Kliff Kingsbury rips Bret Bielema after Texas Tech races away with win

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Sunday, September 20, 2015

Kliff Kingsbury didn't hold back after his Texas Tech Red Raiders beat Arkansas on Saturday night.

Irked by comments Bret Bielema made during a summer convention in front of Texas high school coaches, Kingsbury sounded off on the Razorbacks' coach, saying his counterpart "just got his ass kicked."

"[Bielema] stood up and said if you don't throw to the fullback, we'll kick your ass, and if you throw it 70 times a game, we'll kick your ass,'' Kingsbury said following Texas Tech's 35-24 win, referring to Bielema's comments at the convention. "[Bielema] just got his ass kicked twice in a row and probably next week by[Texas] A&Mas well.

"That did feel good.''

Kingsbury is the son of a Texas high school football coach. He's also a dedicated proponent of the spread offense, which he says is run by "90 percent'' of Texas high schools, along with the up-tempo and high-flying Red Raiders.

Bielema, meanwhile, has been a proponent of slowing down the pace of games. He has primarily targeted the type of offense Texas Tech runs, citing a study earlier this year that "players in the no-huddle, hurry-up offense play the equivalent of five more games than those that don't," which leads to an increase in injuries.

"We have an obligation to do what's right," he said in March. "I can't understand how some guys can't see that."

Kingsbury's belief in the spread prompted him to make it clear he had a point to prove in Texas Tech's win Saturday night, one that also avenged a 49-28 drubbing last season at the hands of the power-based Razorbacks.

"To walk in there and say those [things], it definitely rubbed me the wrong way,'' said Kingsbury, who reportedly didn't shake Bielema's hand after the game. "He's a prideful guy, and he says what's on his mind, but it just hasn't worked out for him.''

Arkansas is now 0-9 under Bielema in games decided by fewer than 10 points. It fell to 1-2 this season, including a shocking 16-12 loss toToledoa week ago.

"Unfortunately, we lost to a good football team," Bielema said Saturday night. "We're going to get better. We're going to get better this week, and A&M is our next opportunity."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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