Illinois head coach Tim Beckman and offensive coordinator Bill Cubit got into a heated exchange following a disastrous play in Saturday’s game against Ohio State. Trailing 35-21 late in the third quarter, Fighting Illini quarterback Reilly O’Toole fumbled in the end zone, which resulted in a safety. Things aren’t going super great for Illinois lately: The Illini haven’t won a Big Ten game since Oct. 8, 2011, and there was that whole Cliff Alexander decision on the basketball side of things.
It’s hardly surprising for emotions to flare up a bit, but fans and players don’t often see a head coach nearly come to blows with his offensive coordinator on the sideline. Naturally, the internet reacted.
ESPN says Beckman and Illinois OC Bill Cubit "nearly came to blows" after safety. "Had to be separated" by assistants.—
Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) November 16, 2013
Cubit said stuff like sideline flap with Beckman happens "all the time." Beckman? "Never happened in my career." #Illini—
Steve Greenberg (@SLGreenberg) November 16, 2013
Somebody needs a snickers RT @TomFornelli: Illinois coaches gettin’ along. http://t.co/D7cLUw9GId—
Smart Football (@smartfootball) November 16, 2013
on the bright side, we have located bill cubit—
Holly Anderson (@HollyAnderson) November 16, 2013
Bill Cubit is a (-155) favorite over Tim Beckman.—
Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) November 16, 2013
Gonna ride with Cubit on this one—
Peter Berkes (@peterberkes) November 16, 2013
Really we should just be impressed that none of Lane Kiffin's assistants ever fought him on the sideline.—
Bobby Big Wheel (@BobbyBigWheel) November 16, 2013
I hope Cubit and Beckman were fighting about something totally unrelated, like if a gorilla could beat up a shark.—
sir broosk (@celebrityhottub) November 16, 2013
Illinois will not win but it will make the world acknowledge its pain.—
Matt Hinton (@MattRHinton) November 16, 2013
Well, they are the Fighting Illini.—
Spencer Hall (@edsbs) November 16, 2013