national champs baby
Bret Bielema To Arkansas!
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In a stunning coup, Arkansas will hire Wisconsin's Bret Bielema as its next football coach, Yahoo! Sports has learned.
Bielema, who has taken the Badgers to three straight Rose Bowls, was nowhere on the radar amid months of speculation over who Arkansas would hire.
An announcement will come Tuesday, sources told Y! Sports, but Bielema is not expected to be introduced until Wednesday.
But like adding Rutgers and Maryland will prevent this sort of thing from happening. People in charge of things are just in charge of them, for no reason.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:25 PM | 
Agree. I always got the
Agree. I always got the
December 4th, 2012 at 5:02 PM |
Bielema...
Bielema...
...was a Hawkeye. Wisconsin was just a job.
December 4th, 2012 at 6:08 PM |
He's a Midwestern guy...
He's a Midwestern guy...
And he owes his career to Alvarez.
It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future. -- Yogi Berra
December 4th, 2012 at 5:22 PM |
He went to school at Iowa
He went to school at Iowa
He went to school at Iowa though.
3-3-5 til the day I die y'all
December 4th, 2012 at 4:18 PM |
More MAC coaches! M-A-C!
More MAC coaches! M-A-C!
More MAC coaches! M-A-C! B-1-G!
December 4th, 2012 at 4:21 PM |
Really?
Really?
The best coaches in the history of the B1G have come from MAC schools.
Strive to win. If you lose....win.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:27 PM |
Really?
Really?
Your comment seems to agree with the above, but you're questioning the above. I'm confused...
December 4th, 2012 at 4:30 PM |
Don't be confused.
Don't be confused.
I took the comment to be sarcastic, and poking fun at the MAC. Maybe I'm wrong.
I think there have been an will continue to be a number of really great coaches in the MAC. It's like the minor leagues for BCS coaches.
Strive to win. If you lose....win.
December 4th, 2012 at 5:29 PM |
also,
also,
division 1-aa.
December 4th, 2012 at 6:09 PM |
generally true
generally true
but I think a lot of the older MAC success stories had to do with the lack of scholarship reductions in the 70's and before. It was a little easier to dominate the MAC then.
Hoke aside, not many succesful MAC coaches in the Big 10 these days. And don't bring up Kelly, he cut his teeth at GVSU, CMU was always a going to be a quick stop for him.
December 4th, 2012 at 8:39 PM |
Uhhhh Urban Meyer?
Uhhhh Urban Meyer?
Uhhhh Urban Meyer?
December 4th, 2012 at 4:18 PM |
Why? He fits right in with
Why? He fits right in with
Why? He fits right in with LSU and Alabama. Man Ball. So saying that, Bielema knew his run was up. Meyer is the new sherrif in town and he lost all his good assistants. Chryst was the last one.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:31 PM |
Except those teams have far
Except those teams have far
Except those teams have far better defenses, recruit better, and don't stumble into bowl games because a couple of other teams ahead of them are barred from playing.
I think the more apt comparison for Wiscy in the SEC is a team like SC or, I guess, Arkansas. A team that can make some noise if the cards go their way, but a clear step below the "top" programs in the conference when at full strength.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:40 PM |
Nice logic
Nice logic
Since he was worried about being in a division with Urban Meyer, he decided to move into a division with Nick Saban and Les Miles? Brilliant.
December 4th, 2012 at 6:24 PM |
I didn't say he was smart.
I didn't say he was smart.
I didn't say he was smart.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:18 PM |
Ace,
Ace,
Who can we go after from their recruiting class that had Michigan interest?
December 4th, 2012 at 4:21 PM |
Nobody
Nobody
Nobody really.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/michigan/football/recruiting/commitments/2013/wi...
Jack Miller's brother committed there but I don't think M showed any interest.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:21 PM |
If we're still interested,
If we're still interested,
There's Chance Stewart, the pro-style 2014 QB who committed quite early to the Badgers.
Formerly 'mgoblaniel.'
December 4th, 2012 at 4:35 PM |
So you're telling me there's a Chance
So you're telling me there's a Chance
"The straightest line from A to B is straight: From A to B"
"When you have Denard Robinson, you can have everything"
~George Walden
December 4th, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
Is this some kind of April
Is this some kind of April
Is this some kind of April Fools joke?
December 4th, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
Maybe this will actually help
Maybe this will actually help
Maybe this will actually help Wisky's chances in the Rose Bowl....
December 4th, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
Did not
Did not
Did not see this coming.
Bielema epitomized "Big Ten" football lately, 3 straight Rose Bowl trips and smash mouth football.
Dang.
HAIL.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
Big surprise, but "woo pig
Big surprise, but "woo pig
Big surprise, but "woo pig sooie" seems to fit him.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
Living in Wisconsin I can
Living in Wisconsin I can
Living in Wisconsin I can tell you Bielema is not really that much loved here. This should be quite interesting.
"Shiny. Let's be bad guys."
December 4th, 2012 at 4:23 PM |
I'm thinking
I'm thinking
this might be seen as good news here. I'll survey my students next chance I get.
Warning: My imagination is inefficient.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:39 PM |
I'm starting to think we
I'm starting to think we
I'm starting to think we might be the same person ...
December 4th, 2012 at 5:47 PM |
Make that three of us.
Make that three of us.
Make that three of us.
December 4th, 2012 at 6:34 PM |
Fourth checking in.
Fourth checking in.
Fourth checking in.
It ain't easy being cheesy
December 4th, 2012 at 4:51 PM |
Just talked to a friend who
Just talked to a friend who
Just talked to a friend who is a Wisconsin grad, his only response was "meh".
December 4th, 2012 at 4:19 PM |
I turn on Big Ten Network
I turn on Big Ten Network
Heavens why would you put on this news when you have Indiana vs Cleveland State womens hoops going on. I mean c'mon man this story is so much bigger
3-time Wolverine
December 4th, 2012 at 5:25 PM |
Oh Zig. Are you watching it
Oh Zig. Are you watching it
Oh Zig. Are you watching it with Lou Holtz and Pop Warner?
3-3-5 til the day I die y'all
December 4th, 2012 at 4:20 PM |
This is an amazingly surreal
This is an amazingly surreal
This is an amazingly surreal move, both by Bielema (who will probably get skewered for not winning enough at a program that has outsized expectations) and for Wisconsin, which lost a solid coach. I do think that the Wisconsin program will be fine because they have a system there that won't change. Bielema will be gone in the next 3-4 years, if not sooner. At no point did I see him display any real high-level coaching abilities in his years at Wisconsin, and that isn't really a slight against the guy but more the realities of the school. It has a style that works because few teams still "man up" as much as the Badgers do, but if he thinks he'll be able to out-hoss the SEC with the mediocre recruits he'll snag at Arkansas, he's going to crash and burn.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:30 PM |
Medicore recruits
Medicore recruits
Arkansas borders Texas and Louisiana. You get the right staff assembled that knows how to recruit those two states and you can pull in solid recruites.
December 4th, 2012 at 5:13 PM |
Yeah, but in the history of
Yeah, but in the history of
Yeah, but in the history of Arkansas football they've never been able to successfully mine those two states for talent year in/year out. And while Texas is certainly large enough to produce top-notch talent for multiple programs, LA seems to be a more difficult place to consistently recruit if you aren't LSU.
Arkansas is in no-man's land to an extent; they'll never be a prominent team in the conference but the fanbase seems increasingly desperate to be taken seriously as a football power.
December 4th, 2012 at 5:44 PM |
Right, not to mention
Right, not to mention
A&M has become a big time program, and Texas Christian and now Baylor have had some good years recently, so you now have more in-state schools sifting through the big time Texas talent. I don't see Arkansas as being a big player for the cream of that crop.
wolverine 73
December 4th, 2012 at 4:21 PM |
His brand of football is a perfect fit
His brand of football is a perfect fit
Tne SEC is a smash mouth conference, very similar to the B14. I'm not sure how anyone can say that he doesn't fit. The argument about Arkansas being more pass oriented is true, but that's only been the last 7 years. I never thought he'd leave Wisconsin, but Warmer weather and more $$$ had to be factors. He can always have a few dozen pounds of cheese and sausage flown in daily if need be.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:27 PM |
The SEC is pure "smash mouth"
The SEC is pure "smash mouth"
only in Gary Danielson's mind. Florida won two NCs running the spread (and has had an atrocious offense since abandoning it), Auburn won one, A&M runs the air raid, South Carolina is spread, Missouri, Mississippi State, Arkansas, as you note, has been a passing team.
There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:31 PM |
Florida's spread coach is gone
Florida's spread coach is gone
Miles and Saban run B1G style teams, and they've done OK in the SEC.
"Over? Did you say, over? Nothing is over until we decide it is!"
December 4th, 2012 at 4:36 PM |
Nick Saban does well
Nick Saban does well
because he's a legitimately great defensive coach, and because he gets the best talent in the country. Maybe it's just me, but I don't see how running a similar offense to LSU and Alabama, but with worse talent, is a recipe for success.
There is no time, sir, at which ties do not matter.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:54 PM |
What if Saban heads to the
What if Saban heads to the
What if Saban heads to the NFL after winning a second straight title? Sure, LSU will still be a better program, but I don't think Bielema is destined for certain failure.
December 4th, 2012 at 5:13 PM |
No way
No way
Sabans stint with the dolphins proved he is a college coach.
For my privacy, my new username is "non-Oriental non-Andrew"
December 4th, 2012 at 4:48 PM |
Tim Tebow...nope, not smashmouth at all.
Tim Tebow...nope, not smashmouth at all.
"He brings a little 'Bronko Nagurski' to the quarterback position."
-former FSU coach Bobby Bowden.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:34 PM |
People have said this for
People have said this for
People have said this for years, but only Alabama and LSU play anything approximating "smash mouth", and that's more a by-product of coaches who play conservatively offensively because they have amazing defenses than an offensive philosophy. Wiscy runs the ball because they don't recruit the great skill-position players you need for the high-octane offenses. Alabama and LSU could probably throw the ball around more if they wanted, but the risk isn't worth the reward given how they play the game.
December 4th, 2012 at 9:21 PM |
The term "smash mouth," I
The term "smash mouth," I
The term "smash mouth," I think, is a bit misleading ... in the sense that it suggests an offensive style that only likes to run, and sees passing as something one would rather not do. But I don't think that's a style played much today, if at all.
Today, even the most vocal "power" teams today desire and count on an effective passing game to balance their run game. Alabama and McCarren will happily shred a defense if they cheat up to stop the run. In 2012 they did a pretty decent job balancing rush with pass:
2012 -- Alabama passing ... Attempts: 300 - Completions: 199 - Int: 3 - TD: 27 - Yards: 2788
2012 -- Alabama rushing ... Attempts: 525 - Yards: 2920 - TD: 35
Now compare that with Wisconsin 2011, where Wilson at QB gave them a passing threat (I didn't compare to Wisconsin 2012 because their QB status was a mess this year):
2011 -- Wisconsin passing ... Attempts: 328 - Completions: 233 - Int: 5 - TD: 34 - Yards: 3280
2011 -- Wisconsin rushing ... Attemps: 609 - Yards: 3298 - TD: 48
This goes hand-in-hand with what Hoke / Borges have said time and again ... they want a dominant run game to open up passing. Borges: "You run for yards, you pass for miles."
So based on that, I'd say the SEC really is more of a "power" conference than a wide-open, four wide-out, nobody in the backfield but the QB type of league. Yes, they do run that some of the time ... but it does not define the SEC.
Compare the SEC play to, say, West Virginia or Texas Tech, or Baylor ... each higher than the highest SEC passing team (Texas A&M).
Midwestern born and raised ... now living in the heat of the Arizona desert
December 4th, 2012 at 10:16 PM |
Even Lloyd's teams
Even Lloyd's teams
Passed for more than they ran. It's a different game today.
"I love him, he's a great coach, he's a great mentor, he's a great friend. He's every single thing you want a college coach to be, and he does it flawlessly." -David Molk
December 4th, 2012 at 4:21 PM |
why
why
..does he have ties back there or something? miss the Rose Bowl for winter in Arkansas??
A tribute to Michigan Football & the New Big(ger) House: 109,901.com
December 4th, 2012 at 4:32 PM |
No ties...
No ties...
...all Iowa and Wisconsin with a little Kansas in the middle.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:23 PM |
THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT!
THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT!
THE MAYANS WERE RIGHT!
December 4th, 2012 at 4:22 PM |
Good.
Good.
Now Barry will just return to coaching.
Warning: My imagination is inefficient.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:22 PM |
If he had a problem with
If he had a problem with
If he had a problem with Meyer's recruiting tactics last year, how do you think he'll respond with coaches from the SEC doing the same recruiting ploys and gimmicks to steal recruits? He is in a world of hurt. Let me give him some advice: Don't go for a motorcycle ride in the Ozarks with your hot 25 year old intern/secretary.
Agree. I always got the impression that Wisconsin was the destination job for Bielema. Didn't he play DL at Iowa? Big Ten guy his entire life?
Oh well, I was wrong again.
The spirit of liberty is the spirit which is not too sure that it is right.