Shane Beamer calls Bret Bielema actions 'bush league'

Perhaps the biggest highlight in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl between South Carolina and Illinois had nothing to do with football. Instead, it was a flare-up between coaches Shane Beamer and Bret Bielema late in the third quarter.

Bielema appeared to taunt Beamer by walking toward a South Carolina huddle and gesturing by extending his arms wide like a plane. When the South Carolina coach saw it, he lost it.

“I’m a competitive guy,” Beamer explained after the game. “When someone says that to me, I’m going to respond. Because I thought that was bush league, to be completely honest.”

Bielema’s gesture was a call-out of sorts. The entire thing stemmed back to a kick return earlier in the game, when South Carolina return man Juju McDowell extended his arms wide on the return.

Illinois players thought he was signaling for a fair catch and let up, only to watch McDowell execute a fake designed for physical freak Nyck Harbor. Beamer further explained the incident.

“I think his issue was when we threw the throw-back kickoff return, our kickoff returner did this (extends arms out), which most teams, that’s a signal that it’s a touchback and we’re not going to return the kick,” Beamer said. “You’re allowed to do that, as long as you don’t do a waving motion. It’s no different than on a punt. If the punt returner comes pointing to the ball that’s bouncing on the ground, he’s allowed to return it. If you’re doing this (waving) you’re not allowed to return it.

“There was no waving of the arms, and I cleared it with the Big 12 officials before the game. I told them we were going to do it, making sure they were good with it, and they said, ‘Yeah, just as long as he doesn’t wave the arms.’ So I think he had an issue with that.”

In response, Bielema waited until he had a player go down with an injury near the South Carolina sideline. He took the opportunity to mosey on over toward Shane Beamer and extend his arms in the same gesture, seemingly mocking Beamer.

The South Carolina head coach opened up on why he took exception.

“You have to ask him why he didn’t take it up with the officials and why he felt the need to come over here while his player was on the ground and look at me and say something to me and do that motion at me like I was full of you-know-what to do it,” Beamer said. “That’s what I have an issue with.”

As for the relationship between the two coaches, a post-game handshake was cordial enough. And Beamer seemed to mostly try to put things behind him at the end. Still, he let his displeasure be known.

“I’ve got my own team to worry about,” Beamer said. “Give them credit. I’ve got a ton of respect for coach Bielema. I’ve really enjoyed being around him this week. We’re two competitive guys. But I thought that was uncalled for, especially when his own player’s on the ground hurt.”