Illinois HC Beckman in Hot Water

[Mavric]

The former Illini offensive lineman, who is slated to graduate this month from the University, blasted head coach Tim Beckman and the program with a long series of tweets that leveled accusations about everything from medical treatment to the control of scholarships.

Cvijanovic's tweets focused on the medical treatment he had received for the meniscus in his knee and a torn labrum in his shoulder.

The senior, a 6-foot-6 tackle from Cleveland, said Beckman and his staff had pressured him to come back before he was fully healthy. He claimed Beckman was demeaning toward him and other players, including Cvijanovic's younger brother Peter, who suffered from illness or injury. Peter, an offensive lineman currently on the team’s roster, has Type 1 diabetes.

Following Cvijanovic's Twitter accusations, more former Beckman players came forward regarding the coach's behavior towards players.

"When I was being recruited out of high school I met a bunch of college coaches," said Nick North, former Illini defensive back. "Tim Beckman, man, he takes the cake as the worst coach I ever met."

North was recruited by former Illinois head coach Ron Zook and was a member of the team from 2011 to 2014. He redshirted the 2011 season but graduated from the University in December 2014, following the 2014 football season, forgoing his final year of eligibility.

In the spring of 2013, while a sophomore, North said he tore his PCL and developed a cyst on his knee as a result. He said Beckman and his staff forced him to continue to practice when he should have been doing light work. North echoed the statements that Cvijanovic expressed on Twitter on Sunday evening: He claimed Beckman pressured players who were injured to come back and play sooner than they felt comfortable.

 

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