My Illini Manifesto

Forces within the confederation of states and universities known collectively as “Big 10 Country” have conspired to oppress the people of the State of Illinois and its flagship university. As the Big 10’s most populous state, Illinois had enjoyed natural advantages with respect to recruiting and facilities prior to 1967. The university continues to enjoy its status as America’s first and most prominent Land Grant Institution. Its creation is traced to the pen of the greatest of all Illinoisans, Abraham Lincoln.

The jackals waited and in 1967 as Illinois athletics stumbled and was covered in the muck known as “the slush fund,” the beasts descended on their wounded prey until the air was sucked out of Illinois athletics and it was left lifeless and wrecked.

Illinois was riding the crest of basketball and football programs that were at or near the top of the conference and poised for greatness. The basketball squad featured three future pros and the football program was emerging again, two years removed from a Rose Bowl win and led by a future NFL halfback named Cyril Pinder.

The elites and the downtrodden in the Big 10 saw scandal as an opportunity to destroy its rival and lift their own fortunes in the process. If Illinois had resisted the “gut job” proposed by fellow Big 10 presidents, it would have been banished by “the pride” to a life of exile and independent death. Instead Illinois submitted to a death by a thousand cuts that left its marquee sports in disarray and toothless.

Basketball would recover in time only to be beaten down by the cabal of Bruce Pearl, Digger Phelps and Bobby Knight in an effort to stem the tide and crush the sleeping giant as it stood ready to take its rightful place amongst the basketball powers. Whereas, basketball would recover again after a five year decline through 1995; it was football that has been permanently damaged with occasional fits and starts followed by periods of decline. Indeed, through the “slush fund” era, Illinois stars like Butkus and Grange were the brightest in the college universe and its teams were feared and revered throughout the land.

The Mike White era that began with promise and excitement was damaged and scandalized with the encouragement of mortal demons like Schembechler from Michigan. In truth, only lowly Indiana and perhaps Northwestern have enjoyed longer prolonged runs of futility than our Illini. Compare our record excluding ties prior to 1967 of 365 wins and 246 losses (60%) against a post “slush fund” record of 196 wins and 260 losses (43%). It is not hyperbole to suggest that we have never fully recovered from the events of 1967.

The jackals are not alone for we have been our own worst enemies. We have shrunk in the wake of protests and accusations and thought small while projecting weakness and inferiority. Alas, we have accepted mediocrity or worse from our own leaders while cowering with fear from elitists throwing stones from their own glass houses.

We are not worthy of our Fighting Illini moniker if we cower and hide in the face of controversy or battle. Illini Nation must arise together and take back what is ours. We, the sons of Lincoln, Reagan, and Obama must stand together with confidence and defiance to proclaim to the world that our rightful place reflects our past greatness and future excellence. We bow before no one and will fight to the last to defend our honor and bring glory to our name. We will remain unbowed in defeat with heads held high and eyes fixed on the prize which is our rightful reward. We will reclaim our identity and again take our seat at the head of our brothers’ table. Leaders, lead or get out of the way; our moment is at hand!

P.S. This blog was written prior to the OSU game. I’m not sure that game influenced my thoughts on the current season or the State of Illinois football in general.

The game featured the usual stew of penalties, turnovers, and flawed strategies. Did it ever occur to anyone that eight in the box against a running team might work? Additionally, please play to Juice’s strength and go vertical at least four times a game. Please share your frustrations with us on Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. Central Time at talkingillini.com or email us at talkingillini@yahoo.com .

Week 2 Illini Football Thoughts

The art of illusion can apply to football scores, precious metals or women wearing makeup, but all that glitters is not gold and Illinois' lopsided victory against the 1AA Redbirds leaves little luster as the game fades in our rear view mirror. The plucky, yet undermanned Redbirds, led by first year coach Brock Spack played with poise and purpose until the final whistle prevented the Illini from adding a meaningless score. In fact, the final Illini drive would have drawn howls of protest had the shoe been on the other foot.

Regrettably, we are a Program without an identity; we lack the discipline and character necessary to transform ourselves into a consistent winner, on and off the field. The coaching staff must accept responsibility for a defense that covers no one and elicited the following halftime comment form the ISU Head Coach "we've got guys running open all over the field, we just need to get them the ball" indeed they were, and ISU did get them the ball to the tune of 354 passing yards. At times, it looked like our pass defenders thought they were playing flag football and arms reach was enough to down the opponent. Hicks, Bellamy, Edwards and Hardeman appear to be playing the Cover Too. Change the scheme and alter the personnel. Thirteen penalties for 115 yards could be overlooked if it were an aberration, but sadly, that is what has become the norm from a team that lacks discipline in execution and technique. Special Teams continue to be an albatross on a team with more problems than virtues.

Big Ten experts routinely rank our talent in the upper echelons of the Conference and yet we aren't played by less talented squads with frequent regularity. I'm not ready to give up on this season or these kids, but this Staff needs to coach players up and find a way to win or forever lose the faith and confidence of Illini Nation. One winning season in five years will not suffice and the AD and Head Coach must fix this posthaste or accept full responsibility for their collective failure and bear the consequences. The upcoming schedule appears daunting with away games at improved Purdue and Indiana and a revitalized Michigan squad visiting Memorial Stadium in contests that looked like wins in the preseason and now loom as potholes on a treacherous path. In fact, there are no easy wins left on the schedule after watching our first two games. Cincinatti on the road and Fresno State at home appear as threatening clouds in a gathering storm for a team that may be reeling and beaten down from a rugged B10 schedule.

I am looking at my computer screen and I feel like I'm staring into the equivalent of the Illini Football Abyss, but all is not lost. Stop being passive and establish aggressive defensive schemes. Football is a game of controlled violence and the Illini need to define themselves as feared warriors worthy of opponents respect. Pittsburgh Steeler Coach Mike Tomlin when asked who would win last Thursdays game against Tennessee responded without hesitation, "the most violent team." Let's start by playing press coverage and blitzing from different angles when on defense. Play kids who perform with abandon within the rules and care more about winning than personal glory. Demote or fire assistant coaches based on measurable performance standards. These may be desperate times, but the talent is present and the spirit is willing. Show us leadership that speaks to the concept that we would rather die with a sword in our hand than be beaten to death with our own shields.

Game 1 Reactions

My mother taught me long ago to never speak when my anger is fresh and raw; so I waited an extra day before reflecting on the 37-9 drubbing our Illini received at the hands of the dreaded Tigers from Missouri. I have gradually worked my way through anger, denial, bargaining and depression, but as I approached acceptance, I determined that I will never accept failure or mediocrity with passivity or resignation.

Illini Nation is viewing our soap opera of a football team like a tragic opera where its demise is a fait accompli and our destiny is predetermined. A quick glance at Saturdays game is useful if we learn from the mistakes and vow to correct them. The events leading up to the game including scheduling by the Athletic Director and personnel and game planning decisions by the staff may have sealed our fate irrespective of the injuries to Benn, Dufrene and Ford. One thing is perfectly clear; no one connected to the upper echelons of the program should escape blame.

Let me pose the following question; which of the following are/is true:
1) is Pinkel a better recruiter than Zook;
2) is he a better game day strategist (this is the knock on Pinkel);
3) is he better at coaching talent "up";
4) is he a superior motivator;
5) all of the above.

As we enter the fifth addition in the year of our Zook, it's clear that if Missouri is our measuring stick, Danny Devito should be our new mascot.

For all Ron Guenther's protestations that he is a football guy, he has never selected or presided over a coaching tenure that produced a winning record. The Zook era which took on so much promise after its unexpected Rose Bowl appearance in 2007, is now a team in turmoil as it teeters on the brink. Guenther for all the facility building he has completed, has presided over one National Championship in Gymnastics and a superb tennis program that now appears to disintegrating before our very eyes.
Guenther's scheduling woes have angered sky box and premium seat holders as well as local merchants and just about anyone else who follows Illinois Football. As Zook and Illinois try to build a brand and create a culture of winning, the AD is defending the toughest schedule in the Conference which includes only six home games.

September 5th 2009, "a date that shall live in infamy" will either be remembered, like its truly serious forerunner, as monument to Zook's pluckiness and perseverance or the first line on his Illinois football obituary. We may not learn much from this weeks matchup with 1AA opponent, Illinois State, but rest assured, by mid-October, the tea leaves will be clearly read and the future of Illinois Football hangs in the balance.

Fans affections are a fickle mistress and Zook has as many detractors as fans; we shall see what he is made of in the coming weeks; stay tuned "as the world turns."