Quote:Illinois abruptly fired coach Tim Beckman one week before the start of the season Friday after an investigation of player mistreatment allegations revealed he had meddled in medical issues and inappropriately treated athletes who remained on scholarship after leaving the team.

With three of his programs under scrutiny, athletic director Mike Thomas said the timing was unfortunate but “it was in the best interests of student-athletes to act now.” Thomas said the final report of the investigation would not be completed and publicly released until during the season.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nca.../71318498/

I just saw our coach on some list of possible replacements that Athlon put out for Beckman.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football...n-illinois

I feel like this close to the season it's going to be hard to hire someone out from under somebody else unless you offer at TON of money. It would seem hiring from the inside for the season might be the best approach or pull someone out of "retirement."

(08-31-2015 08:24 AM)boroeagle2 Wrote:  I just saw our coach on some list of possible replacements that Athlon put out for Beckman.

http://athlonsports.com/college-football...n-illinois

Looking at that list, I'd say you're pretty safe . . . . .

(08-31-2015 08:26 AM)TrueBlueAlum Wrote:  I feel like this close to the season it's going to be hard to hire someone out from under somebody else unless you offer at TON of money. It would seem hiring from the inside for the season might be the best approach or pull someone out of "retirement."

I figured Illinois specifically would go interim for this year and look to hire permanently after the season, so that wasn't so much a concern. But if we have another great year, I'm sure CWF will be getting mentioned for this and many other jobs as well, just the nature of the beast at our level.

So this guy was their coach?

Not sure how much money Illinois has to offer a coach. They aren't exactly a powerhouse in football. Taking that job is akin to taking the UAb job, it'll be an uphill battle and could kill a career. I would expect to be an OC or DC that wants that first head coaching job to take it. I would think CWF could get a better offer with another good/great season at GaSo.

(08-31-2015 08:45 AM)Usajags Wrote:  Not sure how much money Illinois has to offer a coach. They aren't exactly a powerhouse in football. Taking that job is akin to taking the UAb job, it'll be an uphill battle and could kill a career. I would expect to be an OC or DC that wants that first head coaching job to take it. I would think CWF could get a better offer with another good/great season at GaSo.

Wouldn't Illinois be that state's flagship school? Maybe I'm missing something, but seems to be coaching Illini would be THE college football job to have in that state.....

Agree it's probably not an easy place to win. No recent history of success there, but I think Dick Butkus played for 'em.

(08-31-2015 12:46 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  Wouldn't Illinois be that state's flagship school? Maybe I'm missing something, but seems to be coaching Illini would be THE college football job to have in that state.....

Agree it's probably not an easy place to win. No recent history of success there, but I think Dick Butkus played for 'em.

Key words, "in that state" --- it's Illinois.

(08-31-2015 12:51 PM)galojah Wrote:  

(08-31-2015 12:46 PM)gsu95 Wrote:  Wouldn't Illinois be that state's flagship school? Maybe I'm missing something, but seems to be coaching Illini would be THE college football job to have in that state.....

Agree it's probably not an easy place to win. No recent history of success there, but I think Dick Butkus played for 'em.

Key words, "in that state" --- it's Illinois.

Yankee state or not, UI is big ... got an enrollment of 43,000 plus (with grad students tossed in). And I went & looked up the history. They got a little history. More than some other schools I've seen.

its definitely an uphill battle for any coach, the first question anyone is going to ask the administration is, how much time are you going to give me to turn the program around, because its probably going to take, minimum, 3 years before you start to see real progress. As far as the GS coach, unless he just wants the hell out of Statesboro, I don't see why he would be really interested in that position, he is a good coach, and better schools, with stronger programs will come calling soon enough.

Illinois is in a horrible state of disarray right now, and it's not just the athletics program scandal, but also with the head chancellors of the University that are engulfed in an email scandal that has caused several to step down.

That said, it's still undoubtedly the best college football job in the state of Illinois, with a pretty good (by Big Ten country standards) recruiting in base in Chicagoland. The school has a massive endowment and donor base, but the mediocrity of the football program over the last two decades has worn down interest statewide. A coach that could step in and reestablish recruiting dominance in Chicago and produce consecutive 8+ win seasons would be revered like Bear Bryant. From a resources and potential perspective, there's no reason Illinois cannot or should not be as competitive as Michigan State or Wisconsin.

Still, Notre Dame is and always will be Chicago's number 1 college football team.

(08-31-2015 01:03 PM)Redbird Ray Wrote:  Illinois is in a horrible state of disarray right now, and it's not just the athletics program scandal, but also with the head chancellors of the University that are engulfed in an email scandal that has caused several to step down.

I love a good scandal. What's the poop?