Illinois coach collides with referee, draws penalty (VIDEO)

Illinois coach Tim Beckman has had a really, really bad season. That's probably an understatement.

There have been losses, nine of 'em and counting. Ugly losses. Many, many ugly losses. With a loss today, Beckman will become the first first-year coach in Illinois' history to lose 10 or more games. (Not even Ron Zook did that.)

There was that time he was busted using smokeless chewing tobacco on the sideline, which was a secondary violation of NCAA rules.

Now there's the time Beckman impeded the path of a sideline referee, was thrown to the ground and drew a penalty that led, one play later, to a Northwestern touchdown. Did I mention it was all caught on camera?

An ugly season just gets worse and worse and worse for Beckman and Illinois. Many have suggested that his running-into-the-referee moment serves as a microcosm of Illinois' 2012 season. I can't argue with that.