Seriously, Tim Beckman? Being Illini-friendly isn’t the media’s job

CHAMPAIGN — I’m trying not to overreact. Also trying not to be mean, inconsiderate or gratuitous in my criticism of Illinois football coach Tim Beckman.

He’s a nice, earnest guy. He believes harder than anybody in the potential of the Illini program. He talks so much about a “football family” because he feels it down deep in his core.

Also — quite important — his players do indeed seem to be performing well in the classroom and behaving well in their public lives. Beckman would add that the program’s on-field product keeps improving, too. He reminded us of that here on Wednesday, college football’s National Signing Day. Read more