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What Bret Bielema said after Illinois’ loss to Virginia
By Nick Schultz
Published:
It wasn’t the Illinois defense’s best day at the office.
The Illini allowed 556 total yards in their 42-14 loss to Virginia in Week 2, including 405 yards from quarterback Brennan Armstrong. Armstrong also had a career-high 5 touchdown passes and had a 10-yard reception off a double-reverse trick play in the 3rd quarter.
On the other side of the ball, the offense had trouble getting going. Art Sitkowski completed 24 of 45 passes for 221 yards and a touchdown, but it wasn’t nearly enough. Late in the game, Illinois received multiple unsportsmanlike conduct penalties as the frustration mounted.
After a promising start in Week 0 against Nebraska, Illinois has dropped two straight games in Bret Bielema’s first season in Champaign. Here’s what he had to say after Saturday’s game.
#illini Bret Bielema: Everyhing that we preach and talk about in this program didn't materialize out there today.
— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) September 11, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Completely unacceptable, especially some of the reactions late in the game that we can't have.
— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) September 11, 2021
#illini Bret Bielema: Brandon Peters was cleared late in the week and did not practice all week. He threw, but no practice. Thus, Art Sitkowski got the start.
— Joey Wagner (@mrwagner25) September 11, 2021
Bielema: "We have to understand what happened."
Bielema is describing his task of trying to replace #Illini losing behavior in these last two losses.
— Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) September 11, 2021
Bielema on QB situation now that Peters is medically cleared:
"The quarterback position is critical. To have (Peters) and Art with experience is certainly a positive."
— Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) September 11, 2021
Bielema: "We can't beat our opponent and beat ourselves."
"It's not so much what happens but how you react to what happens." #Illini
— Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) September 11, 2021
#Illini coach @BretBielema: "Defensively, we got to get guys who are ready to make a play."
— Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) September 11, 2021
#Illini coach @BretBielema:
"The one thing you can't do is coach confidence."
Says #Illini players are reverting back to their losing culture in certain plays.
— Matthew Stevens (@matthewcstevens) September 11, 2021
Nick Schultz is a columnist and breaking news writer for Saturday Tradition. A 2020 graduate of Loyola Chicago, he covered the Ramblers' 2018 Final Four run from beginning to end and has worked at NBC Sports Chicago. Follow Nick on Twitter @NickSchultz_7.