OT rumors: Bielema to Arkansas (per Yahoo!)
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.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
Never saw this one coming.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:04 PM ^
December 4th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
Why would he jump? Money?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:17 PM ^
Always. The. Money.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:52 PM ^
People in Wisconsin wanted this guy out. If he hadn't beat Nebraska, he may have been gone anyways. I think this was a bit of a let me get out on my own terms, rather than wait until I get fired.
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)
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.
December 5th, 2012 at 5:20 AM ^
If Badger fans are calling for a Wisconsin coach's head for losing tight games in Rose Bowls, they're delusional.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^
Not sure why he would want to leave a solid gig at Wisco for Arkansas.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
with Arkansas' (S-E-C) name. This is bad news for the B1G.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:19 PM ^
The truly ironic thing is that no more than 6 months ago, Burt was saying that the B1G wants nothing to do with the way the SEC recruits.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:26 PM ^
He had problem with Urban Meyer's recruiting...then goes to the SEC
Makes no sense
December 4th, 2012 at 4:23 PM ^
SEC always gotta be hiring B1G coaches. With the money our schools dish out you'd think more of them would go after top coaches.
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.
December 4th, 2012 at 5:53 PM ^
Arkansas is tossing around $5 million a year offers to coaches like Les Miles. Bielema made $2.5 million at Wiscy. If Bielema does sign for this much, though, I will be surprised that Arkansas didn't find more for their money.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
I have no thoughts on the substance of the article. Just felt like that needed to be said.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:06 PM ^
Ummmm wow is really an understatement....really Bielema?
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.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:19 PM ^
December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
Wow, that's a pretty great hire for Arkansas.
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.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
See ya! Even Wisconsin fans will hate him now.
So who will Wisconsin go after now?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^
Tressel, Gruden or Jesus. No peticular order.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:11 PM ^
Wisky QB, four-year starter, currently offensive coordinator of the Seahawks.
|
December 4th, 2012 at 3:15 PM ^
John L Smith. Heard he has Big10 experience.
December 4th, 2012 at 4:06 PM ^
December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
That's a lateral move if I've ever seen one. Must be the $. Who should Wisconsin go after? Petrino? Gruden?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:14 PM ^
petrino. one d-bag for another.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:20 PM ^
Paul Chryst?
December 4th, 2012 at 3:43 PM ^
Good call.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
The guy peaked at Wisconsin, but wow, this is a shock.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
And the leaders division gets even easier for OHIO.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:07 PM ^
Gets even easier.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^
Considering how dominant Wisconsin has been in the Big Ten, really surprising move.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^
Wow, if he thought talking to other team's commits was dirty, wait til he experiences recruiting in the SEC.
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.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:09 PM ^
In shock here.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^
Well that's underwhelming. And to think, he's going to coach those kids in the Rose Bowl
December 4th, 2012 at 3:10 PM ^
......And Pitt will be looking for their 99th coach in the last 3 years after Crist heads back to UW.
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
December 4th, 2012 at 3:18 PM ^
Pitt's my #2 team, but hell, even I think that would be kind of funny.
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.
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.
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.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:25 PM ^
Yeah hopefully not some MAC guy like Bo or Hoke...
December 4th, 2012 at 3:28 PM ^
and Bo was hired 50 years ago. It's not the 1960s anymore.
December 4th, 2012 at 3:44 PM ^
Obviously, but discrediting a conference which the two best coaches in the conference have ties to is just asinine
December 4th, 2012 at 4:02 PM ^
do you not? So did the late Randy Walker and Brian Kelly. 4 of the top 10 coaches in American coached in the MAC. MACTION might get scorned on here, but it is quality football for what the schools have to work with.
MAC football is fun to watch and cheap to see. Why scorn that?
December 4th, 2012 at 4:33 PM ^
It's more that it's not a good idea to hire a guy straight out of the mac. It rarely has worked out lately.