Illini, past and present, tweet support for program, Tim Beckman

Illinois football players, past and present, took to Twitter on Thursday to show their support for the program and head coach Tim Beckman.

Last Sunday, former offensive lineman Simon Cvijanovic sent out a flurry of critical tweets that accused Beckman of running a culture of player mistreatment.

Cvijanovic, who tore his meniscus vs. Ohio State on Nov. 1 and missed the rest of the 2014 season, stopped playing football because, ?I was asked to push myself past pain until I didn?t want to play anymore.?

The offensive lineman started 29 games at Illinois during his final three seasons. He was one of three players who represented the Illini last July at the Big Ten?s Media Days in Chicago.

See the tweets from current and former Illini below.

So thankful for ALL coaches at Illinois who gave me the opportunity to play the game we love and push me to become a better man #ProudIllini

— Coach Osei (@MilesOsei) May 14, 2015

Hard to please 100+ guys on a football team. If guys are unhappy, transfer.

— Coach Osei (@MilesOsei) May 14, 2015

Football is just like the game of life. Things get difficult and you have 2 options. Fight for your team or find an excuse. #ProudIllini

— Coach Osei (@MilesOsei) May 14, 2015

I always chose to play hurt because I knew my team was more important than myself. Thats life. Put others in front of yourself #ProudIllini

— Coach Osei (@MilesOsei) May 14, 2015

I just finished up the spring semester at Illinois and @coachbeckman and his staff accepted me with open arms #illiniproud #IlliniNation

— . (@CoreyLiuget) May 14, 2015

The #illini football coaching staff has always been there for me! Never been around a more respectful group of coaches #crazyproudillini

— Matt LaCosse (@Mattylac11) May 14, 2015

A man never blames another man for his problems for he has no right to call himself a man. Ownership and accountability makes you a man

— Evan Wilson (@Ev_wilson89) May 11, 2015

After I had surgery on my knee, Coach Beckman, Cubit, and Brattan checked in on me every day to see how I was doing. #Proudillini

— Teddy Karras (@_teddy_k) May 14, 2015

During recovery our coaches and medical staff encouraged me to take my time and made sure I was comfortable and ready for each new exercise.

— Teddy Karras (@_teddy_k) May 14, 2015

This Illini staff gave me an opportunity to play B1G Football and I will forever be thankful for that. #ProudIllini

— Chayce Crouch (@ccrouch07) May 14, 2015

Our coaches sacrifice everything for us and I'm honored to do the same for them and my team mates. Love them all like brothers #ProudIllini

— Ryan Frain (@Rfrain13) May 14, 2015

Never been prouder to represent the integrity & proud tradition of University of Football program. GO ILLINI! We are strong. #proudillini

— Jonathan Kerr (@KerrDaddy63) May 14, 2015