory.com/?publink=03bf36a59

 

[pvaughn8]

Just wondering - how many wins will it take for the Lovie-haters in this group to change their tune? Will he still be a poor recruiter and bad coach if we win 7 this year? What about 8? And the good Lord forbid, what if we finish the regular season at 9-3?

I'm only complaining about recruiting here. My concern is that his recruiting has already peaked (Beason and Williams class) due to a combination of new coaching regime and CP hire. Last year got off to a really slow start and low and behold, resulted in small underwhelming class. Now this year another ridiculously slow start and nothing to show yet for the 6-7 season.

 

[ILL_INI]

Just wondering - how many wins will it take for the Lovie-haters in this group to change their tune? Will he still be a poor recruiter and bad coach if we win 7 this year? What about 8? And the good Lord forbid, what if we finish the regular season at 9-3?

Express any sort of doubt as to the direction of the program, question any action of the head coach or reflect on his performance and get labeled a hater. What a testament to public discourse in these times!

I'm curious, what new excuses will the Lovie-lovers give if the squad finishes below average? And when will the Lovie-lovers finally start a Lovie Loyalty board? There, they can discuss their love of nepotism and how Lovie can do no wrong, and anyone who disagrees can be labeled a troll, and, of course, a hater.

 

[bluemountain]

Bill Snyder. Lovie Smith
Year 1 - 1-10. 2-10
Year 2 - 5-6. 4-8
Year 3 - 7-4. 6-7
Year 4 - 5-6
Not counting Lovies first year because when he was hired.

Wow not a good coach...that's a stretch this team was coming of a scandal and a lame duck coach when Lovie was hired and he has improved our record year over year people on this board need to be more realistic about building this program.

Complete apples to oranges....Snyder was an unknown going into a school with zero football history, terrible facilities, no national brand name and next to nothing in terms of local recruiting. Not saying Lovie came into a great situation by any means, but he came in with strong name recognition to a school coming off 6 and 5 win seasons and a Rose Bowl appearance within the decade. UI is within a 2 hour drive of what, 15 million people? Face it, Lovie was in a great position to come in and effect a pretty quick turnaround and he squandered that opportunity. If he wins 7 or more this year he has earned some more time.

 

[ILLINISON1]

Just wondering - how many wins will it take for the Lovie-haters in this group to change their tune? Will he still be a poor recruiter and bad coach if we win 7 this year? What about 8? And the good Lord forbid, what if we finish the regular season at 9-3?

Apart from one or two posters here all I hear is hope for Lovie, not hate. Most seem to be appealing to realistic numbers on player evals and amount of kids signed. All of us, haters and lovie-ers know 2021 is HUUUUGE for where we are going. We have missed early and often on top talent. Simply put we need more and better for the wins to come in consistently. I've read often posters hoping for 6 and a bowl or 7 and a bowl. I don't read anyone talking 8 or 9. Doesn't sound like hate to me.

 

[Deleted member 746648]

Complete apples to oranges....Snyder was an unknown going into a school with zero football history, terrible facilities, no national brand name and next to nothing in terms of local recruiting. Not saying Lovie came into a great situation by any means, but he came in with strong name recognition to a school coming off 6 and 5 win seasons and a Rose Bowl appearance within the decade. UI is within a 2 hour drive of what, 15 million people? Face it, Lovie was in a great position to come in and effect a pretty quick turnaround and he squandered that opportunity. If he wins 7 or more this year he has earned some more time.

Also his first stint started in 1989.... The game now is completely different than it was then. K state only had to play 7 conferences games in a very top heavy conference. They also have much lower admissions standard. I'm not sure why we couldn't find a better comparison than this.

Let's not forget how much the west has improved since lovie took over. Our 2019 team probably would've finished second or third in the west in 2015 when cubit was around. no other division/conference has made anywhere near the strides that the west has made in 4 years

 

[oldschool51]

How about this last year we played in our first bowl game in a while so lets give Lovie a little credit, this coming year we have our most experienced team in the last 5-10 years if we go to another bowl game Lovie stays and is extended if we dont he is let go. While we all would like to build a program in the conventional way with high school players one size does not fit all, if it takes 5 transfers aand 10 Juco a year so be it