It seems like there was a heated moment during Tuesday’s Cheez-It Citrus Bowl between Illinois and South Carolina. The tension started when Illinois head coach Bret Bielema made a taunting gesture towards the South Carolina sideline after Illini defensive back Jaheim Clarke went down with an injury. South Carolina’s head coach, Shane Beamer, took offense to this, leading to a fiery exchange between the two coaches. Bielema was seen putting his arms out emphatically, and Beamer’s reaction was strong, adding fuel to the already charged atmosphere on the field.
If you’re interested in the footage of this exchange, it would be best to check out the video from the game. Would you like to know more details about the game or its outcome?
The tension between the Illinois and South Carolina coaching staffs continued well after the game ended. After Illinois’ 21-17 win in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer expressed his frustration during the postgame press conference, referring to Bret Bielema’s taunting gesture as “bush league.” Beamer was visibly upset over the incident, and his comments added fuel to the fire.
Bielema, known for his fiery personality, didn’t back down. After a relatively quiet night on social media, the Illinois head coach took to X (formerly Twitter) to make a pointed response. His post read, “Happy New Year and congrats on a great season….” and included hashtags like “#HappyNewYear2025” and “#CFBPlayoff.” The latter hashtag was a clear dig at Beamer, referencing his outspoken criticism of South Carolina being excluded from the 12-team College Football Playoff, a topic that had generated significant discussion during the postseason.
https://twitter.com/BretBielema/status/1874489602205225368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1874489602205225368%7Ctwgr%5E67b0221533e5a622b453e762c75beb93f1ddb59e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fcollege-football%2Fbret-bielema-sends-sarcastic-new-year-s-message-to-shane-beamer-amid-citrus-bowl-feud
This exchange adds yet another layer to what was already an intense game and postgame situation. It seems both coaches will carry the animosity into the offseason.
There is definitely no love lost between these two programs, as Illinois ends the season with ten victories for the first time since 2001.
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