Saunders Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 CollegeFootballNews.com: The Illini have their head coach in Lovie Smith. It’s possible to win right away. It’s going to be an interesting ride. If you’re an Illinois fan, you now have a football program with an identity. You have a head coach who took a team to a Super Bowl, and came within an injured quarterback of probably going to another. You have a head coach who could have just about any one of the 32 NFL gigs without anyone being shocked in any way. And now, the pressure is on to see if Lovie Smith’s talent and ability can translate to the college level. Preview Part 1: http://collegefootballnews.com/2016/preview-2016-illinois-lovie-smith Preview Part 2: http://collegefootballnews.com/2016/illinois-fighting-illini-football-preview-2016 Top Players: http://collegefootballnews.com/2016/illinois-football-players SBNation: It's Lovie Smith's turn to attempt stability at Illinois In Tuesday's Maryland preview, we discussed sleeping giants. Typically, the premise behind that label is that a school has potentially solid cash flow and lots of recruits nearby and that it just hasn't put all the pieces together (or kept them together). There tends to be a reason these programs haven't put the pieces together -- support from administration (or fans), politics, nearby national powers taking most of those recruits, etc. On paper, Illinois seems to have quite a bit going for it, just like Maryland. It's got Big Ten money, there are plenty of recruits nearby and the facilities certainly aren't awful. And unlike Maryland, the Fighting Illini are in the right division for making a move. (Divisions are an outdated concept anyway.) And it boasts a couple of college football's greatest players ever in Red Grange and Dick Butkus. Illinois has been to more Rose Bowls (five) than most of the teams in the Big Ten's lower tiers and has been to both the Rose and Sugar Bowls in this century. Again, these are accomplishments much of the Big Ten cannot boast. But something always holds Illinois back. 2016 projected wins: 5.0 Projected S&P+ ranking: 76 (12 in Big Ten) 5-year recruiting ranking: 60 (13 in Big Ten) Biggest strength: Dawuane Smoot and Chunky Clements give the Illini a couple of excellent playmakers on the defensive line. Biggest question mark: How much does a brilliant pass defense regress after losing three key starters? Biggest 2016 game: We'll say it's the game at Rutgers (Oct. 15). It's the first of three relative tossups in Big Ten play (the others: Minnesota and Iowa at home) and UI's best chance at a conference road win. Summary: It's Lovie Smith's turn to attempt to bring stability to the Illinois football program, but he's got plenty of issues to address out of the gates, most notably a lack of offensive firepower and turnover in what was previously a great secondary. http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/7/13/12161138/illinois-football-2016-preview-schedule-roster More to come... 2 Quote Link to comment
NUance Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Big year for the Illini. Big year of question marks, that is. Their recruiting has sucked for like, forever. Yet everyone has all sorts of high expectations for Lovie. I think if they give him three or four years to turn things around, he will succeed. Maybe. But it seems like Illinois isn't overly patient with coaches. Quote Link to comment
Redux Posted July 1, 2016 Share Posted July 1, 2016 39-10 and we cruise to a smooth win, neeeext! GBR GBR GBR GBR GBR GBR! Quote Link to comment
Saunders Posted July 13, 2016 Author Share Posted July 13, 2016 Bill C's SBNation preview is up! 1 Quote Link to comment
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