It was an uneventful start for Illinois and Minnesota in an early-November Big Ten contest. Minnesota held their lead late in the second quarter, but a sequence late in the first half had Illini coach Bret Bielema in shambles.
Outside of a 42-yard run from Josh McCray to tie the game at 10, the Illinois offensive attack stalled otherwise. Bielema attempted to communicate with the referees over a timeout miscue, causing even more friction and an animated tone.
It is still being determined if there were other instances earlier in the game that showcased Bielema acting similarly. To make matters worse, however, the offense has only shown spurts of hope but nothing that has changed the game’s complexion.
The public didn’t go easy on Bielema for the gaffe.
Illinois head coach Bret Bielema flamed for first-half play-calling gaffe on social media
Several fans shredded Bielema’s focus as the Illini headed into halftime with a one-score deficit. Some brought up how he left Wisconsin in 2012. Others called for his firing. Most of them were irrelevant and/or overreactions.