A Modest Proposal for the DIA

With excitement around the football team not seen in the Paign since the Big 10 champs of 2001, why not erect temporary bleachers in the south end zone to put a few more fans in Memorial Stadium? I realize that there has to be a way for the ambulance to get onto the field in the case of an emergency, but it can be a small 100-200 seats or so bleachers.

Jerrance Howard=Savior of Men's Basketball?

Illinois named Jerrance Howard as its new assistant men's basketball coach. He replaces Tracy Webster, who went to Kentucky to work for a head coach who can actually recruit. Poor Jerrance is going to have to help Bruce Weber land some talent. Bruce Weber-could he sell water to a thirsty man in the desert?

Jerrance is a good guy, a former Illinois player. However, he has never been a full-time assistant and has not had the extent of recruiting duties that he will have now.

I blame Ron Guenther for the current debacle that is the men's basketball program. He chose a guy in Bruce Weber who he knew would be "loyal" but didn't have the reputation of being a good recruiter. In other words, the exact opposite of his predecessor, Bill Self. Typical Guenther-hire someone who has the exact opposite qualities of the previous coach.

National Sportswriter Sees Men's Basketball in Decline

Does Ron Guenther have his blinders on? Anyhow, Mike DeCourcy of The Sporting News writes an excellent summary of the failings of the Illinois men's basketball program. It includes several revealing (and depressing) quotes from Bruce "Almighty" Weber:

"Sometimes we have comments from parents and they'll say to us they don't
understand ... people are like, 'What's wrong? Why is there the negativity?' "
Weber said. Um...Bruce...you are aware that you have landed a grand total of ZERO recruits in this class and that you whiffed on all of your top six targets, right?

"We've had a couple bad breaks, and we have to keep plugging away and hope some good things will happen. Coach the heck out of them, and you hope that sooner or later you get a top kid to realize it's OK to come here." Bad breaks? Hoping something good happens? Bruce, recruiting means the ability to sell your program, your school and your abilities as a coach. Obviously what you are doing ain't working. And a top player won't want to go to Illinois when he sees a program in decline. Quit "hoping" and learn how to recruit, or get out of Champaign.

But don't expect the Illini to pay big money to sign some sort of recruiting star. It's not how they want to do things. They didn't flash big cash for Weber, either. They have the program they wanted, it would appear. Excellent observation by DeCourcy. The best athletic director operates on the cheap. He got Weber for cheap, knowing that Weber would never leave for another job. Coach Guenther sacrificed a short-term gain (the magical season of 2004-05) for long-term decline, which is now rearing its ugly head.

NEWS FLASH!!!!-An Empty Loyalty Circle Parking Lot

A Fighting Illini football tradition continues! (Besides losing under Coach Guenther, ushers who are 80 years old, blue hair ladies from Monticello whining about fans standing up on 3d down). Now that the DIA has moved the old Blue Lot to the east and made it the "new" Loyalty Circle parking lot, the empty spaces are there for all to see. I guess the DIA did it so the fat cats could have a shorter walk to the Stadium Club tent.

From this picture, taken 15 minutes before kickoff vs. Western Illinois, it appears nothing has changed. Loyalty Circle zealots still don't bother going to the games. My WIU friend took this photo when he wasn't making fun of the idiot WIU fans who kept swearing up a blue streak during the game.

DIA Still Operating on the Cheap

In RG's never-ending quest to ensure that the DIA stays in the black, we have more examples of his cheapness.

1) The Ron Zook Show. The set looks like a piece of plywood in the background, along with a fake fern plant and a cheap flat screen tv.

2) The plywood covering up the construction in the West Main Stand. How about painting it orange? It looks like a tar paper shack.

3) The scoreboard needs a fresh coat of paint.

4) How about using the scoreboard for "this date in Illini history" and give the fans more than the same two scores from other games!

Folks, the DIA expects Zook to win games but the DIA does everything on the cheap.

65-107-2

Baby steps!!! Anyhow, the DIA did a good job with the north end zone. Looks nice, pretty impressive with the students wearing orange. Will be awesome when full.

Not awesome was the empty Loyalty Circle lot (shocking!) and the small number of port a potties in Blue Lot. Hey, I did get to enjoy free booze & food at the Stadium Club!

I hope to have a picture of the empty Loyalty Circle Lot.

Tracy Webster Leaves Sinking Ship of Men's Hoops

Tracy Webster, the best recruiter on a staff that can't recruit, is leaving Illinois for Kentucky. Did I mention that Illinois has ZERO recruits for 2008? I doubt Coach Guenther will do anything about the situation. Heck, he let Ron Turner stay even after a 1-11 season (his 7th on the job).

Great Job, Coach Guenther!

While I was happy the team came back yesterday, it is still a loss. Not only is it a loss, Ron, you gave up a home game vs. Cupcake State (which would be a win, since even you would not be dumb enough to play Appalachian State, the 2-time defending Division 1AA Champs). Thus, you have reduced the team's chances of making a bowl game.

I sure hope you spend that $1,000,000 wisely!!! Maybe a training facility for women's cross-country?