Further Proof Ron Guenther Embraces Mediocrity

Coach Guenther is going to extend the contract of Dan Hartleb, the baseball coach. This, despite finishing in 9th place this year. In fact, look at Hartleb's record at Illinois:

Year Overall Big Ten

2006 29-29 15-15 (T5th)
2007 31-27 16-14 (5th)
2008 31-25 16-15 (4th)
2009 34-20 16-8 (4th)
2010 26-26 10-14 (9th)

TOTAL 151-127 73-68 ZERO NCAA Tournament Appearances

Maybe Hartleb is a nice guy. But his performance on the field is average at best. Yet Coach Guenther once again proves how stubborn he is to make changes. Coach Guenther again refuses to admit that a coach he hired may not be the right coach You know, just like he refused to fire Ron Turner after going 1-11 in 2003. (Turner's 7th year on the job!)

Another 11am Kickoff!

You know your football program stinks when your games are at 11 a.m. So far, of the seven games that have kickoff times for 2010, five are 11 a.m. kickoffs!! Thanks RG Set those alarm clocks people!!!!!

Jeff Jordan Hating On Weber

I wonder what he thinks of Coach Guenther...man just imagine Warren Carter going off on Coach Guenther for calling him an "idiot" while seated on press row of an NCAA tournament game!

Coach Guenther Says Oregon wanted BAMM!

Come on Ron, you should have told Bruce to take the job!

"He is an awfully, awfully good basketball coach. Look at our numbers the last 10 years." Hey Ron, how about our numbers the last 3 seasons when the program made the NCAA tournament just once! Or that Illinois has just 1 NCAA tournament win in the past 5 seasons!

$200 Million to Renovate Assembly Hall

Will Lord Guenther downsize the capacity like he did with Memorial Stadium? Meantime, you know he is not happy about giving Jerrance Howard a pay raise!

Illini Day at Wrigley Field: Zook & Weber MIA

We realize fans are mad at our coaches for their crappy seasons last year, but would it have been too much trouble for them to show up[ and meet the fans? Neither Zook nor Weber was at Illini Day at Wrigley. Is the DIA trying to protect them?

Meantime, Kentucky has contacted Jerrance Howard about joining John Calipari's staff. Is Coach Guenther going to get mad and tell Jerrance (who has saved BAMM's recruiting) to leave?

Is Ron Zook Still Blaming The Fans?

We ask this in light of the recent NCAA report on football attendance and men's basketball attendance (you know, the two revenue sports). Illinois was 29th in football and 12th in men's basketball. Despite that, no bowl game in football. No NCAA tournament in men's basketball. Thanks a lot Ron Guenther, Ron Zook and Bruce Weber!

A New President for UI! HOPE!!!!!!

The president of the University of Connecticut is set to become the president of the University of Illinois. UCONN has awesome women's basketball, competent football and very solid men's basketball programs. Maybe there is hope for the Fighting Illini! Hopefully his first move is to fire Ron Guenther!

McCamey & Davis Returning For Senior Seasons

So what is a reasonable expectation for next year's men's basketball program? Making the Sweet 16? Or will Bruce All Mid-Major dial down expectations so he can keep his job?

CNNSI's Stewart Mandel Slams Saint Guenther!

Stewart Mandel is the college football guru for Sports Illustrated. A reader asked what he thought of Guenther's decision to keep Zook despite another lousy season but hire new assistant coaches instead of firing Zook and starting over. Mandel hammered the Football Guy!

I think Guenther's decision rates as one of the worst ideas in recent
college football history...Guenther might sell it as trying to maintain
stability, but it sure looks like a case of an AD stubbornly refusing to
admit he hired the wrong coach, just like he did with predecessor Ron
Turner, who hung on for eight years despite posting a 35-57 record. Slipping
from 9-3 to 3-9 in two years is not the sign of a stable program.

What message does it send when an AD basically says he trusts some new
assistants more than his head coach? Is this really Zook's program
anymore, or is he just a puppet?

Coach Guenther pulling the strings! We couldn't have said it any better! Thanks Mr. Mandel!

Congratulations to North Carolina State fans!

I'm talking about the ones who set up a web site to fire that school's athletic director. Today, he resigned. One can only hope that the trustees feel the same way about the Football Guy.