OT: Bielema eating a lot of crow this year.

[rutgersguy1]

I feel bad for our buddy SG, but Bielema seems to be getting a full helping of crow this year. First the loss to the MAC team, now Kingsbury taking a shot at him for his comments about spread offenses. Didn't even shake his hand, geez. I think that's a bit much.

http://espn.go.com/college-football...iders-sounds-bret-bielema-arkansas-razorbacks

 

[Southern Gentleman]

I don't even know what to say. Two weeks in a row that we have been humiliated, embarrassed, and beaten like a red-headed step child.

Bielima needs to learn a lesson about keeping his fat mouth shut and taking care of his own business versus commenting on other programs.

I have been reading Scarlet Nation all week and trying not to comment on what is happening with Flood and the team. Arkansas has its own set of problems and I am thinking about who the HOGS next coach will be.

I don't know where another win will come from this year based on what has happened so far.

The expectations were so high, the reality is so low.

 

[rutgersguy1]

It seems like you guys have quite a few injuries at WR this year right? I think you had a rash of injuries either last year or the year before too no? Your lack of decent qbs under Bielema seem to be a problem to me but I'm not sure how Allen has been doing this year. I actually still think Bielema is a solid coach but needs to keep his yap shut.

 

[Abro1975]

Bielema making $ 4 million /year,will be owed over $ 15 million if fired before 2018. At least Flood comes comparatively cheap . I thought the pre season talk about the huge improvements in Arky and Tenn were unfounded (no offense, SG). Hey Flood beat Arky twice ! lol. Although that was before he started gobbling dumb pills.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ves-bret-bielema-raise-extension-through-2020

 

[Southern Gentleman]

Bielema making $ 4 million /year,will be owed over $ 15 million if fired before 2018. At least Flood comes comparatively cheap . I thought the pre season talk about the huge improvements in Arky and Tenn were unfounded (no offense, SG). Hey Flood beat Arky twice ! lol. Although that was before he started gobbling dumb pills.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ves-bret-bielema-raise-extension-through-2020

Arkansas has lost for the season the top 3 WR's. 2 to broken bones in their feet and 1 to a broken arm. We were very thin there to begin with as well.
We also lost our top RB, Jomathan Williams, to a broken bone in his foot.

Brandon Allen is playing better this year than last year. But that doesn't say much to me. He does not inspire me at all and we have trouble scoring in the red zone.

I think we need to try another QB in the hope that he can get the job done.

As for expectations? When we shut out Ole Miss and LSU last year, we thought we were on the verge of something special with Robb Smith. But we are on the verge of getting a butt whipping each week it seems now.

 

[LevaosLectures]

We feel you SG. I believe both RU and Arky will yet see better times this season.

 

[Southern Gentleman]

We feel you SG. I believe both RU and Arky will yet see better times this season.

You are more optimistic than I am today!

 

[Knight Shift]

Arkansas has lost for the season the top 3 WR's. 2 to broken bones in their feet and 1 to a broken arm. We were very thin there to begin with as well.
We also lost our top RB, Jomathan Williams, to a broken bone in his foot.

Brandon Allen is playing better this year than last year. But that doesn't say much to me. He does not inspire me at all and we have trouble scoring in the red zone.

I think we need to try another QB in the hope that he can get the job done.

As for expectations? When we shut out Ole Miss and LSU last year, we thought we were on the verge of something special with Robb Smith. But we are on the verge of getting a butt whipping each week it seems now.

We will loan you a guy named Hayden Rettig. He is familiar with the SEC, and right now he has nothing better to do. :flush:

 

[rutgersguy1]

Bielema making $ 4 million /year,will be owed over $ 15 million if fired before 2018. At least Flood comes comparatively cheap . I thought the pre season talk about the huge improvements in Arky and Tenn were unfounded (no offense, SG). Hey Flood beat Arky twice ! lol. Although that was before he started gobbling dumb pills.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...ves-bret-bielema-raise-extension-through-2020

Oh he must have gotten a salary bump from when they hired him. See though this is my point about just throwing around money. It's crazy the way some of these schools do it and all it means is your wasting more money.

I like Bielema as a coach and think he's a good solid one but I said when Wisconsin let him go because of salary it was a move I agreed with and there's only so far you should go for these guys not named Saban/Meyer. More times than not you'll end up getting burned by paying up too soon and frankly that wouldn't have been the case with Bielema who had a nice track record at Wisconsin. They were paying him just over 3M and I think that was about what he deserved with his success there.

A national champ coach like Fisher is making 4M. Then you have Bielema, Franklin, Freeze, Mullen making about the same and Strong/Sumlin making 5M. Now I think there are some good coaches in that group but does that salary scale make sense? Some of these schools have money to burn so they don't care but for a school like us who doesn't it matters a lot.

 

[pawildcat]

I don't even know what to say. Two weeks in a row that we have been humiliated, embarrassed, and beaten like a red-headed step child.

Bielima needs to learn a lesson about keeping his fat mouth shut and taking care of his own business versus commenting on other programs.

I have been reading Scarlet Nation all week and trying not to comment on what is happening with Flood and the team. Arkansas has its own set of problems and I am thinking about who the HOGS next coach will be.

I don't know where another win will come from this year based on what has happened so far.

The expectations were so high, the reality is so low.

Bielema was not well-loved in the B1G, and he's not the strategic genius he appears to think he is. This is a guy that managed to lose three games with a Wisconsin team that featured a great offensive line, decent receivers, Monte Ball at tailback and Russell Wilson at quarterback. You're right. He needs to TCOB.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

Bielema left Wisconsin because he couldn't recruit kids or juco's that did not meet academic standards. If salary was an issue, he never let Alvarez know until he was signed,sealed and delivered along with "karma Jenn" to Arkansas. Most fans were disappointed by what he did particularly because Chyrst had just left for Pitt and he should have been the next Badger coach. But fast forward and Wisconsin now has born, bred, and former UW-M player, PC, back where he belongs and the Hogs have bought and paid for Bert. Enjoy Arkansas and

On, Wisconsin!

 

[rutgersguy1]

Bielema left Wisconsin because he couldn't recruit kids or juco's that did not meet academic standards. If salary was an issue, he never let Alvarez know until he was signed,sealed and delivered along with "karma Jenn" to Arkansas. Most fans were disappointed by what he did particularly because Chyrst had just left for Pitt and he should have been the next Badger coach. But fast forward and Wisconsin now has born, bred, and former UW-M player, PC, back where he belongs and the Hogs have bought and paid for Bert. Enjoy Arkansas and

On, Wisconsin!

I was under the impression they let him go because he wanted more money for himself and specifically for assistants and Wisconsin didn't want to pay that much. Never heard about the juco kids thing.

 

[Southern Gentleman]

Bielema left Wisconsin because he couldn't recruit kids or juco's that did not meet academic standards. If salary was an issue, he never let Alvarez know until he was signed,sealed and delivered along with "karma Jenn" to Arkansas. Most fans were disappointed by what he did particularly because Chyrst had just left for Pitt and he should have been the next Badger coach. But fast forward and Wisconsin now has born, bred, and former UW-M player, PC, back where he belongs and the Hogs have bought and paid for Bert. Enjoy Arkansas and

On, Wisconsin!

Muggsy,

Bret, not Bert, reiterated to Barry that he was continuing to lose assistants because Wisconsin was too freaking cheap to pay for assistants(paraphrasing there).
Money is not an object of contention in Arkansas as it seems to be at wisky.
While I am not enamored with Bielima this morning, I feel confident that he will remain the Razorbacks coach for some time.

 

[rufeelinit]

Like I said in another thread there are very few sure things when it comes to hiring coaches. Bielima is a good example thus far. I thought he had them turned around last year. Injuries maybe a significant factor in the results thus far but the guy seems to have a huge ego and is not delivering to back it up.

 

[rutgersguy1]

Like I said in another thread there are very few sure things when it comes to hiring coaches. Bielima is a good example thus far. I thought he had them turned around last year. Injuries maybe a significant factor in the results thus far but the guy seems to have a huge ego and is not delivering to back it up.

I've been saying this for years. No "sure things" or "proven" coaches as some like to throw around those terms. Outside of literally a handful which most schools couldn't sniff, it's never a slam dunk. I still like Bielema as a coach even if he fails at Arkansas but again never a sure thing or guarantee.

 

[LotusAggressor]

The cheap Wisconsin coaches were much better than our cheap coaches. I find it rather interesting that some of these great SEC coaches are trying to legislate spread offenses out of existence rather than figure out how to defend them on the field.

 

[Muggsy Blue]

Southern gentle

I know Bielema's name, however, if you were a Badger fan you would know that Bret is Bert in Badgerland and there would be no need to correct me.

Bert, excuse me, Bret left his Wisconsin team right before their bowl game with no word to Alvarez, the friend who had given him his first head coaching job. Then he proceeded to bad mouth one of the finest public academic universities in the country. Bielema would have had more respect from Badger faithful if had just told BA "you can't afford to pay me, so I'm gone."

Barry allowed him to meet with his players before he left, and he told them he could never win a national championship in Madison, but he could in Hogland. The piece of sh!t could have told the truth that he was making 2 mil more a year, but Bert copped out. So good luck with Bert, the Badgers have Chyrst back in his hometown which is the only place that he wants to be.

 

[vkj91]

Oh he must have gotten a salary bump from when they hired him. See though this is my point about just throwing around money. It's crazy the way some of these schools do it and all it means is your wasting more money.

I like Bielema as a coach and think he's a good solid one but I said when Wisconsin let him go because of salary it was a move I agreed with and there's only so far you should go for these guys not named Saban/Meyer. More times than not you'll end up getting burned by paying up too soon and frankly that wouldn't have been the case with Bielema who had a nice track record at Wisconsin. They were paying him just over 3M and I think that was about what he deserved with his success there.

A national champ coach like Fisher is making 4M. Then you have Bielema, Franklin, Freeze, Mullen making about the same and Strong/Sumlin making 5M. Now I think there are some good coaches in that group but does that salary scale make sense? Some of these schools have money to burn so they don't care but for a school like us who doesn't it matters a lot.

And this is what scare me with our predicament. I felt I knew what we had with a Flood and thought he would be good enough until we are flush with cash. If we get a new guy we will be locked in for another 4 or 5 years with no guarantee we will win more.

 

[rutgersguy1]

And this is what scare me with our predicament. I felt I knew what we had with a Flood and thought he would be good enough until we are flush with cash. If we get a new guy we will be locked in for another 4 or 5 years with no guarantee we will win more.

I said I was doubtful about Flood from the start but I don't feel the need to rail about it all the time. Same for Schiano if by some chance he came back. I'm not so high on him as others here and really want a clean break and new direction but if it were to happen what am I gonna do. It's not like I have any control over it. Once whatever happens happens just hope for the best and that it works out.

I don't get your point though. If we get a new guy and he's around for 4-5 years that'll be just the time we'll be getting a full share. So if he's any good and still around we can pay more to keep him and if he's not good you can let him go and pay more to a new guy. I don't see the problem. Whether we have more money or not, there's never a guarantee outside of very select few who we'll never sniff even when we get a full share.

I'm not afraid failure. We try our best to find the right coach. If it's a hit then great and if it's a miss then try again, just like everyone else. I mean even if it's a hit, it's no guarantee the person sticks around, he could up and leave for somewhere else and then guess what we try our best again to find the right coach. So be it.

 

[vkj91]

I said I was doubtful about Flood from the start but I don't feel the need to rail about it all the time. Same for Schiano if by some chance he came back. I'm not so high on him as others here and really want a clean break and new direction but if it were to happen what am I gonna do. It's not like I have any control over it. Once whatever happens happens just hope for the best and that it works out.

I don't get your point though. If we get a new guy and he's around for 4-5 years that'll be just the time we'll be getting a full share. So if he's any good and still around we can pay more to keep him and if he's not good you can let him go and pay more to a new guy. I don't see the problem. Whether we have more money or not, there's never a guarantee outside of very select few who we'll never sniff even when we get a full share.

I'm not afraid failure. We try our best to find the right coach. If it's a hit then great and if it's a miss then try again, just like everyone else. I mean even if it's a hit, it's no guarantee the person sticks around, he could up and leave for somewhere else and then guess what we try our best again to find the right coach. So be it.

I worded that poorly. His initial deal will be 4-5 years but you know if we go to a few bowls we are renegotiating in year 2 or 3. I'm no fan of Schiano but if he learned from the past and didn't ever look at the O I could survive with him. Personally, I'm done with Pro style offenses. We simply can never recruit at the level you need at every position. We will always be two pieces short whether it be the TE, FB, tackle etc. Go to the spread, hybrid, gimmick crap where you could thrive on NJ athleticism.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I worded that poorly. His initial deal will be 4-5 years but you know if we go to a few bowls we are renegotiating in year 2 or 3. I'm no fan of Schiano but if he learned from the past and didn't ever look at the O I could survive with him. Personally, I'm done with Pro style offenses. We simply can never recruit at the level you need at every position. We will always be two pieces short whether it be the TE, FB, tackle etc. Go to the spread, hybrid, gimmick crap where you could thrive on NJ athleticism.

I agree just with the slightest bit of success ADs are quick to renegotiate. I'm not a fan of that for the most part because I see more schools get burned than coming out better doing so. UVA and London is a perfect example.

What I would do to try and prevent that and give yourself more time for a longer look and avoid possible flash in the pan would be to try and stick a larger buyout in the contract. Like what we see with Herman at Houston. Not a perfect deterrent but better than nothing. I think Pitt did that too but Chryst may have had the one exception for his alma mater Wisconsin.

As to pro/spread, I've been saying I favor a spread for a long time now. I posted stats of the top 10 offenses/defenses the last 2 years. The top 10 offenses had more teams ranked in the top 25 at the end of the season than the defenses. Like 7-8 vs 4-5 teams. And on top of that the "unexpected" teams like NIU/Fresno etc.. that finished in the top 25 did it on the back of their top 10 spread offense. The "unexpected" ones that were in or near the top 10 in defense weren't ranked. So the best avenue to try and improve your "station" on the college football landscape is with a high powered offense IMO and that offense is likely to be a spread.

The other thing about these spread offenses is that they seem more plug and play friendly with players as opposed to a pro style and to me that's perfect for attrition you face through graduation. Alabama can plug and play for their pro style because they're Alabama. Some others are the same but I don't think that's us or most schools. Have to be more creative.

Even if the spread didn't work on a first try, I would still try it again with a new guy who hopefully could do it better. To me it's the best opportunity, not guarantee as I always say, just the best chance. The one drawback is that you're likely to see a weaker softer defense but what the hell have we been seeing lately anyway. The flip side is that you're rarely out of games and are capable of making quick comebacks.

 

[vkj91]

I agree just with the slightest bit of success ADs are quick to renegotiate. I'm not a fan of that for the most part because I see more schools get burned than coming out better doing so. UVA and London is a perfect example.

What I would do to try and prevent that and give yourself more time for a longer look and avoid possible flash in the pan would be to try and stick a larger buyout in the contract. Like what we see with Herman at Houston. Not a perfect deterrent but better than nothing. I think Pitt did that too but Chryst may have had the one exception for his alma mater Wisconsin.

As to pro/spread, I've been saying I favor a spread for a long time now. I posted stats of the top 10 offenses/defenses the last 2 years. The top 10 offenses had more teams ranked in the top 25 at the end of the season than the defenses. Like 7-8 vs 4-5 teams. And on top of that the "unexpected" teams like NIU/Fresno etc.. that finished in the top 25 did it on the back of their top 10 spread offense. The "unexpected" ones that were in or near the top 10 in defense weren't ranked. So the best avenue to try and improve your "station" on the college football landscape is with a high powered offense IMO and that offense is likely to be a spread.

The other thing about these spread offenses is that they seem more plug and play friendly with players as opposed to a pro style and to me that's perfect for attrition you face through graduation. Alabama can plug and play for their pro style because they're Alabama. Some others are the same but I don't think that's us or most schools. Have to be more creative.

Even if the spread didn't work on a first try, I would still try it again with a new guy who hopefully could do it better. To me it's the best opportunity, not guarantee as I always say, just the best chance. The one drawback is that you're likely to see a weaker softer defense but what the hell have we been seeing lately anyway. The flip side is that you're rarely out of games and are capable of making quick comebacks.

And that's what makes it so hard. How do you determine flash in the pan? Guys we could afford Toledo, Bowling Green, Memphis are all recruiting 2 stars. Is that because they are MAC, facilities or on them? Could you hire a 32 year old from Toledo only to find out kids don't buy in? Also, from your post, remember when the Fresno guy was the next can't miss....then Carr left.....scott frost?

 

[rutgersguy1]

And that's what makes it do hard. How do you determine flash in the pan? Guys we could afford Toledo, Bowling Green, Memphis are all recruiting 2 stars. Is that because they are MAC, facilities or on them? Could you hire a 32 year old from Toledo only to find out kids don't buy in? Also, from your post, remember when the Fresno guy was the next can't miss....then Carr left.....scott frost?

Flash in the pan would be 1 or 2 good years and then extending/increasing a contract and for all you know it could have been just a fluke or specific set of players that were the reason.

It's why I always say I want to see as much of a track record as I can, especially changing faces but continued good performance. Carr left and what Fresno isn't good now? If that's the case that's exactly my point of wanting to see changing faces and continued good performance.

Frost hasn't been one on my radar all that much but if he can do well this year without Mariota he'd move up more for me and if he can do it again next year after the Eastern Washington kid leaves then he'd really move up for me in the same way Herman did.

Who's the Fresno guy? Tim DeRuyter? I was never high on him. Herman/Montgomery/Morris were the guys I've liked recently and Venables to a lesser degree. We'll see how those 3 do over time.

MAC coaches I'm not high on (I know you like Babers) unless they have a really long track record like a Gary Pinkel (10 years) or Jerry Kill (3 years MAC but a lot of succcessful HC years at other stops). I'd rather see an intermediate step in between to a AAC/MWC type conference if they don't have that track record. I've tried to think of a MAC coach that made the jump straight to the P5 with only 3-4 years MAC experience as HC and did well. Al Golden and Addazio are the best I could come up with. There probably have been a lot more failures.

 

[Caliknight]

I think NJ is uniquely situated to run a pro set. It produces a large abundance of OL and rb's that fit that system.Getting them is the goal.

Everyone and their brother runs a spread now. They should be better represented in a study like that. Being different is better in this regard, IMO.

 

[rutgersguy1]

I think NJ is uniquely situated to run a pro set. It produces a large abundance of OL and rb's that fit that system.Getting them is the goal.

Everyone and their brother runs a spread now. They should be better represented in a study like that. Being different is better in this regard, IMO.

Yup everyone runs a spread now but I think there's a good reason for that though. It's because it's the best chance as an equalizer for most schools, including us, to compete. Could you expect Baylor/Oregon/TCU etc to compete with the typical titans of the college landscape without it. I don't. Same goes for the other schools who aren't the usual names but improved their status in the world.