Big Ten Football Media Days - Tim Beckman vs Bill O'Brien

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by Serious Late

I am shocked and blown away that there are people legitimately questioning our ethics for helping the NCAA in their punishment of Child Molestor U. (CMU for those not in the know).

This is a part of the NCAA's punishment for allowing a child torture chamber to exist in the CMU lockerroom for over a decade. And OUR morals are being called into question for doing EXACTLY what the NCAA is calling for?

Unreal position to take as an Illini fan.

Agreed. No feeling sorry for this school. No one felt sorry for us when Illinois was wrongly punished for the Deon Thomas situation. PSU's mess is far worse.

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by UIUC2008

But seriously. What are the chances ANY kids contacted NU?

It's so easy for these coaches to say things like "That's not how we do things" and all this other BS, but none of them are in the situation that Illinois is in.

Few teams are in the position that A.) Players are interested in transferring to their school and B.) The team has a spot where they can be utilized.

I'm sure if Silas Redd declared his interest in NU then "Fitz" would be glad "to do things that way".

Especially when you consider that Nowicki, for example, had a prior relationship with Beckman. We're not exactly considering this open season on all of their players.

[Dan]

Illinois coach Tim Beckman's remarks at B1G Media Days today regarding Penn State.

In Beckman's opening statement-

I want to address the situation because I know it's going to be asked, so I'm going to attack it because I'm a proactive guy. I just want everybody to understand -- and you can ask questions from there -- about the Penn State situation. We as a staff and me, myself, as the head football coach, talked about this. It was brought to our attention by two individuals prior to even any sanctions being granted by the NCAA that an opportunity might present itself for a transfer.

We did not go onto their campus. We only talked to individuals that would be willing to meet with us. We did not go after them. They had the opportunity to come to us if they would like to come to us and speak to us. And that's how we handled the situation.

So I did want to bring that out front before we even get started. And, again, this is about Illinois football. And I tell you, as a coaching staff, we can't be more excited about getting things started on August 5th.

The Q&A-

Q. If you wouldn't mind clarifying, so you did not have any of your coaches in State College yesterday?

COACH BECKMAN: We were in State College, but we did not go on campus. We went to two establishments outside campus and called some individuals and if they wanted to come by, it was their opportunity to come by.

Q. Have you or any members of your staff talked to anyone on the Penn State staff about their players, and are you going to talk to any of the Penn State coaches about their players?

COACH BECKMAN: Great question. Of course this morning we met as head football coaches and athletic directors. I spoke with Coach O'Brien, but not in depth, about that situation. I did talk with the athletic director a little bit about the situation. But that's as far as we're going to go.

Q. We talked to Penn State and all the off-field stuff that's going on now, but looking ahead to the end of September when you got to square up with those guys, what are your expectations once you get on the gridiron with Penn State?

COACH BECKMAN: No different than competing against them before when I was in the Big Ten. And even at Bowling Green when we played them there at Bowling Green, it's Big Ten football. I believe the competition, week in and week out, if you don't have your A game, that's what this conference is all about. So I expect, against Penn State, it will be just like it will be our first Big Ten football game.

Q. You're new to the league this year, and so is Coach O'Brien. Your thoughts on Coach O'Brien coming in and what he brings into the Big Ten and what changes do you think he'll make to Penn State? Especially the offense will probably change quite a bit.

COACH BECKMAN: I don't know Coach O'Brien personally. We were not able to meet him at the Big Ten meetings in February. So this was the opportunity, really, for us to get together here earlier today. I have the utmost respect for him. I think he's doing an outstanding job at Penn State and with the situation there at Penn State. He was a fabulous coach in the NFL and has been around some quality, quality leaders. So I expect great things at Penn State, as always.

Q. The NCAA is allowing Penn State players to transfer. You addressed it in your opening statement. Do you feel like there's anything that you would have to apologize for or be defensive about if you are looking at Penn State players and if they end up coming to your school?

COACH BECKMAN: Not at all. We're just following the rules of the NCAA. We provided Penn State with the names of the people that -- prior to us even going there. Our compliance coordinator, Ryan Squire, and Mike Thomas, our athletic director gave him a list of people that -- so that they were aware of, before we got there, of who those individuals might be.

[STLINI]

Shame that Beckman didn't get to actually talk about Illinois. Gotta waste time on all of PSU's garbage.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by STLINI

Shame that Beckman didn't get to actually talk about Illinois. Gotta waste time on all of PSU's garbage.

Note my post above only included the Penn State remarks. You can read the entire Tim Beckman transcript here.

[STLINI]

Originally Posted by Dan

Note my post above only included the Penn State remarks. You can read the entire Tim Beckman transcript here.

Thanks Dan.

[Symmooth]

Originally Posted by Holdemall

Going to Penn State to lure their players to Illinois. This is not the same as recruiting high school kids.

No it's way better. :laugh:

[BZuppke]

And don't forget people: PSU AGREED to the sanctions which included the transfer provisions (which do not include a courtesy call to the coach). O'Crien has no place to !!!!!. We're suppose to feel sorry for PSU? They were punished (and I think it should have been a 4 year DP), they consented to the punishment and we're RESPONDING to the interest of some of their players who wish to transfer per the consent decree that PSU signed. No apologies needed.

[Dan]

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien at B1G Media Days.

Full transcript

O'Brien's [no relation] comments about transfers-

So those are some of the things I talked to them about. As far as other schools on campus, I said my peace on that yesterday. I have no idea what schools were on campus, nor do I care. And I will tell you that that's about all I have to say on that.

Yesterday? As in the ESPN article.. or something else? Why wouldn't wait and say his peace at B1G Media Days??

Q. Could you give us any update on the Silas Redd situation?

COACH O'BRIEN: No.

Q. Couple of the coaches who were on earlier mentioned that particularly Bret Bielema, that he wouldn't actively recruit the Penn State guys even though obviously the NCAA's allowing him to because he felt sort of a bond as you guys are in the same conference. Do you expect that sort of attitude and bond with coaches in the Big Ten as far as them recruiting their players now?

COACH O'BRIEN: First of all, let me tell you how much respect I have for Bret Bielema, what he's done at the University of Wisconsin. He's a heck of a football coach and is proven on and off the field. The second thing I can tell you, the rules are what they are and guys are -- it's like NFL free agency without the rules. So they can do what they want as long as they tell our compliance office that they're contacting these kids, and it is what it is. So I don't really have anything to say on that.

Q. Have you talked to Coach Beckman personally about coaches from his staff on campus?

COACH O'BRIEN: No.

Q. Did it surprise you at all that the Big Ten didn't put any transfer restrictions within the conference? What's your thought on that? And did you have any communication with your administration about that before the issue came down?

COACH O'BRIEN: Nothing surprises me, no, so the answer to the first question is no and I have no thought on that.

Q. Have any of your players informed you that they intend to transfer?

COACH O'BRIEN: Right now, no.

[Dan]

Delany: Presidents unanimously voted to allow Penn State players to transfer freely within the conference

http://twitter.com/ESPN_BigTen

[PeoriaSteve]

Originally Posted by TooHot4Tots

Thomas contacted their AD. Last I seen, O'Brien is the Football coach and not the AD. I think he might want to have a chat with his AD.

Let's get this straight, somebody at Penn St. is complaining about the ethics of this recruiting situation........really?!?!? Man, that's some serious irony there.

[illinidarrin]

Originally Posted by Dan

Did this just happen today or did i miss the memo the other day?

This is in response to Dans post about players transferring in the conference.

[RHITIllini]

Originally Posted by PeoriaSteve

Let's get this straight, somebody at Penn St. is complaining about the ethics of this recruiting situation........really?!?!? Man, that's some serious irony there.

"We let a guy rape kids for 20 years but you dirty rotten SOB's better not talk to any of our players about transferring."

When put into perspective, they sound like some serious morons

[PeoriaSteve]

Originally Posted by Serious Late

I am shocked and blown away that there are people legitimately questioning our ethics for helping the NCAA in their punishment of Child Molestor U. (CMU for those not in the know).

This is a part of the NCAA's punishment for allowing a child torture chamber to exist in the CMU lockerroom for over a decade. And OUR morals are being called into question for doing EXACTLY what the NCAA is calling for?

Unreal position to take as an Illini fan.

Amen, brother!

[illinidarrin]

Originally Posted by illinidarrin

Did this just happen today or did i miss the memo the other day?

This is in response to Dans post about players transferring in the conference.

Woah, my computer is messed up because nothing i quoted was showing up at first.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by illinidarrin

Woah, my computer is messed up because nothing i quoted was showing up at first.

I added it in to your post darrin..sometimes quotes within quotes don't always show up in replies.

[illinidarrin]

Originally Posted by Dan

I added it in to your post darrin..sometimes quotes within quotes don't always show up in replies.

Oh, i thought i was having computer problems again.

[Calilama]

Originally Posted by Dan

Penn State coach Bill O'Brien at B1G Media Days.

Full transcript

O'Brien's [no relation] comments about transfers-



Yesterday? As in the ESPN article.. or something else? Why wouldn't wait and say his peace at B1G Media Days??

Was OBrien able to recommend any good spots to go trolling for 12 year olds?

This is a coach and an excuse for a University that should simply STFU, hang their heads and go about the business of being forgiven....playing a football schedule is incidental to that task...proud of Beckman and his forthright approach..proud to have attended UI

[KevinC]

Some on here are really concerning me. You are not worried about the kids at all. Just your perception of what is legit and what isn't. If I am the parent of a Penn State footballer, I would be very appreciative that Coach Beckman took the time and expense to come to PSU. These kids have to make a life changing decision within a 2 week period. They don't have 1 or 2 years to get to know a coach or a staff. In many cases, quite a few will be making decisions with very little knowledge of what they are getting into. The fact that he tried to ease that process (no matter what the benefit to him) is something to be respected. 2 weeks in this case is like 2 minutes for a job decision for most of us. There has been almost no opportunity to do research on anything. My hat is off to him for that.

[illiniparkie]

Tim Beckman stood in the back of the hotel ballroom as Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer, a former coworker of Beckman's at Bowling Green, answered a reporter's question. Does he have a problem with coaches who are recruiting Penn State players?

Beckman rocked, shifting weight between his left and right legs.

"I have a problem with that," Meyer said from the podium at the Big Ten football media days.

Beckman continued to rock back and forth.

Meyer repeated himself: "I have a problem with that."

Forget for a minute the hypocrisy of Meyer, who drew the ire of his Big Ten peers this winter for recruiting prospects who were committed to Wisconsin, Michigan State and Penn State. But his answer was a direct shot at Beckman and his staff.

http://illinois.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1389310

It sounds like the staff followed the rules regarding PSU players. But the image of a contingent of coaches from one school passing the Head Coach at PSU made a good story for ESPN. And PSU's coach was upset that he wasn't given a courtesy call by Coach Beckman. So Illinois looks bad. Oh, well.

BTW, it looks like Michigan has already gotten one of PSU's 2013 commits.

Michigan and Brady Hoke nabbed first Penn State decommit in CB Ross Douglas

https://twitter.com/IllinoisRivals

[fightingillini18]

To be honest, Im tired of getting pushed around by other schools. Penn St negatively recruited against OSU when those allegations broke. It about time we started pushing back.

[UIUC2008]

Originally Posted by Serious Late

I am shocked and blown away that there are people legitimately questioning our ethics for helping the NCAA in their punishment of Child Molestor U. (CMU for those not in the know).

This is a part of the NCAA's punishment for allowing a child torture chamber to exist in the CMU lockerroom for over a decade. And OUR morals are being called into question for doing EXACTLY what the NCAA is calling for?

Unreal position to take as an Illini fan.

Last post on this topic:

I don't think anyone is questioning Illinois and Beckman's ethics. I think its (at least for me) more questioning Beckman's "Coaching etiquette". It's clear Beckman ruffled feathers and stepped on some toes. I know we followed procedure when Thomas contacted their AD, but I think O'Brien and most coaches would have appreciated at least being contacted in the process. Obviously other coaches anticipated this causing trouble.

[RHITIllini]

Originally Posted by UIUC2008

Last post on this topic:

I don't think anyone is questioning Illinois and Beckman's ethics. I think its (at least for me) more questioning Beckman's "Coaching etiquette". It's clear Beckman ruffled feathers and stepped on some toes. I know we followed procedure when Thomas contacted their AD, but I think O'Brien and most coaches would have appreciated at least being contacted in the process. Obviously other coaches anticipated this causing trouble.

He's an aggressive coach, It's just part of who he is. Plenty of other coaches are a lot like him personality-wise. They just don't get singled out by national Sports TV networks for it

[Botb9]

Originally Posted by UIUC2008

Last post on this topic:

I don't think anyone is questioning Illinois and Beckman's ethics. I think its (at least for me) more questioning Beckman's "Coaching etiquette". It's clear Beckman ruffled feathers and stepped on some toes. I know we followed procedure when Thomas contacted their AD, but I think O'Brien and most coaches would have appreciated at least being contacted in the process. Obviously other coaches anticipated this causing trouble.

Fair enough, but the issue I take with it is that we're not being treated the same way USC or now Michigan is being treated.

Gonna be an interesting handshake 9/29, no matter who wins.

[GilThorpe]

Originally Posted by illiniparkie

It sounds like the staff followed the rules regarding PSU players. But the image of a contingent of coaches from one school passing the Head Coach at PSU made a good story for ESPN. And PSU's coach was upset that he wasn't given a courtesy call by Coach Beckman. So Illinois looks bad. Oh, well.

BTW, it looks like Michigan has already gotten one of PSU's 2013 commits.

technically, not a player. Ross is a high school senoir this year. they simply got Ross to decommit his verbal , and now he is a verbal to scUM. He is still fair game .