Missouri Vs Illinois football programs.

[northeastNebraska]

Unsportsmanlike Conduct is discussing this and I find it really interesting.

Who do you feel has a better program set up for the future? Sure Missouri has had success under Pinkel from 2007-2014, but before that...nothing. The Tigers haven't won a conference title since 1969.

Lovie Smith now competes against the Big Ten West, one of the easiest divisions in college football. Excellent recruiting area, not a difficult schedule and they still have tradition.

Could Lovie Smith turn the Illini into something solid like Pinkel did at Missouri? Who is set up better for the future?

 

[otismotis08]

Tigers will have a rough go in the SEC.

 

[hexumhawk]

Things Mizzu has going for it: SEC admin doesnt care if you cheat
Illinois Has: St. Louis and Chicago recrutiting area which is better than STL and KC, some decent tradition and most importantly, BIG10 money

The answer is Illinois.

 

[Huskerlife39]

At this point there is no reason to believe that Lovie Smith will have any success at Illinois. As we have seen, its tough to transition from pro to college, and to the best of my knowledge, he has no recruiting experience or relationships to build off of. My guess is that both programs will continue to suck.

 

[chicolby]

At this point there is no reason to believe that Lovie Smith will have any success at Illinois. As we have seen, its tough to transition from pro to college, and to the best of my knowledge, he has no recruiting experience or relationships to build off of. My guess is that both programs will continue to suck.

Lovie Smith is by far the superior coach. I understand NFL experience doesn't necessarily translate into the college game, but Lovie is a class act and is highly regarded by football insiders. I think Illinois is better positioned due to recruiting location, having an NFL guy and the division they compete in. I actually welcome their rise as the B1G West needs to continue to be more competitive. If Nebraska can continue to improve along with an improved Iowa, Wisconsin and add Illinois, that would lead to more balance and competition, which should be welcomed.

 

[nwualum]

Mizzou is about to hit a free fall. They don't cheat nearly as well as some of their $EC counterparts and no one there cares unless they are winning. They are starting to lose talent and have had the benefit of a pretty easy SEC schedule as the east had been down. That won't last. I think Lovie will be able to recruit some good athletes in the area and at least make them competitive. I would choose Illinois in a heartbeat in this vote.

 

[Truehuskerfan]

At this point there is no reason to believe that Lovie Smith will have any success at Illinois. As we have seen, its tough to transition from pro to college, and to the best of my knowledge, he has no recruiting experience or relationships to build off of. My guess is that both programs will continue to suck.

That's my feeling too. Illinois may have a better record because of Missouri having a tougher schedule in the SEC, but neither do I expect them to be all that good.

 

[anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi]

At this point there is no reason to believe that Lovie Smith will have any success at Illinois. As we have seen, its tough to transition from pro to college, and to the best of my knowledge, he has no recruiting experience or relationships to build off of. My guess is that both programs will continue to suck.

I would trade places with Missouri for the last decade easily. But I am guessing they don't have the same meaningless 9 win trophy case to try and prop themselves up on....

 

[George Utley]

Illinois has had one of the worst Power 5 football programs going back to the '50s, and even before that. They haven't been relevant nationally since the days of Red Grange.

Anyone that thinks they're positioned for anything other than repeated 6-6 or 7-5 type seasons is an idiot. Lovie wasn't exactly Don Shula, either. There's a reason he was available for a job interview in March.

 

[tro80]

IMO, Smith's success will depend on who he brings in for assistant coaches. He hasn't been around the college game in 20 years. Herding a bunch of college kids is way different than managing professionals. I realize MR went back to college, but seems like MR is first a college coach who was enticed to try pro coaching. Smith appears to me to be first a pro coach who has been enticed to try coaching college. His name will get him in some doors, but recruiting is a whole different game. He will have to do it without a bevy of front office guys handling all the scouting, evaluation, sales effort, etc. Will he embrace the constant travel on the recruiting trail? He has a couple of major metro areas in his area, but he isn't going to build a competitive team with just Chicago and St. Lou kids, not with other more successful national programs also looking to pull those kids out of there. Will he travel? Can he evaluate kids without the help of a staff of pro scouts? He hasn't had to do any traveling in how long, except for away games. Will he put in the 80-90 hour work weeks? Seems like a nice idea, but it strikes me as much more a Stevie P type Callahan hire. I am skeptical. But, if he gets the right assistants, I suppose he has a puncher's chance.

 

[JohnRossEwing]

There has been some talk as Ron Turner or Jeff Tedford as the OC

I think just that fact that people are talking about this (and it is almost all positive) really shows what a big deal this is and could be.

 

[Charlie Marlow]

I would trade places with Missouri for the last decade easily. But I am guessing they don't have the same meaningless 9 win trophy case to try and prop themselves up on....

What do they have in the trophy case?