Resolutions for 2007

1) Fire Ron Guenther.

2) Failing that, obtain an explanation from the University of Illinois Board of Trustees regarding why it chose to give Coach Guenther a 20% pay raise given the horrible state of the football program, the main revenue sport.

3) Count the ways Ron Guenther spends his annual $500,000 salary.

4) Talk to schools like Lousiana-Monroe, North Texas, and Utah State about playing Illinois.

5) Figure out why Ron Guenther is called the "best AD in the Country!"

6) Write about the failings of the media to criticize Coach Guenther.

7) Pray that the football team finally makes a bowl game.

What to do with Assembly Hall?

Ah yes, the annual debate about renovating Assembly Hall has begun anew. A state of the art multi-purpose facility when first built in 1963, it is an awful place to watch a basketball game. (Hey I love the home court advantage, the Orange Krush, etc., I am just saying try to watch a game in the upper levels of C Section sometime.

The AH is not owned by the DIA but by the University. Students continue to pay for its use, however. Should it be retrofitted or should a new arena be built? Personally, I'd prefer that the DIA and fundraising whiz Ron Guenther come up with the cash money to build a new arena, solely for basketball. (yes, the women can play there, on the condition that someone other than Theresa Grentz is the head coach). The DIA is the main moneymaker for the AH; far exceeding concerts and the like. I agree with Coach Guenther that if a renovation project takes place, and the DIA is expected to come up with most of the funds, that the DIA should control AH. Build a new arena, impress recruits, and best of all, the DIA would control the revenue stream (i.e. not have to pay rent to play at AH. The women's team kills the DIA by having to pay rent and have 1000 fans at best show up for games). Plus, the DIA would control what events took place and not have to take a backseat to Spongepants Bob or whatever event comes to the AH.

BTW, Ron Guenther declined comment for the story!

Thank you, Bob Asmussen!

In today's chat on the Champaign News-Gazette website, Bob Asmussen, the N-G's beat reporter for Fighting Illini football, agrees with the theory that Ron Guenther needs to "dial down" the nonconference schedule for football.

Playing two BCS league schools while you are trying to rebuild makes no sense.
Put me in charge and Illinois would be playing four home nonconference games
against directional schools and I-AA.

Thank you Bob!!!! Finally, someone in the Champaign news media who makes sense and isn't a shill for Coach Guenther!!!! A future blog entry will discuss the shortcomings of the media in failing to criticize Ron "Football Guy" Guenther.

I blogged about the dumb football scheduling in a 2 part series in October.

Another mistake by the DIA

Unbelievable. This just gives the Chicago media another reason to laugh at Illinois.
Anyone remember the Sugar Bowl ticket debacle that allowed LSU fans to get tickets to the game because of mistakes in the ticket office?

United Center game-It's a Farce

Hey Coach Guenther, if you're going to schedule a game at the United Center for the fans who live north of interstate 80, can't you make it against a respectable opponent? UIC? And then you wonder why the game didn't sell out and there were sections in the 200 level that were completely empty? *BOGGLE*

Anyone remember when Illinois played Bradly in the United Center? I think it was 1998 or so. The place was empty. Really bad.

The Chicago Sun-Times is pumping this guy to succeed Guenther. Does he think the football schedules are ok as is?????

More Parking Woes?

I heard that the DIA is going to reallocate parking based on I-Fund levels and priority points.
Apparently the DIA is getting ready to do some “major changes/overhauls” of their ticketing and priority parking policies based on I-Fund points guidelines, etc.

My fear is that with some long-time season ticket holders in the West Balcony being moved for 2007 due to renovations, I wouldn’t be surprised if those in the Blue football parking lot are moved and the Blue Lot becomes a higher priority lot so that the people from West Balcony who are now in the East Stand can get to their new East Stand seats easier.

I just wish (maybe it’s a waste of energy) that when the DIA changes or amends its policies, that the DIA would at least INFORM people BEFORE the changes take place.

Guenther's Hiring Practices=Train Wreck

Another beef I have with Ron Guenther (yes, I have a laundry list!) is his reflexive, almost knee-jerk hiring practices.

Look at football. Guenther doesn't like Lou Tepper (a/k/a Coach Death Penalty) who is a defensive-minded coach who doesn't know squat about offense. So he fires Tepper and hires Ron Turner based on the recommendation of Michael McCaskey of the Chicago Bears-barf!) Ron Turner is an offensive-minded coach who neglects to coach defense. Turner also didn't like recruiting, the lifeblood of all college sports. (Remember when Turner used to say he wanted to be done recruiting by Christmas?) So Guenther fires Turner and hires Ron Zook, a great recruiter who critics say can't coach.

In men's basketball, he pushes Lou Henson out and hires Lon Kruger, a guy who some say can't recruit. Kruger leaves for the NBA (no buyout clause in the contract?) and Guenther hires Bill Self, a/k/a Bail $elf, a guy who has a great rep as a recruiter but is perceived as a guy looking for his next job. Self leaves for Kansas and Guenther hires Bruce Weber, a great Xs & Os coach who is considered "loyal" and won't leave but has trouble recruiting top players.

Also, the track record of Illinois in hiring minority coaches is quite poor. Wayne Angel, the track coach, is the first minority head coach that I recall being hired by Coach Guenther. Illinois & Purdue remain the only two Big 10 schools who have never had minority head coaches in football or men's basketball, the main revenue sports. Why is that? Also, did Guenther ever consider Rick Majerus to replace Lou Henson? Would Guenther hire a fat coach?