Beckman seeks 'encouragers'
Are you a retired professional with some spare time on your hands? Tim Beckman's got a job for you.
The new Illinois football coach is looking for six to 10 "encouragers," who will keep tabs on the Illini in classes, making sure they arrive on time and sit in the first two rows.
"It's about being accountable," Beckman said. "It's about doing what's right to be the best person you can be."
It's a program Beckman first saw in use at Ohio State. When he took over at Toledo before the 2009 season, Beckman put six encouragers to work. They were paid with gear (Toledo sweatsuits) and season tickets.
At Toledo, the encouragers had a set number of players to keep track of during the school day.
"We split up the campus into six sections, so that guy could get used to seeing those kids in those classes," Beckman said. "They had an opportunity to build relationships with students and student-athletes. It was sort of an academic mentor."
When Beckman arrived at Toledo, the student part of student-athlete had to be drastically altered.
"We were able to jump our GPA up, in a matter of five semesters, from a 2.31 to a 2.94," Beckman said.
Beckman has heard positive news about the Illinois football team's academic standing. Still, there is room to improve.
"My goal is to be at 3.0," Beckman said. "You want to be a BCS football team. Well, a BCS academic football team is having 105 football players reaching that 3.0 plateau. We're not there yet."
At Illinois, the encouragers will receive clothing that is unique to the team. Beckman also will offer season tickets, "if I've got to take it out of my pocket, I'll take it out of my pocket."
Anyone interested in becoming an encourager should contact Annie White at alwhite@illinois.edu.
Bob Asmussen
Peter,
If the student-athlete are doing the right thing going to class staying out of trouble. Then the people will have nothing to report.Let get real here a very small precentage of the student-athletes will go on and play football at the next level so a education is very inportant to each and everyone of them so if that mean someone has to make sure they are in class each day then so be it. Coach Beckman If I lived closer I would love to answer your add.
Peter,
If the student-athlete are doing the right thing going to class staying out of trouble. Then the people will have nothing to report.Let get real here a very small precentage of the student-athletes will go on and play football at the next level so a education is very inportant to each and everyone of them so if that mean someone has to make sure they are in class each day then so be it. Coach Beckman If I lived closer I would love to answer your add.
PeterE, in all honesty you can't be serious with that comment. You must have been or is currently a student you didn't take your education seriously. These young men are getting the opportunity of a lifetime to get a quality education for free and still play the sport that they love, with the main requirement is to attend class and produce good grades to stay eligilble to participate on the field, period. College if I'm correct is preparing these young men for the real world, if you're not at work like you're suppose to be guess what you're not gonna have that job much longer. Beckman should be applauded for wanting to make sure that the entire team is being held accountable for doing their job. Now I do understand that we're talking about grown men who should know right from wrong and shouldn't need babysitters to keep tabs on them. But whatever has to be done to make sure everyone on the team is doing their job, make it happen. Sounds as if Beckman has a plan in place that he trust, so at least wait for the results before you want to pass judgement on his policies........... GO ILLINI
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