Tom Dienhart, BTN.com Senior Writer, September 4, 2015

Illinois opens its 2015 season tonight at home vs. Kent State, but that?s not the headline. Instead, the story is the Fighting Illini head coach. It?s Bill Cubit, who this time last week was tabbed as interim head coach after Tim Beckman was fired following an investigation that revealed he allegedly had mistreated players.

It?s almost unprecedented for a school to make a coaching change just a week from the start of the season. But, I can recall a few other changes at odd times-some for tragic reasons.

Mike Price, Alabama. Hired to replace Dennis Franchione (who had abruptly bolted for Texas A&M after replacing Mike DuBose), Price was canned in May of 2003 before coaching a game. Price was let go a few weeks after stories emerged about his partying at a golf event in Florida. Price had not yet inked his deal-and his offer was rescinded. Bama subsequently hired Mike Shula. And, well, we know how that turned out. (Nick Saban followed.) It?s too bad Price never got a shot in Tuscaloosa. He may have done well after having success at Washington State for 14 years. After the Bama fiasco, Price landed at UTEP in 2004, where he had a nice run as head coach for nine years.

Jack Crowe, Arkansas. The year was 1992, and excitement percolated in Fayetteville as the Razorbacks began their maiden voyage in the SEC. But things got off to a flying thud, as the Hogs were unceremoniously dumped at home by I-AA The Citadel. The day after the loss, Crowe announced he had ?resigned.? Later, Crowe?s lawyer said he had been fired. A.D. Frank Broyles said as much, too, stating he didn?t think fans had confidence in Crowe. Joe Kines took over before giving way to Danny Ford in 1993.

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Gary Moeller, Michigan. He resigned in May 1995 after a drunken episode at a restaurant. It was unfortunate, as Moeller was on a nice run as Wolverine head coach from 1990-94 (50-37-6 with three Big Ten titles) after following Bo Schembechler. Moeller landed as tight ends coach of the Cincinnati Bengals and later worked on the staffs of the Lions, Jaguars and Bears. Michigan turned to Lloyd Carr to replace Moeller. And, that worked out well, as Carr went 122-40 overall and 81-23 in the Big Ten with five league crowns and a share of the 1997 national title before stepping down after the 2007 season.

Randy Walker, Northwestern. He died suddenly of a heart attack in June 2006. He had NU pointed up, going 37-45 overall and 24-32 in the Big Ten from 1999-2005 with three bowls. He was replaced by Pat Fitzgerald, who has taken the Wildcat program to another level in Walker?s wake and remains at the helm today.

Dave McClain, Wisconsin. He died of a heart attack in April 1986. McClain had the Badgers moving forward, going 46-42-3 (32-34-3 Big Ten) from 1978-85. Jim Hilles coached the team on an interim basis in 1986, going 3-9 (2-6 Big Ten). The school turned to Don Morton, which was a disaster. Morton went 6-27 overall and 3-21 in the Big Ten from 1987-89. Morton never coached again.

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About Tom Dienhart BTN.com senior writer Tom Dienhart is a veteran sports journalist who covers Big Ten football and men's basketball for BTN.com and BTN TV. Find him on Twitter and Facebook, read all of his work at btn.com/tomdienhart, and subscribe to his posts via RSS. Also, send questions to his weekly mailbag using the form below and read all of his previous answers in his reader mailbag section.

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