Arkansas taking tremendous heat for the way it fired Bret Bielema

Update: Interim AD Julie Cromer said she spoke with Bret Bielema in his office to inform him of his firing.

As much as many people believed the end was near for Arkansas coach Bret Bielema, most were shocked with the way the school’s leadership handled the firing.

Bielema said in a post-game press conference following the loss to Missouri that he was informed of the decision while walking off the field. Those inside and outside the program, including those who agreed with the firing in general, questioned the nature of the timing. Why not wait until tomorrow? The fact that it was done by an interim athletics director, and a press conference was distributed moments after the game led some to suggest that it was “cold blooded.”

Given the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, one theory, according to Bo Mattingly’s source, was that players are leaving town to visit family and this would be the best time to say goodbye.

Bielema also mentioned in his press conference that he said goodbye to seniors walking off the field.

Because of his background as a nice guy who was believed to have run a clean program, many took Bielema’s side as the developments unfolded as a classy guy to discuss the firing moments after it happened.

This is pretty cold blooded. As he left the field by interim AD? And they already had the press release written too. https://t.co/Fs9DmHWUJB

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) November 25, 2017

Bret Bielema says he’s fired as he comes off the field. Classy, college athletics

— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) November 25, 2017

Source in athletic department says Bielema was fired tonight so that he’d have a chance to talk to his team (players are leaving town to visit family) and be given the choice of speaking to the media after the game.

— Bo Mattingly (@SportandStoryBo) November 25, 2017

You fire a guy walking off the field who disgraced your program.

You don’t do that to a man who did things the right way and for whatever reason it didn’t work out https://t.co/YAujPhwguh

— FootballScoop (@FootballScoop) November 25, 2017

Arkansas could not wait until tomorrow? Those kids just played their guts out for their coach.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) November 25, 2017

If you don't want the man to be your coach that is fine. But you don't tell him coming off the field after a gut wrenching loss.

— Tony Barnhart (@MrCFB) November 25, 2017

Bret ran a clean program. Very few off-field incidents. He just didn't win enough. Deserves better than getting fired walking off the field. https://t.co/0jMEJ954XN

— Dave Matter (@Dave_Matter) November 25, 2017

https://twitter.com/BarstoolUA/status/934210503349596160

As he did with all things during his tenure, Bret Bielema handled today's firing with grace and dignity. It didn't work out at Arkansas but there were few better people in the SEC in recent years pic.twitter.com/j8R8rYq2UI

— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) November 25, 2017

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.