Before I get into my beef with Larry Fedora’s latest coaching staff decision, I must admit one thing: He doesn’t give a damn about what I or anyone else in the media has to say about the way he runs his football program. Regardless of whether Fedora gives a hoot or not, his decision to bring in ex-Illinois head football coach Tim Beckham as a volunteer defensive assistant shows that he is completely out of touch with the realities of player safety in this era of football.
Beckman served as the head coach at Illinois from 2012 to 2015, until he was unceremoniously removed from his position by Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas, seven days prior to the Illini’s season opener last season.