Illinois Offensive Coordinator Bill Cubit likely saved the job of Tim Beckman last fall. The 2013 Illini were not even mediocre. They were pretty bad.
However, they showed substantial improvement over the train wreck of 2012. Cubit was the main reason why, as he took Nathan Scheelhaase, a QB with a college football career in severe decline, and made him the Big Ten’s leading passer. Literally.
As today proved, the 2014 Illini are almost as bad as in 2012. We do not need to elaborate on that any further. You know how atrocious Purdue’s offense is. Yet you saw them shred the Illini to pieces today.
There is no way Tim Beckman keeps his job now. There is no parallel universe in which that decision could come even remotely close to being justified.
So do you replace Beckman with Cubit now or at the end of the year?
I say now. See what you have there. A media member who covers the Illini everyday told me at Big Ten Media Day 2013 that a big part of the reason Cubit was brought to Illinois was because of his potential to succeed Beckman. This rumor gained more credibility when the Illini decided to retain Defensive Coordinator Tim Banks after 2013. Following what was statistically the worst year defensively in Illini history, Banks kept his job.
The only logic that holds is “don’t bring in a defensive coordinator version of Cubit so that he stays put. He knows that the job could be his soon.”
There was talk Bill Cubit might bolt for Florida, or some other bigger and better programs that supposedly showed interest. Right now, most pastures look greener than Chanpaign. However the Illini gave him a one-year contract extension that included an increase in annual salary to $500,000 per year. The deal also keeps him on the Fighting Illini sideline through the 2015 season.
Smart decision.
“Cubitism” (yes, like Cubism) worked wonders with a no-name receiving corps (Steve Hull was a converted safety, Ryan Lankford came out of nowhere to become very solid, before getting injury) and made the very mediocre Scheelhaase all Big Ten. This year, look at what he’s done with wide receivers Mikey Dudek and Geronimo Allison. Both look like stars.
Dudek was not heavily recruited by anyone and Allison comes from the lowly junior college ranks. Imagine what Cubit could do with more control. Yes, his last job was leading a MAC program, but the same held true for Beckman, and Athletic Director Mike Thomas hired him.
“Bill Cubit proved to us why he is considered one of the top offensive coaches in the nation after our offense made dramatic improvement from 2012,” Beckman said in a statement when the Cubit extension was announced.
Cubit joined the Illinois staff in January 2013 and improved the total offense from 296.7 yards per game in 2012 to 426.7 yards per game in 2013. Under Cubit’s tutelage, senior quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase improved from an average of 136.1 passing yards a game to a Big Ten-leading 272.7 passing yards per game. In NCAA rankings, the Illini improved 95 places (from 120th to 25th) in first downs per game, 85 places in scrimmage plays of 20+ yards (from 122nd to 37th), 85 places in passing offense (from 107th to 22nd), 67 places in total offense (from 119th to 52nd), 64 places in passing efficient (from 102nd to 38th) and 58 spots in scoring offense (119th to 61st).
So the offense went from non-existent to actually pretty solid and fun to watch last year. The passing game, Cubit’s specialty, is pretty much the only major component of the 2014 team that isn’t a total dumpster fire right now.
Why keep Beckman around as a lame duck? Why not make the change today? It was painfully obvious from his introductory “lasagna” press conference that Beckman was in over his head. Now that he’s 1-21 versus opponents in the power five conferences…well the brutal truth that Beckman can’t handle a Big Ten program is inarguable now.
The attendance at Memorial Stadium is as bad as one can remember. The apathy for Illini football is worse than it’s ever been.
At least Bill Cubit has the presentation skills of a legitimate head coach. In the spring he filled in for Beckman handing press duties, and he lives a good impression. He doesn’t say nonsensical things like Beckman. He’s comes off a respectable elder statesman. He actually looks like he knows what he’s doing. Can’t say the same for Beckman.
Bill Cubit is not the next Mark Dantonio. He’s not the savior. But he is answer. At least for now.
Most importantly, he’s a legitimate improvement over Tim Beckman.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and very often writes The Sports Bank.net ,which is partners with Fox Sports. Read his features stories in the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. Listen to him on 1620 The Zone. Follow him on Twitter (@paulmbanks). His work has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including The Washington Post and ESPN 2