Nov. 29--Sitting in a Chicago hotel meeting room before boarding the bus to Soldier Field, Illinois players were unsure what to expect Saturday morning when a faculty representative entered and told them their new head coach was about to walk through the door.
When Bill Cubit entered, he received a standing ovation.
"You know me, I teared up again," Cubit said.
The emotional coach had a roller-coaster day -- as did Illinois fans.
Cubit, who had been operating this season on interim status, signed a two-year deal worth $1.2 million annually. The day ended with a 24-14 loss to "visiting" Northwestern at a sparsely attended rivalry game that Illinois had arranged to play at Soldier Field.
After failing to reach the six-victory threshold, the loss likely ends Illinois' season (5-7, 2-6 Big Ten) without participation in a bowl game.
Cubit said he's ready to revitalize the program, no matter how short term his contract.
"The bottom line was I asked myself, 'Why do you coach?' " he said. "I coach because I love being around players like this. For me, it's a challenge. I know it's a big challenge, but I'm looking forward to it."
Cubit's retention does not end the uncertainty in the Illinois athletic department. The deal is meant to provide a buffer for a new athletic director to be hired and locate a long-term coach.
"The feeling is it would be best for a permanent AD to make a decision of their choosing, whether it's Bill or someone else," interim athletic director Paul Kowalcyzk said. "This will get us to where we need to be to make this decision. Obviously, it's not ideal. For now, I don't think it will put a dagger in the heart of the program."
Interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson credited Cubit for keeping the Illini from sinking despite the unusual circumstances under which he took over the job. Cubit was promoted from offensive coordinator, a role he filled the previous two seasons, after Tim Beckman was fired a week before the season as a university-hired law firm investigation confirmed allegations former players made of injury mistreatment.
Athletic director Mike Thomas also was fired Nov. 9 in the wake of the findings.
A two-year contract is not customary and could be interpreted as a recruiting drawback.
"Compared to what I was in before," Cubit said, "it gives you a lot more time. It gives you the opportunity to sort of put a stamp on the program."
The Illini were plagued on the field Saturday by many of the same issues that limited them all season: dropped passes, failed red-zone execution and missed opportunities.
Illinois was down 10 points and drove to the Wildcats 4-yard line with a little more than four minutes remaining. A false start on fourth-and-1 forced Illinois to attempt a field goal instead of going for a touchdown, and kicker Taylor Zalewski's miss from 27 yards virtually sealed Northwestern's victory.
Cubit said afterward he already was looking forward and planned to be working in the football offices at 8 a.m. Sunday.
"I see enormous potential within the program," Cubit said. "I see a lot of guys coming back."
Including himself.
sryan@tribpub.com
