I dislike a bunch of Big10 coaches, but for me, and Iknow this guy isn't in coaching anymore. But I really dislike Pete Carroll, he always had a smug better than everyone else look on his face. Turns out he was just a cheater.
Bruce Pearl is definitely on the Mount Rushmore of hate.I don't think I ever have or ever will dislike any Big Ten coach more than Bruce Pearl. I know he's not in the Big Ten anymore, but there isn't a current Big Ten coach who I dislike more than Bruce Pearl.
And right next to Pearl is Kelvin Sampson…Bruce Pearl is definitely on the Mount Rushmore of hate.
The most wanted audio recording in the history of coaching interviewsAs Beckman said publicly at his introductory presser (not a smart thing to do of course), the plan was to bring Campbell with him, he was a core part of what they were hoping to build at Illinois. They didn't anticipate that Toledo would make him the youngest HC in Division 1 after two years as a coordinator. Toledo took a risk and it paid off.
Everybody, most of all Beckman himself, recognized what a talent Campbell was.
As it happened, Beckman compiled a very strong staff full of guys who have continued to have strong careers at major college programs and in the NFL. A good eye for assistants was always part of his sell.
But you could have given him 11 Nick Sabans as a staff and it wouldn't have made any difference at the end of the day. The problem was not that there was secretly "the good one" elsewhere on his Toledo staff, the problem was not that his record at Toledo wasn't good enough, nor that the defenses weren't good enough or the MAC wasn't good enough, it was never hiding in plain sight on the resume. The problem was that Beckman was and is a buffoon. His objectively strong resume and reputation in the business circa 2011 is just one of life's mysteries.
Mike Thomas' reputation among Illini fans is distorted through all sorts of Guentherite propaganda. But it's a fact that he sat in an interview with a moron and decided to stake his tenure and reputation on him. You don't survive decisions like that.
I can't even imagine what that interview sounded like. I mean I sort of can based on Beckman's truly awful and completely uninspiring pressers, yet at the same time I just see him making a lot of choo choo noises then taking a bunch of office supplies home with him after the interview while screaming I'm a winner. Then seeing Mike Thomas say, "Damn, he just walked out of here with $3.89 worth of post-its. If I don't hire him that's a negative return on investment and sunk cost."The most wanted audio recording in the history of coaching interviews
That's a great image of that whole ridiculous hire!I can't even imagine what that interview sounded like. I mean I sort of can based on Beckman's truly awful and completely uninspiring pressers, yet at the same time I just see him making a lot of choo choo noises then taking a bunch of office supplies home with him after the interview while screaming I'm a winner. Then seeing Mike Thomas say, "Damn, he just walked out of here with $3.89 worth of post-its. If I don't hire him that's a negative return on investment and sunk cost."