Cowboy John L. goes out with a bang February 7, 2007

In this New York Times article, John L. Smith (and many others) wonders about the legitimacy of Illinois’ top-15 recruiting class.

Feb. 7, New York Times: John L. Smith, who was recently dismissed as the head coach at Michigan State, expressed a view shared privately by many rival coaches and recruiters: “If they had a winning program and all of that, it would be a different deal. If they had the greatest facilities in the world, then maybe they could sell them. But what are they selling?”

He added, “Where there’s smoke, there’s probably fire.”

University figures claim strong local ties to all the recruits as well as the promise of playing time and potential. That still leaves some people mystified, considering Illinois has won two conference games over the last four seasons and has some of the worst facilities in the Big Ten.

“People are scared of what they don’t understand,” said Marvin Austin, a former Illini recruit who has since narrowed his choices to North Carolina and Florida State. “And I don’t think they understand why kids are going to Illinois.”