You still have to get the best available coach, but i agree he would pull a Bill Self.

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Lovie is a great coach.

The jury is still out on whether he is a great college head coach.

I think he can be. I'm just not sure his heart is in it. If he sticks it out for next year, I think it could work. And it seems like he's staying.

I believe they started 16 Freshman this year. He's building his core on the Lovie system. Worked for the Bears.

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You know me like that.

Provided the AD has the University trust and commitment AS well as a will to ignore fan and donor pressure he can turn it around.

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Elections have consequences.

I think the U is all in on Lovie. I don't sense much fan pressure.

If he doesn't come back, it's because he doesn't want to. And he may not. But, I think he is or he would have announced already.

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You know me like that.

I was reading about Bunchie Young in SI Kids. This is the game-changer for Lovie will need in 2025.

https://www.sikids.com/si-kids/2017/11/ ... tskid-year

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Soccer 1,2,3
Spanish Honor Society 1,2,3,4
Forensics 1,2,3,4

"Smiles with Nostrils"

"...no Hmong, go find some blacks"

Lovie still going through OCs.

Illinois: Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee and defensive backs coach Paul Williams have been let go source tells FootballScoop.

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Lovie will be fired by 2020 and go away forever, the more responsibly the guy tajes on, the more losses pile up.

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Jay Glazer just said 13 or 14 coaches will be fired. Is Lovie going to find his way back into the NFL?

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Down 3 coaches including an OC. Now his 2 QBs just quit. Rough offseason.

Never a HC in NFL again, you think winning 4 games a year in the weak half of the big 10 improves resume?

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Lovie set to hire Rod Smith, former Co-OC/QB coach at AZ to be OC for Illinois.

Allegedly has a former starting AZ QB to bring with him.

Good. Illinois has 2, maybe three QB's coming in this class, but there is only 1 on the roster currently. And only 1 that will be at Spring practice.

Lovie not speaking at the high school coaches clinic held at U of I in April. He runs that clinic worse than Beckman.

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Landed a top 50 recruit. Turning point?

First Dr. Ken Jr. I and now this!!!

IT'S ALL COMING TOGETHER!!!

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You know me like that.

https://247sports.com/college/illinois/ ... -116021349

Illinois feels it has the opportunity to add a program-changing class of 2019 to its first two foundation classes under Lovie Smith. On Saturday, Illinois got off to a heck of a start with that effort.

Top-100 prospect Marquez Beason announced his commitment to Illinois, choosing the Illini over an impressive offer list that included fellow finalists Ohio State, LSU and Texas A&M.

"They're one piece away from winning, and I feel like I could be that piece," Beason told Illini Inquirer.

The Dallas (Texas) Bishop Dunne cornerback/wide receiver is the highest-ranked commitment of the Lovie Smith era. The No. 54 overall player in the class of 2019 according to the Composite Rankings, Beason would be the highest-rated prospect to sign with Illinois since Arrelious Benn (No. 12) and Martez Wilson (No. 15) signed with Ron Zook in 2007.

Relationships paid off for Illinois, who was in the race for Beason longer than anyone else and they’ve been pushing hard.

“The coaching staff, they showed me love since Day One," Beason said. "The players here are great. I just felt at home."

Wide receivers coach Andrew Hayes-Stoker developed a relationship with Beason over a year ago while he was recruiting his Bishop Dunne teammates Calvin Avery and Kievan Myers. Hayes-Stoker reeled in Avery and Myers, who headlined the Class of 2018.

"Coach Stoker has been recruiting me since Day One," Beason said. "He's done a great job. Coach Lovie Smith is a great leader, a great man. I love him to death. (Avery and Myers) played a big part, but it was my decision."

The entire Illini staff put their foot on the gas the last few weeks, including defensive coordinator Hardy Nickerson, cornerbacks coach Donnie Abraham and new safeties coach Gill Byrd.

“They have great NFL experience, great leadership and they're great teachers," Beason said.

Illinois began recruiting Beason as a wide receiver, but the 4-star prospect now wants to play defensive back.


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Both Abraham and Byrd know just a little bit about playing defensive back in the NFL. During Abraham’s nine-year career, he tallied 361 tackles and 38 interceptions. Byrd had a 10-year NFL career playing for the San Diego Chargers. He retired with 42 career interceptions. Both Byrd and Abraham were named to the Pro Bowl. Byrd is in the Chargers Hall of Fame.

What's Beason bring to Illinois?

"Versatility, swagger, the will to win and just a dominant player," he said.

Lovie Smith gradually has improved recruiting. On Saturday, Illini football recruiting took a Texas-sized step forward. B

Beason has been in contact with other top Illini targets, including St. Louis Trinity top-300 prospects Isaiah Williams and Shammond Cooper.

"Come here," Beason said. "It's the place to be."

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Sherman remarked, "Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Grant looked up. "Yes," he replied, followed by a puff. "Yes. Lick 'em tomorrow, though."

Lovie recruiting at a different level for this class. This could be big.

5* QB out of St. Louis today. More coming?

I'll believe it when I see it, how many wins this year for Smith?

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Still about 9 months before these kids can sign.

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Why do you want to hurt poor Dr. Ken? Especially when he's coming off his own recruiting win.

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There are only two examples of infinity: The universe and human stupidity and I'm not sure about the universe.

Launch this loser, down 17-3 at halftime to Kent State.

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Bennett Willams, freshman all-American last season, kicked off the team.

They have fired Lovie but why hire Uncle Remus from "Song of the South"?

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I'm going to bounce from the spot for awhile but I will be back at some point to argue with you about this hoops stuff again. Playoffs have been great this season. See ya up the road.

I'm out.

Rough start for the boys today.

And it is beginning to snow.

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You know me like that.

The got the shit kicked out of them.
I froze my ass off in wet snow for the first quarter. Watched the flag beater get the flag stuck in the uprights in the second quarter, the beating they took in the third quarter and the walk out of the stadium in the 4th.

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"Play until it hurts, then play until it hurts to not play."
http://soundcloud.com/darkside124 HOF 2013, MM Champion 2014

Hired his no talent son as the LB coach. Awful.

3 more personnel leaving the program. It takes Lovie 4 months to hire people - then he just hires his kids. What a joke.

I love it, this is what happens when you hire an arrogant dumbass.

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