CHICAGO — Trustees signed off on Bill Cubit's unique contract to continue as football coach for two more years — but not before getting an earful from a former Illini.
Outspoken former safety Rick Mitchem, one of the honorary coaches in since-fired Tim Beckman's final UI spring game last April, publicly pleaded with trustees Thursday not to approve the $2.4 million deal.
"We don't think that Coach Cubit deserves to have a permanent contract," said Mitchem, a captain on a Gary Moeller-coached team that went 3-8 in 1977. "He had an opportunity to win games this year.