Further Proof DIA Sucks at Marketing in Chicagoland

Chicago, um, yeah, the biggest market in Illinois, one of the biggest markets in the USA....the DIA has for years under Lord Guenther failed to properly market Chicagoland. Meantime, Northwestern is now billing itself as "Chicago's Big Ten Team." Great job Ron Guenther!

It would be nice if the DIA marketed in places other than Danville and East Central Illinois!

Need a Job? Football Program Needs An Assistant!

Your job duties will include a) making sure Coach Zook has his headset working b) Taking all of Coach Zook's calls from Coach Guenther c) telling Guenther that Zook is busy.

Blowing Up the Myth of Guenther as Financial Genius

A fascinating memorandum from St. Guenther shows that he isn't the financial guru that the merrymen would have you think he is! Let's take a closer analytical look at some statements:

1) "Network revenues have provided for shortfalls in the DIA operating budget caused by substantial increase in Coaches' salaries...."

Hey Ron, who told you to give Ron Zook a contract extension after that lousy 5-7 season in 2008? Ron, YOU IDIOT!

2) "For the immediate future, we anticipate declining ticket revenues and royalty income, thus DIA will need to rely on Network revenues to a greater extent...."

Well if we had a decent football program and a decent men's basketball program, we wouldn't have this problem, now would we?

3) "Ticket revenues are highly dependent upon the performance of the footbal and men's basketball teams for the prior year. Accordingly, our projections indicate that ticket revenue will decline substantially for FY11."

No kidding Ron!!!!! Thanks for embracing mediocrity and thus the declining revenue too!

4) "The cost of guaranteeing a non-conference opponent for our football team has risen from $300,000 to almost $900,000. With at least two non-conference home games each year, this will increase our annual expenditures by more than $1,000,000."

This statement shows Coach Guenther cares more about money than winning. Winning helps increase donations, increases ticket sales...see a pattern there Ron? No wonder you sold out our football team for a game in Detroit? No wonder we keep seeing schedules with just 6 home games when Memorial Stadium should be used!!! Especially when you have all those suite leases coming due after 2010!!!!!!!!!!

A Contract Extension for Jolette Law? BOGGLE!!!!

Jolette Law, who keeps recruiting top players, then booting them from the team, is slated to get a contract extension. This despite a) the team has not played in the NCAA tournament since she became the coach in 2007; b) the team has a record of 20-34 in Big 10 play; c) I've lost track of the number of players who have left the program. d) the team has not finished in the top half of the Big 10 since she becamse the coach. Coach Guenther, he rewards mediocrity!!!

Props to Tony Bleill of the Champaign News-Gazette for questioning this latest act of stupidity by Coach Guenther!

Meantime, baseball coach Dan Hartleb gets his contract extended through 2013!!! this despite a horrible season this year and never making the NCAA tournament!

Guenther Lacking Energy for Coaching Searches

The vaunted one-man search committee may be out of gas. Last winter, with the perfect opportunity to sack Ron Zook, he didn't. Now, for the second straight year, there will be an "interim" men's track coach. Coach Guenther, if you don't have the fire in your belly to do a coaching search (which is part of being an athletic director) please go away and let someone younger (and more competent) perform your job duties.

The DIA Spends Big Money to Promote Football!

check out this sign at 4th & Kirby!!! Way to go, RG! Keep that budget in the black! I can't wait to see how the DIA markets Chicagoland, the state's biggest market!

Georgia AD To Resign After Scandal

I wish this would happen to Coach Guenther. Arrested for drunk driving, with a woman not your wife as the passenger, just hours before a pay raise goes into effect.

Damon, YOU IDIOT!

Assistant Football Coach Leaves Before Coaching A Game!

Look, we know Ron Zook is not a genius at football strategy....but this is further proof of how little he is respected. Greg Nord, who was hired to be the tight ends coach, has left Illinois without even coaching a game! He is going to Kentucky.

By our count, he is the FIFTH assistant coach to leave Illinois and Ron Zook without ever actually coaching in a game! This illustrious list includes Fedora & Wickline (hired in 2005, then left a week late for Oklahoma State) Randy Melvin, and Bob Heffner (hired to replace Wickline).

Maybe Coach Guenther will be an assistant coach this year!!!!!! THE SHIP IS SINKING!

Women's Basketball: Death Spiral Continues

I lost track of how many players transferred or quit under Czarina Grentz. Sadly, we are getting more of the same under Jolette Law. The roster is down to ten players. The team needs practice players!