Shane Beamer, Bret Bielema continue exchange on social media - ESPN

South Carolina coach Shane Beamer and Illinois coach Bret Bielema continued their exchange Wednesday on social media after several testy moments during Tuesday's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, which the Illini won 21-17 in Orlando, Florida.

Late in the third quarter, Beamer took issue with Bielema making the «T-bar» signal toward the South Carolina sideline after walking over to check on an injured Illini player. Beamer had to be restrained from charging at the Illini coach.

Bielema said the T-bar is part of an «unwritten philosophy in coaching,» meant to signal a fair catch/touchback on a kickoff to the opposing coverage team. Moments before the on-field altercation, South Carolina made the T-bar signal and proceeded to lateral the ball, leading to a 25-yard return by Nyck Harbor. Bielema said he first learned about the T-bar signal while coaching in the NFL, as a way of limiting the risk of injury on kickoffs.

«There's nothing illegal, they didn't do anything illegal, but it put us in a position that the ethic of what that is got evaporated, because our kids stopped [running],» Bielema said.

Bielema added that Beamer «is a good person» and that his signal wasn't toward him but «their whole damn sideline.»

«I just wanted them to understand that I know what just happened,» Bielema said. «There's nothing illegal, there's nothing wrong. I just have never seen it done in any level of college football.»

Beamer defended the play, saying that he informed the officiating crew before the game that South Carolina intended to use the lateral after the T-bar signal, and got clearance from them. He acknowledged that most teams use the signal as a touchback indicator.

But Beamer said he has never seen an opposing coach walk over and gesture