Tate & Turpin chat: 11 a.m. Monday
Monday, December 21, 2009 - 11:00am
Chat with the hosts of "Saturday Sportsline" and "Monday Morning Quarterback."
Chat with the hosts of "Saturday Sportsline" and "Monday Morning Quarterback."
Okay, thanks for the questions, let's get at it.
I support Gunther! I'm like Tate and Turpin. I have been an ILLINI fan for over half a century.
His plan for change is a good idea. A head coach is as good as the people around him! I will be a I Fund & season ticket holder again next year. Go ILLINI!
Al Drury, it is a make-or-break move for both Rons, Guenther and Zook. If it doesn't work next season, where do they go from there???? Loren
Who is the strenght and conditioning coach for the Illini basketball team? I do not see improvement in terms of strength with Tisdale and Davis, just endurance. Is Simpson softer than these guys to the point where he cannot even get a chance to bang inside, like against Georgia the other night?
Jason, Jim Price is the guy and he is a hard worker. Some players can put on weight and others can't.
Simpson has a long way to go to be a contributor. Jim and Loren
With the new Coordinators now in place, when will Mallory be fired? This guy has really done nothing with our DB's the last few years, especially with their tackling.
Bob, the moves are not done, by any means. Mallory is reported applying for the head jobs at Akron and Valparaiso. Koenning said he'd prefer to coach the defensive backs. We have to wait and see how this plays out. Jim and Loren
Will Koenning toy with the idea of running a 3-4 defense with the talent we currently have?
Roger, Koenning says he will mix it up, but it is doubtful that he goes with three D-linemen because that is a strength with Nurse, Brent, Liuget and others returning. Jim and Loren
So is it Guenther or Zook that is really making the calls with the coaching changes with the staff? Can you answer this straight up without trying to sugar-coat it?
Peter, they agreed together that changes were needed, and Zook went about the business of finding the right people while Guenther provided the money for excessive salaries. Zook has agreed to be more of a CEO with the coordinators, NAMED BY HIM, running the show. Jim and Loren
I noticed Easterly decommitted and McDonald will likely do the same. With the emphasis of VK's defense being on DB's and Safeties, how much does this hurt our recruiting efforts? Is this not Zook's most notable trait?
Jason, recruiting is in terrible shape this year. When Easterly switched his major to journalism, it was obvious that Missouri's position was strengthened. Yes, this was Zook's strength in the past. He has been hurt by all the controversy relative to his position. Illinois is looking for JC help. Jim and Loren
Is there any chance Va Tech could be the 12th team? That would give access to the Washington DC market and be a good fit academically.
D W, odds are, after 12 to 18 months, the Big Ten won't add anyone. What we are seeing now is a periodic (once every 5 years) look at it. Maybe someone will pop up, but it probably won't be Virginia Tech. Jim and Loren
Loren, Love the chats! Hey, can you speak with Coach Guenther and ask him to put flyover information on all the football tickets for next year? I believe fans would be more willing to come to the games if they knew, for example, that an F-35 Lightning II will be cruising over and giving the Illini the motivation they need!
Flight Fan, they are planning a digitally-enhanced Avatar flyover with James Cameron piloting the first super-bird. Jim and Loren
Ron Guenther is like a cat with 9 lives as AD there have been reports that he is going to retire for several years now. Why isn't his job on the line along with Zook's?
Mark, the only reason Guenther is mentioned for retirement is that his contract runs to a certain point and then is extended. That may happen again. He has never been in the slightest bit of trouble with the people who count, nor is he now. Ikenberry just called him one of the premier athletic directors in the country. Jim and Loren
I watched the video of the Ron Guenther "press conference" (edited by the DIA btw) and noticed he lobbed softball question after softball question. It has been 2 months since the last time he showed his face to the media, two months of pent-up outrage from fans and bloggers alike, and reporters ask how renovations are coming on Assembly Hall. Can you provide insight on this apparent disconnect between the Champaign media and the rest of Illini Nation? Where was the question on 4 bowls out of 19 Guenther led years? Why didn't anyone question his prowess as AD? Where was f/u on scheduling?
Jason, the record is what it is. Guenther isn't any happier about it than you are. He is aware of the unhappiness, but he said he doesn't listen to the critics. The Assembly Hall questions are legitimate because they are at a critical time in making presentations to five major companies for naming rights. Without the naming rights, the renovation can't be done.
Jim and Loren
Looks like Illinois' lack of beef down low is going to be a huge liability and one opponents with tall muscular players will exploit all game long. Tisdale and Davis just won't play solid in the post against beefier opponents. They prefer playing away from the basket even on defense. Weber's recruitment of mostly finesse post players leaves Illini unbalanced and vulnerable, doesn't it?
PeterE, yes, that is the problem. All the better inside players are thin, and that affects defense and rebounding. It is a problem that will be with the Illini this year and next, and perhaps beyond. Jim and Loren
Guys,
finally got some committments again last week.
Do you think with the changes can have a strong finish and get a good class?
Brad, as we're sure you know, it is extremely unlikely that Illinois will have even an average recruiting class this year. It is too far gone, and it wouldn't be surprising if the UI lost its recruiting coordinator, Reggie Mitchell, to a more high-paying job, perhaps at Kansas. Jim and Loren
what do you think of the changes in the staff? Think they will improve the program?
Also, do you think Disch and Mallory will be back next year? Sounds like they both have other offers
Ken, we believe the Zook moves are good for the program. We are hopeful that the changes will have a positive impact. It is likely that Mallory will be gone. As for Disch, it will probably depend on what other offers he gets. Jim and Loren
FYI: I've noticed that Brit Miller hasn't been listed in the "Former Illini in the NFL" listings. He has been on San Francisco's active roster for the last 3 games and has made 3 tackles on special teams. Thanks.
Chris, thanks, I'll tell the guys at The News-Gazette. Loren
Chris, thanks, I'll tell the guys at The News-Gazette. Loren
Who will be the next 2011 commit for coach Weber, and when?
Ross, this is purely a guess but Rock Island junior Chasson Randle appears to be a prospect favoring Illinois. Jim and Loren
Good morning,
Do you feel more positive about the direction of the football program now than you did a few weeks ago with the hiring of the two new coordinators?
ashu, yes, we're in a wait-and-see mode, and it depends a great deal on the returning talent, but the new coaches appear to be good hires. We feel a little better than two weeks ago, as the past losses fade away. Jim and Loren
From an athletics program standpoint over the past 20 years, which DI school in a BCS conference do you think Illinois most resembles, and why? Iowa State, Mississippi, South Carolina, NC State, Minnesota, etc?
Steve, that would require more work and analysis than we have time for, since we are already running overtime. Jim and Loren
Georgia game Iwas very surprised that Rich Semrau didn't play because of his size and strength Your thoughts?
Al, why would you be surprised when, for the past several years, Semrau seldom plays in games that are close? He just hasn't shown the abilityt to crack the rotation. Jim and Loren
I know its still early, but what kind of impact could the 3 neutral court losses have on the Illini come NCAA tournament time?
Bill, the impact is huge. Losing to teams with mediocre records is bad for your RPI. Illinois can still get in the NCAA tournament by finishing in the upper division of the Big Ten, but a bad seed in the NCAA probably means an early exit. Jim and Loren
Akron is not open from a head coaching stance. Maybe an assistant job?
T.K., thanks for the correction. I had heard Mallory was involved there some way, and hadn't checked to see that the job has been filled. My bad. Loren
Thanks for the questions. We're out of time, and Bruce Weber is holding a news conference at this time. Got to run. Jim and Loren