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Bret Bielema blasts fake injury narrative in Shane Beamer feud

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•01/03/25•

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Illinois HC Bret Bielema
© Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images

Late in the second half of this week’s Citrus Bowl, Bret Bielema and Shane Beamer shared a heated moment. After checking on an injured player, the Illinois coach appeared to look at the South Carolina bench and make a ‘T’ with his arms, and Beamer needed to be held back as he responded.

Postgame, Bielema said the gesture didn’t have anything to do with substitutions, which were a big part of the game. He also admitted he could’ve handled the situation better – but also pushed back against a narrative about fake injuries.

After the incident with Beamer, Bielema said he heard some complains about the Fighting Illini appearing to fake injuries. He took a strong stance on that issue, pointing out two players didn’t return – one of which will need to undergo surgery.

“The only thing I would also add, the part that really gets lost in all of this, it kind of opens the floodgates for everyone else. [It was] made mention to me the day after that they were saying we were faking injuries,” Bielema said on SiriusXM College. “We had three players that I had to go on the field and tend to – two of those three players never even came back in the game. Actually, one’s gonna require surgery. The complete baloney that we were faking injuries is absolutely ludicrous.

“The three players that were injured that we had to stop the game for, two of those three never actually returned to the game. The one that was injured when I went over there had a head injury and had a tingleness – and I appreciate Coach Beamer. He actually patted him on the ass and said I hope you got better, I think. It was one of those where fortunately for us – those two players who left the game for the entire game that are good players that we never got back – but we were still fortunate enough to still win the game.”

Bret Bielema acknowledges ‘retrospect’ with Shane Beamer situation

Bret Bielema said he didn’t initially plan to make a gesture toward the South Carolina sideline as he went over to attend to his injured player. His competitive nature took over, though, which is why he did it. However, he admitted he could’ve spoken directly with Beamer after the game.

“When I made the decision, I was walking over to attend to our player,” Bielema said. “It wasn’t pre-meditated, it wasn’t thought out. But I’m walking over there and I’m like, ‘You know what? I’m getting pretty close to the sideline. I’m gonna give the T-sign because I want the staff and those players to know I know what happened.’ Just the competitive part of me. That’s what I did.

“In retrospect, I probably could’ve said it to the coach individually after the game. But I was competitive, I wanted to win the game and thankfully, I think it changed the energy in the entire stadium, and it happened. It wasn’t anything about substitution.”

Bielema noted the substitution strategy, which he said Illinois does if it’s late in the play clock. The goal is to either draw a penalty or a timeout from the opposing team, and that occurred multiple times during the Citrus Bowl. However, the extension of his arms was about a play that occurred on a kickoff, he said.

Beamer later called Bielema’s actions “bush league” in his postgame press conference. He specifically pointed to the fact he was checking on an injured player, which is part of the reason he reacted the way he did.