Friday, August 26, 2011

New Faces at DIA!!!

The Mike Thomas Era is off and running. It is good to see some new faces in the marketing area. Hopefully this means some marketing efforts in Chicago.

Bad news: Tommy Michael is now in football administration. I like Tommy personally, but we need new blood in that area.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

"Goodbye, Farewell, Amen"



Yes, it is time to say goodbye to the Fire Ron Guenther blog. When we started this blog back in 2006, it was a way to express our extreme anger at Ron Guenther and his complete mismanagement of the DIA. Our goal was nothing less than ousting him from office.


We thought that he had finally resigned in 2007, only for him to do a U-turn and continue doing stupid things like scheduling football games vs. MAC teams in Detroit. Finally, in 2010, a man came from the East to rescue us from our long Illini Nation nightmare. His name: Dr. Michael Hogan, the new President of the University of Illinois. He immediately saw the underachieving of the DIA under Lord Guenther, and decided that it was time for His Excellency to leave.


Lord Guenther's ego has done a trememndous disservice to the DIA and consequently, the University. Just think how much bigger the UI's endowment would be with consistenly good football and men's basketball programs. Hopefully, that day is soon.


Rather than rehash the myriad failures of Lord Guentehr, let us look forward to a new beginning under Mike Thomas. And above all else, stay away from Hudson, Ohio!!!! OSKEE WOW WOW!!






And yes, we are keeping tabs on Mike Thomas on the FIre Mike Thomas blog!

Friday, August 19, 2011

Mike Thomas Speaks

Sounds like he has a plan, unlike his predecessor.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

AD HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE???

AD-elect Mike Thomas is holding a press conference in St. Louis today!!!!

How many times did Lord Guenther talk to the press in his 19 year reign of error?

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Illinois=Golf School!

Hey congratulations to former Fighting Illini golfers DA Points, Steve Stricker and Mike Small (also men's golf coach) on their strong showing at the PGA Championship!

Maybe Ron Guenther should call himself a golf guy and not a football guy.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Chicago Sportswriter Says What ECI Dopes Refuse to Admit

I hate to agree with David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune, because I think 99% of his columns suck. However, he is spot on today. Mainly, Haugh mentions the pathetic lack of advertising & marketing by the DIA in Chicago. Correcting this should be one of the top priorities for Mike Thomas. And for those of you who asked, yes, there will be a Fire Mike Thomas blog that will be operational once he is officially in office!

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Analyzing The Hire of Mike Thomas

1) He hired Brian Kelly, who built Cincinnati into a BCS bowl team. Enough said.

2) He hired Mick Cronin, who walked into a bad situation post-Bob Huggins.

3) He is getting paid $475,000 which is less than Lord Guenther, so that is a win!

4) He tripled the donor base at Cincinnati, no small feat in a pro sports town.

5) We love this quote: "I think we need to be the king of the state. I think we need to be the king of Chicago." This is a direct slap at Lord Guenther, who never marketed Chicago.

6) Let's laugh at Loren Tate, whose list of things for Thomas to do consists of all the failures of his pal, Lord Guenther.

7) He is not from a white trash town like Hudson, Ohio.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

MEET THE NEW AD: MIKE THOMAS FROM CINCINNATI

Welcome, Mike Thomas, to the 217!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This guy did hire Brian Kelly at Cincinnati, that was a great hire. He also hired Mick Cronin, who has been mediocre for Cincinnati basketball.

this interview is sort of interesting. Sounds like he tried, and failed, to upgrade UC facilities. Can't be an easy thing in a bad economy in a pro sports town.

In any event, he has a big task ahead of him in the ECI.


Tate Thinks AD Search Is Nearly Over

Loren Tate thinks that the AD search is just about over. He mentions a few names, which we will now analyze:

1) Brad Bates-Miami of Ohio. Played football at Michigan under Bo Schembechler, so he is a real "Football Guy" unlike Lord Guenther. Miami of Ohio has been pretty solid in football lately.
The non-revenue sports have been strong under his watch. However, most of his experience before Miami of Ohio was as an associate AD at Vanderbilt, not exactly a sports powerhouse. Also, as a MAC guy, will he continue to play football games at MAC schools like Lord Guenther?

2) Mike Bobinski-Xavier. He has hired solid basketball coaches at Xavier, including Craig Mack (he should be on short list to replace Bruce All Mid Major), Thad Matta and Sean Miller. Impressive graduation rate for student-athletes. Also served as AD at Akron and as associate AD at Notre Dame. However, Xavier doesn't have a football program and he's been at Xavier for 11 years. How would he run the football program at a BCS school?

3) Mike Thomas-Cincinnati. Hired Brian Kelly who did a phenomenal job with Bearcats football. However, Cincinnati basketball has underachieved lately. Although academic performance has improved under his watch, it's still not great.

As we've said before, we would support Craig Tiley or Rick George. Both have UI ties and have nothing to do with the stench left behind by Lord Guenther's Reign of Error.

Tuesday, August 09, 2011

The Great Jereme Richmond

Is anyone actually surprised that former McDonald's All-American Jereme Richmond, once anointed as the savior of Illiin hoops, is in jail? We are not. The kid was in trouble back in high school, switched schools, got suspended from the team.

But Bubble Bruce, so desperate for good recruiting news, signed him up. And wow, Jereme did so much during his brief stay in Champaign....how did that work out for you, Brucie?

Wednesday, August 03, 2011

New Chancellor for UIUC Named; How Soon for a New AD?

She is Phyllis Wise, from the University of Washington. Here is an intriguing fact: she sits on the Board of Directors for Nike. Illinois is a Nike school, so hopefully she cares about having a winning sports program. In the meantime, we suggest that she ignore all phone calls and letters from Hudson, Ohio.

Thus, we assume a new AD will be named shortly. We can't wait!!!!

Monday, August 01, 2011

Are You Optimistic for Football in 2011?



Reasons to be Optimistic:


1) 8 home games! First 5 games are at home!

2) Returning quarterback

3) the Coordinators are still here

4) Lord Guenther is gawn


Reasons to be Pessimisstic:


1) Ron Zook is still our coach

2) The stench fo 19 years of Guenther ruining the program

3) This program has not gone to bowl games in consecutive seasons since 1991 & 1992.


We hear a new Chancellor will be hired this week...which means a new AD to be hired soon!