A day after he made headlines for taking to Twitter and blasting Tim Beckman and the Illinois football program for abuse, mistreatment and a litany of other things, former Illini offensive lineman Simon Cvijanovic continued his social-media output on Monday.
Sunday, Cvijanovic sent out dozens of tweets accusing Beckman of making players play hurt, lying about injuries and bullying players, as well as slamming the program, the athletics department, the university and the NCAA for not allowing student athletes to speak up. The tweets received tons of attention Sunday night, with many considering this the latest step in the movement for increased representation and better treatment for college athletes. Cvijanovic experienced positive and negative reaction from former teammates, as well.
[MORE BIG TEN: Ex-Illini OL Simon Cvijanovic blasts Tim Beckman on Twitter]
Monday, Cvijanovic's tweets continued, and though he continued to assert he was expressing his voice and standing up for others, it was hard to get past the tweet he sent out and then quickly deleted comparing Beckman to North Korea's Kim Jong-un.
This tweet was deleted by @IlliniSi, but comparing Tim Beckman to Kim Jong-un was ... umm ... strong? pic.twitter.com/BJsuYT8Mqj
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) May 11, 2015
Someone called him out on it, and Cvijanovic responded with this tweet:
It's well known how wrong this is. I'm not making light of the situation. I'm dead serious. The NCAA needs reform. https://t.co/it90TtHKWQ
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
[MORE BIG TEN: In report, ex-Illini Cvijanovic details Beckman accusations]
That strange attack aside, however, Cvijanovic did continue to assert that Beckman has abused and mistreated former and current players. He also brought up the topic of unionization multiple times. Former Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter attempted to start a union for Northwestern football players last year, though that movement fizzled out when the majority of Northwestern players voted against it.
Here's a look at some of Cvijanovic's tweets from Monday:
I bet @coachbeckman wishes he didn't kick me out his office last Friday. #unprofessional #doesntcare
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
Any other "job" in the country and Beckman would already have been asked to leave. #unionize now!
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
I'm using Twitter like a union rep. There is no other outlet. #unionize
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
Why is being a target of abuse ok? Not talking about screaming and yelling. I'm talking about personal digging nonstop bullying.
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
If I was abused like this on the job, a union would have @coachbeckman 's head.
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
I repeat THIS IS ALL FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE PLAYERS not for me.
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
I was treated wrongfully by @coachbeckman and now I'm speaking out to prevent it from happening again.
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
He threw down a phone book sized players manual in each of our lockers his first year. Then we got iPads. The propaganda is intense.
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
That analogy is fitting. Do an investigation of the Illinois medical staff and you will be shocked no one has spoken out #propaganda
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
I'm just relaying the opinion of a 4 year Illinois football letter winner with a life time of surgery ahead of him. No one deserves this.
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015
I'm standing up for the voiceless. I hear you.
— Simon Cvijanović (@IlliniSi) May 11, 2015