CHAMPAIGN — The allegations of mistreatment against Illinois athletes took another turn Tuesday afternoon in a segment aired by CNN about a “racist culture” in the Illinois athletic department. In it, a total of eight former women’s basketball players and seven former football players — none of whom spoke on camera — claimed mistreatment by their respective former coaches.
The new information in the CNN report concerned the seven football players making claims of mistreatment and the allegation of a second physical incident involving football coach Tim Beckman.
The families of seven former women’s basketball players filed a $10 million lawsuit on July 1 alleging coach Matt Bollant and former assistant Mike Divilbiss created a racially hostile environment in violation of the Federal Civil Rights Act.