Truth & Rumors > NCAAF

Illini assistants may boycott bowl game

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09:28 AM ET 12.31 | While Illinois players were busy fitting in sightseeing of Alcatraz along with game planning for Saturday's Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl, some of their assistant coaches were busy planning another strategy. Three assistant coaches threatened not to participate in the bowl against UCLA because of a contract dispute with the school over their termination. As of Friday afternoon at the team's pep rally at Union Square, interim coach Vic Koenning was unsure if assistants Jeff Brohm, Joe Gilbert and Chip Long would be present at AT&T Park. Some of the coaches said in a Sports Illustrated article they were told they were being offered a deal for two years but the reworked contract they signed was only for one year.

Chicago Tribune

Ron Zook, Icon SMI

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December 31, 2011 09:40 AM ET

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"contract they signed" Get to work.

Hatrunner

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December 31, 2011 10:03 AM ET

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That kind of action won't help provide "leverage" in the contract dispute. But go ahead. The sidelines and press boxes are too crowded anyway.

Deep Creek

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Comment #3 has been removed

December 31, 2011 10:26 AM ET

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QUOTE(#1):

Originally posted 09:40 AM ET 12.31 by Hatrunner

"contract they signed" Get to work.

Amen!!

hbomb

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December 31, 2011 10:30 AM ET

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QUOTE(#3):

Originally posted 10:23 AM ET 12.31 by colonel

Did they hire guys that could not read? Go ahead and mess with them, then see the end of your job there for good. No way to make any brownie points guys, duhhhhhhhhh.

+1...and in my best svt impersonation

IDIOTS!

Deep Creek

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December 31, 2011 10:40 AM ET

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Not great advertising for the school either for new hires. I think they need to work this out quick.

50yearfan

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December 31, 2011 10:42 AM ET

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According to last night news they had decided to coach the game.

BackRoads

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December 31, 2011 10:54 AM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 10:42 AM ET 12.31 by BackRoads

According to last night news they had decided to coach the game.

What the hell is that avi Defualt?

Deep Creek

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December 31, 2011 11:04 AM ET

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QUOTE(#9):

Originally posted 10:54 AM ET 12.31 by Deep Creek

What the hell is that avi Defualt?

Center of the Universe...allegedly...

BackRoads

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December 31, 2011 11:33 AM ET

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Illinois is probably the worst football program in the Big 10 - except now for Penn State. Even Indiana is run better. Zook's an idiot, but, in fairness, alumni and fans expect success without the school doing much to help the effort. He did recruit well, but like Jeff Tedford at Cal, he can't put the pieces together. It's an unattractive job and it will take somebody like Beckman to get it out of the trench it's in. (Mind you, he'll be off once he establishes any record of success: Illinois is no "last stop" for anybody.) Until there is a major shakeup in all aspects, administration support, alumni support, successful and charismatic coach, stable program over several years, the football program will remain what it's really always been: a Big Ten middle to bottom dweller with a few blips.

George W. Watson

Green Acres, IL

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December 31, 2011 12:29 PM ET

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QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 11:33 AM ET 12.31 by George W. Watson

Illinois is probably the worst football program in the Big 10 - except now for Penn State. Even Indiana is run better. Zook's an idiot, but, in fairness, alumni and fans expect success without the school doing much to help the effort. He did recruit well, but like Jeff Tedford at Cal, he can't put the pieces together. It's an unattractive job and it will take somebody like Beckman to get it out of the trench it's in. (Mind you, he'll be off once he establishes any record of success: Illinois is no "last stop" for anybody.) Until there is a major shakeup in all aspects, administration support, alumni support, successful and charismatic coach, stable program over several years, the football program will remain what it's really always been: a Big Ten middle to bottom dweller with a few blips.

Sad Northwestern fan who's team has lost 2 in a row to Illinois. Northwestern, Minnesota, Purdue and Indiana are better programs than Illinois? Wake up and join the real world.

steelersfan32

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December 31, 2011 12:45 PM ET

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How much trouble do you think Illinois would have replacing these guys? They're probably a thousand high school coaches east of the Mississippi alone that would take their jobs. Not much leverage for the unhappy trio.

Rickapolis

Annapolis , MD

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December 31, 2011 12:52 PM ET

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QUOTE(#10):

Originally posted 11:04 AM ET 12.31 by BackRoads

Center of the Universe...allegedly...

Well you are old enough for it to have been the Green Hornet!

Deep Creek

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December 31, 2011 04:23 PM ET

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Well, off topic of this story. SEC is 3-0 in bowls right now if you count A&M and Missouri.

Joe Kidd #1

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December 31, 2011 04:50 PM ET

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QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 04:23 PM ET 12.31 by Joe Kidd #1

Well, off topic of this story. SEC is 3-0 in bowls right now if you count A&M and Missouri.

ha-ha-ha!

W_A_M_U?

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December 31, 2011 06:51 PM ET

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QUOTE(#16):

Originally posted 04:23 PM ET 12.31 by Joe Kidd #1

Well, off topic of this story. SEC is 3-0 in bowls right now if you count A&M and Missouri.

Naw, they still belong to The Big SWC.