Senior Day filled with emotion

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Nov. 29—CHAMPAIGN — Senior Day (or Night) is nothing new for Bret Bielema. In 17 years as a head coach, Bielema has been a part of many tearful goodbyes.

The latest comes Saturday, when Illinois tees up against Northwestern (6:30 p.m., Fox), at First and Kirby.

Which one had the highest level of emotion? Bielema has an easy answer: Wisconsin in 2006. The Badgers closed the season with a nonconference game at Camp Randall Stadium against Buffalo. Bielema realized beforehand that the enormity of the moment was hitting star offensive lineman Joe Thomas more than expected.

It was Bielema's first season as boss after replacing legend Barry Alvarez. Bielema had been on the staff as defensive coordinator before taking over, but this was different.

"When you're a rookie coach, you go through all these moments," Bielema said.

Thomas was closing out a stellar career that included winning the 2006 Outland Trophy as the nation's top interior lineman.

"Joe at that point had been one of the most steady performers I had ever witnessed in my coaching career," Bielema said. "Joe Thomas is a steady dude."

Mostly.

Thomas was the final player introduced before the game.

"He was a train wreck," Bielema said. "I was literally like, 'Whoa, what's this going to be like?'"

Bielema got on the headset and warned offensive coordinator Paul Chryst and the line coach.

"I said, 'Hey, I don't know how this is going to go, but Joe is pretty emotional right now,'" Bielema said.

Of course, Thomas was fine.

"He went on to play unbelievably awesome," Bielema said. The Badgers won 35-3 and beat Arkansas in the Capital One Bowl to finish 12-1.

It worked out just as well for Thomas, who was the third overall pick of the 2007 NFL draft by the Cleveland Browns.

Thomas earned more than $110 million during 11 seasons with the Browns and received the highest honor in 2023 when he was selected for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Lesson learned

If steady Thomas can have a moment on Senior Day, it can happen to anyone.

"We do talk about it," Bielema said.

He planned to address the emotion of the final home game on Thursday night and Friday.

"One of the things I've always asked of my assistant coaches: 'Listen, I can't go check on those 30 guys, but anybody that plays for you, you've just got to go make sure they're right,'" Bielema said.

He won't have to worry about wide receiver Hank Beatty, who is having a monster final season.

"It went quicker than I thought it was going to," the pride of Rochester said. "It really feels like it flew by. I'm glad I was able to work my way into a role. That's something I'm always going to be proud of. Hopefully, that shows other guys that they have the same opportunities."

Bielema sold Beatty's class on the idea of building sustained success.

"I think a lot of us saw that vision. Saw the fire that he had," Beatty said. "That's something we all bought into.

"It's special," outside linebacker Gabe Jacas said. "I wanted to play one more year for this university. It's kind of surreal. I'm just grateful to finish out at Memorial Stadium and give the crowd something special to see."

Choked up

Coaches aren't immune to Senior Day emotion.

Bielema will be saying goodbye to players, who helped the school to its best season (10-3 in 2024) since 2001.

"They've meant a lot," Bielema said. "Senior Day, and I said it to those freshmen when they came in, I want to have everybody in tears because it happened."

They came to Illinois as young men and grew into who they are now.

"I don't want everybody to be crying because it's been so bad," Bielema said. "I want everybody crying because it's been so good."

The record shows it. Bielema has more wins in his first five years at Illinois than any coach in school history.

"These guys are a part of that," Bielema said. "That's not me. I get to the head coach and it's next to my name. But that's Dylan Rosiek, that's Miles Scott, that's Josh Kreutz, that's Josh Gesky. That's all of those guys who have been with me through the thick and thin of it."

Saturday night is the last time Bielema will be with them at home, with the Illini (7-4, 4-4 Big Ten) facing Northwestern (6-5, 4-4) in what could be an important game for bowl positioning on Saturday night at Gies Memorial Stadium.

"Bowl games are good, but you fall in love with people," Bielema said.

Luke Altmyer is completing his third season at Illinois after transferring from Mississippi.

What has he meant to Illinois? What is his legacy?

"Everywhere I go, including my house, I see Luke Altmyer gear," Bielema said. "My wife and daughters are wearing his sweatshirts and T-shirts.

"He's made an impact on our community. He's very likable. I think he's identifiable with our fan base.

"I've said all along, we're going to build this program from within with Illinois players. When we go to Mississippi, when we go to Florida, when we go New Jersey, we look for Illinois-type kids. Even though he is a proud young man from the state of Mississippi, I think he considers himself an Illinois player, and that's what is really fun."

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