A UI AD Who Understands the Importance of Chicago

We haven't had one of those since our hero Neale Stoner!

New Faces at DIA!!!

The Mike Thomas Era is off and running. It is good to see some new faces in the marketing area. Hopefully this means some marketing efforts in Chicago.

Bad news: Tommy Michael is now in football administration. I like Tommy personally, but we need new blood in that area.

"Goodbye, Farewell, Amen"

Yes, it is time to say goodbye to the Fire Ron Guenther blog. When we started this blog back in 2006, it was a way to express our extreme anger at Ron Guenther and his complete mismanagement of the DIA. Our goal was nothing less than ousting him from office.

We thought that he had finally resigned in 2007, only for him to do a U-turn and continue doing stupid things like scheduling football games vs. MAC teams in Detroit. Finally, in 2010, a man came from the East to rescue us from our long Illini Nation nightmare. His name: Dr. Michael Hogan, the new President of the University of Illinois. He immediately saw the underachieving of the DIA under Lord Guenther, and decided that it was time for His Excellency to leave.

Lord Guenther's ego has done a trememndous disservice to the DIA and consequently, the University. Just think how much bigger the UI's endowment would be with consistenly good football and men's basketball programs. Hopefully, that day is soon.

Rather than rehash the myriad failures of Lord Guentehr, let us look forward to a new beginning under Mike Thomas. And above all else, stay away from Hudson, Ohio!!!! OSKEE WOW WOW!!

And yes, we are keeping tabs on Mike Thomas on the FIre Mike Thomas blog!

Mike Thomas Speaks

Sounds like he has a plan, unlike his predecessor.

AD HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE???

AD-elect Mike Thomas is holding a press conference in St. Louis today!!!!

How many times did Lord Guenther talk to the press in his 19 year reign of error?

Illinois=Golf School!

Hey congratulations to former Fighting Illini golfers DA Points, Steve Stricker and Mike Small (also men's golf coach) on their strong showing at the PGA Championship!

Maybe Ron Guenther should call himself a golf guy and not a football guy.

Chicago Sportswriter Says What ECI Dopes Refuse to Admit

I hate to agree with David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, because I think 99% of his columns suck. However, he is spot on today. Mainly, Haugh mentions the pathetic lack of advertising & marketing by the DIA in Chicago. Correcting this should be one of the top priorities for Mike Thomas. And for those of you who asked, yes, there will be a Fire Mike Thomas blog that will be operational once he is officially in office!

Analyzing The Hire of Mike Thomas

1) He hired Brian Kelly, who built Cincinnati into a BCS bowl team. Enough said.

2) He hired Mick Cronin, who walked into a bad situation post-Bob Huggins.

3) He is getting paid $475,000 which is less than Lord Guenther, so that is a win!

4) He tripled the donor base at Cincinnati, no small feat in a pro sports town.

5) We love this quote: "I think we need to be the king of the state. I think we need to be the king of Chicago." This is a direct slap at Lord Guenther, who never marketed Chicago.

6) Let's laugh at Loren Tate, whose list of things for Thomas to do consists of all the failures of his pal, Lord Guenther.

7) He is not from a white trash town like Hudson, Ohio.

MEET THE NEW AD: MIKE THOMAS FROM CINCINNATI

Welcome, Mike Thomas, to the 217!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This guy did hire Brian Kelly at Cincinnati, that was a great hire. He also hired Mick Cronin, who has been mediocre for Cincinnati basketball.

this interview is sort of interesting. Sounds like he tried, and failed, to upgrade UC facilities. Can't be an easy thing in a bad economy in a pro sports town.

In any event, he has a big task ahead of him in the ECI.

Tate Thinks AD Search Is Nearly Over

Loren Tate thinks that the AD search is just about over. He mentions a few names, which we will now analyze:

1) Brad Bates-Miami of Ohio. Played football at Michigan under Bo Schembechler, so he is a real "Football Guy" unlike Lord Guenther. Miami of Ohio has been pretty solid in football lately.
The non-revenue sports have been strong under his watch. However, most of his experience before Miami of Ohio was as an associate AD at Vanderbilt, not exactly a sports powerhouse. Also, as a MAC guy, will he continue to play football games at MAC schools like Lord Guenther?

2) Mike Bobinski-Xavier. He has hired solid basketball coaches at Xavier, including Craig Mack (he should be on short list to replace Bruce All Mid Major), Thad Matta and Sean Miller. Impressive graduation rate for student-athletes. Also served as AD at Akron and as associate AD at Notre Dame. However, Xavier doesn't have a football program and he's been at Xavier for 11 years. How would he run the football program at a BCS school?

3) Mike Thomas-Cincinnati. Hired Brian Kelly who did a phenomenal job with Bearcats football. However, Cincinnati basketball has underachieved lately. Although academic performance has improved under his watch, it's still not great.

As we've said before, we would support Craig Tiley or Rick George. Both have UI ties and have nothing to do with the stench left behind by Lord Guenther's Reign of Error.

The Great Jereme Richmond

Is anyone actually surprised that former McDonald's All-American Jereme Richmond, once anointed as the savior of Illiin hoops, is in jail? We are not. The kid was in trouble back in high school, switched schools, got suspended from the team.

But Bubble Bruce, so desperate for good recruiting news, signed him up. And wow, Jereme did so much during his brief stay in Champaign....how did that work out for you, Brucie?

New Chancellor for UIUC Named; How Soon for a New AD?

She is Phyllis Wise, from the University of Washington. Here is an intriguing fact: she sits on the Board of Directors for Nike. Illinois is a Nike school, so hopefully she cares about having a winning sports program. In the meantime, we suggest that she ignore all phone calls and letters from Hudson, Ohio.

Thus, we assume a new AD will be named shortly. We can't wait!!!!

Are You Optimistic for Football in 2011?

Reasons to be Optimistic:

1) 8 home games! First 5 games are at home!

2) Returning quarterback

3) the Coordinators are still here

4) Lord Guenther is gawn

Reasons to be Pessimisstic:

1) Ron Zook is still our coach

2) The stench fo 19 years of Guenther ruining the program

3) This program has not gone to bowl games in consecutive seasons since 1991 & 1992.

We hear a new Chancellor will be hired this week...which means a new AD to be hired soon!

A Look Back at the 1988 AD Search

When Neale Stoner left, UI needed a new AD. UI hired John Mackovic, who was already the football coach. More interesting is that Ron Guenther was a candidate back then and his petulance and ego were on full display!! "Guenther, who has indicated he would leave the university if he didn't get the job...."

Well, he didn't and he left. Alas, he came back and the results speak for themselves...

More Excuses from Loren Tate, GOOD BYE CHRIS HANNA

As usual, Loren Tate whines about why Illinois football sucked under his pal, "Football Guy" St. Guenther. More funny and sad are the excuses from outgoing (GOOD RIDDANCE) DIA Marketing "Guru" Chris Hanna.

1) Advertising in Chicago is too expensive. This is like a business cutting back on research and development for short-term revenues. Why would you refuse to invest in the state's biggest market, the one market that could produce the greatest long-term gains?

2) Going cheap on advertising will, in the absence of consistent winning, always cause smaller revenues.

3) Hey Chris, great job with that Western Michigan series!

Bottom line: Tate knows why football has sucked but can't say it out of loyalty to RG.

AD Search Rolls On

Here is the list. Of that list, give us Rick George. A football guy with marketing experience, used to be in college athletic administration. Plus he is not stained with the stench of the Guenther regime.

DIA Gets Paid, Still Using Student Fees

We've previously asked why the DIA must plunder from UI student fees each year to balance its budget. This is disturbing because it made Lord Guenther look like a fiscal genius and the students should not be forced to prop up the DIA.

This is even more shameful in light of the news that Illinois just got PAID: A record $22,600,000 from the Big 10 conference, with $7,900,000 of that coming from the Big Ten Network.

So again, we ask: WHY DOES THE DIA NEED TO PLUNDER STUDENT FEES TO BALANCE ITS BUDGET?

Meantime, is there still a Party in the Park in Chicago to raise money for the DIA? Does the DIA do any advertising at all? Hey DIA, how are football ticket sales going?

Saint Guenther Gets a New Job!

He's a consultant to the Big 10! What can he teach the Big 10? How to ruin a football program?

Is Lord Guenther Truly "Loyal to You, Illinois"?

We trust St. Guenther is not denigrating the AD job at Illinois to prospective candidates. What say you, Ron? Hey Ron, are you saying nasty things about President Hogan to people?

88-131-2!!!!!!!!!!1

Congratulations to Lord Guenther! Ohio State is vacating its wins from the 2011 season, so Illinois didn't lose last year!!! Your dismal football record just improved!!!

Marketing "Guru" Chris Hanna=GAWN

More Good News! Hey Chris! Great job with marketing Chicagoland, NOT! Also, you got us stuck with that asinine football series with Western Michigan! Chris, YOU IDIOT!! Hey, can you bring back that dope Jeremy Piven to host Midnight Madness again?

Also, another Fighting Illini player arrested! Better yet, now Ron Zook says he didn't know that the player in question had been arrested for drugs prior to getting a scholarship! Great job Ron! Hey Coach Guenther! Ron Zook is another home run hire!!!!!

FIGHTING ILLINI ATHLETICS=LIBERATED!!!!!!!!

July 1, 2011 shall be forever remembered by Illini Nation. A day when students and alumni held hands, singing "Illinois Loyalty" as they walked arm-in-arm down Green Street! After 19 years of oppressive rule (and gross incompetence) by the dictatorial rule of Lord Guenther, Illini Nation now has the greatest of all things: HOPE!!!!

Today, the sun shines a little brighter! Illini Nation, we look forward to the temporary rule of Terry Cole as interim athletic director! But fear not, an outsider will soon be named to lead Illini Nation to greatness! Or at least the common sense to not play games at MAC schools.

Just as Parisians thanked the US Army as it walked down the Champs-Elysees, we thank you, President Michael Hogan, for kicking Lord Guenther to the curb!

We Are On The Dawn

of the Terry Cole era as interim Athletic Director at Illinois! Of coure, he is retiring on August 15 so we expect a new AD to be named before that date.

Lord Guenther Sends Goodbye Letter

The DIA wasted money on postage for Lord Guenther's farewell letter to DIA donors. In it, he alludes to changes in the administration and that fans need to support the teams.

Hey Ron and the DIA, you could have saved a lot of money by posting that letter on FightingIllini.com!!! Better yet, if you wanted to mail a letter to donors, how about an apology letter for ruining the football program, giving away home games to play in Detroit, extending Lou Tepper's contract, extending Jolette Law's contract, shamelessly booting Lou Henson, not firing Ron Turner after the 1-11 season in 2003, not firing Bruce Weber after losing to Tennessee State in Assembly Hall and/or after losing to an awful UIC team this year, giving convicted felon Jamar Smith a second chance and then blowing it, or above all, calling Warren Carter an "idiot" while seated on press row!

Friday can't get here fast enough!

Chicago Sportswriter Questions Weber's Capabilities

Amazing that a sportswriter north of Interstate 80 has the guts to question our mid-major men's basketball coach...the one that Lord Guenther hired because he knew that Mr. Mid-Major would never leave UI for another program.

Our Exit Interview Questions for Saint Guenther

1) For a self-proclaimed "Football Guy," why has football sucked under your watch?

2) Why did it take you until 2011 to finally schedule more than 6 home football game?

3) What does the Western Michigan AD have on you?

4) Why did you extend the contract of Jolette Law?

5) Do you think you are overpaid at your salary of $600,000 given the DIA's performance?

6) Do you still think Bruce Weber was a great hire?

7) Do you think it's ok to call a student-athlete an "idiot" while sitting on press row?

8) Why did you give convicted felon Jamar Smith a second chance, which he screwed up?

9) Is your next career move taking you to Hudson, Ohio?

10) Why did you refuse to market Chicagoland? Still mad at WSCR?

11) What will Loren Tate do without you?

Hey Loren! Please Stop Kissing the Papal Ring of St. Guenther

In the June 13th News-Gazette, old gasbag Loren Tate defended His Excellency to the bitter end. We are late with this entry as we were selling Bibles door-to-door in Hudson, Ohio!

1) St. Guenther talks about his golf game. No mention of 88-132-2!

2) "Hiring Coaches is a tiny part of the job." Um, Loren, if you hire good coaches, you have good teams, money flows in....not hard to understand!

3) "Assuming a 60 hour work week" come on Loren! Your old, tired "you can't keep up with his schedule" argument is a joke!

4) Loren lets Ronnie brag about compliance...no mention of the NCAA major violation with Marcus Mason? BOGGLE

Thank You President Hogan!

He hasn't spoken to Lord Guenther since His Excellency decided to retire! Keep it that way! Don't let that loser have any say in choosing his successor!

Good News: Search Firm Hired, So NO ROLE for Lord Guenther

Great news is that a search firm was hired to "assist" the committee in choosing the successor to Lord Guenther. Remember, the spin from Guenther apologists was that Lord Guenther would have a say in who would succeed him. FAIL!!!

People who think St. Guenther was "loyal" to Illinois are fools. If he truly cared, he would have had a succession plan in place. Instead, it was all about Ron. Why else would the media spin be that he "turned down" a 2 year contract extension?

The Shame of the DIA: Taking Student Fees to Balance Budget

Lord Guenther always gets high praise from the East Central Illinois Media Elite for balancing the DIA budget. What those turds won't tell you is that St. Guenther does so on the backs of the students and moreover, their wallets.

This fascinating article talks about how much money athletic departments take from student fees each year. Pay attention to the Big 10. Our beloved alma mater is far and away the biggest plunderer of student fees! $2,961,577.00 which is nearly 4% of all revenue!

What is sad is that most of the other athletic departments in the Big 10 do not even touch student fees! Why is that? Is it because they have better athletic programs?

The DIA is stealing from UI students! In this day of serious economic woe, this money should be kept by the students to pay rising tuition fees, not the DIA budget and the $600,000 annual salary of Ron Guenther, the $1,500,000 ridiculous salary of Bruce Mid-Major....etc.

Is Experience as an Athletic Director Really Necessary?

Face it, the DIA is a business. The CEO of any business must be a leader. He or she must know how to get the most out of a dollar. The CEO must be able to sell (i.e. marketing) the product. The CEO must be able to find talented people as subordinates, and give them the necessary tools to succeed. If they fail, the CEO must take immediate steps to find someone who will succeed.

The committee said it wants someone with senior athletic administrator experience. However, Michigan hired the guy who was CEO of Domino's Pizza as its new athletic director. If there is one thing the DIA needs, it is new ideas.

As an aside, Coach Guenther wants Tommy Michael to succeed him. No thanks.

Search Committe Named: FAIL

Why the heck would you name two associate ADs to the committee? Aren't they part of the current problem at the DIA?

Steve Greene-yeah Chicago marketing has really done well under his watch! LOL!!!!

Sue Novitsky-women's swimming has been awful under her watch.

Larry DeBrock-dean of the business college, has studied sports and its impact on economy

Cleo D'Arcy-plant professor who served on athletic board

Bob Falato-alumnus, served on athletic board

Jim Heffernan-wrestling coach

Vince Ille-Associate AD

Susan Young-Associate AD

Matt Wheeler-faculty rep to DIA, Animal Sciences prof

Chris Span-Assoc. Prof of Education

SAVE US PRESIDENT HOGAN!

Some Recommendations for the Committee

If there is one thing we've learned over our many years since leaving the University of Illinois, it is this: If you want a good idea to die, send it to a commitee for review! This applies to the workplace and politics. Anyhow...

The committee that will recommend a new athletic director to President Hogan is made up of several UI professors and alumni (no one asked us! LOL!!!!) The head of the committe is Larry DeBrock, the Dean of the Business college and a long-time Econonics professor. We never took his class, although some of our friends did and they didn't like their grades for ECON 102!!! He is a big sports fan and has done research on the correlation between athletics and money, so there is a glimmer of hope.

Here are some questions that the committee should ask prospective candidates:

1) The university and state is in a fiscal meltdown. How do you propose to raise money in the current dismal economic climate?

2) Will you schedule at least seven home football games a year to ensure a decent revenue stream and to give the football program a chance to make bowl games?

3) Will you cancel the game scheduled at Western Michigan for 2016?

4) Do you think it is acceptable for the Illinois men's basketball program to miss the NCAA tournanment two out of four seasons?

5) Would you move the women's basketball team's games to Huff?

6) Will you please not answer any questions from Loren Tate?

7) What is your vision for marketing the Fighting Illini brand? How do you propose to advertise in Chicago, the state's biggest market?

8) Will you put the Fighting Illini on a strong-signalled radio station in Chicago?

Dear New AD: PLEASE CLEAN HOUSE IN MARKETING

WTF is this lame advertisement? A better idea: a picture of Mikel Leshoure scoring again on Northwesten, put the final score in the background with the title: Fighting Illini football=The Big 10 team for all of Illinois!

Arrogant To The End: Good Riddance!

Unsurprisngly, Lord Guenther proves his arrogance to the Illini Nation with this quote: "The fan base doesn't see all of it...it's hard to win basketball games and football games at the leve that the fan base wants day in and day out."

Translation: I made some crappy hires, but it's the fault of the coaches. It's not my fault for giving away home games!

And why the hell is Herb Gould sticking his nose in Lord Guenther's rear end? Hey Herb! Are you looking for a job with the East Cental Illinois Media Elite Zealots?

GUENTHER OUT AS OF JULY 1, 2011!!!! VICTORY OVER RON GUENTHER DAY!!

Yes my friends, today is truly a Happy Monday! Lord Guenther, he of 88-132-2, 6 bowl games in 19 years, a major NCAA violation, calling Warren Carter an "idiot" while seated on press row, eliminating the men's swimming program, and getting paid $600,000 per year is GAWN!!!!

Honestly, it's a feeling of shock and happiness! What does the future hold? We don't know, but hopefully the next AD has a clue about marketing, winning, etc.

We will offer suggestions in the coming days, but for now, excuse us while we puff puff pass and drink some microbrews in celebration!!

P.S. Can someone send a whambulance to Hudson, Ohio?

What if Lord Guenther Had Retired in 1997?

This article from 1997 is hilarious! Ron Guenther talks about the short shelf life for ADs...yet he is still on the job, 19 years in total! He predicted Ron Turner would win!!

How much better would the DIA be today if Guenther had retired in 1997? One can dream...

Ron Guenther No Longer Riding in the Illini Caravan

Per Mark Tupper, Ron Guenther cancelled his remaining scheduled appearances on the Fighting Illini caravan, allegedly because too many people were asking him about his future.

Perhaps he got tired of being asked about the significance of 88-132-2?

THE END IS NEAR!! Even Loren Tate Admits It!

There is a glimmer of hope in the South Farms! When Loren Tate, aka Guenther's big apologist, says the end is near, it's near!!!! However, several questions remain:

1) Will Ronnie even be around after June 30th, or will President Hogan do the right thing and merely let St. Guenther's contract expire?

2) If Hogan decides to keep Ron around for a few months until a new Chancellor is in place, will Ron do any coaching searches, or just keep naming interim coaches?

3) Will Ron, in his last days in office, schedule any more football games at MAC schools?

Is Assembly Hall Renovation a Pipe Dream?

Loren Tate asks what few in the 217 will dare ask: Is renovation of Assembly Hall actually begin in 2013? Unlike the Memorial Stadium renovation, the DIA is going to hire a construction manager, who in turn will hire an architect, who will then need to design a plan, and then....try to raise money in this economy!

UI Student Calls Out Lousy Marketing by DIA

We've been saying for years that the DIA sucks at marketing. The DIA refuses to market Fighting Illini sports anywhere outside of Champaign County. The DIA ignores Chicago, the state's biggest city and one of the biggest cities in America, allowing Northwestern to call itself "Chicago's Big 10 Team." Meantime, UI sports is on a radio station in Chicago whose signal fades out once you are outside the city limits.

Anyhow, a UI student calls out the DIA in the Daily Illini and we applaud this young man for calling out the DIA in a public forum! Some of his good points:

1) Lack of advertising about the spring football game
2) Failing to fill Huff Hall for Midnight Madness, even at a smaller location than Assembly Hall.
3) No giveaways for tickets.

An Idea for Saturday's Spring Football Game

Why not allow the first few hundred fans to sit in the suites? It'd be a great advertisement for the suites and Fighting Illini football and you might get a few sales out of it.

Of course, this type of "outside the box" thinking cannot be tolerated by Lord Guenther's DIA!!!

And why are fans only being allowed to sit in the East stands? Is Lord Guenther afraid of the peasants dirtying the West stands?

Baseball Team is 12-19

and according to Loren Tate, "going nowhere." Wow, if ECIMEZ Loren Tate is criticizing a Fighting Illini sports program, Coach Guenther better do something about it! The team is so bad, it has lost to Easten Illinois, Southern Illinois and....BENEDICTINE. BOGGLE!

Seats Being Removed from Horseshoe in Memorial Stadium

Other than a boys reformatory school in Hudson, Ohio, how many sports teams renovate their stadium and then reduce capacity?

GUENTHER'S FOLLY CONTINUES! KALAMAZOO BABY!

Sadly, this is not an April Fools' Joke. Lord Guenther has scheduled Illinois football to play AT Western Michigan in 2016!!!!

1) Why the hell should any Big 10 team play a road game at a MAC school?

2) Did Lord Guenther learn anything from the first Guenther's Folly at Ford Field in 2008?

3) So Illinois football is playing 3 games vs. Western Michigan (Detroit 2008, Champaign 2011 and Kalamazoo 2016) and only 1 is at home?

4) Oh, did I mention that as part of the deal, Illinois hoops had to play AT Western Michigan last season? BOGGLE

5) Hey UI marketing "guru" Chris Hanna: As a WMU alum, did you play any role in this?

6) Do we get to use Big 10 officials instead of MAC officials this time?

7) Illinois is to get paid $400K for the game. UI is paying WMU $400K to play in Champaign next year. But when you include inflation, UI is LOSING MONEY on the deal! RON YOU IDIOT!

A Comparison in How to Market Your Teams in Chicago

This is an interesting article about how Northwestern has tried to market its sports teams in Chicago. The whole "Chicago's Big 10 team" slogan, while annoying, has helped raise its profile. Meantime, the University of East Central Illinois does little, if any, advertising in Chicago. The teams are on a weak-signal radio station in Chicago. UI continues to refuse to advertise itself in the state's biggest market. And UI is supposed to be the state's flagship school when it won't even advertise in Chicago? On the bright side, Lord Guenther is taking down the temporary bleachers that are in the horseshoe in Memorial Stadium!

Illinois Baseball=GRAB SOME BENCH

Illinois baseball lost today to a 9-16 NAIA team. Other than the dope from Hudson, Ohio does anyone think this is evidence of a solid program?

Texas A&M Has Won 6 NCAA Titles in the past 2 Years

with last night's women's basketball victory. Hey Kelly Bond is an assistant coach for the Aggies! She played at Illinois but Lord Guenther didn't hire her to replace Czarina Theresa Grentz! Jolette Law really earning that $310,000 annual salary! Heck I wish Illinois could win 6 Big 10 titles in the past 2 years!

Jereme Richmond Declares for NBA Draft: CBI Next Season!

Man oh man, does UI have any decent big men left? Coach em up, Bubble Bruce!

Bruce Weber Cancels Appearance on WMVP Sports Radio

Bubbles was supposed to be on WMVP radio in Chicago today....Bubbles cancelled. Perhaps he realized Chicago is north of I-80 and that he would be grilled unlike the softballs he gets from the dopes at WDWS radio in Champaign? Bruce, take the Miami job....PLEASE!

Coach Guenther=HYPOCRITE

Lord Guenther always crows about coaches being "loyal" to Illinois. He doesn't like it when his coaches flirt with other jobs. Remember the rumors about Self leaving for Arkansas? Or how Coach Guenther yelled at women's soccer coach Tricia Taliaferro when she left for Miami? Now we are hearing rumors about Bubble Bruce and the Oklahoma job. Shouldn't His Excellency find out if Bubbles is interested, and, if so, fire him? Oh no, he won't do that!

Football Guy Sets A Low Bar For Football Success

Is it any wonder football has sucked under the reign of error of the Football Guy? Remember, Illinois has NEVER gone bowling in consecutive seasons under his "leadership." Then again, with comments like these, is it any wonder?

"Athletic Director Ron Guenther told reporters last month the bowl win did indeed make a big difference but he expects the Illini to head to another bowl this year. Guenther acknowledged that could be tough to pull at Illinois, noting that no one's done it since John Mackovic was head coach from 1988 to 1991. "

Um, WHAT????? First, note that it's been done before, you know, BEFORE YOU WERE THE AD, COACH GUENTHER! And it hasn't been done SINCE you became AD! Second, way to cover your dismal record Ronnie! 88-132-2! 6 bowl games in 19 seasons and no back to back bowl games! Finally, considering how many bowl games exist, it is a total indictment of your lousy leadership that in 19 years, it's never been done!

Maybe your record would be cause for celebration in Hudson, Ohio! But for the rest of us, NO!

President Hogan on Coach Guenther

Wow, when your boss gives you, a lukewarm endorsement, it's time to call the moving vans!

Guenther's Plan to Renovate Assembly Hall=DEAD??

Coach Guenther's awesome (cough cough) plan to renovate Assembly Hall was supposed to be presented to the Board of Trustees today. Instead, it is no longer on the agenda. Could it be that Coach Guenther knows that his time is up that he has decided to let the next AD handle this project? Let it be true!!!!!

Hey Coach Guenther! Open Your Wallet!

We always hear about how Lord Guenther is a fiscal genius for keeping Illinois in the black. As previously discussed, that ain't hard when you have revenue from the Big 10 network and you annually gouge the students by taking fees.

This article in Forbes shows what a joke the DIA is under Lord Guenther. Illinois is dead last in money spent on its football program! We're even behind powerhouses Indiana and Purdue! No wonder Illinois is 88-132-2 under Coach Guenther, with 6 bowl games in 19 seasons!!!

THIS SEASON IS OVAH

It's bad enough losing to our former coach, Bill Self, in a game that despite playing like garbage, the lead was cut to 2 points twice in the second half. But Bubble Bruce then, after the game, blames the seniors who have played their last college game.

I'll wait for the dope from Hudson, Ohio or the pseudo-lawyer from Atlanta to defend this turd. He runs an offense not suited for the players he recruited. FIRE HIM NOW AND RON GUENTHER!

WHY WAS SAINT GUENTHER SEATED ON PRESS ROW??

Lost in all the hoopla over the Illini's first NCAA tournament win since 2006 (yes, it has been that long, thanks Coach Guenther and Bubble Bruce!) is that viewers got to see several camera shots of Lord Guenther seated on press row! Did he call anyone an idiot?

More importantly, will he talk to Bill Self on Sunday?

Is The End Near For Saint Guenther?

Rumors flying on various internet sites that Coach Guenther's Reign of Error is about to end. Remember, his contract expires June 30th. Oh please, send this loser into retirement!

Irony of NCAA Tournament

Awesome job, NCAA tournament selection committee! Former UI coach Lon Kruger gets to beat up Bubble Bruce! And if somehow Bruce All Mid Major pulls the upset, former UI coach Bill Self gets to abuse him in the next round!

So Bruce gets to be schooled by former UI coaches...Coach Guenther can't be happy!

Where Are The Bruce Weber Fans Now?

Folks, that was a choke job typical of the Bubble Bruce era! Up by 12 points with eight minutes left, that hack Brian Barnhart declares that Michigan is on the ropes. Illinois scores four points over the remaining eight minutes to lose the game!

It's bad enough Bruce All Mid-Major plays not to lose all the time. This game, against a smaller team, the Illini kept shooting threes instead of trying to work the ball inside.

This team doesn't deserve a NCAA bid. Heck, it doesn't deserve an NIT bid!

FIRE BRUCE WEBER AND THE DOPE WHO HIRED HIM, RON GUENTHER!

Coach Guenther is on Twitter!

Props to whoever is doing this! Maybe it really is Coach Guenther! Pokey Stix!

Senior Day Ceremony: Where Was Coach Guenther?

We didn't see Coach Guenther at the ceremony honoring the men's basketball seniors. Is it true he skipped out to attend the wrestling tournament instead?

Meantime, the women's basketball season is over...thankfully!

New Slogan for Men's Hoops: Embrace Mediocrity!

No less an authority than Loren Tate, Coach Guenther's buddy, says a .500 record in Big 10 play next year is attainable!

Asinine Footbal Survey by DIA

How much money did the DIA waste on this nonsense? Maybe a student employee at the DIA wrote this survey for a class project?

Questions included "Why are you buying season tickets?" with one of the answers being "I'm loyal to Illinois." Another asked whether players conducted themselves appropriately off the field! Another asked about flyovers before games!

Probably the best ever: "Do you prefer 6, 7 or 8 home games?"
Hey Ron! Let's move all of our home games to Detroit! YOU IDIOT!

Women's Basketball Sets New Records!

And not in a good way....with today's last-second loss to Michigan, Illinois set a new low for Big 10 wins in a season with two. This is the 12th loss in a row, also a new record. And for the first time, Illinois finished in sole possession of last place. Finally, Illinois had an average attendance this season of 1404, the lowest since an average of 633 (WOW!) in the 1994-95 season.

I am sure glad Lord Guenther decided to pay Jolette Law $310,000 per year for these kinds of results!!!!

Another Milestone for Our Mid-Major Coach!

Illinois is now BELOW .500 in Big 10 play since Dee & Augie graduated in 2006.

Chew on that. And then ask Lord Guenther, Loren Tate and the dope from Hudson, Ohio why they keep defending this turd!

Sad Fact About Men's Basketball

Illinois had 6 straight seasons of less than 10 losses. Tonight's game in East Lansing, where the team fell apart in crunch time (a direct reflection of its mid-major coach), marks the 5th straight season of 10 or more losses. BOGGLE!

I can't wait for Loren Tate, the DIA and the dope from Hudson, Ohio to spin that turd into a positive for the program! FIRE BUBBLE BRUCE!

Lord Guenther Speaks! Says Nothing

He says he hasn't decided on his future. Can we decide it for him?

"There's a fine line between winning and losing that the fan base doesn't quite get." um, like scheduling? like 81-126-2? 6 bowl games in your 19 seasons on the job?

"Our goal is to get back in the bowl business." REMINDER: Illinois has never gone bowling in consecutive seasons under your watch!

"I think there's a lot of frustration" re: basketball team. NO KIDDING!

She's delivering on academics & discipline re: Jolette Law. How many have transferred? How is last place?

FIRE RON GUENTHER

Lord Guenther Holding Press Conference Today!!! But On His Terms...

Shockingly, Coach Guenther is holding a press conference at 4pm today. Not shocking is that, as usual, he embodies a Napoleonic complex in the process. Per a WCIA Twitter, it's being held...in his office...with no cameras.....

Maybe WIND Radio can join the press conference...in progress!!!! Just like WIND does for basketball and football broadcasts!!!

Bubble Bruce In The House!!!!

Ever notice how BAMM always bear-hugs the opposing coach after a win but gives a brief handshake after a loss? What a poor sport! How the hell does a team with a 5 point halftime lead get outscored by 15 points in the second half, and give up 54 points in the second half? BOGGLE! Does the guy from Hudson, Ohio have an explanation?

Today, the second half was a clown show. Outrebounded and outhustled. When do CBI tickets go on sale? More importantly, would Coach Guenther have the balls to pull the plug on this clown show?

also, ladies losing at Purdue! could be a sweep! Boiler Up! TOOT TOOT!

Women's Basketball: Can We Just Start Over?

First, congrats to the mens' team for finally winning a road game. Beat Purdue at home on Sunday and the season can be salvaged. Moving on.....

The ladies now are in sole possession of the Big 10 basement, after losing AT HOME to 10th place Indiana. The announced crowd was 670! Illinois, to its credit, is not last in attendance, just 10th!

Can The Hoops Program Be Fixed?

Our guy Paul Klee from the Champaign News-Gazette ponders that question. I like the point he raises about UI athletes being coddled:

"Being a student-athlete at Illinois offers a comfortable lifestyle. After a
loss at Northwestern last season, players were held out of media interviews,
supposedly as a punishment. In reality, it was a gift and another example of not holding them accountable."

Kinda like Jamar Smith....Go read the whole thing. Very good column.

On a side note, the RPI for the women's team is 137!! Jolette Law rocks! Thank you, Saint Guenther, for extending her contract!

Also, football season tickets are on sale now!!!!

Do You Trust Ron Guenther To Fix The Basketball Program?

With basketball officially in the crapper....I mean what team loses to Northwestern two years in a row? Oh, our Fighting Illini under our mid-major head coach!!

If Ron does the honorable thing and admits he erred by hiring Bruce All-Mid Major and fires him, can Ron be trusted to hire a better coach? Lord Guenther doesn't even have the energy to hire a new track coach? He just does the lazy thing and names an interim coach! For $600,000 per year, we should expect more from St. Guenther.

Too bad we won't get it. Meantime, give Jolette Law another contract extension! LAST PLACE!

STOP THE PRESSES! COACH GUENTHER SPEAKS TO THE MEDIA!!!

and says nothing you didn't already know. No mention of scheduling, Ron?

When Do NIT Tickets Go On Sale?

Illinois scored 17 points in the second half!! Losing at an Indiana team playing without its two best players! Great job BAMM!

meantime, the ladies lost again....Coach Guenther, you still want to give this dope an extension?

Some Sad Facts About Fighting Illini Football

Ron Zook is the third consecutive UI football coach to have a winning percentage below .450.

Ron Zook's Big 10 record is 16-32.

In six seasons, Zook has 8th, 9th, 10th & 11th place finishes in the conference.

Ron Turner was 35-57 at Illinois, 20-24 in the Big 10.

Lou Tepper, aka Coach Death Penalty, was 19-25-1 at Illinois, and 13-18-1 in the Big 10. He is such a bad head coach, he just got fired...from a Division II school!

Ed DeChellis and Freaking Penn State Beat Our Mid-Major Coach. AGAIN!

In an annual tradition post-2005 under our mid-major men's basketball coach, powerhouse Penn State defeated Illinois. Best part of game: some Penn State fan yelling at the top of his lungs "Weber, sit down! We don't want to hear you yell!" that came across loud and clear on the Big Ten Network broadcast!

Penn State owns Weber!!! FREAKING PENN STATE SUCKS IN BASKETBALL! They lost at home by 23 to Maryland (who UI beat) and lost to Maine!!!

Illinois is 97-60 overall (.618 winning percentage) and in the Big 10, 38-36 (.514) with ZERO NCAA TOURNAMENT WINS since Dee Brown and James Augustine graduated.

This is Weber's program. And Weber is Coach Guenther's hire.

Sad State of Women's Basketball

It's bad enough the ladies play in an empty Assembly Hall. (Remember when the program was winning? It used to draw great crowds at Huff). Would it kill the DIA to give the ladies a little attention and some publicity? There was zero mention of the women's game during the men's game on Thursday.

Now the program is losing players to transfers, etc. The coach makes $300,000 annually but has yet to get the program into the NCAA tournament. And now, the ladies lost at home to Northwestern....who had lost 21 straight games to Illinois. The team is now 6-10.

FREE ADMISSION!!!!

Illinois will no longer charge admission for softball, baseball, wresting, men's & women's gymnastics and women's soccer games!!! Coach Guenther must be paying for the tickets out of his asinine $600,000 annual salary!

Jolette Law's Current Record: 52-59

Why oh why, Lord Guenther, did you give her a contract extension this summer? We've lost track of the number of players who have quit or transferred!

88-132-2

Time to give Zook and Guenther lifetime contracts! Guenther was dancing around midfield yesterday like he coached the team!

Awful Meltdown By Our Mid-Major Coach!

Folks, tonight proved why BAMM was an assistant coach for 18 years before getting a chance to be a head coach. DUMB intentional foul by a senior combined with Weber losing his mind for a technical foul. That was as bad a meltdown you could have in the final 3 minutes of a game!

When do NIT tickets go on sale?

WOW! An East Central Illinois Media Member Calls out Lord Guenther!

We were stunned to read the recent chat transcript of the Champaign News-Gazette with Tony Bleill, who covers women's hoops. (Poor guy, can't be any fun covering Jolette Law and trying to keep track of how many players she's booted!)

Anyhow, this from Tony was quite telling, in response to asking why Law got a conract extension, which is a good question considering how bad the program is under her watch:

"What those signs are will remain anyone's guess because Guenther is just about as inaccessible an AD as you will find, unless your name is Loren Tate. Guenther rarely grants interviews, which is a slap in the face to fans of his athletic program.

Our Mid-Major Coach Rocks!

Losing to a bad UIC team? shooting 30%??? for all you Guenther lovers and BAMM fans: Illinois basketball has a winning percentage of .618 overall, .500 in Big 10 play, since James Augustine and Dee Brown graduated. And also ZERO NCAA tourney wins.

FIRE RON GUENTHER RON ZOOK AND BRUCE WEBER NOW!!!

UI hires Men's Gymnastics Coach. Still no Women's Gymnastics Coach

Congratulations to former Illini Justin Spring on being named men's gymnastics coach! Meantime, we still don't have a permanent women's gymnastics coach! Come on, Coach Guenther! Name another INTERIM coach since you can't be bothered to perform a coaching search despite making $600,000 per year!

7 Home Football Games in 2012!!!

It's a Festivus miracle! It only took 19 seasons, but the Football Guy has finally figured out how to properly schedule for success!

Fresno State coach beats Illinois, takes pay cut

Imagine that! No, it's real! Hey Guenther and Zook, you should take pay cuts (and resign, while you're at it) for your lousy performances!

Ron Guenther and IDIOT Scheduling

Ron, you idiot! The combined records of non-conference opponents you have scheduled is 80-28, the toughest in the Big 10! How many bowl games and wins have you cost our program?

87-132-2.

Great job, Ron Guenther! You gave away another home game so Illinois could go out to Fresno State, get screwed by WAC officials and lose to Fresno State again!

Women's Basketball=TRAIN WRECK

Currently, the Fighting Illini trail North Carolina State by 30 points with 10 minutes left in the game. The game is at Assembly Hall, before a crowd as big as you'd get for a 3pm lecture at Gregory Hall. Jolette Law has been an absolute disaster. Another home run hire by Ronnie G!

Saturday: Guenther's Folly Part 2!

Illinois hoops is at Western Michigan on Saturday! The game is not sold out! This is part of the Ford Field debacle that Saint Guenther foisted upon Illini Nation! Worst part: Read this article, even Ron admits no one is excited about this game! NO KIDDING RON!!!!

87-131-2. 6 bowl games in 19 seasons

hey Illinois football is making progress! Zook gets another year! Guenther gets a lifetime contract! please don't lay a turd at Fresno State in 2 weeks.

Coach Guenther, What Was Your Role in Wrigley Field Debacle?

So now both teams are going to play offense at only one end of the field? WTF? This totally takes the wind element out of the game. Ron, why did you agree to this nonsensical game?
Move the game from ESPNU to the Comedy Channel while you're at it!

Further Proof Lord Guenther Cares More About Money Than Wins

Illinois is DEAD LAST in the Big 10 in expenditures for its football program! Way to go, Ron!

No wonder we've sucked since you've been on the job! You big spender! Only 6 BCS schools spent less money than Illinois!

Intriguing Article on the Michigan AD

Michigan's new AD played football at his alma mater, just like St. Guenther. Unlike the Football Guy, this AD has extensive experience in the private sector and makes some good comments that explain why the DIA keeps sucking pipe. Read his comments on the football program driving the bus for the rest of the athletic department....5 bowl games in 18 seasons, Ron!

86-131-2. Worst Loss In The History of the Football Program!

Playing a team that has already fired its coach, at Memorial Stadium. A team that lost at home to South Dakota. On Senior Day. A win and the program become bowl-eligible.

Instead, the team crapped its pants and may not go to a bowl game. Ron Guenther, please resign.
Or fire Zook, appoint an "interim" coach since you are too darn lazy to do coaching searches any more despite your phat $600K annual salary. Hire the dope from Hudson, Ohio!

Women's Basketball=TRAIN WRECK

In Jolette Law's fourth year, the program is a joke. To open the season, the team hosted Illinois State. And lost. In good news, no one has transferred yet so far this season, although one player is already suspended.

Coach Guenther Begs Fans To Attend Saturday's Football Game!

The Football Guy is doing marketing now, too! He sent out an e-mail to fans with the following message: "If you are unable to attend the game, please pass your tickets to someone who can use them." Hey Ron! If you are going to be a micro-manager and do marketing in addition to giving away home games and allowing a convicted felon to remain on scholarship, how about moving UI sports to a REAL RADIO STATION IN CHICAGO?

Another funny line is when the Best AD in the Country says that it's the final opportunity for the seniors to take the field at Memorial Stadium. Hey Ron, I bet this senior class has played the feewst number of home games in the Big 10! Great job giving away home games!

Will President Hogan Renew Guenther's Contract?

President Hogan, please do NOT keep Lord Guenther!

Our Mid-Major Coach Cries; 86-130-2

Our awesome mid-major men's basketball coach has once again proven he is a doofus. He demonstrates that he has a thin skin and that he doesn't recognize that the men's basketball head coach at Illinois is a high-profile job where you will be criticized when things go bad...you know, like zero NCAA tournament wins in the past four seasons!

"I think the worst people are the Internet people who have no face to an opinion." Hey BAMM, if you don't like being criticized, either start winning or else take a high school job in Tuscola, Arcola or Hudson, Ohio!!

As for yesterday's football game, did Curt Mallory take over Vic Koennig's brain? That was a pathetic job by the defense!

86-129-2

Hey Danny Hope! Quit yer crying! You were on Joe Tiller's staff when Purdue ran it up on hapless Ron Turner teams in the past!

Disappointing crowd. Come on East Central Illinois people! Go to the game!

Another DIA Failure: Ticket System Breaks Down

So the online ticket system to buy men's basketball tickets crashed today! SHOCKING!

More Crappy Scheduling by the DIA

It's bad enough that the DIA and the Football Guy have subjected us to just 6 home football games each season (you know, when everyone else is having 7 or 8).

Now, the volleyball team is scheduled to play Michigan, the only Big 10 team to beat the Illini, at 7pm Friday. Problem: at the same time, the men's basketball team plays an exhibition game against mighty Division II Lewis University of Romeoville.

It's not often that we agree with DIA apologist Loren Tate, but he's right about this one. Yet another DIA screwup! Play one game at 6 and the other at 8!

85-129-2

Hey Ron, can you please pay the electric bill? The men's bathroom between sections 105-106 was totally dark!

SHOCKING! Ticket Sales for Football Lagging

Considering the inferior product that Ron Guenther has made us watch for the vast majority of seasons under his reign of tyranny, why is anyone surprised?

84-129-2

4 turnovers....and I was at the game...Illinois didn't even bring the cheerleaders! Hey Ron, great job pinching pennies to pay for your phat $600K annual salary!

Midnight Madness=DIA FAIL

No band? No Orange Krush? No cheerleaders? Not even sold out at a smaller venue like Huff?

Great job, DIA boobs!

Women's Basketball: Still In The Toilet

Why does Jolette Law still have a job? Women's basketball at Illinois continues to stink. Several players have transferred, including some of her most coveted recruits. Even worse, the roster is down to ten players!

One blog rated Illinois as the #82 program in the country. Great job, Ron Guenther!

84-128-2

Hey 3 more wins and we are bowl eligible! If that dope Ron Guenther didn't have us play Missouri, it'd only be 2 wins!