believed that Illinois, with the right person in charge, could and should compete with the best of the Big Ten. Auburn also fired its coach today. There's going to be some competition for these jobs, especially Auburn.
This was on Chicago sports talk radio. He said that Lovie was totally disconnected from the community, alums, fanbase, and not that into recruiting. Not going to build a program that way. In fact, apparently, Lovie didn't even buy a house in Champaign. He rented a condo. Find a Midwesterner who understands Midwest recruiting, especially Illinois, and double especially Chicago. Make those high school contacts again. Stay away from the high profile guy from the south.
Illinois is among the 5 worst programs in the country
It will take at least 5 years to get back to respectability...which means consistent.500 within the Big 10. Given the state of the program and facilities (3rd class would be an overstatement) as well as the economic condition of state government (already in a deep hole and getting deeper since they aren't doing anything to fix it), there isn't going to be any $$ available to make it attractive to recruits. Illinois is a fine school but Champaign is a dump and perhaps the least redeeming place to play in the Big 10.
Chicago high school football (which should be Illinois' #1 market) isn't what it used to be and Iowa, Wisconsin, Notre Dame, Michigan and some of the Big 12 schools will pick it clean before Illinois even gets a sniff. Illinois is going to have to pick from the scrap heap or find a naive up-and-comer from the secondary market.
A decent coach has little chance of making Illinois "respectable." It was so bad last time Illinois hired a coach they tried to win the lotto by reaching into into the "has-been" pile, and hired a guy who couldn't even get a Coordinator job in the pros. That was almost as desperate as Kansas hiring Weis. By the way, has hiring Les Miles helped Kansas much?
The state of Illinois is a cesspool of corruption, the state finances are among the worst in the nation and universities across the state are looking at significant budget cuts. There is little appetite to put money into the football program and there aren't any sugar daddies around to pick up the tab for the $$ needed to put the program on any kind of level even with the 2nd tier programs in the Big Ten. It used to be effective at recruiting in the Chicago metro area but not only has the quality of football declined there but, in addition to being out-recruited in the area by several Big Ten schools and Big 12 schools (as well as ND), it is no coincidence that Northwestern now advertises itself at "Chicago's Big Ten School." I personally know 2 kids who chose Western Michigan over Illinois 5 years ago.
Let's see who Illinois ends up hiring and I bet it won't be someone who is a head coach at a Power 5 school or anyone who is on a top 10 list of up-and-coming coaches at lesser schools because everyone knows Illinois is a graveyard for coaches. Like all schools of this ilk, chances are they will hire someone who has already failed and is desperately looking re-build his reputation. I don't think they even have someone like Lea, a former alum who takes a job because of his connection to the school.
As I said, Illinois is one of the 5 worst programs in the country and has been for 10 years. You could never say that about the Wisconsin program.
