Imrem: There's a solution to the mess in Illini athletics
Maybe Illinois finally will hire the right athletic director this time.
His name is Rick George, a former Illini football player and the current AD at Colorado.
The Illinois job was vacated Monday when athletic director Mike Thomas was dismissed after four years.
This had to happen after the debacle centering on football coach Tim Beckman, who was fired a week before this season's opening game.
Thomas hired Beckman, who was accused of mistreating players. That was enough of a reason to fire the AD, regardless of other allegations leveled at the athletic department.
Still, it was surprising that Thomas was fired at this time considering the leadership vacuum in the university.
So, who was still around to fire Thomas? The answer came when Barbara Wilson performed the deed. The university's interim chancellor had no other option after she was presented the results of the Beckman investigation.
With Thomas gone, another question surfaces: Who would want to be the next athletic director with both the academic and athletic branches of the university in troubled straits?
The hope here is that Rick George would.
Before Thomas became Illinois' AD, there were reports that George and the school had preliminary talks concerning the position.
As is often said in similar situations, Illinois decided to go in another direction. As often happens, George was quoted later as saying the timing wasn't right for either him or Illinois.
However, others surmised that George was disappointed and maybe even angry that he wasn't selected to succeed Ron Guenther as AD in Champaign.
Who knows why Illinois preferred Thomas?
One reason might have been that George was on rogue head coach Mike White's football staff at Illinois during the 1980s.
White's program played fast and loose with the rules and George was caught giving $100 to a recruit to pay for a hotel room. But that violation was three decades ago when George was 25 years old and just beginning his career.
George since has been the executive vice president of the PGA Tour, president of the Champions Tour, president of business operations for the Texas Rangers, and athletic director at Colorado.
This reputed biz whiz has been successful at every turn, accepted when he arrived and respected when he departed.
A Colorado Springs Gazette article stated in the summer of 2013 that hiring George at Colorado was "hitting for the cycle." A BSNDenver.com article this summer stated, "Rick George has been an absolute home run hire ... and the benefits have only just begun to show."
That might be a problem. George has been in Boulder for only two years and it might be too soon for him to leave.
Also, George might still be upset that he was passed over last time for somebody like Thomas.
Illinois can't worry about whether it's too soon for George to leave Colorado or whether he holds a grudge.
No, if there's a buyout in George's contract with Colorado, Illinois should pay it. If he's still bothered by what happened four years ago, Illinois should pay him whatever it takes to get over it.
If it takes something other than money, Illinois should pay that price, too.
I hate to steal this from Michigan Men, but Illini athletics need an Illinois Man to lead them out of the toxic mess they're in.
When it comes to hiring Illinois' next AD, everyone else should be No. 2 on the list behind Rick George.
mimrem@dailyherald.com