Mizzou LB Eric Beisel tried to drum up some more interest in the Battle Line Rivalry between the Tigers and the Arkansas Razorbacks earlier this week, making statements about how it would be a mistake for the SEC West squad to show up in Columbia.

He also kept pronouncing Arkansas as “Ar-Kansas,” which irked many Razorbacks fans:

“Oh yeah. Oh yeah,” Beisel said. “I expect Ar-Kansas to prepare this week. Whether they decide to get on a plane and show up at our stadium on Friday, that’s their call. I tell you what, if they do decide to come, it’s going to be hectic. Our fans are going to bring it. We’re going to bring it. It’ll be a big mistake showing up in Columbia, Missouri.”

According to STLToday.com, Beisel’s coach, Barry Odom, decided to call Arkansas coach Bret Bielema to apologize for the linebacker’s statements:

“We’ve got so much respect for Bret, his program and the state of Arkansas,” Odom said. “I’ve got family there that I grew up visiting a lot. We’ve got 115 kids and every day you want them to make the right decision. You try to put them in position to have all the information they need to always be right. Obviously Eric and I have had a few conversations on this. … He said it. You can’t get it back. We apologized and that doesn’t reflect our feelings on making statements like that.”

Bielema said he accepted Beisel and Odom’s apology, but wants to make sure the “Ar-Kansas” pronunciation is eliminated from future trash talk:

“I did tell Barry, ‘Hey, tell him the Razorbacks accept the apology fully as long as he learns how to pronounced Arkansas,’” Bielema said. “That’s something that strikes a chord with everyone here in the state. … He agreed whole heartedly. It’s water under the bridge and obviously the game gets played Friday.”

It’s nice to see the respect Bielema and Odom have for one another, but it still seems a little bit ridiculous to apologize for a player’s trash talking.

Settle it on the field, gentlemen.

The Tigers and Razorbacks will square off on CBS at 2:30 p.m. Central time on Friday afternoon.