There must be a lot of cash on the table to still consider that hot mess.

Brian Williams is wearing an orange and blue tie on the news tonight and it's making me irrationally angry.

See how upset I am? I don't even know my colors anymore!

(Seriously, it looks orange and blue on my tv.)

FWIW...and I suspect some U of I fan will be scampering across BA.com to read this...Illinois is a joke.

All the things you've read about the university...especially its leadership and athletic department...is legendary across high schools in Illinois. The past 5 years have underscored their ineptitude in so many ways. 

My thoughts are that Groce will end up at Illinois. However, I received a text from a friend who is a HUGE Illinois grad/fan and he wonders: "If Groce is so good and smart, why would he ever come to Illinois."

That is all I need to know. Robert Smith (current Simeon HS coach) believes he should be the next head coach and said as much in the Simeon HS pep rally after the team returned from winning the 4A title. He essentially told everyone that if you want a Simeon player (or any city player) you better hire me. Plus, he and many Public League coaches are furious they are hiring Groce. Why? Because he's an outsider.

Illinois is a disaster and Chicago public league (and suburban leagues) are also in shambles. Everyone wants a piece of pie when Illinois comes looking for players.

Guess who paid for Chicago Public League coaches to attend the final four? Well....his first name begins with a "C" and ends in "pari"....and coaches at Kentucky.

This is a dirtbag job filled with dirtbags and if you want to win you either recruit with the dirtbags or you're out.

Sorry...this whole situation is a mess.

It's 6 p.m. in Illinois and here's what we know based on this thread:

-John Groce is still in an airplane

-It is disturbing that we can track airplanes this closely

-athena needs to adjust the colors on the TV (Brian Williams is not an Illinois fan)

-Twitter is not always reliable

-Some U of I trustees are very classy

-U of I fans do not like Groce

-OHIO fans love Groce

Medler, I owe you an apology.  I said a week ago that I believed that Illinois was still a high tier job, and that Groce should take it if he got the call.  I was completely wrong.  The longer this goes on, the uglier it looks, and I really can't believe Groce has not reconsidered based on what a hot mess the Illinois program appears to be right now.

No hurry. Our top candidate isn't available until next Tuesday, or Sunday at the earliest anyway. 

Also according to Arkley "sources" say we made an offer of 500k to Groce. 

Wanna throw more on this pile?

A pretty strong rumor is turning up with some of my U of I friends that has Craig Robinson, Michelle Obama's brother, is now on some of the BoT list of desirable coaches.

It also came up recently on the Illinois message board, but they were not connecting dots yet...

So....add Craig Robinson's name to the mess.

Illinois sucks....

Keep in mind this is (almost entirely) guaranteed money in these situations. Bruce Weber was shown the door and got a nice departing gift of 3.9 million dollars. 

Money isn't everything but even if JG fizzles out, his family is set for life if he manages it correctly. His contract is likely 10+ million at a school like Illinois. Regardless of how you slice it, that is life changing money. 

I'm not really rooting for either side at this point. I would obviously LOVE for him to come back but I also think Groce has earned this opportunity. For it to be taken away by some board of trustee members on a power trip would be pretty sad. 

So would a dream scenario be:

1. Illinois signs Groce to a hefty contract

2. U of I trustees balk, contract rescinded with a hefty buyout clause

3. Groce returns to Ohio, with a fatter wallet thanks to Illinois, and a desire to make the Final Four next season.

Illinois BOT Montgomery confirms he feels Groce is "2nd tier" and suggested Robinson:



http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/286820482c7f42e3b6dd7c93ccfea248/BKC--Illinois-Coaching-Search/

This Montgomery is talking out of both sides of his mouth...he says he's trusting AD Thomas...but then sending out notes to the other Trustees that he wants other people looked at.

This now qualifies as a "cluster."

It really just depends how it was framed. What if it was something like a Shaka Smart deal, ala stay here as long as you'd like. 

If the AD presented Groce with an 8 year deal that starts at 500K, that's nothing to sneeze at. Incentives can bump it higher but a base of 500K with lets say 5% yearly increases over the life of the contract would be:

2012: $500,000
2013: $525,000
2014: $551,250
2015: $578,812
2016: $607,753
2017: $638, 140
2018: $670,047
2019: $703,550

So an 8 year deal, starting at 500K (with 5% increases), would have a total value of 4.8 million. It's not Illinois money but that is a pretty strong contract offer if the AD was willing to put an extended deal (5+ years) on the table.

It's unlikely he finishes such a contract (he's probably bound to leave at some point) but it is certainly a ton of job security in a profession that can chew people up and spit them out.