Bret Bielema not 'breaking bread' with, 'throwing' bread at Gus Malzahn

HOOVER – Though they've clashed on the field just once as head coaches, Gus Malzahn and Bret Bielema have one of the most contentious relationships among any pair of coaches in the country.

There are no greater polar opposites among SEC coaches than Malzahn, the reserved and cerebral innovator of the Hurry-Up, No-Huddle offense, and the outspoken and bombastic Bielema, a steadfast believer in "Normal American Football" and the pro-style offense.

"We don't necessarily see eye‑to‑eye on certain things," Bielema said during SEC Media Days at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham on Wednesday. "I can't say that we're breaking bread together and going to dinner when we can, but I'm not throwing bread at him and rocks and everything else."

Malzahn and Bielema were the central figures in the offseason debate over the proposed 10-second rule, but that was only the latest chapter in a contentious battle of coaching egos.

During last year's SEC Media Days the two exchanged barbs over the notion that player safety was being jeopardized by up-tempo offenses – something Malzahn called a "joke," to which Bielema replied he was "not a comedian."

Then came the swinging gate-gate video scandal, Anthony Swain's "fake" injury during last season's game and Bielema saying Malzahn hadn't "invented" up-tempo offensive play.

Despite it all, both Malzahn and Bielema said they "respect" each other.

"I think it's real professional," Malzahn said of his relationship with Bielema. "I've got a lot of respect for Bret as a coach. When we're in meetings, we communicate."

Bielema insists the disagreements are centered on the competitive nature of the profession, and not personal. Though in coaching, professional and personal can overlap, and Malzahn is unfaltering in defending his offensive philosophy from naysayers.

"Gus runs an offensive style and philosophy that is completely opposite of what I believe in," Bielema said, "but who can argue with his success. That makes me respect him even more."

Malzahn oversaw the greatest turnaround in SEC history, winning the conference and playing for the BCS National Championship in his first year on the Plains, while Bielema failed to win a conference game.

Auburn cruised past Arkansas 35-17 last season, despite running 19 less plays and gaining just 20 more yards than the Razorbacks as Bielema attempted to control the tempo.

Malzahn is not the only coach Bielema is feuding with, as he exchanged lines with Missouri coach Gary Pinkel on Wednesday over the idea of player safety was at risk due to up-tempo offenses, which Pinkel called "fictional."

The Razorbacks coach countered that he was "more of a reality-based movie guy more than fiction, I guess. I think I deal more in what I know, what I see, what I believe. … I have seen a couple good fiction movies, though, so I know good fiction when I see it."

The next three-hour football epic for Bielema will be facing Malzahn in the season opener on Aug. 30 at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Though Nick Marshall's status for the game is unclear at this time, Bielema is "sure" Marshall will play and wants "to play against the best."

The Tigers will start their conference title defense with the Razorbacks trying to stop the bleeding from a year ago.

"I've won a lot of games and I know what I'm doing," Bielema said, "but just for us to get there is going to be very rewarding when it happens."