Bret Bielema Celebrates Bogus Penalty Against Alabama After Phantom Shove

Bret Bielema isn't in the business of endearing himself to the college football masses.

He'll burn a bridge or two—or all of them. He'll call out entire schools of thought without much evidence to bolster his ideas.

Bielema will do what Bielema wants to do, every time. So I shouldn't be surprised to see video of the Arkansas football coach appearing to manufacture a bogus penalty against Alabama during Saturday's game.

But I am surprised. Because it was that bad.

The incident occurred when Arkansas defensive tackle Hjalte Froholdt knocked over Alabama offensive lineman Cam Robinson by the Razorbacks sideline following an interception by Arkansas. A brief shoving match ensued, and at the time, it appeared Robinson pushed Bielema after the coach attempted to intervene.

This no longer appears to be the case.

Rather, another angle of the incident shows Bielema flailing his arms in Robinson's face and falling backward from a phantom shove.

Pelham (Alabama) High School football coach Anthony Jacks tweeted video of the alternate angle. Bielema rushes in, engages Robinson and stumbles backward after an unseen—and probably nonexistent—push.

BR

The result was a unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for Robinson and prime field position for Arkansas on the 12-yard line. The Razorbacks would score on the drive but lose 27-14 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.

Now, this is just...bad.

I kind of understand what Bielema may have been thinking in this moment. He's in a close game on the road. He'd give his firstborn to the circus to get an edge on Alabama.

But not like this, Bret. Not by pretending a kid less than half your age touched you. Not by celebrating said gamesmanship like a new personal best in your bowling league.

BR

This is not a personal best, Bret. This is the worst.

Dan is on Twitter. The coach flop is the latest and not greatest in flopping technology.