Bret Bielema was not a happy man when TCU fans booed linebacker Brooks Ellis as he suffered a cramp during the fourth quarter of Arkansas' victory over the Horned Frogs on Saturday.
Players have been known to slightly embellish injuries in order to slow down the pace of play for an opposing hurry-up offense. The fact that Ellis suffered a legitimate injury and felt the wrath from TCU fans did not sit well with his head coach, according to Trent Shadid of SEC Country.
"I thought it was a very sick moment," Bielema said Monday. "As (linebackers coach) Vernon (Hargreaves) said to me, he goes, 'Yeah, I want Brooks Ellis out of the game. You're right, we're faking an injury. We're taking what we think may be our best player off the field.' It makes no sense."
Ellis exited the game and received an IV in Arkansas' locker room before making his return. Bielema stood firmly behind his player, and adamantly supported his integrity.
"There isn't a dishonest bone in his body," Bielema said. "He was cramping up because he was playing his tail off and he got booed off the field."
