Former Illinois football player Simon Cvijanovic went off on a rant targeting the Illini football team as well as head coach Tim Beckman on Sunday.
Displaying anger and outright frustration, Cvijanovic accused Beckman of abuse and “misuse of power.”
In a Twitter rant that lasted hours and included dozens of tweets, Cvijanovic didn’t back down when faced with questions from fans and former teammates.
Deadspin has a complete list of Cvijanovic’s tweets, but here are some of the highlights.
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
Toby Harkins worked for months as our head trainer and was not a licensed medical professional in the state of Illinois. He was fired.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
To the players understanding DrGurtler was also fired from his position as the head dr but is still listed as such 2 years later on gameday.
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
Cvijanovic then started directing his ire at Illinois current head football coach, at times mentioning him specifically.
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
4 years starting, big ten media day rep, two time game MVP (Cinci'13/Minn'14), and "Simon's a quitter"-@coachbeckman
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 10, 2015
Coaches think they're doctors but haven't even played 10% as much as I have @coachbeckman #47yearscoach lol
— 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
It appears the angry rant stems from a meeting that Cvijanovic had with Beckman on Friday:
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
There was also an intriguing interaction between Cvijanovic and a former Illini teammate:
Simon quit on his brothers when we needed him most. These coaches let him stay on scholarship to finish his degree. #truth
— Teddy Karras (@_teddy_k) May 10, 2015
I'm not a quitter and that tweet won't keep it from happening to you. If you don't play it's not your day. https://t.co/4w6rhLuD70
— Simon Cvijanović (@SimonCvijanovic) May 11, 2015
This was a pretty interesting rant from Cvijanovic, but there seems to be a lot more to this story than what he’s mentioning on social media.
The Illinois athletic department released a statement in response to Cvijanovic’s comments:
Simon Cvijanovic was a valued member of the University of Illinois football team. He chose to leave the team during the 2014 regular season and withdrew from the university before the end of the semester. Upon his return for the spring semester, we have continued to support him with medical care an academic scholarship and academic advising. We cannot make any student accept our support. We wish him success in completing his degree, and we wish him the best of success in whatever he pursues after he graduates.
It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
Cvijanovic was a four-year starter along the Illinois offensive line from 2011-2014.
Photo: USA Today Sports