Illinois Football: Bret Bielema looking to change historical trend

A new era is on the horizon with Bret Bielema coaching his first meaningful game for the Illinois football program next Saturday.

The new era for the Illini fanbase means there is a renewed sense of hope. Just two years ago, there was some semblance of hope that Illinois could be a contender again, but most people realized there wasn’t much stability with the way the team was recruiting.

Bielema is now in place and will hopefully change the fortunes of the Illini. If you are an Illinois fan and have stuck with the team through thick and thin, you will know it has been a rough run the past few decades.

Since 2000, Illinois has only managed six bowl appearances. In those six postseason games, only two of the contests ended up going in the favor of the Illini. The one coach we had who could make a bowl game on some consistent basis, Ron Zook, was fired thanks to a new athletic director who wanted to get his guys into place.

The first year for Illinois football head coaches has not been good.

I believe Bielema is coming into a situation where he can win now. I know the roster isn’t great, but there is experience in key positions and an energy that is with the team right now.

The first year under Bielema is going to be interesting to watch considering previous Illinois head coaches struggled mightily during their first year at the helm.

Love Smith took over after a coaching change debacle. He finished 3-9 his first season. Bill Cubit coached a season for the Illini and finished 5-7. Tim Beckman’s first year with the program saw the Illini flounder to a 2-10 record. Ron Zook was before Beckman and despite his success later on, his first year was ugly at 2-9.

The worst of the worst was Ron Turner, who Zook would later replace. Turner would eventually make a couple of bowl games, but Illinois would finish 0-11 during his first year in Champaign. That is what you call rock bottom, folks.

You have to go back to 1992 to find the last Illinois coach who had a winning record in their first year at the helm. Lou Tepper finished with a record of 6-5-1 and lost in the Holiday Bowl.

Bielema has a big challenge on his hands to make this Illinois football program a winner. He has hit the ground running when it comes to recruiting, and I think his Illini team will sneak up on some people this season. Don’t be shocked if Illinois makes a bowl game and has a winning record in Bielema’s first season. It would be the first time that has happened in 29 years.