Chris Yates
Recruiting Correspondent
- Michigan
So Mike Thomas fired all three major-sport coaches to bring in his own guys. If the stories about Beckman and the women's hoops coaching staff are even partly true, Thomas has to go. :tsk:
Illini Women's Basketball Allegations
BillyBob1
- Champaign
When I had my appointment to pick my new seats for basketball, I saw Thomas coming inside from a run. Jacqui was there and he spotted her. He went over to her and wished her luck. He also made some comment to her to wish her parents well. This happened before any announcement was made, which made me think she was leaving. Couldn't understand why she would transfer with the success she was having.
Can the whole staff. These kind of allegations, even if proven to be false, will kill any chance this staff has of being successful. Doesn't make much sense to keep them around.
If it's true, which it seems very plausible, then it is uterly despicable and there is no excuse in the world to not fire anyone involved on the spot.
If it's true, which it seems very plausible, then it is uterly despicable and there is no excuse in the world to not fire anyone involved on the spot.
illiniman711
- Champaign-Urbana
BoolahBoolah
- Scottsdale, AZ
I don't much care for her either, but you have to admit we (Illinois) make it really easy for her.
chiefinillini7
- Champaign, IL
WOW I gotta say I am floored right now. I promenade player on The former staff and (RS) senior this year who has one year of eligibility left, who I consider as a good friend, ahas been coming into my resturuant and telling of me about this stuff for months!! Specifically the rascim! And I didn't totally believe her, like I just thought she had to be over exaggerating, but even when I would ask her if she was, she would tell me "No, don't you see that almost all the black players ride the bench now. We're being picked off and outcasted one-by-one" ... And I feel so bad now. She was so right! And she was an ambassador for this program and a leading scorer under Joilet Law and now she has disappeared into the abyss under this staff. It's so sad because so many beautiful bright, fun loving and talented, overall great young girls college careers have been ruined because this! It's so sad!
But she will be okay at least, she told me she will be transferring to play her last year under one of Law's former top assistants. So God bless her
Man this is a mess!!
But she will be okay at least, she told me she will be transferring to play her last year under one of Law's former top assistants. So God bless her
Man this is a mess!!
"strikes again"? She reported the facts and allegations known to date. What would you like her to report?
classof2016
C
Guest
By "Shannon Ryan" do you mean the incompetent-!!! athletic department strikes again? Take off your tin-foil hat, there is no conspiracy against Illinois athletics. The leadership continues to screw up, and we continue to get media coverage due to the screw-ups. That's how the media works in a big market. Move to Lincoln, NE, or Boise, ID, if you don't like it and want all love from the media.
Since the parent letter are dated about a month ago, I have to assume that the university did a pretty thorough investigation before announcing the departure of the assistant coach. I am guessing that the investigation found no truth to the specific allegations against Bollant. As an attorney, I have been trained not to jump to conclusions and to review things as a whole. Nevertheless, the head coach is still responsible for the overall atmosphere surrounding the team and for the actions of his assistant coaches towards team members. I simply can't see how the administration can continue with Bollant as head coach.
I have always been a staunch defender of our teams, our coaches and our school. But with all these recent allegations about our programs, not to mention the relatively poor products on the field, it is becoming harder and harder to defend. Wow, is this embarrassing.
I have always been a staunch defender of our teams, our coaches and our school. But with all these recent allegations about our programs, not to mention the relatively poor products on the field, it is becoming harder and harder to defend. Wow, is this embarrassing.
I'm still confused as to why the University is considering it mainly from the Title IX perspective, which most of the allegations are not. Bollant needs to be held responsible for Divibliss as well if he brought him in knowing that he had shown abusive behavior towards his athletes for almost 20 years if that is in fact the case as one of the letters states.
What could be the rationale for firing Divilbiss while sparing Bollant? Everyone practices in the same gym and Divilbiss is Bollant's "guy" that he brought with him from UWGB, so he's hardly some rogue operator.
The only possible angle I can think of is that now that these allegations are public, the administration is waiting for one more shoe to drop on Bollant from a current/former player.
After that, the next inquiry has to be of Thomas. Did he sense that anything was amiss when four players were transferring from a sport where you have 13 scholarships?
The only possible angle I can think of is that now that these allegations are public, the administration is waiting for one more shoe to drop on Bollant from a current/former player.
After that, the next inquiry has to be of Thomas. Did he sense that anything was amiss when four players were transferring from a sport where you have 13 scholarships?
It appears that Bollant's status is still under review. I'm guessing there are negotiations taking place behind the scenes to finalize his exit package. If there is enough truth in the accusations that have been raised, I can't imagine how Bollant survives.
MainelyIllini
- uh, Maine
Bollant needs to go. Even if the allegations are mostly untrue, the damage has been done. I have a daughter. If she were being recruited by Illinois basketball, I would not want her to go there and do everything I could to encourage her to go elsewhere. I don't think any parent would want their daughter to go somewhere where this sort of thing may happen.
It is extremely concerning that 3 players and 3 families have come out with lengthy lists of very damning allegations. It's hard to imagine these athletes and families are fabricating these accusations. I would be shocked and alarmed if the entire staff is not fired. To me, this is far more disconcerting than the football allegations.
What even lends more credibilty to the compliants and damning for the staff is that all 3 letters raise the same alligations. To include rasicist comments, verbal abuse and certain players being ostracized from the team. Does not paint UI in a good light at all sad, sad day for Illini sports
With all due respect, you must not be too familiar with how exit interviews work. They are always confidential, and can only be released if the people being interviews ask them to be....
So if the allegations are all untrue, and it turns out there was no wrongdoing, you wouldn't want your kid to play for the coach? No parent would want their kid to play for a coach who was wrongly accused???
MainelyIllini
- uh, Maine
Given that one coach has already resigned due to some improprieties, I would consider that enough. Bollant is the head coach and most certainly was aware of these issues. He even told one of the parents something along the lines of "Divilbiss has been going downhill the last couple years". He knew about what was happening. If he didn't, that is clearly showing a lack of interest or leadership. Either way, I wouldn't want her going there.
danielb927
Orange Krush Class of 2013
- Rochester, MN
These allegations made yesterday a tough day for me as an Illini sports fan. Athletes are students, and young adults. In much the same way as an Illinois engineering student is gifted in math and science, an Illinois basketball player is gifted in basketball, and that's a gift to be nurtured. More importantly, that's a person to be nurtured.
Sure, if you're a college head coach, winning is the goal. But some coaches clearly miss the mark on why that's so. Winning is the goal, but not because the coach needs job security. Winning is the goal, but not because the stadium looks better with a championship banner, or because it makes recruiting easier, or because it brings in more fans. None of those. A coach has a responsibility to help his players become their best selves--and then to become a little bit better than that.
Winning is the goal not because players can give their coach wins, but because a coach can shape his players into winners.
To me, that's winning the right way. That's putting our priorities in the right order. To segregate practices and preferentially treat players is to get things backwards, and it's saddening to see this happening to such an extent under the banner of "team culture", "system", "toughness", or anything else. We, the flagship institution of our state, when tasked with the care and nourishment of our brightest and most talented young people, have to do better.
Sure, if you're a college head coach, winning is the goal. But some coaches clearly miss the mark on why that's so. Winning is the goal, but not because the coach needs job security. Winning is the goal, but not because the stadium looks better with a championship banner, or because it makes recruiting easier, or because it brings in more fans. None of those. A coach has a responsibility to help his players become their best selves--and then to become a little bit better than that.
Winning is the goal not because players can give their coach wins, but because a coach can shape his players into winners.
To me, that's winning the right way. That's putting our priorities in the right order. To segregate practices and preferentially treat players is to get things backwards, and it's saddening to see this happening to such an extent under the banner of "team culture", "system", "toughness", or anything else. We, the flagship institution of our state, when tasked with the care and nourishment of our brightest and most talented young people, have to do better.
MainelyIllini
- uh, Maine
Well said. The bolded part is the key to the whole thing.
BoolahBoolah
- Scottsdale, AZ
Typically, a group of male students from campus practices against the women's team. Myself and a few friends of mine did it on occasion back in the Grentz days. I'm sure (hopeful) that's what they're referring to.