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Illinois Football: Twitter reacts to Illini hiring of Bret Bielema

By Zain Bando

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 3: Head Coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks jogs onto the field after a game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Razorback Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Bulldogs 21-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - SEPTEMBER 3: Head Coach Bret Bielema of the Arkansas Razorbacks jogs onto the field after a game against the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs at Razorback Stadium on September 3, 2016 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Bulldogs 21-20. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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On Saturday, the Illinois football program made a coaching change, hiring Bret Bielema to continue the team’s rebuilding process.

After four years at the helm, Lovie Smith was relieved of his duties as the Illinois head football coach. Smith did not join the team in its final regular season game, as they fell to Penn State 56-21 Saturday, finishing the year at 2-6.

Just hours before kickoff, the Illini finally decided which coach would be the next to lead them to sustained success, hiring Bret Bielema.

Bielema finished 68-34 at Wisconsin, including a plethora of bowl games, which was capped off by a 2010 Rose Bowl against Oregon. While Bielema struggled at Arkansas, he brings in a wealth of Big Ten experience, as well as former playing experience as an Iowa Hawkeye-alum.

In his recent stop in the NFL, Bielema worked on the coaching staffs of the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Having worked under Bill Belichick, who is arguably the league’s best coach, Bielema is grateful for a new opportunity and fresh start upon his return to college football.

"“Illinois and the Big Ten is home for me, and I can’t be any more excited about the opportunity in front of me with the Fighting Illini,” Bielema said. “We want to build a program that makes Illini Nation proud and regain the passion that I’ve seen when Illinois wins. We want the young men playing football in the state of Illinois from Freeport to Cairo and from Quincy to Danville dreaming of wearing the Orange and Blue and playing at Memorial Stadium. I look forward to re-connecting with the high school coaches around the state making it clear we intend to keep our players home,” Bielama said in a release."

Twitter reacts to Bret Bielema being hired as new head coach.

Twitter was in a frenzy when Bielema was hired, including at Monday’s introductory press conference.

https://twitter.com/illinifootball/status/1340351046577696769?s=21

Next. Top 5 in-state recruits Illini should target for 2022. dark

Illini Nation should look toward the future, as the offseason process has officially begun.

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