Amid a blur of bad news, stress and sadness, Illinois’ Bret Bielema finds a reason to smile

Because it turned out, Illinois’ 41-3 win at Northwestern in Saturday’s regular-season finale didn’t give the Illini passage to Indianapolis for the Large Ten championship sport. However it did give coach Bret Bielema a motive to smile throughout a latest blur of unhealthy information, stress and unhappiness.

Simply consider the week he had. The visitation for his mom, Marilyn Bielema, who died unexpectedly Nov. 17, befell Sunday in Prophetstown, Sick., the household’s hometown. On the funeral a day later, Bielema eulogized her. Again on campus Tuesday afternoon, after a gathering with gamers to debate the sport plan for Northwestern, he discovered his father-in-law, Greg Hielsberg, had died. Bielema left the soccer facility instantly, flew to Florida on Wednesday and didn’t see his workforce once more till late Friday night time.

Life, man. Typically it simply comes at you so onerous.

“It’s indescribable,” Bielema stated.

Two days earlier than the sport, Bielema was in his father-in-law’s workplace and noticed a yellow pad with a handwritten observe on it:

“Saturday, 3:30, Large Ten Community, watch Bret.”

A yellow-pad man himself, Bielema was deeply moved. Tears got here as he recalled the second, saying, “I believe immediately he watched us.”

By Saturday night, leaning onerous on a podium throughout a postgame press convention, Bielema needed to be someplace effectively past gassed. Feelings: fried. Sleep: a rumor. Residence: not quickly sufficient.

However he’d instructed his gamers and coaches all season they wanted to be at their finest when issues had been at their worst. Friday night time, reunited, he allow them to know that went for him, too.

So win No. 8, sure, it certain was good. And it certain was wanted.

THREE-DOT DASH

Bielema additionally choked up Saturday as he shared that Pat Fitzgerald was the primary Large Ten coach he heard from after his mother died and after his father-in-law died. Pleasant foes, certainly. …

Ohio State took the opening kickoff towards Michigan, drove 81 yards for a landing and the revenge rout was on. Buckeyes followers began packing their luggage for Indianapolis. Quarterback C.J. Stroud started fiddling along with his Heisman speech. Woody Hayes stood and applauded whereas Bo Schembechler stewed wherever they had been watching, hopefully collectively.

However then — may or not it’s? — the Wolverines began flexing their muscle tissues. Like a 12 months in the past once they lastly beat their bitter rivals, they began successful all of the battles up entrance. By the top, they had been forward 45-23 and had fully turned the tables in school sports activities’ premier border conflict. Identical to that, Jim Harbaugh is the most popular coach within the nation over again. Identical to that, Harbaugh owns his Columbus counterpart, Ryan Day.

So dramatic, and such a welcome improvement given how predictable the rivalry grew to become as OSU received each assembly however one from 2004 to 2019. …

One voter’s poll for the Davey O’Brien Award, school soccer’s prime QB honor: 1. USC’s Caleb Williams, 2. Alabama’s Bryce Younger, 3. Tennessee’s Hendon Hooker, 4. Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, 5. LSU’s Jayden Daniels. …

Anybody who pokes enjoyable on the scoreless World Cup tie between the U.S. and England doesn’t get soccer and/or doesn’t need to. It was nice to see how far the Individuals have include their first touches, passing and possession. Higher ending within the last third could be a beautiful factor, however we’re getting there. …

The Jets are second within the NFL in QB hits? Since when had been they second in something? Watch out, Justin Fields. And by “cautious” I imply, perhaps watch Sunday’s sport from the Tony Baloney’s in Hoboken. …

Jets 26, Bears 9. Getting sleepy simply eager about it. …

What a second Friday because the Canadiens’ Kirby Dach iced a win with a shootout clincher on the United Heart. Discuss awkward, proper? However not as awkward because the night time in 2019 when a bumbling loudmouth met the Blackhawks’ brand-new first-round choose within the Wrigley Area press field. I launched myself, welcomed him to city and supplied the next recommendation:

“Now bear in mind, it’s ‘Cracker Jack’ — no ‘S’ on the finish — and it’s ‘I don’t care if I NEVER get again.’ Please be the one man who will get these lyrics proper.”

The 18-year-old Canadian checked out me like I had two heads. Solely after I returned to my seat did I uncover that he wasn’t even there to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

THIS YOU GOTTA SEE

World Cup: U.S. vs. Iran (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Fox-32, Telemundo): It’s win or go dwelling for the younger Individuals, who’re simply loopy sufficient to suppose they’ve acquired what it takes to get by way of to the knockout stage and stick round awhile.

CBB: North Carolina at Indiana (Wednesday, 8:15 p.m., ESPN): The preferred picks to win the ACC and the Large Ten sq. off on the third and last night time of the conferences’ 14-game showdown.

CFB: Purdue vs. Michigan (Saturday, 7 p.m., Fox-32): The mom of all Large Ten title video games, it ain’t. However a sawbuck says it beats final 12 months’s Michigan 42, Iowa 3 waste of time.

ONLY BECAUSE YOU ASKED

From James, through e mail: “Why has Northwestern soccer fallen off the shelf so all of the sudden the final couple of years? Has Pat Fitzgerald misplaced it at each the recruiting and training ranges? Is it time for NU besides him?”

Boot him? It could be an outrageously unhealthy transfer. Ten groups have gone to bowl video games on Fitzgerald’s watch. Two latest ones have received the Large Ten West. Who’s going to prime that? There won’t be anybody on the market who would (1) take the Northwestern job, (2) know what to do with it and (3) efficiently see it by way of.

The Wildcats dwell on the sting of the shelf even once they’re good. Of their finest seasons, they win shut video games, are led by a handful of standout gamers and reap the benefits of the powerhouse-less division through which they play. Of their worst seasons — like this one — it would even appear hopeless, nevertheless it isn’t. The hole between the unhealthy groups and the first rate ones in school soccer is fairly small. 

THE BOTTOM FIVE

Ryan Day: Any person ought to let him comprehend it’s throughout the guidelines to go for it on fourth down, particularly if in case you have essentially the most gifted offensive talent group within the nation.

Northwestern QBs: OK, Trevor Siemien, let’s see the way you prime your alma mater’s six-turnover show towards Illinois once you get the decision to start out Sunday for the Bears.

“Monday Night time Soccer”: Don’t the three-win Steelers and the four-win Colts have sock drawers they might be rearranging?

Scorching Range Season: Is it simply me or does no one else odor something good cooking?

NBA tanking: By the point we memorize the spelling of Victor Wembanyama’s title, a few of us simply won’t care anymore.