Illini head coach Beckman's focused on football, not allegations

Illinois football coach Tim Beckman won't play on the field for the Illini this season, but he did enough juking and dodging to make any offensive coordinator ecstatic.

Speaking to reporters for the first time since the university launched an investigation into how Beckman runs his program, Beckman showed Heisman candidate-like evasiveness.

"I'm only concerned about one thing, and that's Aug. 5 to Sept. 4," Beckman said when asked about the allegations. "I'm focusing now on creating an atmosphere that our players are successful in. That's all I'm worried about right now."

The university launched an investigation into claims of player mistreatment in May. Former offensive lineman Simon Cvijanovic claims he was forced to play while injured, and other players claim they were forced to play while they were hurt and were threatened with loss of scholarships. Beckman also faces allegations from two former players who claim they were physically confronted by Beckman.

Beckman said he aspires to have a close relationship with his players.

"We're fathers. I think that each one of our coaches would say the same thing," Beckman said. "We're in the process of providing avenues for our football players to become better men, become better football players. We want the best. We want a relationship for a lifetime as we talk to them. We want to be able to communicate with one another throughout their lives."

And several players said they feel the allegations unfairly cast Beckman in a negative light.

"The Tim Beckman I know has only helped the lives of many young guys," senior linebacker Mason Monheim said. "He's given me the opportunity to come do something like this and to play the game I love at such a high level and he's done that for the other hundred guys on our team. He cares for us, he sees it as a lifetime relationship and more than football."

Allegations like the ones that face the Illini football team would seemingly tear down a team. For the Illini, it's done the reverse.

"You would think it would tear us apart, because there was an effort to do so, but the exact opposite happened," senior running back Josh Ferguson said. "Having that mindset through the allegations through this past summer has been nothing but good for us."

Illinois is looking to use their togetherness and their end to last season to build on this upcoming season.

The Illini won three of their final five games to finish at 6-6 and become bowl-eligible. Illinois lost 35-18 in the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl at the Cotton Bowl stadium.

"I feel like we've underachieved," senior guard Ted Karras said. "We made a bowl last year, which was great, but we want to take the next step and be a solid program in the Big Ten."

If they don't, Beckman might not be around for next season. Many consider Beckman to be on the hot seat, and anything but a winning season might see him let go, regardless of the ongoing investigation.

"I am focused on the first football game," Beckman said. "That is what this team is focused on. We know we've got a Kent State football team Sept. 4. We're focused in on what we can be focused in on right now and that's Kent State."