Wisch: Will Thomas Hold Beckman To Zook's Standards?
Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas has a big decision awaiting this weekend.
Illinois athletic director Mike Thomas has a big decision awaiting this weekend.
Ravenous Illinois fans take over Internet polls -- what would they do with a real championship team?
Tim Beckman's boss made it clear upon his hiring that Big Ten success was the goal.
Illinois' football attendance has been dwindling for five straight seasons.
No Illini coach has started with three straight losing seasons since 1977-'79.
Don't blame Illinois' admission standards for a lack of football talent -- the onus is on the coaches.
Former Illinois coach Ron Zook appears destined for Green Bay.
The Tim Beckman hire was a mistake and everybody has known it since his first press conference.
Illinois has a nearly two-decade tradition of retaining coaches at least one season too long.
The only hope for Illinois to continue progress (or start it) is by firing embattled defensive coordinator Tim Banks and hoping that Thomas can hire a talented assistant to replacement him.
It's that simple. Yet, of course, for the Fighting Illini, it isn't at all.
What a difference a week makes.
Stanford does it. So does Michigan. Notre Dame, Wisconsin and Vanderbilt do it, too.
Things Illini Nation learned this past week: 1) Ron Zook now works for a bank, and 2) Mike Thomas is willing to invest time in rebutting him.
If Beckman can't get things turned around soon – both on the field and with the state's best athletes – he won't be worrying about recruiting rankings for long.
From 1994-98, I was a student at the University of Illinois, and during those four years I saw a grand total of 14 football victories.
But then there's the University of Illinois, the sadsack program of the prairie whose last three head football coaches can now be found at Florida International University (Ron Turner), the University of Buffalo (Lou Tepper) and, well, the coaching unemployment line (Ron Zook).
We don't really know what Ron Zook is up to these days.
Zook, who was fired last year after seven seasons in Champaign, left the Illinois football program in far better shape than he found it.
On Thursday, the bad case of Illini indigestion was finally relieved when Ohio University's John Groce was announced as the 17th men's head coach in Illinois history during a press conference at Assembly Hall in Champaign.
Down in Champaign at the state's flagship school, the football program is listing, which is why Toledo's Tim Beckman was brought in to right a ship that Ron Zook wrecked after a 6-0 start to the season.
Twenty years ago, after compiling a sterling 30-16-1 record on the football field at that "basketball school" down in Champaign, University of Illinois coach John Mackovic bolted the Land of Lincoln for the gridiron riches of the Lone Star State.
Toledo head football coach Tim Beckman has reportedly emerged as the favorite to replace Ron Zook at Illinois.
Illinois has extended the application period for candidates for its head football coaching position until late Thursday night.
I happen to think the Illinois football job offers as much potential as any in the country. Much like, you know, the University of Wisconsin job offered Alvarez two decades ago when he took it over and transformed the Badgers into a snarling, bare-knuckled national power.
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"Cute, funny, wacky. Chicago, right?"
Fans were in attendance at a big draft day party at Soldier Field Thursday night.
The newly-renovated concourse was unveiled on Thursday.
The governor's plan to reduce homelessness is focused on addressing inequities that hurt the Black community.
The governor's plan to reduce homelessness is focused on addressing inequities that hurt the Black community.
Former National Enquirer boss David Pecker appeared on the stand for the third day, detailing an agreement the tabloid made with a former Playboy model.
The Supreme Court convened to consider whether former President Donald Trump is entitled to broad immunity from criminal charges in the 2020 election case.
Guidice said he left City Hall on good terms.
Mayor Brandon Johnson denied that the Bears' shiny new dome could end up costing taxpayers a pretty penny.
Employees at dozens of now-closed Foxtrot Market and Dom's Kitchen stores, now jobless, wonder what comes next for them as their paychecks will soon end.
The family didn't get their cut of the estate sale, not hearing back from the salesman until CBS 2 got involved.
The Better Business Bureau warns that anyone buying an event ticket should watch out for fake ticket scams.
Financial records show Paul Croft and J.D. Frost raised about $30 million for a hydrogen plant that was supposed to be, at one point, in Indiana. It never existed, an attorney says.
Anyone with these sausages in their refrigerators should throw them away or return them to the store.
The city's measles dashboard said a total of 63 measles cases have been confirmed in Chicago this year, with one new case this week.
The department said anyone who visited the Sam's Club at 9400 S. Western Ave. in Evergreen Park one day last week may have been exposed to someone with measles.
Health officials are warning consumers not to consume Infinite Herbs basil sold at some Trader Joe's and Dierberg's stores after 12 people were sickened.
Officials said there was no known link between this case and the recent outbreak of measles at a migrant shelter in Chicago.
Health department officials said the case does not appear to be linked to new migrant arrival shelters in Chicago, and the source of infection is unknown.
Mayor Brandon Johnson denied that the Bears' shiny new dome could end up costing taxpayers a pretty penny.
Employees at dozens of now-closed Foxtrot Market and Dom's Kitchen stores, now jobless, wonder what comes next for them as their paychecks will soon end.
The company announced Tuesday that it received a stalking horse bid to purchase its operating assets.
Dozens of typewriters clutter the shelves of the 24-year-old business owner's workshop inside his parents' home in Downers Grove.
The closure affects both Dom's locations in Chicago, and all 33 Foxtrot stores in Chicago, Texas, and the Washington D.C. area.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges has been overturned by the State of New York Court of Appeals.
Still, Ravinia is capitalizing on the situation with a limited-edition shirt—reading, "Ravinia Interrupta," and calling the cicada buzz the loudest song of summer.
The singer was found deceased at her home, a representative said.
Anticipation was growing at a fever pitch before Taylor Swift's latest album, "The Tortured Poets Department," dropped at midnight EDT. But it turned out it's actually a double album.
Guitar legend Dickey Betts, who co-founded the Allman Brothers Band and wrote their biggest hit, "Ramblin' Man," has died.
CBS 2 Chief Meteorologist Albert Ramon looks at the extended forecast, which includes off-and-on rain showers throughout the weekend.
Victor Ayllon pleaded guilty last week to first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Wendy, according to Kane County court records.
Students at the protest at Deering Meadow on the Evanston campus were gathered in tents, and said they will stay until their demands are met. CBS 2's Sabrina Franza reports.
Investigative Reporter Dorothy Tucker moderated an impactful conversational event at Trinity United Church of Christ, focused on uplifting justice for women of color. The community gathering was a powerful opportunity to come together, learn, inspire action and raise hope for a better tomorrow regarding issues facing Black women in the Chicago area.
Chicago Bears fans will soon celebrate at Soldier Field as the team makes official what so many had predicted for so long, that USC quarterback Caleb Williams will be the team's next franchise quarterback.
Organizers with the Northwestern chapters of Educators for Justice in Palestine, Jewish Voice for Peace, Student Liberation Union accused the university of censoring pro-Palestinian speech on campus.
His family filed a federal lawsuit on Wednesday against the city and the five officers involved in the shootout, accusing police of using "brutally violent, militarized policing tactics."
Expert panel discussion centers the focus on the disparity that 1 in 3 victims of crime in Chicago is a Black woman
It's a decision that has been widely projected as a virtual lock for this NFL Draft, especially after the Bears traded away Justin Fields to the Steelers.
"Cute, funny, wacky. Chicago, right?"
Expert panel discussion centers the focus on the disparity that 1 in 3 victims of crime in Chicago is a Black woman
Police arrived at the scene sooner than if they had waited for the first 911 call.
Anthony Robinson's attorney said his previous defense lawyer failed to present evidence that showed it was physically impossible for him to be the shooter.
The village board is working on a resolution to hire Lightfoot, a former federal prosecutor before her lone term as Chicago's mayor, to investigate claims Henyard has been misusing public funds.
DCFS Director Heidi Mueller was asked Thursday why some kids in the system are being held in psychiatric hospitals longer than medically necessary.
Fans were in attendance at a big draft day party at Soldier Field Thursday night.
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a tiebreaking two-run homer for his first major league hit, and the Chicago Cubs swept the Houston Astros with a 3-1 victory.
It's a decision that has been widely projected as a virtual lock for this NFL Draft, especially after the Bears traded away Justin Fields to the Steelers.
Off to the worst start in franchise history, the White Sox have been outscored 141-56 and allowed 38 home runs in 25 games.
The Chicago Blackhawks have agreed to a six-year contract with defenseman Alex Vlasic, a native of north suburban Wilmette.
Expert panel discussion centers the focus on the disparity that 1 in 3 victims of crime in Chicago is a Black woman
Victor Ayllon pleaded guilty last week to first-degree murder in the death of his wife, Wendy, according to Kane County court records.
Harvey Weinstein's 2020 conviction on felony sex crime charges has been overturned by the State of New York Court of Appeals.
Such crimes are more than a nuisance. A slashed tire is an expensive problem to fix.
Keith Hill, president of Amalgamated Transit Union 241, said the driver radioed for police help. But nobody came, Hill said.