CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Given the turn of events surrounding Illinois athletics during this football offseason, it was fitting that the Illini endure one more obstacle before they finally returned to the football field.
After an unexpected two-hour rain delay, Illinois announced late Friday night that it would postpone its game against Kent State to 1 p.m. CT on Saturday. Consider it a cleansing of sorts — an appropriate washing away of the old and an entrance into a new era.
That new era was abruptly ushered in when athletic director Mike Thomas announced Aug. 28 that head coach Tim Beckman would be dismissed immediately — just a week before the season — following preliminary results of allegations of abuse toward players, which were initially made public in May by former Illini offensive lineman Simon Cvijanovic.