Bret Bielema, Arkansas Banned from Attending Michigan Open Practice by NCAA

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema's plans to attend Michigan's open practice Thursday were shot down by the NCAA.

Bielema first tweeted about watching the Wolverines practice at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida, Wednesday:

He followed that up with a tweet Thursday explaining why he would not be permitted to do so:

The NCAA's decision may have also prevented what has become a public rivalry between Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh and the SEC from escalating.

The issues between Harbaugh and the SEC stem from SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey telling CBS Sports that he asked the NCAA to ban practices, like the one held by Michigan,over spring break due to the notion that they can be used as a recruiting tool, per ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff.

"Our primary reaction [is] that, in the face of the time-demand conversations, we've got one program taking what has been 'free time' away," he said. "Let's draw a line and say, 'That's not appropriate.'"

Harbaugh responded with a subtweet that seemed to take a veiled shot at Sankey:

New Georgia head coach Kirby Smart subsequently questioned if the NCAA allowing such practices might send college football down a slippery slope, according to Jay Clemons of SEC Country:

"

[The Wolverines are] obviously trying to gain a competitive advantage, and that's their right. But I think the NCAA, in due time, will have to step in.

You've gotta think about recruiting rules: How [is Michigan] going to handle those, is it an advantage, disadvantage? Are they gonna let other coaches come to it, are they gonna hold open practices? Do we all come in there and watch them and scout them?

If they're all open practices why don't we go and watch them? It's a Pandora's Box of what it's going to get into, obviously.

"

Harbaugh once again retorted and denied the notion that he is trying to skirt the system:

While questions still remain regarding how open practices like the one held at IMG Academy will be governed by the SEC moving forward, the fact that Bielema can't attend sets a precedent of sorts.

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