August 28th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
Nice timing Illinois!
August 28th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
Apparently they had the same professor as Dave Brandon in "Introduction to Firing Coaches 110"
August 28th, 2015 at 2:31 PM ^
That's what happens when you skip right past "Firing Coaches 101"
August 28th, 2015 at 7:19 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 9:29 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 7:37 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 7:37 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 9:43 PM ^
This is about the AD trying to keep his job. UI sports and upper admin are in awful shape. The AD has similar problems all over - women's basketball has racism accusations and assistant coach run off the team because he's hated so badly and women's soccer has stories that are a lot like Beckman's. These problems lead to major lawsuits, not just losses.
The univesity, though, is even worse. The chancellor and provost have both left this month with e-mail scandals that impressively resemble Hilary Clinton's except here they've found serious wrongdoing.
Here's the AD saying "I don't feel like my job's on the line" months before this even happens. Obviously, his job's on the line. My hunch is it's only the power vacuum that's keeping him there and he's hoping things blow over before anyone pays attention again. I doubt that'll work.
August 28th, 2015 at 9:49 PM ^
I see someone else already had the "Brady Hoke is available" meme down lower on the thread!
August 28th, 2015 at 2:27 PM ^
Odd timing...in the midst of an undefeated season.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
This is weird timing. But, it's Illinois, so...
August 28th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
I'd laugh and say "good timing", but really, any time is good timing for this guy. Illinois' desert wanderings continue.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
There must be some bad stuff going on for them to fire him NOW. Wow. Also, I have a college buddy whose son is a QB there now, just starting freshman year. Must be really disappointing for those kinds of kids who are just starting.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:39 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 2:41 PM ^
I am waiting for the TMZ story to come out....
August 28th, 2015 at 3:03 PM ^
Exactly ... this is really odd timing. There's more to this than just bad coaching.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:06 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 3:18 PM ^
for their last semester. They could have fired him earlier for being a bad coach. Waiting for the investigation allows them to fire him for cause and void his buyout. Bill Cubit should be a decent interim coach, a step up for sure.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:38 PM ^
step up.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:12 PM ^
If what they said in the link is true, more than enough to fire him even with this timing. There were more than a few people here calling for Brady Hoke's head after the Morris incident last year. It seems that Beckman was doing that sort of thing intentionally. It seems to me that these types of things properly result in a firing, no matter the unfortunate timing.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:28 PM ^
And this will change the outcome of their season how?
August 28th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
It will improve it. Obviously.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:30 PM ^
Pretty sure this has nothing to do with wins and losses.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^
August 29th, 2015 at 11:23 AM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 4:33 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
B1G pre-season coaches press conferences will never be the same.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:32 PM ^
edit since it's blurry: "University of Illinois director of Athletics Mike Thomas dismissed head football coach Tim Beckman on Friday, citing preliminary results of an external review into allegations involving the program.
Thomas said the timing is unfortunate with the season one week away. But based on preliminary findings, it was in the best interest of the student-athletes to act now rather than when a final report is issued and publicly released, which likely will occur during the season.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:53 PM ^
There's your answer on Illinois' timing. Illinois is a joke, but they are trying to sidestep an even larger disaster when the "final report" comes out.
If they can say they eliminated the Head Coach as soon as they understood the allegations, at least the AD and the school can clamber into the lifeboats.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:14 PM ^
To me, he will always be Illinois AD Mike Thomas (NTMTOTMT). He's not the OSU WR or my brother.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:56 PM ^
i wonder if this opens up ILL to lawsuits from former players.
August 28th, 2015 at 4:46 PM ^
Quite the mess there.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:29 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 2:35 PM ^
Schiano
August 28th, 2015 at 2:50 PM ^
Bring back Zook!
August 28th, 2015 at 2:58 PM ^
I understand he brings a decided schematic advantage. [Edit - Some folks beat me to the suggestion. The suggestion itself still remains sound, though. Just ensure Charlie can use his "name your price" tool.]
Also, holy shit, Illinois! Unless Beckman was caught in a Jared Fogle-type situation (and no indication that he was), who the hell fires their coach less than two weeks before a season begins?
Trick question. You do Illinois, Of course you do!
August 28th, 2015 at 3:03 PM ^
I imagine if they're firing him with cause, which they are, they pretty much have to do it as soon as their internal report determines that he violated injury reporting policy. If they wait for him to coach any games, he'd have a case that he was being fired for on the field results (which would require paying the rest of his contract) rather than endangering player safety.
In essence, they get rid of a coach they were going to fire anyway and save the $3.1 million they would have had to pay him.
August 28th, 2015 at 3:16 PM ^
That's a thoughtful explanation, but I'm not sure I buy it. If it's a cost-savings driven decision, it seems awfully penny-wise and pound-foolish. Assuming it's cost-savings driven, you could use the infraction constituting "cause" as leverage, and renegotiate his salary from the end of the university's gun.
As I think about this, and your explanation, I wonder if there was some infraction that was sufficiently scurrilous (sp?) in nature to justify summary discharge due to optics/liability. Examples would include physical abuse of players, racial incidents, domestic violence, etc. (Again, I've no evidence that this is in play - just speculatin'.)
August 28th, 2015 at 2:37 PM ^
Row the Boat right across Lake Michigan. When's the last time that a MAC to B1G coaching move didn't work out?
In all seriousness, though, it would be a great fit. Illinois' program needs some personality right now and Fleck's got it.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:47 PM ^
I would hope Fleck has enough class not to abandon his team right before the season. Illinois should just name an interim coach from amomg the curent staff, then get Fleck in December or January.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:55 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 3:18 PM ^
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August 28th, 2015 at 2:46 PM ^
August 28th, 2015 at 2:48 PM ^
August 29th, 2015 at 12:24 AM ^
Intriguing, but wasn't Beckman fired for making his injured players continue to play? Seems like Hoke would be the last person to hire, maybe outside of Mike Leach.
I am curious what Hoke can do without DB breathing down his neck.
August 28th, 2015 at 2:59 PM ^
BOOOOO, give my team another year or two before we lose our best asset.
August 28th, 2015 at 9:55 PM ^
they may lose their coach. I hope this year is great since it looks like it could be the only year with Fleck. Hopefully, if he does leave, they find a good replacement. The team should have talent with the guys he has brought in although the current recruiting class could fall apart if he leaves.
August 28th, 2015 at 4:48 PM ^
Not anyone FBS calibur at least. They'll probably promote an assistant as an interim HC and hire someone next year.
$5 says Illinois goes 1-11