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2013 OPPONENT PREVIEW • Nov. 23 • Ross-Ade Stadium • Time TBA • TV TBD I Illinois Fighting Illini llinois would seem to need one thing above all else in its second season under Tim Beckman: Hope. The 2012 season was a debacle of sorts for the Illini in their debut under their first-year coach, who managed just a pair of wins, just one over an FBS opponent. After beating Western Michigan in Week 1, then beating Charleston Southern a few weeks later, Illinois lost all eight of its Big Ten games, all but one of them — a 20-17 loss to Purdue in Champaign — by two touchdowns or more. "There's not much positive you can take from 2-10 and 0-8," said Doug Buchson, who covers Illinois Illinois for OrangeandBlueNews.com. "You Shoulder injuries limited Jonathan would have to be really searching." Brown in 2012, but he's expected to be If any second-year coach can tru- ready to lead a rebuilding D now. ly be on a "hot seat," Beckman's atrocious last season, averaging seemingly done it. less than 17 points and 300 yards Athletic director Mike Thomper game, far and away the fewest as, with a history of taking bold in the Big Ten. Only action with strugfour times last seaTOM'S TAKE gling coaches, has son did Illinois score "How bad are things in seemingly already Champaign? The Illini drag 20 or more points. put Beckman on So it's now former a 14-game Big Ten losing notice, more or less streak into the season. And Western Michigan demanding signs of myriad questions loom — coach Bill Cubit's progress at the very too many to discuss in this job to fix the Illini least. forum — in Tim Beckman's offense in his first In a reflection of second season. Know this: season as offensive the apparently dire Beckman was smart to hire coordinator. circumstances he's To say his work is offensive coordinator Bill Cuin, Beckman rebit. Still, it will be a miracle if cut out for him is an tooled his coaching understatement. Illinois goes bowling." staff, bringing in Under Cubit, Il— Tom Dienhart, Big Ten new leadership for linois is expected Network an offense that was Who's in Charge? COACH TIM BECKMAN Record at Illinois: 2-10 (one season) Record vs. Purdue: 0-1 Bottom Line: Beckman's first season at Illinois probably couldn't have gone a whole lot worse and it reeked of desperation this offseason when the second-year coach blew up his coaching staff. Amazingly, Beckman is already coaching in Year 2 just for the chance to get Year 3. gnidnerT drawkcaB Nathan Scheelhaase's stats through his college career Freshman (2010) 17 TD 8 INT Sophomore (2011) 13 TD 8 INT Junior (2012) 4 TD 8 INT Early line vs. Purdue: Purdue -6 108 • Gold and Black IllustrateD • volume 23, issue 6 GBIprint.com GoldandBlack.com