Imrem: Beckman controversy making it harder to stay faithful to Illini football
Wait … shhh … OK, carry on … false alarm … nothing embarrassing happened to University of Illinois athletics in the last five minutes.
Nothing that we know of anyway.
Still, Fighting Illini football has been frustrating, what with the poor record and the coach who wants the media to lead cheers and the athletic director who isn't exactly embraceable.
Add up everything going on down there and it's a little like being a fan of Adam Sandler, hoping for more from his movies and receiving less.
Oh, sure, Illinois is excelling in baseball, golf and other sports. However, football and men's basketball are the windows into the university.
It's one thing that the Illini have found it difficult to compete in the big sports in the Big Ten, much less nationally.
Now there's this bigger issue, this much more significant issue, this much more disturbing and damaging issue of allegations of impropriety leveled against football head coach Tim Beckman.
The Fighting Illini?
How about the in-Fighting Illini?
Recent Illinois offensive lineman Simon Cvijanovic has accused Beckman and his program of abuse.
Maybe this is merely a disgruntled former player venting, but the accusations were so detailed and extensive that they have to be taken seriously.
Now other players are picking sides for and against Beckman. Even if the charges prove unfounded they're going to leave a stain on him, Illinois football and the entire school.
The university chancellor reportedly will investigate the matter. Better an outsider be brought in to determine what did and didn't happen.
Beckman already has failed to win the support of the Illini faithful because of his weak won-loss record, uninspiring recruiting classes and befuddling public persona.
Incremental progress hasn't earned Beckman — or athletic director Mike Thomas — the benefit of the doubt.
Talk about disgruntled: Myriad Illini fans grumble that they deserve more from the coaches Thomas hired in football (Beckman) and men's basketball (John Groce).
Instead these fans get less in the form of Simon Cvijanovic's accusations.
Sad to say, football and basketball are among the primary engines that generate donations to the university. An unsuccessful football team doesn't help. An unsuccessful football team mired in controversy is toxic.
The Illini probably had to make great strides this fall to justify retaining Beckman. Now Illinois will have to ponder whether he should remain in office through the summer.
The same goes for the athletic director. Prominent Illini boosters are primed to turn on Thomas, and current events just might provide them with a valid reason.
Big Ten football and basketball are getting tougher with the addition of some new schools and the improvement of some old ones.
If you're a high school player considering the Illini, how will the simmering intramural dispute influence your decision?
Most likely unfavorably.
Even an in-state player who wants to be loyal to you, Illinois, will have to wonder whether it's worth plunging into the middle of Beckmania, or is it Beckmadness?
If Tim Beckman survives Simon Cvijanovic's allegations, Illinois still has to decide whether he's worth the trouble long term.
Meanwhile, Illinois also has to figure out quickly whether Mike Thomas is the right administrator going forward.
Wait … shhhh … oh, no … am I hearing what I think I'm hearing …?