In a way that only he can, Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema stirred the pot on Wednesday during an interview with ESPN.
Yes!!!! Bielema just went full #WoooPigSooie on Florida during #NationalSigningDay
on ESPN2. pic.twitter.com/p2BNOKH3GA— Matt Barrie (@MattBarrie) February 3, 2016
“Florida, kind of the new Ole Miss, they’re doing some things in recruiting that just kind of shocks you a little bit.”
Ole Miss was just formally notified by the NCAA of upwards of 30 allegations spanning multiple sports and, even though most of the violations are not believed to be football related, head Coach Hugh Freeze’s has been loudly questioned by others for his recruiting tactics. Just last season starting left tackle Laremy Tunsil received a seven game suspension for “receiving improper benefits.”
Freeze told a reporter that Bielema reached out to him and said his remarks were meant as a compliment, but Florida Gators head coach Jim McElwain doesn’t see it that way.
Hugh Freeze just told SI’s Signing Day show that Bret Bielema called him and said his earlier comments were meant to compliment Ole Miss.
— Zac Ellis (@ZacEllisVU) February 3, 2016
“You got to get a kick out of it a little bit because obviously this guy doesn’t know who the heck I am,” McElwain fired back when asked about the comment. “I sure as heck don’t know who he is. I’m not sure we really ran into him on the recruiting trail.”
Florida and Arkansas don’t often go head-to-head on the recruiting trail but they did square off this cycle. Both teams missed out on talented cornerback Kristian Fulton when the Louisiana product chose to stay home with the LSU Tigers. Florida was able to pull Tyrie Cleveland into their class after Arkansas tried to make a late push and they flipped JUCO defensive back Joseph Putu, who had committed to Arkansas last week.
“I know what the University of Florida is all about and I think if you were to poll anybody in college football I think that they’d know that Mac does it right. I have no idea what this guy was talking about to be honest.”
The two may not have crossed paths on the recruiting trail but they will cross paths on November 8 in Fayetteville, Arkansas when the Florida Gators travel west to take on the Razorbacks.
UPDATE: Florida Gators Athletic Director Jeremy Foley commented on the situation through FloridGators.com senior staff writer Scott Carter.
“Obviously Bret clarified his remarks as he should have. We know what Coach Mac stands for and what our standards are here at the University of Florida.”