FAYETTEVILLE -- Coach Bret Bielema struck a diplomatic tone Monday regarding two officiating issues that affected Arkansas during the fourth quarter of its 14-13 loss to No. 7 Alabama on Saturday.
The SEC office acknowledged Monday an officiating mistake regarding referee Penn Wagers' handling of the clock late in the game, which allowed Alabama to run one play in the final 1:01 after its own false start penalty.
Bielema said he called SEC coordinator of officials Steve Shaw to discuss the mishandling of the clock by Wagers, who restarted the game clock after the Alabama penalty rather than signal the start of the clock on the next snap.
"I give a lot of credit to Steve Shaw," Bielema said. "On the drive home, I called Steve and expressed some concerns that I had. That's when he kind of informed me that I was in the right, that there was a failure there at the end of the game, and to pursue it [as it was happening] as we should have.
"I tried to communicate that to the officials, because I knew it could go upstairs [to the replay official]. I knew we could get a replay and make the situation right. But they kind of scurried off the field very quickly so ... The best situation out of a situation like that is this, that we all learn.
"As coaches we learn, as players we learn, as officials we learn, and I think it's a great indicator of why this league is so special."
The clock mistake kept Arkansas from loading up for a punt block attempt with about 20 seconds left and the possibility of running a couple of plays after that.
Bielema was also frustrated that he couldn't get his timeout call recognized prior to Alabama's game-winning touchdown, which he said was a product of where the ball on the field was and how the officials were aligned. He said the officials were all looking where they were supposed after both teams substituted players to prior to the snap.
"I think it's just a flaw in our system," he said, pointing out a similar incident that happened when he was the coach at Wisconsin. "It's nobody's fault.
"I can be faster, I guess. But I saw the TV copy and [Alabama offensive coordinator] Lane [Kiffin] saying 'Snap it, snap it, snap it,' so they're trying to go as fast as they can, which ends up being a touchdown go-ahead play."
Bielema said he plans to propose giving college coaches a red flag like NFL coaches have to help initiate timeout calls or challenges, or a whistle.
The SEC office's response to the incident after an inquiry by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette:
"During the normal course of a game, when the clock is running and there is a false start, the game clock will re-start on the referee's signal after enforcement of the penalty. However, inside five minutes left in the game, rule 3-4-3 should apply, which includes starting the game clock on the snap 'if the foul is by the team ahead in the score.' After the Alabama false start late in the Alabama-Arkansas game, the referee started the clock on his signal rather than on the snap."
SEC officials declined to say whether a reprimand or any other disciplinary action would be taken against Wagers.
Collins' call
Bret Bielema clarified Monday that running back Alex Collins's first quarter suspension during Saturday's game was due to missing a Friday lifting session during the Razorbacks' open week then failing to notify the staff he had a test that conflicted with a self-appointed lifting session the following Thursday.
Collins rushed for a career-low 13 yards on six carries and lost a second quarter fumble that led to an Alabama touchdown for the first points of the game.
"He probably had his worst performance on Saturday, and it was almost kind of like one of those situations you see coming," Bielema said.
"He's been very positive since that point. The whole thing we've just got to do is growth. He hasn't done anything wrong. ... The kid needs to learn to be on time.
"Hopefully, this last one will put him over the top, because we're a better team when he's in there."
Injury update
Linebacker Brooks Ellis suffered a "significant" bone bruise on his right knee in the fourth quarter against Alabama and is likely to miss playing time, Bret Bielema said Monday.
Ellis was down on the field for a few moments, did not return to the game and had crutches and was wearing a knee brace Sunday.
"There's an outside chance for a quick recovery, but it looks like something that's going to keep him out for a little bit," Bielema said.
Sophomore transfer Josh Williams and seniors Braylon Mitchell and Daunte Carr are likely to pick up snaps in Ellis' absence.
Bielema said running back Korliss Marshall remains sore after taking a shot to his thigh on a 4-yard catch in the second quarter against Alabama. He did not return to the game and is questionable.
Defensive tackle Darius Philon, who suffered a left ankle injury in the closing moments, should be ready to play this week against Georgia, Bielema said.
11 points
Bret Bielema went into great detail about the points Arkansas left on the board Saturday against Alabama, explaining that quarterback Brandon Allen's first quarter pass to Kody Walker from the Alabama 6 could have been placed better.
"His throw to Kody, if it's in front of him, it's going to be a walk into the end zone," Bielema said. "But he kind of babied that ball in there. It was a little bit behind him, which caused him to turn around, which allowed the defender to get there."
Alabama linebacker Trey DePriest hit the ball from behind just before Walker crossed the goal line, causing a fumble that rolled out of the end zone for a touchback.
"It's amazing. We left 11 points on the field," Bielema said. "We left those seven points with a fumble. We left the PAT block. And obviously the mishandled snap [on a failed field-goal try]. That's 11 points in a game that's decided by one."
Backing off
Bret Bielema said practices were not likely to be as physical this week after the hard-hitting game against Alabama.
"I'm going to back off a little this week in practice because we've had a couple tough back-to-back games and playing very, very physical really in all phases of the game," he said.
"I knew it was a physical game, but going in and watching the film [Sunday] really reinforced in my mind how physical the guys are and the pride that they play with. ... So that's exciting, but you have to be very smart with what we're doing."
Tube talk
Arkansas' home game against Alabama-Birmingham on Oct. 25 will be an 11 a.m. kickoff on the SEC Network, the conference announced Monday.
Mississippi State at Kentucky was chosen by CBS for its marquee 2:30 p.m. game.
Sports on 10/14/2014