OT rumors: Bielema to Arkansas (per Yahoo!)

Submitted by dnak438 on

BIG TEN!

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/ncaaf--sources--arkansas-to-hire-bret-biel…

 

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 today, sources told Y! Sports, but Bielema is not expected to be introduced until Wednesday.

Section 1

December 4th, 2012 at 4:00 PM ^

I know that Bielema was not much of a Madison type.  But neither is Alvarez.  Bielema didn't go to UW, I know, but he was Alvarez's guy.  The hand-picked, personally-groomed heir.  And as far as I know, the money guys behind the program (the Kellners, et al) were all very satisfied with Alvarez/Bielema.

This is huge, because I wonder how long Alvarez wants to stick around.  Does he want to do a coaching search?  Is a new coach hampered by the fact that Alvarez might hire him and then soon after be gone?  (See, e.g., Martin, Bill / Rodriguez, Rich)

 

highestman

December 4th, 2012 at 4:10 PM ^

I'll admit, its somewhat hearsay.  The best I can say is I have a lot of family and friends who went to Wisconsin, and I grew up with them tied with michigan as my team.  Ever since the TCU loss people havn't been satisfied (there was some suspect play calling at the end of that game).  Then there was a sense that last years team was their shot, and that didn't even work out as they hoped (again, suspect play calling like trying for the win against MSU, which gave them the ball back to get the hail mary).  Remeber too, this year he lost a lot of his staff (i can't recall who off the top of my head, sorry) then fired his OL coach during the season.  There was a sense that the ship was sinking, if not this year, then soon.  Also, with Ball leaving, and no transfer QB in sight, they were not going to imrove next year.

 I'm still pretty shocked, but things were definetly not warm and cozy in madison anymore, and they were headed the wrong direction.

highestman

December 4th, 2012 at 3:59 PM ^

I grew up a Wisco fan, and I have a lot of family and friends from Wisconsin.  His popularity was actually very low by the end of this season.  Had he not pulled that Nebraska victory out of nowhere, my money was on him being gone anyways.  Ever since the TCU rose bowl people have been getting frustraited.  

MN Go Blue

December 4th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^

I will not be too upset if I never have to see him on the sidelines again, but the loss of a head coach with his record of winning is bad for the conference. 

Let the pilfering of recruits begin.

sundaybluedysunday

December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^

Amazing how on the day Brian writes in Unverified Voracity about underwhelming coaching hires, one of the league's best coaches gets poached by the SEC. That just says everything you need to know about the league.

dnak438

December 4th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^

Wisky QB, four-year starter, currently offensive coordinator of the Seahawks.

 

 

 

Argyle

December 4th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^

OP beat me to it.

 

Can't believe Bielema wants out, and have a hard time believing Wisconsin wouldn't pony up more money to keep him there. Let's see how Arkansas likes MANBALL.

MichiganITtoWINit

December 4th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^

my thoughts exactly.. I would love for a big name like Petrino to take the job for the sake of Big  Ten competition. It would be nice to establish a reputation for stealing head coaches away from the SEC, maybe eventually steal some of their players. Crist was the first name that came to mind though. Love/hate this time of year

cp4three2

December 4th, 2012 at 3:10 PM ^

We're destroying traditions and expanding to make money, right? So, why is it that the conference doesn't pony up for football (except OSU who's dominated the conference). 

Thankfully it looks like we're starting to realize that we need to spend money on coaches to win, but the rest of the conference is a joke.

michchi85

December 4th, 2012 at 3:10 PM ^

That's really all I can do is just laugh at this.  Bielema comes off as a scumbag, and really has proven it today.  Arkansas must be very desperate to hire a coach with 5 losses this year.  I hope he fails miserably down in the S-E-C.

cp4three2

December 4th, 2012 at 3:15 PM ^

It's time for the Big Ten to start doing what it did in basketball and start hiring some good coaches.  Hopefully Wisconsin can hire Petersen or Patterson and doesn't go after some MAC guy or something.