The Cheez-It Citrus Bowl was filled with savory however tasty moments Tuesday, together with an sudden late-third-quarter spat between Illinois coach Bret Bielema and South Carolina HC Shane Beamer that despatched the sport into delirium.
Here’s the way it went.
The Gamecocks no. 15 and the Fighting Illini no. 20 had been in a decent battle, 14-10 with slightly below two minutes left within the third when defenseman Jaheim Clarke went down.
Bielema took the sphere to examine on the situation of his injured participant and, upon his return to the Illinois sideline, surprisingly, determined to taunt the South Carolina crew.
The 2006 Big Ten Coach of the Year raised his arms to make the timeout image, however continued to gesture towards the huddle and the Gamecocks’ sideline. After a few gestures too many, the South Carolina Beamer determined it was sufficient and entered the sphere.
The 47-year-old coach, visibly irritated, began strolling in direction of Bielema and was held again by his teaching employees. After a couple of seconds of yelling, Beamer returned to the sideline.
While the 2024 SEC Coach of the Year may very well be seen furiously attempting to place his headphones again on to get again into the sport, the video confirmed Bielema smiling on the sideline, which solely added extra gasoline to the hearth.
Beamer may very well be seen making his case to the referees, however no penalties got.
Both sidelines started waving on the crowd at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida, which angered followers, and play ultimately resumed on the sphere.
The Fighting Illini then rolled to a 21-17 victory, and the 2 coaches exchanged a comparatively pleasant handshake afterward. However, Beamer made some pointed feedback about Bielema’s actions in his postgame assertion.
“I assumed it was a Bush League factor, to be trustworthy,” he stated, according to La Posta and Il Corriere. “I assumed it was out of line. Especially when your participant is down, injured.”
Both coaches confirmed that the issue stemmed from a second earlier than the third quarter, when the South Carolina returner signaled as if he wasn’t going to area the ball however did after which tried a lateral. Beamer stated he acquired the OK from the officers earlier than the sport, so long as the returner did not act like he was attempting to catch the ball correctly.
The SEC-Big Ten matchup was one in every of many bowl video games Tuesday, however between a Cheez-It wedding on the fieldTHE The Cheez-It mascot gets kicked for a field goal and this heated confrontation between coaches will certainly be remembered as one to recollect.
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