This Bielema Quote Strikes Me As Arrogant
From ESPN:
"What we do isn't pretty," Bielema said. "A lot of places, there's a certain emphasis on being pretty and being individualized on players."
That seemed to be a shot at Michigan, especially after Bielema was asked aboutDenard Robinson's 360-yard, four-TD performance.
"For them, that's great," Bielema said. "We would never recruit to that."
Seems very bigoted to me and disrespectful to a guy that played a pretty good game and the Michigan program as a whole. I don't know why he would say anything here other than typical coach-speak (i.e. he's a great player, we struggled to contain him, yadda yadda yadda), but maybe I'm missing something.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:30 AM ^
You can also take it to mean Bielema knows he can't get that kind of talent.
Really though Wisconsin is like the classless version of Iowa. With Iowa you a bunch of 2 and 3 stars and a lot of gritty players. They always get a lot of those guys and do well and I always find myself rooting for them to a degree and amazed at how much mileage they get from those kids.
Wisconsin is basically the douchebag version of that same setup. I kind of hope they got to the Rose Bowl and get bombed back into the Stone Age by an Oregon point a minute offense.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:51 AM ^
Bielema played at Iowa.
November 21st, 2010 at 8:47 AM ^
Understood. But if I had a kid who was a Bg Ten talent, I would be pleased to have him play for Ferentz. Bielema, hell no.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:52 AM ^
The comparison between Iowa and Wisky (which I wholely agree with fwiw) is ironic considering that Bielema played his college ball at Iowa
November 21st, 2010 at 7:51 AM ^
November 21st, 2010 at 9:36 AM ^
Ferentz is a calm and quiet guy, but at the same time Iowa has a reputation for not doing jack shit when their players break the law.
November 21st, 2010 at 3:19 PM ^
not sure about that because he did suspend Robinson yesterday for a quarter for some academic issuses. Not too many coaches who would do that and then be set back to their fourth string back from the beginning of the year against best opponent in Big Ten.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
Like OSU was supposed to last year?
November 21st, 2010 at 2:31 AM ^
simple as that. i had a great conversation the whole game with the Badgers behind me (i was atop Section 9... or 7?) and they pretty much acknowledged last week was flat out embarrassment to have a coach do. bielema has lost too many close games and had his job challenged as a result so when he has a win by the balls, he seems to want to run with it.
November 21st, 2010 at 8:41 AM ^
November 21st, 2010 at 9:30 AM ^
Nope, we don't play them again for at least 3 years. They're in the other division.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:37 AM ^
I'd like to beat them there, and say afterwards, "They couldn't stop our run. Plain and simple."
Also - dick move to repeatedly cut block Mike Martin - most of the time illegally. Bielema is a piece of work.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:31 AM ^
He walloped us. Winners can say what they want, I won't hold it against him just because we were helpless to stop them. I didn't blame him for "running up" the score on IU last week, either. It's the Big Ten, big boy football, it's not Bielema's job to keep the score low or respectable.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:50 AM ^
Yes they can say what they want in terms of the game because they earned it. Say they dominated the defense and their run game was unstoppable. To take a shot at a player though? Really?
November 21st, 2010 at 2:53 AM ^
To take a shot at a player though? Really?
He must have graduated from the Dantonio School of PR and Charm.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:59 AM ^
Well, really our whole team pretty much revolves around one player. 99% of our press exposure this year has been because of Denard. I would even say we've had more press exposure that Wisconsin has overall because of him. So I understand if Bielema is a little frustrated that his one-loss team has been overshadowed by one player on a lower-tier team in the conference.
November 21st, 2010 at 3:06 AM ^
I can understand the way that can find it's way into someone's head. The issue is he's a head football coach of a major University and should hold yourself to a higher standard and stronger control then a 10th grade cheerleader.
O man i cant believe I'm going to compare this BUT...take sweater vest for example. He has a habit of complimenting us(ugh) after each game these last years. I dont have to like the guy, I dont have to like where he works, but I can respect how he handles his PR.
November 21st, 2010 at 9:55 AM ^
So I understand if Bielema is a little frustrated that his one-loss team has been overshadowed by one player on a lower-tier team in the conference.
The reason nobody is talking about Wiscy is not because of Denard, and not because his team is boring to watch, but because there is no reason to believe that they will be relevant nationally at the end of the season, and with only a couple of weeks left everyone cares about who will play for the MNC and nothing else. Wiscy was roughed up by MSU, struggled against ASU, beat a good-but-not-great OSU team, and outside of the 83-20 score (which drew some calls that it was, you know, dickish to run up the score) haven't done much to deserve national attention. He's just going to have to live with that, and next year when he struggles to win more than 7-8 games he'll have to deal with that reality as well. Bielema seems like a massive tool, and I'm fairly certain that sentiment is shared by most B10 fans now in Madison.
November 21st, 2010 at 6:13 AM ^
...that winners can say what they want, his comments seem to eminate from personal animosity for RR and a jealousy for Michigan's status nationally. I would have been more judicious with my words, but he's a relatively ignorant football coach who isn't exactly the brightest bulb in the box. Reminds me a little of Dantonio and the comments he likes to make.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:39 AM ^
Probably just an overall lack of respect for this program with a lack of fear too. Troubling that b level coaches like this seem to a. beat us and b. view us as yesterday's news. They run their mouths without apparent worry that it will hurt their teams.
Ouch.
November 21st, 2010 at 8:05 AM ^
Lot of whining going on on the board these days. Folks reading into a player throwing a show or praying in the endzone. It'd be different if they planted their flag on the block M, but this is just an interpretation of a quote.
November 21st, 2010 at 8:50 AM ^
Now, a note to the Wisconsin coach:
Enjoy your run Bielema. The class you have built for is about to be gone. RR is building for the long haul. Your fifteen minutes are up and watch us run away from you literally and figuratively. Enjoy the view, asshole.
November 21st, 2010 at 2:35 AM ^
is a douche. He's still VERY sore over 2008's loss to UM and he's not even trying to hide it. During the game when he was asked about it you could see the hairs stand up on his neck.
Wisconsin is now #3 on my payback list.
1.OSU
2.MSU
3.UW
4.
5.Profit
edit: Btw you know what stood out for me during the game? When that Olineman threw DRobs shoe 15 yeards the other direction after the play was over. Then see him grinning like an oaf because he was as shocked as anyone that he actually managed to tackle him. The UW program reeks of this attitude. I cant agree more with the statement of a classless Iowa. I like Iowa players a lot, and even though they dont get many top 200 talent, they win on heart and show class more then many.
November 21st, 2010 at 8:24 AM ^
"When that Olineman threw DRobs shoe 15 yeards"
IIRC, he threw it into the backfield 2 - 3 yards. Honestly, what were his options?
November 21st, 2010 at 9:32 AM ^
That should have resulted in a delay of game, actually.
He's supposed to either hand it to the player or the referee.
Throwing it is the last thing he should do.
November 21st, 2010 at 9:48 AM ^
Yes, I'm sure he was just trying to do his best to return the shoe to Denard.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:26 AM ^
don't think he's obligated to return the item to the player, just drop it like he did. if he wanted to delay the game, he could have either held on to it or actually thrown it 15 yards like he's being accused of doing. at least he threw it towards our backfield. i imagine the 1st thing that came to the kid's mind is shoeless should tie his f&^ing shoes.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:42 AM ^
Would you think he wouldn't get a delay of game/unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing that downfield?
It was a classless thing to do, but emotions get the best of you in the heat of a game. That said he should have been penalized, but it's not a huge deal that he wasn't. However, combined with Bielema's comments, constant cut blocks on Martin, and the fact that yes, we lost and I hate losing, it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. So I now hate Wisconsin, and Bielema.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:29 AM ^
so I have to assume it wasn't one. I'm not going to become a Penn State fan. We'll have to disagree on the players intent. Think it falls into the same category as not helping opposing players up off the ground.
November 21st, 2010 at 1:15 PM ^
If he had just "dropped" it I'd agree with you. The fact that he noitceably tossed it annoys the heck out of me. But the larger point is still true - we lost and we're bitter. Everything else just makes the team we lost to more unlikeable.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:36 AM ^
just drop it like he did
You're kidding, right? Unless by "just drop it" you mean "throw it down the field"...
November 21st, 2010 at 2:34 AM ^
Bielema is an asshole.
/I'm not bitter
//Yes I am
November 21st, 2010 at 3:07 AM ^
after there 4th or 5th loss next year, i'm sure he'll be a little more humble. replacing 19 starters will have that effect, you can pretty much count on that. on the other hand, getting 19 starters back next year will be quite nice.
November 21st, 2010 at 3:15 AM ^
I thought the announcer said they have 17 4th or 5th year seniors starting?
November 21st, 2010 at 3:17 AM ^
I think he was talking about Michigan getting 19 starters back next year.
November 21st, 2010 at 3:26 AM ^
i could be wrong but 17 or 19 won't matter all that much, thats a lot of new starters and will not be pretty but then you'll see it all come to fruition next year.
November 21st, 2010 at 8:43 AM ^
But against a Michigan team who RETURNS 20+ starters, we should and will hand it to them.
November 21st, 2010 at 8:52 AM ^
We don't play WI the next two years.
November 21st, 2010 at 9:02 AM ^
No payback for DRob at all. It will be left to Devin to shut them up.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:43 AM ^
Book it
November 21st, 2010 at 9:38 AM ^
whoops...
November 21st, 2010 at 10:53 AM ^
while ripping on bielema's lack of class last week they noted he's getting his kicks in now because UW is going to be bad next year. of course they're off the schedule.
November 21st, 2010 at 11:23 AM ^
In the entire history of Big 10 scheduling has their EVER been a good team fall off our schedule? Or conversely, has their EVER been a bad team on it? I am amazed at our ability year after freaking year to get teams at their peaks and miss teams when they hit the valley.
November 21st, 2010 at 12:56 PM ^
It's even worse because it always seems like MSU has the exact opposite. While this is without a doubt the best team they've had in a couple years, I don't think they'd have a chance at the title if OSU were on the schedule.
Edit: I forgot to point out that they are also extremely lucky when the new divisions take effect with their protected "rivalry" game against Indiana every year.
November 21st, 2010 at 1:48 PM ^
we do get minnesota back on the schedule again next year...
November 21st, 2010 at 4:03 AM ^
He's taken heat from fans and the media for having a plodding, boring style. When that style gets him a win he's gonna crow about it.
BUT . . . he's not going away. That's at least one Big Ten team that's not going to switch to the spread and WE BETTER LEARN HOW TO DEFEND AGAINST IT.
If our D is built to stop spread teams (assuming that it is actually built to stop something), it will need to adjust.
November 21st, 2010 at 10:56 AM ^
So I take it that by using the all caps you are adding emphasis for those of us who might not have picked up on that, otherwise?
November 21st, 2010 at 5:47 AM ^
The 2008 run defense isn't looking too bad now eh? I'd like to see Wisc play Stanford in the Rose Bowl. I wonder how stanford's D handles those backs.
November 21st, 2010 at 7:45 AM ^
Every time I hear hater-ish quotes like this, that insult other programs an their players, it makes me glad we have RR. He's always above making these sorts of comments.
And seriously, calling Denard "individualized"?