CHAMPAIGN, ILL - University of Illinois Director of Athletics Mike Thomasannounced today the establishment of the Chicago Athletics Advisory Board. The board consists of a very loyal and supportive group of alumni and donors with deep connections to Chicago and a love of Fighting Illini Athletics.

The Chicago Athletics Advisory Board includes: Ryan Baker, Ronald Bess, Linda Buckley, Tom DiSanto, John Giuliani, Mary Kay Haben, Cary McMillan, Mike Meyer and Chris Williams.

The focus of the Chicago Athletic Advisory Board will be to provide support and direction as the University Of Illinois Division Of Intercollegiate Athletics looks to increase exposure and grow support for Fighting Illini Athletics throughout Chicagoland. The group began meeting the first week of February.

The Chicago Athletics Advisory Board is a vital, external volunteer advisory board comprised of outstanding and key influential stakeholders whom the DIA will rely upon for timely advice, insight, direction and action to help Fighting Illini Athletics achieve a shared vision of excellence in the Chicagoland and Northern Illinois region. With more than 1.4 million Illini fans living within greater Chicago, there is a newly honed focus dedicated to capturing the support of Illini fans that live in the greater Chicago area, as this city will prove very important to the future success of Illini Athletics.

The Chicago Athletic Advisory Board will work closely with the Illinois Athletics Development Office to achieve success in the following areas: marketing, branding, events and entertainment, corporate partnerships and increased donor support of the I Fund and additional capital projects and endowed funds.

Zach Goines, Director of Development - Chicago Operations for Illinois Athletics, had many positive things to say about the advisory board. "The creation of the Chicago Athletic Advisory Board will provide a tremendous boost to our athletics fundraising efforts throughout Chicago." He added, "The expertise, networking connections and passion for Fighting Illini Athletics that this board provides will be a great benefit as we work to fund championship programs at Illinois. I very much look forward to working with everyone both individually and collectively moving forward."

MT doesnt get financial deal structuring. Not getting much bang for the buck!

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This is the second time I've seen this posted on here.  I'm assuming (hoping) that both times it was a joke?

Beckman has been horrible so far.  No one is arguing otherwise.  And he was worse than any of us saw coming.  But Jerry Kill, your 2nd place finisher in "value", was awful last year.  And came from the MAC.  And now in his second year is suddenly a brilliant move and a huge steal by your metric.  If you can't have two year's worth of patience before you flip out and start acting like a bloodthirsty mob you're never going to be happy. 

If you want Illinois to get better we have to do what NW did and it will take a decade.  Play a garbage non-con schedule and go 2-6 in the B1G but make a bowl game.  Do that for 6 years.  Then start to improve and go 3-5 in the B1G.  Do that for a few more years.  Eventually, recruits don't see your program as a joke and you can build something.  There will never be an overnight cure of Illinois the way there is at Michigan, OSU, Nebraska, Texas, Florida, USC, etc.  And to throw tantrums like there is just sounds dumb.

HairClubforSelf wrote:

MT doesnt get financial deal structuring. Not getting much bang for the buck!

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School

Wins

HC Comp

Cost per Win

1	Iowa	4	3900000	$     975,000
2	Illinois	2	1750000	$     875,000
3	OSU	12	4300000	$     358,333
4	IU	4	1300000	$     325,000
5	Mich	11	3200000	$     290,909
6	Neb	10	2900000	$     290,000
7	Penn St	8	2300000	$     287,500
8	Mich St	7	2000000	$     285,714
9	Minnesota	6	1300000	$     216,667
10	NU	10	1300000	$     130,000

BZuppke wrote: Quit hijacking threads.  This is a thread about a new marketing move by the Illini.  Try to stay on topic.

Yeah...there's some obsessed folks here who need to dog the coach or AD in almost every thread. I think they must believe these guys don't want to win. I don't know them personally but I am sure they do want to win.

Righting Illini football is a very tough job. We have had a number of capable guys try and fail since the early 90's and some even before. That makes it an unattractive job for hot coaches who can go elsewhere. I don't understand why some folks can't realize that.

PaytonHighstep wrote: this is how bipolar our fanbase is....

this thread:  "MT gets Marketing"

a couple threads down:  "Mike Thomas is out of his league"

I just shake my head and laugh sometimes.

KewaneeCE1 wrote: The only problem with that is that the Illini are put on time delay when the professional teams that station carries have a game.  It happened before with the Blackhawks and if I am not mistaken, the Cubs.  Other stations cut their power at night.  What they need is a 50000 watt station in Champaign or Springfield.  Unfortunately there is no such animal.

DerrickRose wrote: Does he?

BleedingOandB wrote:

DerrickRose wrote: Does he?

Lol. Saw that. No matter how it was meant, it looks bad. Everyone involved in making that project should be fired. If MT saw it before it "went to print," he needs to get fired and THEN roughed up by some hired goons.