Back in February, Florida’s latest recruiting class included Tyrie Cleveland and Joseph Putu, and Arkansas coach Bret Bielema wasn’t happy about it.

Cleveland, rated the No. 2 wide receiver of the 2016 class by 247Sports Composite, was a former Houston Cougars commit that Arkansas and Florida were both after late in the recruiting class. Putu was a late Signing Day flip from the Razorbacks to the Gators. Bielema made a comparison that wasn’t received well in Gainesville.

“Florida is kind of the new Ole Miss,” Bielema said. “They’re doing some things in recruiting that just kind of shocks you a little bit.”

With the college football world’s eyes on Oxford due to the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations, it’s not surprising that the “new Ole Miss” was viewed as an insult. McElwain and former UF AD Jeremy Foley both took it as an allegation of cheating.

Before things got out of hand, Bielema apologized to both McElwain and Rebels coach Hugh Freeze. His public explanation for the comment was that Florida was expanding its recruiting reach in a way that reminded him of Ole Miss.

At McElwain’s Monday press conference, the past comments didn’t come up. When he mentioned Bielema, he was complimentary of the Arkansas coach’s recent success in November.

“Bret’s done an outstanding job with that program,” McElwain said. “And what they’ve done as a program in November… I mean, take a look at that. They have finished and really closed at every year that he’s been there.”