Bret Bielema rips Illinois roster, previous regime

Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema Ron Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Illinois head coach Bret Bielema rips roster, previous regime

Originally posted on Larry Brown Sports
By Steve DelVecchio | Last updated 10/19/21

Bret Bielema inherited an Illinois football program that has not posted a winning record in a decade, and things are not looking better for the Illini this season. The head coach wanted to make it clear this week that he does not believe that is his fault.

Bielema was shockingly candid while talking about the Illinois roster on Monday. He also criticized the program’s previous regime and said it did a poor job of recruiting, particularly with the offensive line.

#Illini Bret Bielema not holding back about his roster today, especially OL:

"I don't believe we have a player in the 2-deep that they've recruited here over the last 3 years that is really significantly doing anything for us in the playing department, that's a major concern" pic.twitter.com/CSvWn0MmJD

— Bret Beherns (@WCIA3Bret) October 18, 2021

“To win a derby you’ve got to have the right horse. I think our players are going to be a reflection of what our program stands for. I stood at the front of the room last year when I took over and said everybody’s invited back because of COVID. But as this roster continues to transition, I’ve got to make tough decisions and players have got to make tough decisions. The roster is gonna have to change to get to where we want to be to win a championship.”

Former Illinois offensive lineman Jeff Allen, who played eight seasons in the NFL, was among those who criticized Bielema for showing poor leadership.

This isn’t a good look. What type of leadership is this? https://t.co/kFrQ92BOmL

— Jeffstradamus (@JeffAllen71) October 19, 2021

Even if the things Bielema said are true, it’s a horrible look for him to say them publicly. He’s essentially taking zero accountability for Illinois’ 2-5 record. He also showed players that he is not opposed to throwing them under the bus amid adversity.

Fans seemed excited about the Bielema era after the coach won his first game with the program earlier this year. It has been all downhill since, and Bielema has now resorted to pointing the finger at others. That seems like a poor approach.

This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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