Coaching changes in college football signal a few different things, good and bad, for a program. The bad side of a coaching change means that your program is not living up to the expectations of someone. This certain someone could be the Athletic Director or maybe it is your top booster that is bringing in the money to renovate facilities.
On the other hand, a coaching change can bring a new sense of hope for a program. The team is down in some way and that means the fan base is down as well. A switch in coaches can energize more than just the fans; it can spark interest in new recruits as well.
I felt that spark, that energy, in 2011 after the Illinois football team lost their last six games of the regular season and fired then Head Coach Ron Zook. There was going to be a coaching change and Illinois was going to start winning again.
This firing was sort of a distress signal that was sent out to the Illinois fans to let them know that they realize that the team is not living up to the standards of Illinois football.
Zook was one of the best recruiters in the history of the Illinois football program but he was missing the ability to translate that talent onto the field. We all seen those recruiting classes that he brought in but every year besides for one we got let down. The six losses that ended that season also ended Zook’s run with the Illini. He ended up only having two winning seasons in Champaign.
But with this coaching change came a new light, a new hope, for Illinois football fans. We all hoped that the hiring process was going to bring in a big name that would make us Big Ten contenders once again.
Well on December 9, 2011 Illinois hired Tim Beckman to lead the Illini into the future. I remember thinking who the hell is this guy? While I didn’t understand the hiring I still had to keep hopes he was a diamond in the rough.
Now we fast-forward to February 2015. I am sitting here, as the cold weather screams on by my window and my hands and feet finally start to regain feeling, and I think was this a good hire? Could Illinois have set their goals higher? Did they try to go after the big fish and just came up short?
These questions come to mind quite frequently when I think about Illinois football but there is one question that always comes to mind. Are the Illinois fans happy about the direction this once prestigious football program is going?
You can make a great case for the fans that are not happy with the program and the fans who think the program is heading in the right direction.
I hear you Illinois fan that wants Beckman fired because he hasn’t had a winning season in the three years he has been at the helm. I understand what you are feeling Illinois fan who would like to see a bowl victory over a power 5 conference school let alone a Conference USA school. The first couple of recruiting classes that Beckman has had have been below average at best, I understand this.
I have even had some doubts myself this past season as Illinois looked like they were going to go another season as the laughing stock of the Big Ten. But that didn’t happen and before I jump on the bandwagon of wanting Beckman gone I have to clearly look at where he started and where he is now.
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Looking back at Beckman’s Toledo days he had success there, while it was only the MAC, it was still success. He improved his team every year he was there and then he took the job at Illinois.
Illinois was coming off of a disappointing season that ended with a coach being fired. In addition to the firing, the Illini also lost a great deal of leadership heading into the next season.
Illinois had their leading rusher, Jason Ford, leading receiver, A.J. Jenkins, leader in sacks, Whitney Mercilus, and two of the top three leading tacklers, Ian Thomas and Tavon Wilson all leave the program because of graduation or the NFL was calling.
Heading into 2012 the Illini lost five of their starting eleven on offense and four of their starting eleven on defense.
This is what Beckman was stepping into in his first season at Illinois. He inherited a depleted team that needed guidance on how to get back on track.
If you look at Beckman’s records every year you will see the improvement that you started to see at Toledo. His first year the Illini were 2-10, the next year they were 4-8, and this past season they ended up 6-6 with a loss in the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
In addition to Illinois making a bowl game this past season they also had success in recruiting. The class of 2015 is looking like it will be one of the best in the Beckman era.
I am not here to be a propaganda machine or to support Illinois sports coaches blindly. I want to take a look at things more clear and see what actually could be happening for the Illinois football program. There is a clear line of progression with Beckman and this Illini team and I want to see this thing out.
Illinois football will hopefully continue trending upward. There will be one day where I don’t have to sit here and think, am I happy with the direction this Illinois football program is going?