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Shane Beamer explains frustrations with Bret Bielema gesture during Citrus Bowl
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Shane Beamer was not pleased with Illinois coach Bret Bielema for a gesture he made in the 3rd quarter of South Carolina’s loss to the Illini on Tuesday.
Beamer became incensed after Bielema appeared to taunt the South Carolina sideline with the substitution signal as he was checking on an injured player. For context, on multiple occasions earlier in the game, Shane Beamer had been visibly frustrated with Illinois’s slow substitution patterns on defense.
After the game, Beamer addressed the taunt when asked about the incident by reporters.
“It’s heated and competitive out there but in all my years of being around football, I’ve never seen an opposing head coach come to the opposing team sideline and basically make a gesture toward the opposing HC,” Beamer said.
Beamer also referred to the gesture as “Bush League.”
Here’s a clip from his press conference:
The interaction, which fired up both sidelines, drew plenty of reaction on social media. In the end, South Carolina was able to score a touchdown to take a 17-14 lead over the Fighting Illini.
However, it was Illinois who got the last laugh. The Fighting Illini responded with a touchdown of their own to make it 21-17 in the 4th quarter. Then, the Illini forced a turnover-on-downs inside the 10-yard line on South Carolina’s ensuing possession. Illinois was then able to bleed out the remainder of the clock on its next offensive drive.
This was the first-ever meeting between South Carolina and Illinois in football, but a rivalry may be brewing between these programs — or at least the head coaches.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
