Tag: Bret Bielema

Shane Beamer erupted after Bret Bielema taunted him over Citrus Bowl substitutions

Shane Beamer was HOT.

If you need proof that non-CFP bowl games matter, look no further than the Citrus Bowl between South Carolina and Illinois on Tuesday. This game got so testy, the two head coaches almost needed to trade in their headsets for boxing gloves.

It all started with some unorthodox late defensive substitutions by the Illini, which delayed South Carolina’s pace and clearly got under the skin of Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer. During an in-game interview, he told the ABC broadcast Illinois should be penalized for 12 men on the field. Regardless, officials allowed it.

Fast forward to the third quarter, Illinois coach Bret Bielema was checking on an injured player on South Carolina’s side of the field when he decided to taunt Beamer with the arms-out substitution sign. Suffice to say, Beamer didn’t appreciate it because he absolutely snapped.

This was all kinds of petty from Bielema, but it brought some excitement to what was already a decent game.

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer goes after Illinois’ Bret Bielema during Cheez-It Bowl

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer lost it at Illinois’ Bret Bielema

All hell broke loose in the third quarter of the Cheez-It Bowl on Tuesday. It wasn’t the players. It was South Carolina coach Shane Beamer going after Illinois’ Bret Bielema.

An Illinois DB was injured on a long pass play by South Carolina. Bielema came across the field to check on his player.

When the Illini coach came across and then went back to his sideline he extended his arms, taunting Beamer.

The South Carolina coach absolutely lost his cool. He was screaming at Bielema and stormed on the field before being restrained

South Carolina went on to score on the drive to take a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter.

After the game Bielema explained he was upset about a South Carolina kickoff return. The player who caught the kick extended his arms, which usually means the play would be dead and a touchback.

However, Beamer said he had checked and gotten the okay that the player could extend his arms and keep the play live so long as he didn’t wave them. In this case, the Gamecock threw a lateral across the entire field to try and pull off a trick play.

“The ethic of what that is got evaporated there because our kids stopped running,” Bielema said … “He thought I did it to him. I did it [the gesture] to the whole dam sideline … I want them to understand I know what just happened.”

Third Wisconsin defensive starter transfers to the same Big Ten rival

Another former Badger is off to Illinois

Wisconsin defensive tackle James Thompson Jr. signed with Illinois on Wednesday, according to On3’s Pete Nakos.

Thompson is the 12th Wisconsin transfer to find a new destination. He is the third former Badger, all three defensive starters, to sign with the Fighting Illini, joining defensive tackle Curt Neal and outside linebacker Leon Lowery

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Thompson entered the transfer portal earlier this month after five years with the Badgers. He originally joined the program as a three-star recruit in the class of 2020.

The veteran tackle emerged as a primary force on the Badgers’ defensive front in 2022, totaling 23 tackles, seven tackles for loss and two sacks. He backed that up with a strong 2023 campaign: 29 tackles, six tackles for loss, three sacks, two pass deflections. Thompson Jr. then missed the majority of the 2024 campaign due to a torn pectoral muscle suffered in training camp. He returned to play seven snaps in the Badgers’ Week 13 loss at Nebraska, but did not see the field during their season finale against Minnesota.

He joins an Illinois program that recently wrapped up a 9-3 regular season. It enters its bowl game against South Carolina with a chance to clinch the program’s first 10-win season since 2001.

Bret Bielema continues to target former Wisconsin players and coaches for his Illinois program: He seems to be attempting to replicate the Badgers’ approach during the mid-2000s. Former Wisconsin stars Aaron Henry (defensive coordinator) and Terrance Jamison (defensive line coach) lead his coaching staff. Wisconsin program Jim Leonhard was an analyst with the program in 2023 before moving to the NFL.

Now, Bielema’s defense will be led by three former Wisconsin starters: Thompson Jr., Neal and Lowery. The Badgers will get a first-hand look at how that strategy works out. They host the Fighting Illini in 2025.

Wisconsin has done well in addressing defensive line this portal cycle with commitments from Parker Petersen (Tulane), Corey Walker (Western Michigan), Charles Perkins (UT-Martin) and Michael Garner (Grambling State). The comparison point between the Badgers’ new-look group and that from the previous two seasons will be evident when they meet the Fighting Illini on Nov. 22.

For more on where former Wisconsin transfers will play in 2025, bookmark our transfer departure tracker.

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Wisconsin starting defensive lineman transfers to former Big Ten West rival

Wisconsin will face its former top defensive lineman next year

(This story was updated to add new information.)

Wisconsin multi-year starting defensive tackle Curt Neal signed with Big Ten rival Illinois on Monday.

Neal is the second Wisconsin transfer to choose the Fighting Illini, joining outside linebacker Leon Lowery. He is the ninth former Badger to find a new transfer destination: Lowery committed to Illinois, cornerback Amare Snowden and safety Braedyn Moore to Toledo, cornerback Jonas Duclona to South Florida, safety Justin Taylor to Wyoming, outside linebacker Anelu Lafaele to Michigan State, safety Kamo’i Latu to UConn and TE Riley Nowakowski to Indiana.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

Neal’s departure is among Wisconsin’s most impactful transfer moves this offseason. The veteran lineman started for the team in 2023 and 2024, totaling 42 tackles, five for loss and 1/2 sack in that time. He was arguably the team’s most dependable player at the position over the last two seasons.

He now joins an Illinois program that went 9-3 in 2024. It is a Cheez-It Citrus Bowl win away from its first 10-win season since 2001. If one were to draw a parallel, Wisconsin just missed a bowl game for the first time since that same year.

Wisconsin hosts Illinois in 2025. Neal’s performance with his new team will be front and center, creating a direct comparison between him and Wisconsin’s transfer additions at the position.

Those additions: Parker Petersen (Tulane), Corey Walker (Western Michigan), Charles Perkins (UT-Martin) and Michael Garner (Grambling State). Those defensive tackles are also complemented by edge rushers Mason Reiger (Louisville) and Tyreese Fearbry (Kentucky).

The Badgers have done well to reload the defensive front with Neal, James Thompson Jr., Elijah Hills and others gone from the 2024 unit. Instant results will be necessary after the unit struggled during the team’s five-game losing streak to close the year.

For more on former Badgers on the move and where they end up, bookmark our 2024 transfer departure tracker.

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Former Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman set to visit former Big Ten West rival

Former Wisconsin transfer defensive lineman set to visit former Big Ten West rival

Former Wisconsin top defensive lineman James Thompson Jr. is set to visit Illinois, according to his post on X.

Thompson entered the transfer portal this week after five years with the Badgers. He was a prominent force along their defensive line in 2022 and 2023 before missing most of the 2024 season with a torn pectoral muscle.

Related: Wisconsin football 2024 transfer portal departure tracker

The experienced lineman received a flurry of offers after entering the portal. He has announced visits to Texas A&M and the Illini at this point.

Were he to commit to the Aggies, he’d follow in the footsteps of former Wisconsin lineman Rodas Johnson, who did so after the 2023 campaign.

If Illinois is the choice, he’d not only join a Big Ten rival but also a program set to play the Badgers in 2025. Illini coach Bret Bielema’s connection to Wisconsin will further that storyline.

Thompson Jr. totaled 52 tackles, 13 tackles for loss and five sacks in two seasons as a starter for the Badgers. He’d be a significant addition for an Illinois team that is set to lose production off its defensive line.

The Illini are 9-3 in 2024, tied for fifth in the Big Ten. It’s the program’s first nine-win season since 2007. A win in the Citrus Bowl over South Carolina would bring the program its first 10-win season since 2001.

Wisconsin, meanwhile, is working to build its defensive line with Thompson Jr., Curt Neal (transfer) and Elijah Hills (eligibility) all gone from the 2024 group. This position could do a lot to decide the result when these two teams meet in late-November.

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Bret Bielema a big fan of Penn State tight end Tyler Warren

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema respects how well Penn State uses tight end Tyler Warren.

If there is one thing Illinois head coach Bret Bielema respects, it is how Penn State makes use of tight end [autotag]Tyler Warren[/autotag]. Bielema saw firsthand just how versatile and valuable Warren is to Penn State’s offense under offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki.

“Like number 44 I just love him,” Bielema said in his postgame press conference Saturday night when referring to Warren when discussing how Penn State uses some of their players in multiple ways. Warren played a key role in helping Penn State earn a 21-7 victory over Bielema’s Illini.

Penn State asked Warren to catch the football (four catches for 34 yards) and run the football out of a run-pass option package (13 yards and 1 touchdown) while taking snaps at the quarterback position. As a former quarterback, Warren looked comfortable handling those tasks

“One of the things I took from the league is when a guy has a lot of position flex which means he can do multiple things besides what he’s slatted into,” Bielema said.

Bielema spent three seasons in the NFL following his run as head coach at Arkansas, so he’s picked up a little more insight about players at the next level on top of his years as head coach at Wisconsin, Arkansas, and now Illinois. As far as Bielema is concerned, the NFL hype for Warren is legitimate.

“I just think the skillset of him just allows a lot of other things to happen.”

Warren and Penn State will host UCLA next weekend for another Big Ten matchup. Kickoff is set for a noon Eastern start time and Fox will bring its pregame show to Happy Valley for the game.

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Best Penn State football photos from the Illinois game

Check out some of the best photos from Penn State’s win over Illinois.

Penn State played its first night game of the season on Saturday night, and what better setting to do so than at home in an electric Beaver Stadium? Although this was not an officially scheduled white-out game, the fans packed the stadium dressed for the occasion and later celebrated a 21-7 victory over Illinois as Penn State improved to 4-0 overall and opened Big Ten play with a win.

Penn State’s running game and defense led the way in what turned out to be a competitive defensive slugfest between two programs known for their hard-nosed defensive styles. Penn State eventually proved to have the upper hand with a stronger and more consistent running attack and the defense came up with seven sacks and a couple of turnovers to help put a cap on the first Big Ten win of the season in front of the home crowd.

Here are some of the best photos from Penn State’s primetime win over the Illini in Week 5.

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PHOTOS: Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema through the years

PHOTOS: Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema through the years

Former Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema is leading the college football news cycle this morning.

The longtime Badgers head coach (2006-2012) led his No. 24-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini to a statement 31-24 overtime victory over No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night. The win moved Illinois to 4-0 on the young season and 1-0 in Big Ten play.

More significantly, it moved Bielema to 4-5 against ranked teams during his Illinois tenure. That mark comes after the program went just 3-28 in those matchups in the 10 years before his arrival.

The win shakes up a complicated Big Ten landscape with conference play beginning to heat up. Nebraska was considered a sleeper contender to reach the Big Ten title game, though now will face a daunting path to that destination. Illinois, meanwhile, could enter College Football Playoff contention if it continues its stellar play against upcoming opponents No. 10 Penn State, No. 18 Michigan and No. 9 Oregon.

Friday’s result had major implications for the rest-of-season race. It also had many discussing Bielema’s coaching history and undeniable winning track record.

That all started at Wisconsin in 2006. Here is a look Bielema then, and through the years with the Badgers, Arkansas Razorbacks and now Illinois:

Former Wisconsin coach leads program to signature win over Nebraska

Former Wisconsin coach gets signature win over Nebraska

Former Wisconsin and current Illinois head coach Bret Bielema led his No. 24-ranked Fighting Illini to a signature win over No. 22 Nebraska on Friday night.

The 31-24 overtime triumph moved his team to 4-0 on the season and 1-0 in Big Ten play. The ranked matchup, paired with the hype surrounding Nebraska’s 3-0 start, the national profile of freshman QB Dylan Raiola and the Friday night national television stage makes the win arguably the biggest of Bielema’s Illinois tenure.

Related: Ranking Wisconsin’s remaining Big Ten opponents from easiest to toughest

The former Badger coach is in his fourth season at Illinois. His best season with the Illini came in 2022 — an 8-5 finish with as high as a No. 14 ranking in the AP Poll. The Nebraska win puts 2024 on pace to surpass that finish.

Illinois’ 4-0 start also includes a home win against a ranked Kansas team, plus blowout wins against Eastern Illinois and Central Michigan. The win moves Illinois’ record against ranked teams under Bielema to 4-5. In the 10 years before his arrival, the program went just 3-28 in those matchups.

Bielema’s postgame excitement captures the gravity of the road victory.

Bielema coached at Wisconsin from 2006-2012. He went 68-24, including Big Ten titles in 2011 and 2012. His controversial departure to Arkansas in 2012 cast a shadow over his tenure. Given Wisconsin’s ongoing struggles since firing Paul Chryst in 2022, many have turned around to appreciate Bielema’s ability to win during his time in Madison.

To add to the Wisconsin connection, the Illinois staff includes former Badger players Aaron Henry (defensive coordinator) and Terrance Jamison (defensive line coach).

Wisconsin does not play Illinois this season for the first time since 2010. It beat Bielema and the Fighting Illini 25-21 last season on a last-minute touchdown pass to OT Nolan Rucci.

The Badgers do play Nebraska, however. Friday’s loss halts the Cornhuskers’ momentum after a flawless start to the season. The late-season matchup between the two teams could go on to largely define each of their respective seasons.

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Bret Bielema explains significance behind Iowa tattoo at Big Ten Media Days

At Big Ten Media Days Illinois coach Bret Bielema discussed the significance of his Iowa tattoo.

One of the biggest warnings they always give you about tattoos is that they are permanent. They don’t fade or wash away, that design is on you forever. Situations in life may change, but that ink on your body does not update along with it.

Now some out there take that warning to heart, others not quite as literally. I do have a tattoo of a heart that says mom, but it is flipped upside-down so it says wow just like in that one Spongebob episode. You can tell which camp I belong to. It turns out Bret Bielema is also from that camp!

Bret Bielema has a tattoo in honor of his alma mater Iowa. It’s an honorable tattoo, but there’s a slight problem. He is no longer with Iowa. He is the head coach of their Big Ten competitor Illinois.

It is really funny the idea that Illinois’ current coach, who was also the head coach at Wisconsin earlier in his career, has the image of a tigerhawk above his left ankle.

Bielema, though, is not ashamed of what the tattoo represents.

“I never met a successful person who wasn’t proud of where they come from,” Bielema stated about the tattoo at Big Ten Media Days on Tuesday.

While it may just be a silly image that he decided to get at 19 on a rainy Iowa night, it does still carry heavy meaning for the coach. Bret Bielema walked onto the University of Iowa’s football team under coach Hayden Fry. He proceeded to earn a scholarship, letter four years, and served as a captain in his senior season. He then got his start as a coach at Iowa, working under Fry and then eventually Kirk Ferentz.

With everything he gained from his time in Iowa City, Bielema has become a Big Ten Coach of the Year, a three-time Big Ten Champion, and he even won a Super Bowl ring with New England.

Sometimes even the silly decisions we make as bored 19-year-olds can help remind us where we come from even as we progress forward.

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