Illinois Head Coach Beckman Trying to "Plug" His Troubles; NCAA Violation to Be Reported
October 8th, 2012 at 12:53 AM ^
Yeah, he's dipping Skoal.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:03 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:12 AM ^
None of that pussy Skoal! Right dad?
October 8th, 2012 at 12:55 AM ^
Pretty stupid rule IMO
October 8th, 2012 at 1:11 AM ^
a stance against the use of tobacco products years ago. Its a simple rule and easy to follow.
Every athletic department at every level has some kind of rule against using tobacco products.
October 8th, 2012 at 2:16 AM ^
the youth leagues in almost every sport. I don't think anything terrible should happen to UofI for this, but come on people. If you're making what Beckman makes you should be able to find substitues for these four hours per week, thirteen times per year (twelve in Illinois' case).
October 8th, 2012 at 9:27 AM ^
If Hoke can give up food on gameday, Beckman should be able to give up tobacco on gameday
October 8th, 2012 at 10:14 AM ^
Either it's just the camera angles, or Brady Hoke has been giving up food a lot more than just on gameday.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:16 AM ^
I do think he's been looking rather svelt lately.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:52 AM ^
maybe a little of both
October 8th, 2012 at 8:59 AM ^
Coaches and players are role models. Modeling behavior that is proven to be hazardous to your health is not a good idea for the school or the NCAA, especially when it comes to an actual athletic event.
October 8th, 2012 at 9:15 AM ^
If coaches are role models then about half of them should be forced to lose weight. Obesity kills as many or more people than tobacco.
October 8th, 2012 at 9:18 AM ^
You might be right, but it's easier to enforce "Don't chew tobacco during a game" than "Lose 50 pounds."
Also, being fat isn't illegal for people who are under 18. Chewing tobacco is.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:29 AM ^
I don't disagree with you about tobacco as I happen to think it's a disgusting habit. I still believe that a coach should be in good physical condition if he is going to lead and teach young athletes. I've always had a problem with fat adults telling kids how important it is to be in great physical shape. (see Charlie Weis)
October 8th, 2012 at 10:06 AM ^
I've read most of your responses here and generally agree. I just wonder if your tone (and the tone of others getting on their soap box) would change if you realized how many of the current UofM coaches dip. Not just throughout the week in practice/meetings, but on gameday. Hoke may not anymore given his position...however when he was DLine coach in the late 90s early 00s, I know for a fact he did. Unfortunately it's part of the culture. Also, we should differentiate high school coaches and college coaches at big time BCS schools on this point. Different atmospheres.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:15 AM ^
I said the same thing(s) when Tony Gibson was dipping on the sideline at Michigan a couple years ago.
October 10th, 2012 at 3:20 PM ^
Fair enough, I applaud your consistency.
I get why the Beckman thing got blown out of proportion...he threw in a chaw on national TV. Generally, though, coaches/players/staff of big time college football programs aren't making their "bad habits" a spectacle. Further, I highly doubt a player would see a coach dipping and choose to dip for that sole reason - it's actually more probable that his peers would be the one to influence him in one direction or the other. This is different in high school where a 15 year-old may give it a try because his position coach is always dipping.
October 8th, 2012 at 12:01 PM ^
In the Air Force it's the same thing. People are asked and paid to do dangerous things, because they are necessary or valued, yet those same people are asked to carry out a PC war against tobacco use.
In the big scheme of things, it seems silly.
October 8th, 2012 at 12:59 AM ^
Dipping is one of those things that is awful and disgusting, and you can't rationalize doing it, but you catch yourself doing it and enjoying it for no good reason.
Kind of like housing a large pizza or a dozen donuts by yourself.
What I'm saying is Kansas should have to self report every time Charlie Weis takes down a Hot N Ready by himself.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:13 AM ^
If housing a Hot N Ready is an NCAA crime... well... good thing I played in the NAIA...
October 8th, 2012 at 9:56 AM ^
you guys are talking about when you were like 17, right? because if not, i mean, just how big are you guys? i couldn't eat an entire large pizza if i wanted to.
October 8th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
Long past the point of growing, and I can put down a Hot N Ready lickety split. And I'm underweight, given my height. Put me on a hiking trail for 10 miles, and I can put down two.
Moral of the story: it's all about your metabolism.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:01 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:37 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:02 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:07 AM ^
The equivalent of farting in public, except with less effect on other people.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:12 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:15 AM ^
No, but butthole decay is a very serious problem. Caused by a lot of fast food. And pick your poison, a decaying butthole, or a decaying face? It's a lose lose situation.
October 8th, 2012 at 4:31 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:11 AM ^
I've watched parts of two or three Illinois games this season and was really amazed at how awful they've become--particularly since Zook actually left them a fair amount of talent on the roster.
I wouldn't normally expect a school to consider firing a coach after just one season, and there is a long way yet to go this year. But already Beckman's had the embarrassing flap with trying to recruit Penn State players, there's this stupid violation over chewing tobacco, and the product he's putting on the field is absolutely atrocious. At some point you've got to start thinking about cutting your losses. A couple more incidents like this and I would think he could be looking at an early hot seat.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:51 AM ^
Did you see Zook's product. Talented but uncoached athletes are a disaster. You have to give a guy two years at least.
October 8th, 2012 at 2:12 AM ^
I don't like seeing coaches get fired before they've had a legitimate chance to show what they can do, which one year pretty much never is. But when you're getting blown out by 4+ TDs every week, you can't afford to be making an ass of yourself with things like chewing tobacco or trying to raid Penn State's roster. I certainly don't think he's in any danger of being fired based on what has happened to date. But if Beckman keeps losing and keeps having these little mini-tempests, people are going to start losing their patience.
October 8th, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^
please don't fix Illinois until after the game.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:12 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:14 AM ^
Is this really what college football has come to?
Somehow this crap is not OT?
Sure, it's a violation but its as meaningless as Ohio State giving cars to players...the outcome will be the same (nothing).
October 8th, 2012 at 1:14 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:16 AM ^
Dude... give him at least 3 minutes to log into his alternate account before you call him out for an opinion.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:17 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 9:01 AM ^
That was just his diabeetus medication.
October 8th, 2012 at 9:10 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 1:20 AM ^
it could give him some street cred with players? clearly he's not going to get any by winning games
October 8th, 2012 at 1:34 AM ^
Also when did dipping become an extreme health hazard?
October 8th, 2012 at 2:22 AM ^
Ohio st had the same violation last year with Vrabel
October 8th, 2012 at 3:17 AM ^
I've been free of the stuff for 56 days now. A monster of a habit that started as a sophomore at Michigan many, many years ago. I can totally understand why he felt the urge.
I miss it but I am glad I stopped (plus I moved to China and they don't sell it here). Beckman needs to visit KillTheCan.org
October 8th, 2012 at 3:22 AM ^
Keep it up, man.
October 8th, 2012 at 1:06 PM ^
Keep up the good work.
October 8th, 2012 at 6:28 AM ^
October 8th, 2012 at 10:57 AM ^
or he could roll it up and smoke it .. but if he is a role model he should vaporize it.
October 8th, 2012 at 5:23 PM ^
that is not appropriate!!!!
and vaporizors are awesome... so i hear...
October 8th, 2012 at 7:44 AM ^