Illinois’ Bret Bielema ‘very upset’ with controversial ending after No. 3 Michigan edges Illini 19-17
Chase Brown rushed for 140 yards and two touchdowns, but No. 3 Michigan escaped Illinois’ upset bid 19-17. Jake Moody drilled a 35-yard, game-winning field goal with nine seconds left to help Michigan improve to 11-0. A questionable no-call on Michigan’s fourth-and-3 conversion helped set up Moody’s go-ahead kick much to the displeasure of Bret Bielema and the Illinois coaching staff.
“I’m extremely pissed off,” Bielema said. “Very angry. Very upset. Think our kids did a lot to win the football game and to continually have things go against us, very frustrating. You have to stand up for the people you believe in. I believe in that locker room big time. I know they’ll rise up to the challenge once again.”
Brown had an eight-yard touchdown run and a 37-yard touchdown sprint in the third quarter to give Illinois a 17-10 lead. But Moody booted three field goals in the fourth quarter to keep Michigan’s quest for an unbeaten season alive. Bielema coached with a heavy heart after his mother, Marilyn, died earlier this week.
Here are the top topics the Illinois coach hit on in his postgame press conference.
