Illinois athletic director wants Cubit decision by Sunday

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Interim Illinois athletic director Paul Kowalczyk says that ideally a decision will be made by Sunday about whether interim football Bill

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (AP) Interim Illinois athletic director Paul Kowalczyk says that ideally a decision will be made by Sunday about whether interim football Bill Cubit gets the job permanently.

Kowalczyk said Wednesday on WSKJ radio in Champaign that he and interim Chancellor Barbara Wilson will decide whether to keep Cubit. Kowalczyk said ''we need to make that call'' within 24 hours of Illinois' Saturday game against Northwestern.

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The Illini (5-6, 2-5 Big Ten) close the season against the Wildcats (9-2, 5-2) at Soldier Field in Chicago.

Cubit was offensive coordinator and took over as head coach when Tim Beckman was fired just before the start of the season. A university-hired law firm concluded that Beckman had pressured players to play hurt and interfered in medical decisions. Beckman has disputed those conclusions.