# @news_gazette on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DEctmnluOZ9
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/25854968-news-gazette-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/legacy-do/593ed3cdc60bac1ed8b154223896599011b768acd14bc5896ffab9430ced7e3d.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-01-05T15:17:30.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** The News-Gazette (@news_gazette) — https://gondola.cc/news_gazette

## Caption

As if the tension between coaches at the Citrus Bowl wasn’t enough, Officer Chris Williams was tossed another curveball as he escorted Bret Bielema toward South Carolina’s Shane Beamer after Tuesday’s Illini win.

A tub-full of Cheez-Its that was dumped on Coach and his security detail.

“It caught me completely by surprise,” Williams said. “I was so focused on getting Coach Bielema to Coach Beamer for the handshake, I forgot about the Cheez-Its dump until it happened. It was electric.”

Williams, the University of Illinois Police Department’s liaison to the football program since 2021, thoroughly enjoyed this season’s 10-win ride. His first-pump caught by cameras after the Illini’s overtime win at Nebraska was so good that Fox Sports included it on its list of top 10 moments of the season: “The time this officer was HYPED after Illinois
beat Nebraska.”

“I received a lot of positive feedback … a lot of text messages about the video,” he said. “I spend a lot of time with the team during the season and really build a bond with everyone. I’m proud of their accomplishments and sometimes celebrate when they do well.”

The Citrus Bowl upset — “seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces” — and working with Bielema — “he can make you believe in yourself and your abilities” — rank up there for Williams, who describes his role as a mix of monitoring and mentoring.

Even if there was a portal for athletic liaisons like there is for college athletes, he’s not budging from Bielema’s side: “I am ecstatic about returning for the 2025 season (and) looking forward to what’s in store.”

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 767
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 1

## Credits

These are the roles credited on Gondola. Credits may be incomplete.
A brand, account owner, or featured person is not necessarily the creator.

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| The News-Gazette | @news_gazette | https://gondola.cc/news_gazette | Newspaper |
| David Pollak | @mushlikpollak | https://gondola.cc/mushlikpollak | Photographer |

---
Copyright (c) Gondola