Question,why is lovie smith still coaching,he's robbing the Illini nation.
- Thread starter wasdo
- Start date
Well, he beat the guy you wanted and Minnesota is sinking fast while the Illini have shown improvement.
Inability to acknowledge that obvious fact makes the discussion pointless.
Bones, I don't remember recommeding Fleck. If I did, I offered him as an option based upon what he did at Western Michigan.
But you are correct, losing to Illinois does not look good for him.
I thought I saw a Fleck recommendation. My only thing is Beckman/Cubit had to go. Lovie was an attempt to make a splash. No one and I mean no one would be able to turn this program around in 3 years even prior to the Beckman/Cubit damage. Hell, I feel Bill Cubit intentionally tried to destroy the program. So no matter who the Illini get as a head coach they'd be bad right now. Firing Lovie now only makes it harder to get a top coach. Who wants to put their reputation on the line for this dumpster fire? Especially if the people in charge are dumb enough to think it's a 3 year turnaround job?
Yea he's a victim alright,just standing dumm founded on the sidelines making millions of dollars per year.
Well hopefully the next dummy in line won’t be making as much while they’re still losing.
Good point but I believe the biggest issue is lack of quality players ,he's recruiting a second tier element,you get what you pay for!
Minnesota is a dumpster fire and getting worse every week. Fleck likely won't make year 4 of his contracts. Top Fleck recruits already transferring out.
Minnesota, Illinois, and Indiana are all perennial disappointments. Coaching career stepping stones maybe but not career makers.
Jerry Kill won there. Tracy Clayes did well, (though displayed a complete lack of personal leadership and had to go.)
Fleck went in and tried to do a complete rebuild job on a perenniel, 8-5/9-4 program. Makes no sense. His scheme only works when his team has the most talent on the field which will never happen at Minnesota
Do you have an idea of the level that wisconsin, iowa, northwestern and michigan state have typically recruited at?
I am not sure Illini are neglecting in state, they just are not good at recruiting. Who would rather go to U of I rather than ND...and now Northwestern? The program really needs someone with gravitas, energy and not a coach who looks like he is about to fall asleep in between sentences.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/247spo...wants-a-Husker-win-on-Saturday-124338138/Amp/
Not the Lovie admin. But Illinois missed out on homegrown kid. They totally disrespected him by not offering and instead asked him to walk on.
Farmer is now taking it to the Illini today and will most likely being drafted next spring. Strongest kid in college football.
Not the Lovie admin. But Illinois missed out on homegrown kid. They totally disrespected him by not offering and instead asked him to walk on.
Farmer is now taking it to the Illini today and will most likely being drafted next spring. Strongest kid in college football.
Just wanted to put this out there now that the season is officially over for Highland. They missed out on Farmer five years ago and they very well might miss out on another chance on a Highland kid.
Sam Laporta is the most athletic kid to come through Highland. This includes Billy Greenwald from the ‘89 semi final team. He went on to play at Northwestern before an injury ended his career and held the state single season rushing touchdown record with 45 that was eventually broke in 2005. Also Jake Odorizzi who is currently a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins who was offered for both baseball and football to Louisville.
Sam Laporta finished his career with astounding numbers that puts him on the top ten of every major receiving statistic.
Reception Yards - 2nd all time with 3,885 yards
Reception Touchdowns - 3rd all time with 50
Receptions - Tied for 10th all time with 196
Sam has some amazing offers that include a lot of Ivy League schools and most notably, Yale. Not only is he a great athlete and smart, he is a great kid too. A kid to be looked up. He carries himself in a manner that is not normal for someone with his ability and accolades. He is humble and doesn’t go on to brag and throw numbers in faces. He isn’t loud or showy, but he has that it factor. Sam will make whatever college coach that gets him a very happy man.
Congratulations to Sam Laporta on a great high school football career and I can’t wait to watch the basketball season.
We really need Illinois to open their eyes on this kid before it is too late. Don’t miss out on this kid like you did Farmer!!
Sam Laporta is the most athletic kid to come through Highland. This includes Billy Greenwald from the ‘89 semi final team. He went on to play at Northwestern before an injury ended his career and held the state single season rushing touchdown record with 45 that was eventually broke in 2005. Also Jake Odorizzi who is currently a pitcher for the Minnesota Twins who was offered for both baseball and football to Louisville.
Sam Laporta finished his career with astounding numbers that puts him on the top ten of every major receiving statistic.
Reception Yards - 2nd all time with 3,885 yards
Reception Touchdowns - 3rd all time with 50
Receptions - Tied for 10th all time with 196
Sam has some amazing offers that include a lot of Ivy League schools and most notably, Yale. Not only is he a great athlete and smart, he is a great kid too. A kid to be looked up. He carries himself in a manner that is not normal for someone with his ability and accolades. He is humble and doesn’t go on to brag and throw numbers in faces. He isn’t loud or showy, but he has that it factor. Sam will make whatever college coach that gets him a very happy man.
Congratulations to Sam Laporta on a great high school football career and I can’t wait to watch the basketball season.
We really need Illinois to open their eyes on this kid before it is too late. Don’t miss out on this kid like you did Farmer!!
HHS,
I couldn’t agree with you more...the LaPorta kid is special and I said that before. I also said he doesn’t appear to have that 3rd gear. Not so sure I’m right now it could just be my perception. I’m guessing that the illini (coach stoker) asked him to walk on? They asked my son to do the same thing as he was being offered a Blue Shirt(check into this based on LaPorta’s academics) by Penn State. LaPorta will find his best fit and Yale as a back stop ain’t too shabby...after all education is plan A everything else is plan B!
I couldn’t agree with you more...the LaPorta kid is special and I said that before. I also said he doesn’t appear to have that 3rd gear. Not so sure I’m right now it could just be my perception. I’m guessing that the illini (coach stoker) asked him to walk on? They asked my son to do the same thing as he was being offered a Blue Shirt(check into this based on LaPorta’s academics) by Penn State. LaPorta will find his best fit and Yale as a back stop ain’t too shabby...after all education is plan A everything else is plan B!
I was very impressed with Laporta Saturday night. Clearly stood out on the field. It is nice to hear that he is a great kid as well.
I was impressed with him as well. I could see him growing into a hybrid TE-type, similar to Trey Burton on the Bears.
Gerry Faust got to a couple bowls and voted not to go after a 6-5 season, before people go there. At least you got a shot at a Duke/Stanford kind of roster plus whatever remaining south suburb connects he might have.
Iowa Sophomore defensive end A.J. Epenesa had a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, a touchdown, a sack and a blocked punt — all in a scintillating, second-quarter span of 2 minutes — as the Hawkeyes steamrolled Illinois 63-0.
His inability to recruit the state of Illinois correctly should get him fired.
Look at all the guys impacting college football at other schools from the state of IL
Look at all the guys impacting college football at other schools from the state of IL
You can’t have it both ways.
In one thread you say/imply Illinois is as good as any state, bemoaning people’s inflated opinions of out of state opponents.
Then here you imply there is not talent in the state. If that’s not what you meant, my apologies.
No, there's plenty talent in the state...........that doesn't want to go to UofI regardless of who is the coach. The program is abysmal and has been abysmal. Even the Zooker who was known as a recruiter was getting out of state talent.
I know the question is rhetorical, but my vote would be - No.
No,.........IL has not hit bottom yet.
To truly hit bottom - need an 0 -12 season to snuff out all hope from the fan base.
Then the rebuild can begin. They can schedule North Central or Mount Union as a non con game and slowly build the program back up.
I remember a decade or so ago my University of Washington Huskies going 0-12 for the first time in history. USC beat us 60ish to zero and it wasn’t even that close. they played every eligible player they had and started taking knees in the fourth quarter.
That,.... my friend,... is rock bottom
IL is a powerhouse with multiple wins compared to that UW team/program that hit bottom.
