Firing your Head college football coach a week before the season starts is a very drastic measure. So these are drastic times at the University of Illinois. Tim Beckman, who went 12-25 (4-20 in Big Ten play) during his three years leading the Illini, has been dismissed by Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas.
Thomas, himself on very thin ice, will address the media today at 3 pm central. The presser will be streamed live at Fighting Illini.com
Offensive Coordinator Bill Cubit will be installed as interim Illini football coach. There were many grounds for dismissal regarding Tim Beckman- he’s extremely poor record, the miserable attendance, the rapidly declining fan interest and media attention in the program.
However, it was the investigation into serious allegations of abuse that finally sealed his fate. Preliminary results of the investigation were found today and that’s why Beckman was dismissed at the most inopportune of times.
Related: Five early candidates to replace Tim Beckman
Related: the ten funniest verbal gaffes of Tim Beckman
Here’s an excerpt of the press release just sent out by the University today.
“The preliminary information external reviewers shared with me does not reflect our values or our commitment to the welfare of our student-athletes, and I’ve chosen to act accordingly,” Thomas said. “During the review, we have asked people not to rush to judgment, but I now have enough information to make this decision in assessing the status and direction of the football program.”
Thomas said he has met with players and staff to inform them of the decision and reiterated that the health and well-being of student-athletes is the top priority throughout the athletic department’s 21 programs.
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.
“Both of those findings are unsettling violations of University policy and practice and do not reflect the culture that we wish to create in athletic programs for our young people,” Thomas said. “I expect my coaches to protect players and foster their success on and off the field.”
He said the review continues and a final report has not yet been issued. To date, more than 90 individuals have been interviewed by the Franczek Radelet law firm and 200,000 documents have been reviewed, along with a large volume of practice and game video from Beckman’s three years as head coach.
In other words, what cooked the Tim Beckman goose was the manner in which he mishandled injuries, and tried to make injured players keep playing, it seems. One piece of good news is that the investigation found no findings of abuse tied to newly installed interim Head Coach Bill Cubit. Also, due to his gross negligence, Beckman will receive no financial severance package.
He will receive neither his $743,000 buyout nor a single penny of the $3.1 million left on his contract.
Another positive in this situation is that it finally brings closure to the situation and inspires more interest in the season. Fans, alumni, students and media alike will now be more engaged in a season that had didn’t have much of a pulse Friday morning.
Still, a horrible, terrible situation, but there are some silver linings.
Here’s our preliminary list of Tim Beckman replacements. Also, is Mike Thomas next on the chopping block? Don’t be surprised if he’s dismissed next.
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is part of the FOX Sports Engage Network. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes to the Chicago Tribune RedEye edition. He also appears regularly on numerous talk radio stations all across the country. Catch him Tuesdays on KOZN 1620 the Zone.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram