Lovie Smith getting all lovey
- Thread starter hawksauce
- Start date
I could be wrong but Epenesa sounds like a pretty solid Iowa commit. You can't blame Lovie for trying though -he needs to set a foundation with in-state recruits.. Nevertheless, if you're a teenager you don't want a grown man named Lovie stalking you.
Lovie just hired Louisville's offensive coordinator away from them. Garrick McGee was making $850,000 and was assistant head coach at Louisville, and Lovie just made him the highest paid assistant in the BT.
Last year, McGee turned down $1,000,000 offer from Stoops to be Oklahoma's offensive coordinator.
Of course, Lovie will try to get some kids to flip. Iowa does that all the time. Gone are the days when BT coaches would not recruit commitments to other BT schools.
Last year, McGee turned down $1,000,000 offer from Stoops to be Oklahoma's offensive coordinator.
Of course, Lovie will try to get some kids to flip. Iowa does that all the time. Gone are the days when BT coaches would not recruit commitments to other BT schools.
If only Lovie's last name was McGee. "Hey AJ my name is Lovie McGee and I think you'd look GREAT in orange and blue."
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I don't see AJ Epenesa flipping, but if he did I'd imagine it would be to Alabama, Ohio State, of one of the other national contenders that were pursuing him.
Just stop with this. AJ committed to Kirk and the Hawks. I think his family and him handled things very well, did the research they felt they needed to do, and he made his decision. He could've gone to Alabama or Ohio State when he chose to commit and he didn't. He's a Hawk. And he's gonna be a big part of the success we have going forward both in recruiting and on the field.
Stop with what? I said I don't see him flipping. I brought up Alabama and Ohio State in reference to his choices over Illinois if he were going to change his mind. Which again, I clearly said I don't see it happening. Why so sensitive? This is a thread about Lovie Smith, Illinois' new coach, and him following Epenesa and continuing to recruit the kid. I think my original post was clearly acceptable.
On AJ. I think the Iowa-Illini rivalry of old will be upon us in no time.
What Iowa has over Illinois is Iowa City is a much more fun place than Champaign, a rather flat dead town.
I don't think their new coaching staff can overcome that.
BirdistheWord
HB Legend
They really should have a better program given some of the geographic recruiting advantages - sounds like new AD is rolling out the checkbook, Lovie brings a big name, so no reason they should not be a top half of B1G team. Obviously is it easier said than done. I predict in 3 years they are in the BTCG.
Possibly or he could be Mike Sherman/Bill Calahan. Success and a name in the NFL does not guarantee college success.
BirdistheWord
HB Legend
Yeah thanks for pointing that out.
As i said, easier said than done. But he will be able to recruit even better athletes, especially on Defense. I hope I am wrong.
BirdistheWord
HB Legend
Its GOT to be better than the Zook-Beck-Cube snake oil from the past - what a disaster
Well the first piece of good news is AJ Epenesa is tweeting back and forth with Eno tonight, who is in Iowa City for his visit. AJ is a Hawk. Period. And we're damn lucky to have him.
Second, Lovie was a terrible NFL coach where it's not nearly as work oriented as the college game. He's going to have to recruit now, which he never did in the NFL. And I don't believe he's gonna find success in the college game. I give it 4 years and he's noble in the NFL as an assistant.
Right now, he's in the same category as Mike Riley but doesn't have near the resources or advantages Riley has. And they're both bottom half middle of the road coaches in the conference. Far behind Harbaugh, Meyer, Dantonio, Ferentz, Fitzgerald.
Second, Lovie was a terrible NFL coach where it's not nearly as work oriented as the college game. He's going to have to recruit now, which he never did in the NFL. And I don't believe he's gonna find success in the college game. I give it 4 years and he's noble in the NFL as an assistant.
Right now, he's in the same category as Mike Riley but doesn't have near the resources or advantages Riley has. And they're both bottom half middle of the road coaches in the conference. Far behind Harbaugh, Meyer, Dantonio, Ferentz, Fitzgerald.
I'll make a bet with you. I bet that Illinois will have more 4 star recruits then Iowa this year. Name your price ! Remember we're coming off one of the best season's in Iowa history and we have brand new football facilities. Some of you are in for a big surprise on how well Lovie will do recruiting Chicago.
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First off you're high. Second off, you're going with the stars argument? I said Big Ten championship game. Lovie is not as good football coach. Period.
I don't ever remember a real rivalry with Illinois football in the past (starting early 80's for me). Basketball yes, but not football
That is an easy bet to win. I don't know whether to laugh or feel sorry for you.
Lovie is over .500 in his NFL career, with a Super Bowl appearance and another NFC Title Game appearance.
Hardly "terrible", but idiots on the internet like to say stupid things.
Hardly "terrible", but idiots on the internet like to say stupid things.
Most people forget he was also the defensive coordinator for the Rams in '01 when they made the Super Bowl.
Am afraid I can remember, because I am old, when Illinois Iowa football rivalry was so bitter in the early fifties that the schools decided to quit playing each other for a long time.
Strange that the B1G would allow them to stop playing each other.
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We hear stories like this in sports history with some regularity. It gives me pause to think this notion of the PC pussification of America that gets so much attention is way over blown. Clearly men in the 1950's were far more sensitive and prone to overreacting than today.
Illinois athletics (and the university itself) has so many problems it's hard to know where to begin! Poor facilities, meager fan support, lousy tradition, shaky leadership. Wouldn't trade places with the Illini for anything!
Got it. Terrible, terrible, terrible across the board.
Then why does Illinois hold the historical series advantage over Iowa in football (38-31-2), basketball (83-71) and baseball (120-81-2)? You would think an awesome traditional powerhouse like Iowa should be DOMINATING a weak have-not like the poor ol' Illini, no?
I suppose I'll now grab the popcorn, kick up my feet and watch the wrestling posts come scrolling in.....
all4theillini
Just quoting the Chicago Tribune, to wit: "years of turmoil and disappointment" in referencing the football program. Not saying Lovie can't improve the program--it won't take much--and maybe eventually compete for a divisional title. However, the football program has pretty much been a train wreck for many years now. Few would argue that point. Won't be fixed overnight.
Just quoting the Chicago Tribune, to wit: "years of turmoil and disappointment" in referencing the football program. Not saying Lovie can't improve the program--it won't take much--and maybe eventually compete for a divisional title. However, the football program has pretty much been a train wreck for many years now. Few would argue that point. Won't be fixed overnight.
He currently is an analyst, and appeared on BTN regularly this year. Coached in NFL for a very long time. Head coach of the Bears at one time. Coached at Pitt, including a win over Iowa is '08. Was eventually fired. Defensive guy, and similar career to Lovie, but Lovie certainly had more success as a head coach.
I guess because they didn't play all those games in the last several years. I am pretty sure the poster was saying what the current status of your programs are. Nowhere did he say anything about Iowa being a power house or leading the series.
You need to clean the sand out of your vagina and stop being so over sensitive if you are going to come trolling over to opponents boards. It might make you happier. That's just my thoughts though.
Iowa fans can't use wrestling but you use baseball. I enjoyed Iowa's BB team last year but while improving B1G baseball isn't great.
Don't see AJ flipping but a lot of Illinois recruits might take notice of the coaching staff Lovie put together. Lets face it all kids want to go to the next level after college and Lovie's staff has the credentials.
Living close to bunch of Illinois fans wish Iowa had a better record against them, thank God that freshman RB fumbled the ball late in the 4th to seal the win and the BB team losing to them in the Big 10 tourney, a team with no seniors playing.
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