Tate: Give Beckman a chance
With the stream of Tim Beckman rumors swelling into a flood, let's swim around the skepticism and give the Toledo football coach a hearty welcome.
Yes, he slipped up on us in the night. But he should have been obvious all along. The Mid-American Conference has been a proving ground for decades, and the last two coaches picked by athletic director Mike Thomas at Cincinnati were Brian Kelly and Butch Jones of Central Michigan.
Beckman's Rockets dumped Purdue 31-20 last season and played Ohio State within 27-22 in September. They concluded a second straight 7-1 Mid-American Conference season, with both losses coming to Northern Illinois (63-60 this year). They rattled off 493 yards per game this season. Toledo will play Air Force on Dec. 28 in the Military Bowl.
Beckman is a perfect fit for the criteria that the UI's Thomas laid out: a successful head coach with leadership skills, a clean record and a Midwest background. In his search, Thomas returned to familiar Ohio territory. And if the Rockets have been strong for two seasons, they're projected as even stronger next season.
Coaching is in the Beckman family blood, and he has risen steadily through the ranks, with recent stops at Bowling Green (defensive coordinator), Ohio State (defensive backs) and Oklahoma State (defensive coordinator) before taking over at Toledo in 2009.
Following a trend
It is not clear how many doors Thomas pounded, but it appears that elite coaches are not scrambling to get in line for Illinois. Thomas was seen as wading in a shallow pool.
Actually, that's true of the Big Ten generally, with the notable exception of Ohio State's hiring of super-coach Urban Meyer.
Look around. The Big Ten is not loaded with coaches who made a spectacular first impression on fans and recruits. Wisconsin and Northwestern promoted assistants without great fanfare. Iowa's Kirk Ferentz was a line coach in the NFL. Nebraska hired LSU's defensive coordinator (Bo Pelini). Minnesota dipped into the MAC (Jerry Kill) and the Michigan State Spartans took Mark Dantonio from Cincinnati. The previous stop for Purdue's Danny Hope was Eastern Kentucky.
On the national level, we are overrun with programs desperate to find the pixie dust to turn average into exceptional. Take a gander at seven others as generally comparable to the UI, and here's what we see: Arizona took Rich Rodriguez off the Michigan scrap heap; Mike Leach returned after a layoff to Washington State; Arkansas State's Hugh Freeze, topped by Illinois in its first game this season, was tabbed at Ole Miss; Southern Mississippi's Larry Fedora is headed for North Carolina; Charlie Weis is the surprising pick at Kansas; Houston's Kevin Sumlin is working through the delays to presumably wind up at Texas A&M; and June Jones had the Arizona State job, only to see the offer rescinded.
So if you're an Illini booster, and you were breathlessly anticipating a Fourth of July celebration in December, this firecracker may have some fizzle to it. We'd all love to be swept off our feet with an initial burst of inspiring oratory. But first impressions, one way or the other, won't mean much when Illinois travels to Arizona State on Sept. 8 and opens the Big Ten season against Penn State, Wisconsin and Michigan.
Looking ahead
My three main questions follow, and I am concerned about the answers.
(1) Will the UI's popular interim coach, Vic Koenning, be retained on defense? Toledo was erratic defensively, giving up 60-plus points on consecutive weekends (and winning one of them, 66-63 against Western Michigan). Beckman has a defensive background and may have leanings toward Jim Tressel's former staffers at Ohio State. And one of his closest associates is Mark Snyder, defensive coordinator for South Florida. Koenning might be a better fit as an aide to a head coach with offensive leanings.
(2) If Beckman is as strict and hard-nosed as advertised, is there something about him that will encourage increasingly lethargic adult fans and students to purchase UI season tickets?
(3) Can Beckman make a hit with Illinois high school coaches and break through with the state's blue-chippers? Toledo hasn't been much of a presence in the Chicago area, and many of these coaches were hoping to see a new UI leader with some Illinois history, most notably Oklahoma State offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
Loren Tate writes for The News-Gazette. He can be reached at ltate@news-gazette.com.
Should we give Beckman a chance? Yes. We have no choice.
Is he "underwhelming"? Yes. Very little buzz with this guy. Not a national name.
Is recruiting going to be an issue? That's probably the biggest concern. At the end of the day you need talent. He has no history with Illinois,, FL or TX recruiting circles.
Can we keep Vic Koenning? That's a huge concern. He's the one bright spot in an otherwise bad program this past year. A guy who brought a 90th or worse ranked defense into the top 10-15 in the country in defense in just two years.
Are we "settling" for what's left? It seems like it.
Was money an issue with getting top prospects? I doubt it. Ithink we could have and would have spent $3 million on the right candidate.
Was coaching at Illinois a program with below average success over the last 50 years with a lukewarm fan base an issue with top prospects? What do you think? It was THE issue.
This hire is like having expectations to go to the Pump Room to eat dinner but instead they took you to Applebees.
I agree to give Thomas and Beckman a chance to succeed.
However, I would have preferred the Monken/Koenning combination. That could have really shook the B1G up.
Yes, it appears that Beckman did a fine job at Toledo but his defenses were nothing spectacular. I just don't see this as an upgrade. Coaching in the MAC does not guarantee success at UI.
I think finding the right fit at UI, is kind of like drafting an NFL QB. It's either hit or miss.
Good luck Coach Beckman. Get visiting the State of Illinois for football talent. It's there. Lets not settle on only 2 and 3 star recruits from OH and PA.
Go Fighting Illini!!!
Big mistake and lipstick won't change this pick!
Vic Koening far superior choice, is here, on payroll, respected, head coach experience, and would build on what is solid program that competes with anyone (except last game). With a new OC, with Coach K, Illinois would be in much better hands to progess forward instead of starting over. I hope this new guy keeps most of existing staff in place.
In spite of Thomas' "rah,rah" of wanting to compete for Big Ten championships on an annual basis, Illinois is merely a Top 50-60 program, on average. Third or 4th place in the division is pretty much our highwater mark on an annual basis.
With that in mind, Beckman (or someone on that level) is not a shocking choice. Now, if he does very well for SEVERAL consecutive years (and moves on), we could be talking about raising the bar and taking the program to a higher level.
Let's see if Coach Beckman can take Ron Zook's recruits and make them play with enthusiasm and intensity. (i recall that something like that previously happened in Florida) If he does, then the team will outperform the previous 6-6 seasons and we will be on the right track. I sure hope that Beckman quickly forms a close and personal relationship with Coach Koenning. We definitely don't wan't to lose that kind of talent.
Mike Thomas has a pretty good record of hiring head coaches and looking at the Illini's schedule for next season, I see no reason that next year's team can't go at least 6-6 again and get to another bowl game. I'd like to see improvement on this year's 2-6 conference record too.
I'm hopeful that Coach Koenning will stick around. That should cure any possible issues that Toledo had on defense. It sounds like Toledo's offensive coordinator is becoming the Rockets' next head coach, so I'm wondering who will be the next offensive coordinator...
Toledo has a nice page up on Coach Beckman that's worth taking a look at. I like the values that he instills in his players and it looks like he'll run a good clean program with athletes that we'll be proud to call Illini.
Welcome to Illinois Coach Beckman!
Go Illini!
I agree, we have no choice but give him a chance. However, with all the other more logical choices for IL to go after and hopefully hit the preverbial homerun for a change, I think this is a disappointment. I see another 4 years or more of mediocracy at best. I hope Thomas has enough backbone to admit he was wrong when the time comes and pull the plug quick. Maybe the real question at that time will be was Thomas the right guy or was he the mistake hire?
Go Illini and now due to no other choice, go Beckman!
I hope that Mr. Beckman will make wise decisions very quickly and retain the fine assistant coaches already at Illinois, e.g., Vic K., DeAndre S., and others. Look at their productivity here in the Big Ten and beyond to realize they are effective coaches and great individuals. Good luck in the future. Go Illini!!!
From all accounts, it appears Coach Vic won't be retained because Coach Beckman has a defensive background (although you would not know it by the points the Rockets gave up this season) and won't be able to stand the competition. Negativity surrounding the hire will only increase if Coach Vic does not stay.
Coach Beckman probably won't even wear an orange tie at today's press conference either.
Let the depression commence . . .
Beckman is just the kind of coach we needed. How many times have we hired a guy that was the opposite of the last guy and how many big splash guys actually work out? I am hopeful he will be our Barry Alvarez or Hayden Fry and am willing to give the guy a chance. Chill out people!
I am really surprised at so much negativity and naivete as well. There could be a lot of reasons Sumlin didn't want to come here as well as Leach. Other than those 2 who else was obvioulsy so much more exciting than Beck,am. I don't see why a bunch of Big Ten assistants would make anyone happier. I like this guys pedigree and certainly like his last 2 years of work at Toledo. Seems to me he fits in well with other recent big ten hires except Pope Urban.
Good luck Coach Beckman !!!
This was so simple with a few requirements: Improve the offense to fill the seats, keep the defense solid and improve recuriting in-state. Monken as HC and Koenning as DC fit the bill perfectly. Unfortunately, the AD handcuffed himself by laying out requirements, specifically, prior head coaching experience. When plan A didn't work and he went to his B list, he couldn't hire Monken and contradict his own prerequisites. So, Illini fans get another HC with defensive experience. As I recall, that hasn't filled seats and won Big 10 championsips at Illinois. Only offensive minded coaches have won Big 10 championships....Turner, Mackovic, White.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Not my favorite hire, and to make it worse he isn't bringing his whiz-bang offense guy and lead recruiter with him either. The worst part yet is he will fire Illinois top 10 rated defense coordinator Koenning to bring in his own pals. In hisd last two gigs, Beckman wasn't known for his defenses and special teams, which ranked pretty darn bad from all I've read. Not to mention his teams were among most penalized in the country from so-called disciplinary coach.
In 4 years the AD will be searching yet again for a new coach to escape mediocrity.
1. He isn't even the best coach in the MAC- that would be Solich.
2. It will only take 1-2 years of bad recruiting to be right back to the TURNER YEARS!
3. Actually if the recruits start backing out 1 by 1 then maybe our D*&# A$$ AD can figure out, bad move. He's 21-16 in three years of the mack and won only 1 out of conference game this year - against New Hampshire. Last year went 8-5 and lost to an average AZ team 41-2, Wyoming!!!!, Boise by 43, NIU by 35 and FIU. Not showing me much to be moving up!
I'm usually one of the biggest optimist around but WOW! Until proved otherwise, Thomas you are ignorant.
I know Tate is usually aweful in his diagnoses, but even he has to sell something positive about this. What can you do? What can you say that will actually matter? Nothing.
I dont get it? Offense is the problem for the last couple of years and instead of hiring an offense minded coach, we replace the brightest defensive coach we have had in decades with, .........(drumroll please)........ a less capable defensive coach? (insert The Jefferson's theme music here for sarcasm) Was MT confused about what the problem was and what the the fans were desperately wanting? The disconect between the University eggheads and the fan base, stumbles into yet another decade.
I was expecting "excitement" and "he got his man" etc. Like Hollywood and Microsoft, the fantasy leading up to the event was so much better than the release of the end product.
Offense was not the problem last year. Remember the running back who went to the NFL. This year it faltered once it hit the B10. The overall problem at the UI is who to recruit. This university will not allow just anyone in. Zook seemed to have a disciplene problem in his program overall. This coach can correct that, however will he be able to recruit the kids who understand the need for disciplene. Outside of Coach Vic who I really liked and hoped he would get the job this guy is as good a choice as any. He has built a program before and had success. Now he gets to start over and build another program at the UI.
TATE has to sell this nothing hire.....you sure gonna see alot of empty seats this year. I can see Thomas calling Tate now and saying.."...can you help out a bit on this small fry for me." Monken yes, Monken+Koenig= BIGGER TMES. A famous quote:
" You can put a tuxedo on a pig...but it's still a pig".
MR. THOMAS...BAD, BAD FIRST STEP!!!!!!!!!!
How can Mke Thomas be so confused? If you can't get your 1st, 2nd, or third chioce (and by all accounts mike could not) than give the fans some hope and bring in Monken. But Beckman pretty soon the News Gazatte will have to be head cheerleader and spinner again because this will not sell or keep people coming to games. And as a fan why should I buy this product? Fans are STARVING for sucess and WANT a reason to support the Illini and you deliver Beckman?
I'm speechless
Well-said, Illini Fan 78 -- Saint Tate is already spinning it above. He has to go to great lengths to muzzle fans and bellow that most Big ten coaches come from lackluster or modest beginning and so -- don't criticize this hire
Here's hoping Beckman isn't afraid to skip kissing the Saint's ring.
How can he skip kissing the ring? He has to, the only ones that publically want him right now are MT, Tate, Assmusson and the Kool Aid drinkers?
WTF? i may have to ditch the wife and kids and go to Lake of the Woods with some Vodka for the weekend, scream to the trees until i exhaust myself with the futility of it all and can come to grips with my fate.
Long time Fans want success, no doubt..........But unlike the "4G I-phone instant gratification" crowd these days.......many of us are willing to give the guy a realistic chance and a vote of confidence.
It's not worth tearing your insides up over.......we can't change it anyway.........so stop the madness and relax. We'll know soon enough what he's capable of.
ipsofacto.....if you are referring to me having 50 years left..........HAH! Maybe more like 10 if I'm lucky. I've been going to games since you could buy a ticket and sit down about anywhere you wanted in the end-zone for a Big Ten game. That was back in the mid 60's when they were pretty sad at times..........not to mention the Basketball seasons!
Comments
IlliniHQ.com embraces discussion of Illini sports. We welcome you to contribute your ideas, opinions and comments, but we ask that you avoid personal attacks, vulgarity and hate speech. we reserve the right to remove any comment at its discretion, and we will block repeat offenders' accounts. To post comments, you must first be a registered user, and your username will appear with any comment you post. Happy posting.