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Champaign, Ill. • A week before the start of the football season, a difficult summer for the University of Illinois became chaotic as coach Tim Beckman was fired after an investigation found he tried to influence medical decisions and pressure players to play with injuries.
Beckman's firing follows the unexpected resignations this month of the top two officials on campus, revelations that they'd used private emails accounts to avoid public scrutiny of school business, and a pair of lawsuits in which former women's basketball and women's soccer players claim they were mistreated by coaches.
And the rocky times may not be over: The investigation that led athletic director Mike Thomas — a defendant named in those lawsuits — to fire Beckman continues.
Thomas said Friday that he received some preliminary results of the investigation earlier this week, and despite timing he called "unfortunate," saw enough to fire Beckman just before his fourth season started.
"I was shocked and angry when I became aware of the preliminary firings," Thomas said. "Certainly that's what led to me making this decision swiftly, before the final report became due."
In a statement Friday evening, Beckman denied any wrongdoing and hinted that he might take legal action, calling the decision to fire him "a rush to judgment that confirms the university's bad faith."
"I firmly deny the implications in Mike's statements that I took any action that was not in the best interests of the health, safety and well-being of my players," Beckman said, noting that many of his players today indicated their support.
"I will vigorously defend both my reputation and my legal rights," he added.
Beckman will not receive $3.1 million remaining on the final two years of his original five-year contract, or the $743,000 buyout it includes.
Offensive coordinator Bill Cubit, who was head coach at Western Michigan from 2005-12 and the opposing coach in Beckman's first win at Illinois in 2012, has been named interim coach. The Illini open at home against Kent State Sept. 4.
The allegations against Beckman first surfaced on May 10, Mother's Day, when former starting lineman Simon Cvijanovic claimed in a long series of messages on Twitter that the head coach and his staff had tried to shame him into playing hurt, and had misled him about medical procedures following a knee injury.
"All I can say right now is I think it's a step in the right direction," Cvijanovic told the AP by phone. "It seems like there's more than just Beckman that needs to be held accountable."
Oregon names Adams starting QB
Transfer Vernon Adams is listed atop Oregon's depth chart at quarterback heading into the first week of the season.
Adams, an FCS All-American, joined the No. 7 Ducks just two weeks ago after passing the final math class he needed to graduate from Eastern Washington.
On the depth chart, Adams was listed above Jeff Lockie, who was Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota's backup last season.
LSU coordinator treated for cancer
LSU offensive coordinator Cam Cameron said that has been treated successfully for prostate cancer and plans to maintain his regular coaching duties this season.
Cameron has been the offensive coordinator at LSU for the past two seasons.
He is also is a skin cancer survivor.
Louisville plans $55M expansion to stadium
Louisville plans a $55 million expansion that will make Cardinal Stadium the state's largest at 65,000 seats upon completion. The stadium would include 10,000 additional seats and upgrades to the team's training center.