His network has to be about as large as anyone's in football. That alone should be huge. I don't know about this season because we're late in the game, but I do expect some big name assistants.

 

At least he isn't poaching guys during recruiting season. But, still will be weird, such a strange time to be in the hiring mode. I wonder what his assistant budget is.

Bill Cubit got like an $800,000 raise to be interim coach and just got close to a million dollar buyout to not coach at Illinois next year when he never should have gotten the job in the first place. Anyone feeling sorry for him is nuts. He just made like $1.8 million by simply being in the right place at the right time.

He's also probably going to find a job pretty quickly since he's a good assistant.

What I like most is that we finally have an AD that gives a s*** about football. It's been a long, long time. Like late 80's long. I think Illinois football is like 60-160 in that time span. Pathetic.

Whitman should hire Tom Thibodeau next.

Spiegel, Fornelli and Boyle are picking apart Kaplan. He very obviously has a dislike for Lovie and is masking it with "IS THIS ETHICAL?!?!?"

I am enjoying Kaplan get all bent out of shape. Who is he kidding?

What I like most is that we finally have an AD that gives a s*** about football. It's been a long, long time. Like late 80's long. I think Illinois football is like 60-160 in that time span. Pathetic.

WGN was hilarious, Pat said "this is the first big name hire for Illinois in football since, well since....I dont know"

Wow...this is a great hire for the Illinois.

Whitman should hire Tom Thibodeau next.

 

LMAO, I'd go nuts.

Whitman should hire Tom Thibodeau next.

My brother is a U of I alum and I jokingly mentioned this to him. Thibs obviously is all about the NBA, but if they wait a year or 2, Hoiberg may be available.

I wonder if Jon Hoke would be a name to look for.

I wonder if Jon Hoke would be a name to look for.

 

I'm really interested to see Lovie's staff. Mike Phair being retained and sounds like he will remain defensive coordinator which I'm fine with because he did a good job last year. He also was defensive line coach for the Bears with Lovie and worked for Lovie in Tampa as well so there is familiarity there already.

What a great hire for Illinois

So Whitman said Lovie's available funds for assistants will be competitive with the top of the Big 10 and I've heard $4 million rumored.

So Whitman said Lovie's available funds for assistants will be competitive with the top of the Big 10 and I've heard $4 million rumored.

 

Such a surreal moment for Illinois football. Such a great hire.

So Whitman said Lovie's available funds for assistants will be competitive with the top of the Big 10 and I've heard $4 million rumored.

He's "only" getting 2 million for now thanks to the Bucs still paying him 10 million over the next two years. So yeah they should have a lot of money to give out. And of course donors are going to should tart giving more now that there's finally after some stability.

Lovie just said he wants to finish his career in Champaign, and will not be entertaining NFL job offers. Could be just hot air, but Lovie has always been an honest guy

A+ press conference.

 

Gotta say, I'm super pumped. I feel like I did the day we got Cutler, Peavy....oh wait. Hope this one works out!!

Man, what a change in mood over 2 days - absolutely ecstatic. It might not work out, but at least we're trying something bold.

Man, what a change in mood over 2 days - absolutely ecstatic. It might not work out, but at least we're trying something bold.

This AD is either gonna be immortal or crucified. No in between.

This AD is either gonna be immortal or crucified. No in between.

 

A risk Illinois definitely needed to take either way.

A risk Illinois definitely needed to take either way.

We're already at our lowest point maybe ever, let's swing big.

We're already at our lowest point maybe ever, let's swing big.

 

Couldn't agree more.

A risk Illinois definitely needed to take either way.

 

I don't even think it is a risk given who he is replacing.

1000+ season tickets sold today alone and donations have been streaming into Ifund apparently.

 

This is what fans mean when they say they'll invest in a team when the administration does first.

$4 million for assistants is only behind Michigan and OSU for assistants in the Big 10 and not far behind those two. Wow.