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As 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 Big Ten championship game. But it did give coach Bret Bielema a reason to smile during a recent blur of bad news, stress and sadness.
Just think of the week he had. The visitation for his mother, Marilyn Bielema, who died unexpectedly Nov. 17, took place Sunday in Prophetstown, Ill., the family’s hometown. At the funeral a day later, Bielema eulogized her.