FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema spent the end of his SEC Teleconference appearance Wednesday walking back his comments about SEC official Stan Weihe.
“I do want to apologize,” Bielema said. “Obviously I made a comment to the media on Monday about an official from an occurrence a couple of years ago.
“I disagreed with a call that was totally correct that was in regard to player safety. He made the correct call and I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but I do appreciate player safety. This Saturday had blown into that."
In 2014, Weihe flagged Arkansas offensive lineman Dan Skipper for a tripping penalty during a game against Texas A&M. The penalty negated a long run by Jonathan Williams that would have given the Razorbacks the ball at the Aggies 1, ahead by two touchdowns.
Bielema said Wednesday that Weihe is not barred from working Arkansas games, reversing an erroneous comment he made earlier in the week.
“I made reference on Monday that he wouldn’t be involved in our games and that was premature to say and act," Bielema said. "He is a very good official and if he is there this Saturday we will hug him up and of course it will be on the field of play or in the locker room, and not at midfield like my last flag. It will be something that we can all grow from and move forward.”
Bielema went onto the field and received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty during the second quarter Saturday, minutes after Weihe called a holding penalty on Razorbacks offensive tackle Brian Wallace. The penalty negated an Arkansas touchdown and the Razorbacks settled for a field goal to pull within 28-10.
ESPN analyst Todd Blackledge referenced on TV that it appeared that Hand just lost his footing on a spin move - a thought echoed by former NFL offensive lineman Mike Golic in a tweet.
Bielema said after Saturday’s game that Weihe was supposed to be looking guard to guard and not at the tackles.
“Obviously, you know that (Alabama) is very good up front,” Bielema said Saturday. “I asked the umpire and from my indication, he is watching guard to guard and that was a tackle. So I just wondered why he threw the flag.
“I was just trying to get information on that and I wanted to compliment him. He did a nice job and actually went beyond his job and called one of the tackles he shouldn't be looking at. I just wanted to talk.”