So much for the calm of the offseason as Simon Cvijanović just dropped -- and continues to drop -- a social media nuclear weapon on the proceedings.
Last season, Cvijanović, a senior, missed the last couple of weeks of the regular season as well as Illinois’ bowl game because of a shoulder injury. Now that he’s used up his eligibility and is no longer connected to the Illini football program, Cvijanović is no longer beholden to his former team. And he no longer feels the need to bite his tongue.
In a Twitter rant that lasted for the better part of an hour or more, Cvijanović unloaded on head coach Tim Beckman. And by unloaded I mean he absolutely went thermonuclear on the coach, accusing Beckman of “misuse and abuse of power” and also, most damning, of attacking -- physically, emotionally or mentally wasn’t specified -- a former teammate of Cvijanović's.
I have reached out to the Illini’s sports information department for an official comment; as of this posting, that request has gone unanswered.
With that in mind, here’s a rather extensive “greatest hits” of Cvijanović's social media outburst, which includes shots at Beckman, of course, as well as the NCAA, the Big Ten Network and Illinois alumni:
I stopped playing football because of my physical health. I was asked to push myself past pain until I didn't want to play anymore. #truth
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
We don't talk about how we're mistreated because we're then "not a team player" or "soft" but no one pays the bill when we're gone.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
I'm not gonna just keep quiet while players suffer
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
Teammate @KennyKnight was attacked by @coachbeckman in the fall of 2013 at practice and his interview w about it @TaylorRooks was covered
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
I met w @coachbeckman this Friday and was kicked out of his office cuz he couldn't answer y I wasn't invited to the senior banquet.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
I'm not the only horror story of abuse and misuse of power by @coachbeckman
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
The @NCAA doesn't care, the @BigTenNetwork doesn't care, and the @Illinois_Alma doesn't care #followthemoney
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
I wasn't raised to keep quite when things are wrong, no matter how much the fix might cost.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
The @NCAA reps the universities who rep athletics, but athletics are the jocks and the unv is the nerds.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
Ask @coachbeckman harder questions and he will crack. I tried and he did.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
Why was I uninvited to the senior banquet after leaving the team? I was seeing their doctors.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
Why was I not allowed to come to the bowl game after starting in 4 wins
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
Beckman saved his coaching skin by seeing his Illini to a bowl berth in 2014. It’ll be interesting to see what if anything comes out of these accusations for a coach who, despite said bowl berth, will still enter the 2015 season on one of the coaching hot seats in America.