Illinois Football Coach Bret Bielema's (Surprising?) Reaction to Week 7 Purdue Win

Was Illini coach Bret Bielema a little too pumped about a 50-49 overtime win over the Boilers?

Sep 20, 2024; Lincoln, Nebraska, USA; Illinois Fighting Illini head coach Bret Bielema talks with an official during the second quarter against the Nebraska Cornhuskers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-Imagn Images / Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Should Bret be more upset?

Who knows precisely how full or empty the glass is a day after No. 23 Illinois squeaked by Purdue in a 50-49 overtime home win Saturday? But some Illini fans were less than enthused about the victory, while others were downright incensed over the struggles of coach Bret Bielema and his club against a Big Ten bottom dweller and three-touchdown 'dog.

The #Illini better be glad they escaped with the skin of their teeth in OT against Purdue. It should have never gotten to that point. You can't play like that against inferior competition. Defense was horrendous too. Well, a win is a win I guess.

— Kool Karriem (@kool_karriem) October 13, 2024

The most embarrassing win. These guys need to step up and play to their level not the competition. Illini need to act like they are no longer the 4 win a season program.

— Michael F (@WasThatLightRed) October 13, 2024

Everyone was demoralized… I was there.

— Illini71 illini71 (@iIllini71) October 13, 2024

What puzzled – and may have put off – longtime Illini backers/sufferers was the reaction of Bielema in the immediate aftermath. Depending on what you think can be gleaned from the end of the FS1 broadcast and video snippets found on social media – and we all know how reliable those can be when forming an opinion – Bielema's postgame demeanor ranged from proud to jubilant to cocky – after the Great Escape against Purdue.

Tough. Smart. Dependable.#Illini // #HTTO // #famILLy pic.twitter.com/pH1TJF5sIJ

— Illinois Football (@IlliniFootball) October 13, 2024

Just awesome #ILL https://t.co/0UIx1Bsez8

— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) October 13, 2024

See ya next week!!! ILL pic.twitter.com/u20IGNGl0A

— The Field Pass (@TheFieldPass) October 12, 2024

But self-flagellating fans are going to be waiting a while to get the same behavior from Bielema. Meanwhile, it's important to remember: Illinois is now 5-1, ranked No. 22 in the AP poll and headed into 100-year anniversary celebration and home game against a semi-vulnerable Michigan team that could be a springboard to – seriously? – the College Football Playoff. Who among the Illini faithful could have imagined that two months ago?

The best measure of where Bielema's head is at can probably be taken from his postgame press conference. Although he said of the Purdue game, "That was probably the best thing that could've ever happened to us," he also acknowledged, "We did enough bad things to give them the game today."

#illini Bret Bielema on why this game was "the best thing that could happen" to Illinois and why he was "pissed off" leading into the Purdue game and the game meant something. pic.twitter.com/jKhg3BnvjZ

— Jeremy Werner (@JWerner247) October 13, 2024

Read between the lines, and the takeaway is pretty simple: Bielema welcomes a challenge, and he was heartened to see his team come through it on the other side still in position to exceed all reasonable expectations – and maybe crash the CFP party. A win is a win is a win. Bring on the Wolverines.

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