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Mike Thomas is out of his league''
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Posted: 2/6/2013 11:31 PM
Mike Thomas is out of his league''
- a MISERABLE FB hire because he (MT) couldn't get ANY successful high major coach to work for him.
- a substandard BB hire, again because noe of his top targets would accept the dough because they didn't want to work with him.
He's better hope that Beckman and Groce figure things out, If they don't, he should be fired for the extremely sucky results of hjis poorly planned poorly executed searches.
Fire Mike Thomas.
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Posted: 2/6/2013 11:36 PM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
Good idea, I think I'll have a few beers too... TheBeastisback wrote: - a MISERABLE FB hire because he (MT) couldn't get ANY successful high major coach to work for him.
- a substandard BB hire, again because noe of his top targets would accept the dough because they didn't want to work with him.
He's better hope that Beckman and Groce figure things out, If they don't, he should be fired for the extremely sucky results of hjis poorly planned poorly executed searches.
Fire Mike Thomas. |
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Posted: 2/6/2013 11:52 PM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
TheBeastisback wrote: - a MISERABLE FB hire because he (MT) couldn't get ANY successful high major coach to work for him.
- a substandard BB hire, again because noe of his top targets would accept the dough because they didn't want to work with him.
He's better hope that Beckman and Groce figure things out, If they don't, he should be fired for the extremely sucky results of hjis poorly planned poorly executed searches.
Fire Mike Thomas. I agree with you on the TB hire. Because, we actually had a lot higher expectations than what was delivered. TB can go, and I would not care. Groce on the other hand, he is here for the long haul. This group of players got Weber fired; well, Weber got himself in this jam as well. Rest of this year, and even next year will look like Weber ball. Groce emphasized on getting a PG no matter what in his first class. And what do you know, he got a PG who is getting better. Also, he looks like a PG. Look at MT resume, and he hires the right guy. Not the sexy pick, but the right guy. He did at Cincy with Kelly and Cronin. The football team is now a decent football school, and basketball has been on the upswing. He missed with TB, but that is his only bad hire ever. I understand he is hard to work for, and not very well liked. But his coaches on the most part get results. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 12:16 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
"He missed with TB, but that is his only bad hire ever."
I think Beckman was worse than awful his first season. He did bring in a decent class so we get the chance to see if he can work some magic this coming season. Still, Beckman was a bad hire because more qualified coaches were available or until he shows he really can coach FB and put a competitive, winning team on the field. Wait and see--
Last edited 2/7/2013 1:42 AM by Illinigrad
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Posted: 2/7/2013 12:34 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
Illinigrad wrote: "He missed with TB, but that is his only bad hire ever."
I think Beckman was worse than awful his first season. He did bring in a decent class so we get the chance to see if he can work some magic this coming season. Still, Beckman still is a bad hire because more qualified coaches were available. Wait and see-- I agree, more qualified guys were out there. I.E Kirby Smart. Even though he would have been a long shot, I would of loved to see what he could of done. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 12:42 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
TheBeastisback wrote: - a MISERABLE FB hire because he (MT) couldn't get ANY successful high major coach to work for him.
- a substandard BB hire, again because noe of his top targets would accept the dough because they didn't want to work with him.
He's better hope that Beckman and Groce figure things out, If they don't, he should be fired for the extremely sucky results of hjis poorly planned poorly executed searches.
Fire Mike Thomas. jesus H. I work all night and was looking forward to reading about the football recruits and this is the thread at the top of the heap. Why don't you just go away until Mike Thomas is gone if you hate him as AD so much. You're back on Ignore Beast. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 1:29 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
TheBeastisback wrote: - a MISERABLE FB hire because he (MT) couldn't get ANY successful high major coach to work for him.
- a substandard BB hire, again because noe of his top targets would accept the dough because they didn't want to work with him.
He's better hope that Beckman and Groce figure things out, If they don't, he should be fired for the extremely sucky results of hjis poorly planned poorly executed searches.
Fire Mike Thomas. You been into the Guiness beast? |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 6:44 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
I did have a few beverages. I woke up and Beckman's 0-fer is still in the books and bb remains on track for the worst consecutive conference finishes since Bartow was here. I really want to believe in Sunki's dawn but I'm not seeing it. iluvrt wrote:
TheBeastisback wrote: - a MISERABLE FB hire because he (MT) couldn't get ANY successful high major coach to work for him.
- a substandard BB hire, again because noe of his top targets would accept the dough because they didn't want to work with him.
He's better hope that Beckman and Groce figure things out, If they don't, he should be fired for the extremely sucky results of hjis poorly planned poorly executed searches.
Fire Mike Thomas. You been into the Guiness beast? |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 7:17 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
One day after the 13 class is in the books and we get this again. Everyday either fire MT, TB, or JG. Good luck to all our coaches. Hope 13 is a better year for Illini sports.
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Posted: 2/7/2013 8:04 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
There's no doubt in my mind that if message boards were around for Lou's days, Beast would have had him fired four times before he reached the final four and three times after.
There's also no doubt in my mind that he will deny that.  |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 8:27 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
I understood that you can't choke in the big game without getting to the big game. I remember Austin Peay and Villanova and other bad, bad losses. Before Lou, the teams I saw were Bartow's and Harv's last. None of those teams was headed anywhere but the depths of the BT. Teams that were chock full of short, slow white players who could hit uncontested long shots before there was a 3 point line but couldn't rebound or play defense against our conference partners who had much better talent. Teams with Rick Schmidt playing offense 1 on 5. Teams with players like Howie Johnson and Denny Graff and Bill Sucks (err. Rucks). Bartow brought in a few players and announced the team would be 18-8. He was right about the numbers but had the order reversed. Lou was a BIG step up, the coach who created the winning attitude at Illinois that lasted for decades until bubble bruce destroyed it. Lou was my guy, win or lose. He should have been coach for life at Illinois. We weren't going to find ANYBODY better as long as he wanted to coach. And, KJRYNO, bubble bruce, Groce and our sucky soft seniors have us on track to have the worst back to back conference records since Harv's last and Bartow's. And yes, I don't like it. Lou never won less than 7 conference games. So, the following quote comes to mind and I'm sure plenty of people think this of me " "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.'
Of course, they would be wrong! KJRYNO wrote:There's no doubt in my mind that if message boards were around for Lou's days, Beast would have had him fired four times before he reached the final four and three times after.
There's also no doubt in my mind that he will deny that.
Last edited 2/7/2013 8:39 AM by TheBeastisback
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Posted: 2/7/2013 8:55 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
Yet another quality thread.  Love it when people make claims that all of these more qualified candidates should've been hired, when they have no idea if any of them actually had any interest. Like Illinois was a job that all these guys were pining for. And when someone makes a claim like a guy like Kirby Smart was much more qualified. Tell me how much success Smart has had as a head coach, or how great he was before he worked for Nick Saban? Maybe he's better, but you have zero evidence to make a definitive argument. By your same standard, Romeo Crennel, Charlie Weiss, Eric Mangini, Josh McDaniel, etc all should've been ace head coaches, given their success with Belichek. The argument will always be there whether its better to hire a head coach from a lesser conference, or an assistant from a BCS conference (because you're an idiot if you think a head coach from a BCS conference is longing for the Illinois job). There is evidence of both being successful, so enough pretending that you know which is best. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 8:57 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
I would have given Vic a mil, told him to find a competent OC, give him an interim tag and tell him it would come off immediately with a 6 figure bump if he won 4 conference games.
Last edited 2/7/2013 8:57 AM by TheBeastisback
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Posted: 2/7/2013 9:08 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
TheBeastisback wrote: I would have given Vic a mil, told him to find a competent OC, give him an interim tag and tell him it would come off immediately with a 6 figure bump if he won 4 conference games. Yeah, because giving a head coach an interim tag is really going to help him build relationships with recruits. So basically, your saying that if it didn't work, you not only screw recruiting for the season Vic is here, but then you also screw the next season when you hire a new coach and give him limited time to build a class. That sounds like a great way to build a football program. I'm sure a great OC would love to jump at that job too, when he would basically have a 1 year of security. And of course, Vic did have a great track record as a head coach so that makes great sense too. 3 years at Wyoming, 5-29. 3 years prior to him at Wyoming, 22-13. 3 years after him at Wyoming, 15-20. Yeah, seems like a great head coaching candidate. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 9:14 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
Don't attempt to use logic here. Anyone who thinks Koenning was the answer as HC is pretty delusional. It appears TB was a poor choice, but we should give him another year see if he can turn things around some. The fact TB was a poor choice doesn't mean we should have kept Zook or tried Koenning; neither of these options made sense. It means we should have hired someone else - maybe we should have gone harder after someone like Mora or maybe we should have taken a shot at a top coordinator. STLINI wrote:
TheBeastisback wrote: I would have given Vic a mil, told him to find a competent OC, give him an interim tag and tell him it would come off immediately with a 6 figure bump if he won 4 conference games.
Yeah, because giving a head coach an interim tag is really going to help him build relationships with recruits. So basically, your saying that if it didn't work, you not only screw recruiting for the season Vic is here, but then you also screw the next season when you hire a new coach and give him limited time to build a class. That sounds like a great way to build a football program. I'm sure a great OC would love to jump at that job too, when he would basically have a 1 year of security.
And of course, Vic did have a great track record as a head coach so that makes great sense too. 3 years at Wyoming, 5-29. 3 years prior to him at Wyoming, 22-13. 3 years after him at Wyoming, 15-20. Yeah, seems like a great head coaching candidate. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 9:25 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
better that the 0-fer from Beckman after Thomas stuck out on everybody else on the list. STLINI wrote:
TheBeastisback wrote: I would have given Vic a mil, told him to find a competent OC, give him an interim tag and tell him it would come off immediately with a 6 figure bump if he won 4 conference games.
Yeah, because giving a head coach an interim tag is really going to help him build relationships with recruits. So basically, your saying that if it didn't work, you not only screw recruiting for the season Vic is here, but then you also screw the next season when you hire a new coach and give him limited time to build a class. That sounds like a great way to build a football program. I'm sure a great OC would love to jump at that job too, when he would basically have a 1 year of security.
And of course, Vic did have a great track record as a head coach so that makes great sense too. 3 years at Wyoming, 5-29. 3 years prior to him at Wyoming, 22-13. 3 years after him at Wyoming, 15-20. Yeah, seems like a great head coaching candidate. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 9:33 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
We don't know that TB was a poor choice. It certainly did not look good this past season, but they were ready to hang Alvarez at Wisky in his early years and he finally broke through. Hiring coaches is an iffy business, even for the elites (see ND and their string of failures). Many BCS coordinators do a great job as a coordinator but never do great things as an HC. Bob Davie, Lou Tepper, Vic K and many others. Some do. NFL assistants - Ron Turner no, Kirk Ferentz for the most part yes. Smaller program HCs, same story. Some are successful, some aren't. Former BCS HCs? Zook, Fred Akers, Smolich and others, not so much. Joe Tiller at Purdue, Hayden Fry at Iowa, both worked out pretty well. Is TB the Urban Meyer accolyte that turned around Toledo or as bad an HC as we looked this past season. No one, not even Beast, can fairly draw an objective conclusion at this point.
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Posted: 2/7/2013 9:36 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
So by your same logic, we would've been better off keeping Ron Turner for an extra year, since Zook went O-fer in his first year. Pure stupidity. You only look at stuff as black and white. There are rammifications like recruiting that would suffer under your suggestions. Taking a 2 year dive in recruiting kills you for years to come. It's stupid to pretend that it doesn't matter. Beckman has to do better or he's gone, we all know that, you don't need a new thread on it everyday. TheBeastisback wrote: better that the 0-fer from Beckman after Thomas stuck out on everybody else on the list.
STLINI wrote:
TheBeastisback wrote: I would have given Vic a mil, told him to find a competent OC, give him an interim tag and tell him it would come off immediately with a 6 figure bump if he won 4 conference games.
Yeah, because giving a head coach an interim tag is really going to help him build relationships with recruits. So basically, your saying that if it didn't work, you not only screw recruiting for the season Vic is here, but then you also screw the next season when you hire a new coach and give him limited time to build a class. That sounds like a great way to build a football program. I'm sure a great OC would love to jump at that job too, when he would basically have a 1 year of security.
And of course, Vic did have a great track record as a head coach so that makes great sense too. 3 years at Wyoming, 5-29. 3 years prior to him at Wyoming, 22-13. 3 years after him at Wyoming, 15-20. Yeah, seems like a great head coaching candidate. |
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Posted: 2/7/2013 9:47 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
what was Zook's first class ranked?
ed: Looking at Turner's last season and Zook's last blows your analogy away.
Last edited 2/7/2013 9:49 AM by TheBeastisback
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Posted: 2/7/2013 10:12 AM
Re: Mike Thomas is out of his league''
TheBeastisback wrote: - a MISERABLE FB hire because he (MT) couldn't get ANY successful high major coach to work for him.
- a substandard BB hire, again because noe of his top targets would accept the dough because they didn't want to work with him.
He's better hope that Beckman and Groce figure things out, If they don't, he should be fired for the extremely sucky results of hjis poorly planned poorly executed searches.
Fire Mike Thomas. Here is the reality of the situation regarding Thomas and the disaster he is overseeing. In total, A good AD is pied piper for the program, one who sets it tone, vision and mojo. He has to win, to create a tangible degree of success to feed the fanbase, he has to build a culture of compliance and of doing the right things, he has to be fiscally responsible, he has to be a real estate developer to keep up with the arms race and changing landscape and he has to be able to raise funds, usually from a small group of influential, high ego alums. In other words he he has to have a plan, get buy in from a broad constituancy, beta test it financially and execute it. He has to have an overall positive trajectory. In a netshell, He has to sell the dream and to realize it. Mike Thomas has failed in a spectacular fashion utilizing these metrics. In alot of ways Thomas and Beckman are kindered spirits and mirror images of each other. They have had past success on the surface at smaller schools, but when you dig deeper you will find that their records are full of holes and red flags that were overlooked in the hiring process. Both men's skill sets have huge gaps that have become major problems. Both are extremely poor communiciators and have quirky personal dynamics that do not play well to a broad constituancy. Both have tremendous egos and have a square peg round hole attitude that they know what is best because of what a past narrow band of their accomplishement tells them. Both can not let go of the past. Both fail to realize that Illini fans do not care about what happened at Toledo or Cincinnati they only care about what happens at Illinois. Both of these men walked into situations where things were far from broken. They were on second base. Now we are not even at the plate. Ron Guenther did a lot of things well as AD but he did a number of things very poorly, which a vocal group will remind you about constantly. What should have a plan to continue the practices that Guenther did well while fixing the deficient things was not the path that was taken. Thomas tore everything to the ground in a year of scorched earth and is now starting from Ground Zero without any trust from his broadest base of constituents. He took it to rock bottom and and now wants you to believe. A vast number of people are not buying what Mike Thomas is selling. He is completely tone deaf to his customers. Beckman took over a bowl team from Zook that had great coaching deficiencies but had a base of talent that could compete against the middle levels of the Big Ten. Beckman was brought in to coach up and improve game day execution. He did the impossible, he underperformed by not even being to surpass the impossibly low standards set byZook. He failed miserably to the point where football interest is an all-time low. Both men has exhibited an extreme amount of hubris and arrogance in the execution of their duties in the short time they been in Illinois. Both have overseen epic collapses that has left the fan base dazed and confused. Now they want to change the script and rewrite history, as both are taking a cupboard is bare approach and pleading for time to get their systems in place. Both men publically stated that Illinois was not broken that it only needed to be tweaked to get to championship levels. Now they are saying something completely different. They are dishonest and have no credibility. People do not care anymore and that is the worst thing that can happen to any program. Both are not the men who are going to lead us into recovery and into the the next phase in a new landscape Big Ten. Both men need to be let go by the conclusion next football season when we can start a recovery process that will allow us to be competitive once again. That is the first step of the plan. Unfortunately both we (Hogan) brought the wrong guys at the wrong time for Illinois and that's why we are experiencing this extreme disaster that is occurring in our athletic department. 20 years from now Michael Hogan will be metioned in the same breath as Mel Brewer and Thomas/ Beckman are a latter day Cecil Coleman Gary Moeller. “All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
Last edited 2/7/2013 10:56 AM by HairClubforSelf
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