August 28th, 2015 at 5:21 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
The guy should have been fired two years ago. Six wins in two years, two against D-II schools. 1-15 in Big Ten play. That's an embarrassment.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^
Whoa. Outside of some scandal or single event triggering a firing, has anyone ever heard of a coach getting the axe in the midst of fall camp?
EDIT: Okay, looks like the firing is based on "allegations" instead of football performance. That explains it.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^
Midst of fall camp? Jesus, Illinois is about to break fall camp. This is unbelievable.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^
Not really "allegations." The allegations started it, but they've been conducting an investigation and it looks like the results came out badly enough for Beckman that they felt they needed to essentially fire him for cause (not that they necessarily need cause, given that it's an at-will employment state, but I'm sure there are contractual/severance implications).
August 28th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
Beckman wouldn't be an at-will employee though, he almost certainly has a contract with a buyout if they fire him without cause.
There's also the little matter of the WBB lawsuit going on (which could conceivably lead to Bollant being fired before the season is over), and a federal judge upholding a destruction of evidence claim against their former chancellor today in a termination/free speech case. The University of Illinois appears to be a complete dumpster fire right now.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:53 PM ^
There's also a women's soccer player suing Illinois for mishandling a concussion she had suffered.
I can't see their AD keeping his job much longer either, especially once the new chancellor is hired.
August 28th, 2015 at 6:07 PM ^
Yup, Mike Thomas is a dead man walking.
August 28th, 2015 at 7:38 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 3:47 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 3:02 PM ^
Most contracts, especially ones like this, will severely water down, if not outright eliminate, a buy-out when firing for cause. This smells like a firing for cause = no money
August 28th, 2015 at 3:21 PM ^
From the press release, it's clear he was fired for cause:
Beckman will not receive the $3.1 million remaining on the last two years of his original five-year contract or the $743,000 called for if his contract had been bought out.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
Charlie Weis could come in immediately and fix this mess.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:38 PM ^
Yeah, he could bring in all of his "schematic advantages" and really help out.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:42 PM ^
If you've got an extra hundred mil to spare, why not?
August 28th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
1. B1G coaching experience
2. Would never pressure players to play through injuries
3. Has coached in Indiana, which is close to Illinois
4. Has beaten in-state rival Northwestern
5. Is kind to players and well-liked
6. Did I mention B1G coaching experience?
August 28th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 4:19 PM ^
He's also available right now...because for anyone else to leave their program and take over Illinois --- would be shameful.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
August 28th, 2015 at 2:46 PM ^
(Too soon?)
August 28th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
Problems is that Illinois runs a spread offense. And we know how well Hoke does when taking over spread offenses.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:25 PM ^
with a Sugar Bowl win? Illinois would love that.
August 28th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
Followed by a slow descent to 5 wins and worsening offenses every year? Illinois already had a strong recruiter who couldn't coach--Ron Zook.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:04 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 3:35 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 4:46 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
He was just copying his idol, Charlie Weis.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
From the Illinois press release:
During a preliminary briefing from the external reviewers, Thomas said he learned of efforts to deter injury reporting and influence medical decisions that pressured players to avoid or postpone medical treatment and continue playing despite injuries. He also said in some instances student-athletes were treated inappropriately with respect to whether they could remain on scholarship during the spring semester of their senior year if they weren't on the team.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
I hear Brady Hoke is looking for work.
Although "This is Illinois fergodsakes!" sounds a bit awkward
August 28th, 2015 at 2:36 PM ^
hoke did say he would have walked to michigan, at least this would be a shorter walk to illinois and think about what great shape he would be in.
August 28th, 2015 at 4:14 PM ^
"I would have driven to Illinois" (had they not flown me in).
August 28th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
Obviously you are joking. No program with injury-ethics issues would touch Brady Hoke, after the Shane Morris Incident being so fresh in his resume of work.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
Something ugly must have gone down there. This can't be performance-related.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
That being said... Odd timing.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^
To be honest, I don't recall the last time I paid attention to Illinois football. I didn't even know about any of that.
From reading all comments, this does sound pretty bad.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
Former WMU coach Bill Cubit named the interim coach. Expect to see the ball thrown around a lot if he stays the coach. I had the (mis)fortune of seeing Cubit coach at WMU when I was an undergrad (and the greater misfortune of watching Hoke when I was a grad student at UM).
August 28th, 2015 at 4:05 PM ^
He basically sustained what Darnell began.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:33 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^
Deserves an upvote IMO. Always.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:41 PM ^
I'm tearing up at my desk. That's tremendous.
<img>http://www.rantoulpress.com/sites/all/files/imagecache/320_width_scale/…;
August 28th, 2015 at 4:17 PM ^
Equals THE_KNOWLEDGE?
.
Yes.
August 28th, 2015 at 4:55 PM ^
is so amazing
August 28th, 2015 at 2:36 PM ^
I'm going to miss his kicked in the head by a mule when he was a boy smile. That said, I want John L. friggin Smith in there. Let's keep this paarty going!
August 28th, 2015 at 2:36 PM ^
Screw it, just go for Bob Stitt at the end of the year.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:43 PM ^
That's really their best hope for any sense of relevance moving forward.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^
ILLinois should hire either Memphis Justin Funte or Western Michigan coach PJ Fleck