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Arkansas, Bielema take shot at Michigan, Harbaugh for dropping game

By Patrick Schmidt

Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema watches the action during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Arkansas won 53-52. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 7, 2015; Oxford, MS, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema watches the action during the game against the Mississippi Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Arkansas won 53-52. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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Arkansas and Bret Bielema are not happy about Michigan dumping them to rekindle their rivalry with Notre Dame.

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The Michigan Wolverines are renewing their rivalry with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a home-and-home series beginning in 2018. In order to schedule Notre Dame for 2018, Michigan had to drop the Arkansas Razorbacks from their schedule and Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long is not happy about that.

“Primarily, we are disappointed in Michigan’s timing in pulling out of a non-conference football series between the SEC and the Big Ten that has been set for four years,” Long said. “While there are many other quality opponents that would help us strengthen our non-conference schedule, the late notice of Michigan’s cancellation makes securing those games substantially more difficult. Our focus will be to find a program that welcomes the opportunity to compete against a nationally respected program in the most competitive conference in college football.”

Long is fair and measured in his comments here and Michigan did leave them hung out to dry, but in order to restore one of the best rivalries in sports, sacrifices have to be made. Arkansas loses a marquee opponent from their schedule and their strength of schedule will take a dip, but they’ll find a replacement and it’s not like not playing Michigan will prevent them from playing in the College Football Playoff if the Hogs can run the table in the SEC.

It’s okay to be upset and disappointed and Arkansas head football coach Bret Bielema is just that, but he’s taking it in stride.

“I’m definitely disappointed,” Bielema told Teddy Greenstein of the Chicago Tribune. “It was going to be an opportunity to play one of my favorite teams from the Big Ten.”

“Wish it could have happened,” he said.

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When asked what Arkansas can do with the $2 million buyout they’ll receive from Michigan, Bielema didn’t miss an opportunity to make a joke at Harbaugh’s expense when he said, “maybe host a satellite camp in Cabo.”

Never change, Bret.

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