Lovie Smith to Illinois
I mean a fine coach and a good guy from everything I've heard but is this the hire to win over one of the most miserable/beaten down college fan bases (and rightfully so) in the country along with a student body who basically doesn't care for football at all?
Recruiting? Will a long time ex NFL coach (and I'll assume former NFL assistants soon to be hired at Illinois) really know/understand the non stop all year long recruiting cycle? It's a whole different world from the last time Lovie was an assistant at the college level...heck it's totally different from say 2-3 years ago.
Is this the guy to turn the tide, the guy to eventually go head to head with the Dantonio's the Harbaugh's and the Urban Meyers of the world on the field and more importantly go against them to recruit the same kids??
I know several Illinois fans are "fired up" and after the many years of trash fires I get it but......I just don't get it.
Feel free to enlighten me and I'm totally willing/happy to listen.
I mean a fine coach and a good guy from everything I've heard but is this the hire to win over one of the most miserable/beaten down college fan bases (and rightfully so) in the country along with a student body who basically doesn't care for football at all?
Recruiting? Will a long time ex NFL coach (and I'll assume former NFL assistants soon to be hired at Illinois) really know/understand the non stop all year long recruiting cycle? It's a whole different world from the last time Lovie was an assistant at the college level...heck it's totally different from say 2-3 years ago.
Is this the guy to turn the tide, the guy to eventually go head to head with the Dantonio's the Harbaugh's and the Urban Meyers of the world on the field and more importantly go against them to recruit the same kids??
I know several Illinois fans are "fired up" and after the many years of trash fires I get it but......I just don't get it.
Feel free to enlighten me and I'm totally willing/happy to listen.
