Bret Bielema is suing Arkansas and there’s not enough popcorn in the world

Bret Bielema is suing Arkansas over unpaid wages.

The successful run Bret Bielema had as head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers feels like centuries ago. A winner of three straight Big Ten titles, he aimed to parlay his Madison mojo into a big run in Fayetteville with Arkansas. Unfortunately, he managed just a 29-34 record across five seasons, including a horrific 11-29 clip in SEC play. He hasn’t held a head coaching job since.

That doesn’t mean the New York Giants assistant coach has blocked Arkansas out of his mind, of course. Far from it. Bielema has filed a $7 million federal lawsuit against the Razorback Foundation over money he claims he’s still owed.

Why is Bret Bielema suing Arkansas?

Bielema is suing Arkansas for unpaid wages and he’s going to court to collect what he believes he’s owed based on the terms of his contract.

Cue up the Joker GIF! You know, the one where’s all like “and here… we… GO.” You know the one.

Trying to win games in the SEC West is horrific enough as far as endeavors go, but Arkansas is poised to be forced to fight a two-front war heading into this most uncertain of college football seasons.

After agreeing to a buyout of just under $12 million in the wake of his dismissal in late 2017, the program found itself at loggerheads with Bielema over the legal fine print. The buyout was split into equal monthly sums of $320,833.33 to be paid out on the condition that Bielema actively sought out another job. If and when he found a job, the buyout would be adjusted to account for his newfound compensation.

His first gig after Fayetteville, however, was a volunteer role with the New England Patriots. That’s where everything went haywire, and Arkansas ceased sending payments less than halfway into the appointed installment timeline.

And here we are.

Fighting Notre Dame, LSU, Alabama, and Auburn will be rough going for the Razorbacks this year. But don’t be surprised if their fiercest showdown is with the man who used to sit in their big chair.

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