Good coaches do whatever they can to put their team in a position to win, but they know there is a line that shall not be crossed. Simply put, interacting or coming anywhere near a player on the other team is frowned upon. With that being said, Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema has given us one more reason to frown upon him.
As you can see in the video below, shared by Anthony Jacks on Twitter, Bielema comes close to Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson as a play ended on the Arkansas sideline. Bielema moved closer to Robinson on the field, appears to make the first contact with Robinson and then flops backward, attempting to make it appear as though Robinson had pushed the Razorbacks coach. It drew a flag from the SEC official for unsportsmanlike conduct on Robinson, leading Bielema to do a little jig.
It is difficult and impossible to tell exactly what is happening between Bielema and Robinson, or whether anything was said by either. This much we do know. There is no reason Bielema should have been on the field in the first place, and he certainly embellished the situation so much a soccer player or Duke basketball player would be proud. Worse yet, it caused a needless flag on Alabama as a result. For this, the sEC should review this situation and punish Bielema in some way. This looks to be a clear demonstration of poor sportsmanship and conduct from a head coach of a program. It may not be an egregious offense, but it is one the SEC should not take too lightly.
Bielema’s sideline show may have drawn a penalty, but it was Alabama that got the last laugh. Alabama finished strongly against the Razorbacks to avoid an upset, winning 27-14 in Tuscaloosa.
Helmet sticker to The Big Lead.