Tim Beckman Accused By Players Of Physical Misconduct in CNN Report

CNN reported on various problems in University of Illinois sports programs. The report alleges two incidents of physical misconduct by head coach Tim Beckman against football players.

Multiple witnesses claim Beckman grabbed an unidentified current player by the face mask and “jerked his head back and fourth” while yelling at him.

" But witnesses said that at the start of one practice, the player ran onto the field with his helmet unbuckled, and Beckman ran over to him, grabbed his face mask and jerked his head back and forth, yelling at him. "

Former player Kenny Knight says Beckman threw him to the ground from behind during practice.

" “I immediately got in his face about it,” Knight said of the player who hit him. “Before I had the chance to lift a finger, in a matter of seconds, I was grabbed by my shoulder and thrown on the ground. I was livid, I thought I was going to look up and see one of my teammates had thrown me down, but I looked up and saw Tim Beckman staring in my face. I was shocked. I don’t think I uttered a word.” "

Per the report, Beckman told the University he was breaking up a fight. He told the player’s father the player “accidentally fell backwards over him.” Video of the incident from practice was apparently scrubbed.

" “There was 35 seconds of blank screen. I could see the dial was moving to let me know that it was still playing, but there was no film to be seen. It wouldn’t play for me or for anybody else,” he said. Two other players said they, separately, also looked for the incident on the practice tape, but it was not there. "

Coaches, football in particular, tend to get away with behavior that wouldn’t be kosher elsewhere. But, laying hands on a player crosses an obvious line. Beckman was already under fire for his handling of injuries and named in a hazing lawsuit from a former Toledo player. Not good when your controversy count rivals your total number of conference wins (4) heading into your fifth season.

Perhaps, Beckman is still wondering why media coverage has been so negative.