Was 2014 Bielema's best team?

[Ben]

I look back to his past teams up to now. And looking at how close Arkansas kept it against teams like Alabama, then #1 Miss St, then SEC east champ Mizzou, and the blowout wins vs Ole Miss, LSU, and Texas, Could there be an argument made that even at 6-6, the 2014 team was Bielema's best team?

[farmhawg]

Not even close. He still had players from the last coach. He is building this right and we win big next year.

[hogcard1964]

I look back to his past teams up to now. And looking at how close Arkansas kept it against teams like Alabama, then #1 Miss St, then SEC east champ Mizzou, and the blowout wins vs Ole Miss, LSU, and Texas, Could there be an argument made that even at 6-6, the 2014 team was Bielema's best team?

We really haven't had a "good season" in 5 years, but I thought his best year was probably last year.

[Ben]

We really haven't had a "good season" in 5 years, but I thought his best year was probably last year.

Record wise, yes he was but he also lost to Toledo and Texas Tech.

[jgphillips3]

Arguably, yes, especially given the defensive regression.  It was absolutely the most physical team. 

[JONAS]

Last year was the best team.  We went 5-3 in the SEC.  Should have been 7-1 or 6-2.

[Pig In The City]

In my mind, CBB is riding out his contract. You just don't regress in year four. You just don't! After this season, what do you think can all of a sudden get better?

[rhames]

The fact is I'm more disappointed with last year's record than this year. That team should have won 9 or more games. That also would have taken a little pressure off this year. This year 8 wins was always going to be a tall order. In my opinion of course.

[RME]

Not even close. He still had players from the last coach. He is building this right and we win big next year.

2013: 3
2014: 7
2015: 8
2016: 7, chance at 8


I would say a 1 win differential isn't enough to warrant a "not even close" conclusion but...I guess our definitions of "not even close" are a little different.

It'll be interesting to see what people say if we're still winning 7/8 games (which, as we all know is pretty standard) in two years. Then they won't have the "previous coach" excuse.

[Calling All Hogs]

2014 was his best defense although it doesn't take much to be able to say that.  He also seemed well on his way to building a great O-line that year that might dominate someday even in the SEC. 

[onebadrubi]

Oh boy, another post by Ben to attempt to stir the pot and create controversy.

[LSUFan]

Not even close. He still had players from the last coach. He is building this right and we win big next year.

I get the sarcasm in your key strokes.

[3kgthog]

Not even close. He still had players from the last coach. He is building this right and we win big next year.

And those players from the last coach were the foundation of Bielema's best defense here. Now he's got mostly his own players and has set records for Hog futility this season. Want to try again?

[mckinneyhog5]

2013: 3
2014: 7
2015: 8
2016: 7, chance at 8


I would say a 1 win differential isn't enough to warrant a "not even close" conclusion but...I guess our definitions of "not even close" are a little different.

It'll be interesting to see what people say if we're still winning 7/8 games (which, as we all know is pretty standard) in two years. Then they won't have the "previous coach" excuse.

my bad!

[LZH]

In 2014 it was 8 wins and 9 wins in 2015 and before you say anything bowl wins  do count.

What? 7-6, 8-5.

[HoggusMaximus]

It seems like CBB is getting some nice defensive recruits in the next couple of seasons. If Calloway commits this year along with Brown and Pool next year, Hopefully we should start seeing some better play in the long run.

[farmhawg]

It seems like CBB is getting some nice defensive recruits in the next couple of seasons. If Calloway commits this year along with Brown and Pool next year, Hopefully we should start seeing some better play in the long run.

he has another four years to get where he needs to be.

[hogcard1964]

he has another four years to get where he needs to be.

I would extend his contract, give him an extra 4-6 years. Up his buyout to around 15-16 million, against us of course.  Maybe, just maybe he'll actually become a little more complacent than he is right now and maybe we'll win 5-6 games next year.

This is what I'm hoping for.   

[farmhawg]

I would extend his contract, give him an extra 4-6 years. Up his buyout to around 15-16 million, against us of course.  Maybe, just maybe he'll actually become a little more complacent than he is right now and maybe we'll win 5-6 games next year.

This is what I'm hoping for.   

You will see the light shortly!

[hogfan14]

I think it was his most talented team. Ton of NFL players on that team now looking back.

[RME]

In 2014 it was 8 wins and 9 wins in 2015 and before you say anything bowl wins  do count.

If you count the red-white game as a win, then yeah you're correct.

[jkstock04]

Was for sure our most physical team. Those Petrino defensive recruits left and it's been all downhill since.

[RME]

Was for sure our most physical team. Those Petrino defensive recruits left and it's been all downhill since.

[jkstock04]

That 2014 Bama game is still a gut wrencher to me. THAT was our best chance to get the Bama monkey off our backs.

[hogsanity]

2014's defensive performance was somewhat of a mirage. Yes they shut out Om and LSU, but LSU had no offense and was playing at 8pm on a cold damp night in Fay. OM had just lost a heartbreaking game ( and their best WR the week before ) playing the Hogs on a cold wet day in Fay, and their Qb got hurt on the 1st or 2nd series of the game and they packed it in early.

[jkstock04]

2014's defensive performance was somewhat of a mirage. Yes they shut out Om and LSU, but LSU had no offense and was playing at 8pm on a cold damp night in Fay. OM had just lost a heartbreaking game ( and their best WR the week before ) playing the Hogs on a cold wet day in Fay, and their Qb got hurt on the 1st or 2nd series of the game and they packed it in early.

Bama similar setting...cold, nasty, dreary night in Fville. You could see on the sidelines their players wanted none of it....they were miserable ready to get on a plane and head back south. That one was there for the taking if our offense had a heartbeat.

[Hogwild]

Last year was the best team.  We went 5-3 in the SEC.  Should have been 7-1 or 6-2.

Last year we were 2 plays away from a 10 win season and 2 plays away from a losing record.

One play different in the Toledo and Miss. State game and we have 10 wins.
If we don't win the 4 OT and 4th and 25 games we wouldn't have gone to a bowl game.

[Jek Tono Porkins]

In my mind, CBB is riding out his contract. You just don't regress in year four. You just don't! After this season, what do you think can all of a sudden get better?

You have to be wholly ignorant of college football history to make a statement like that.

[wildturkey8]

Wonder what our 2014 record would have been with Coach Enos as Offensive Coordinator?

[farmhawg]

And those players from the last coach were the foundation of Bielema's best defense here. Now he's got mostly his own players and has set records for Hog futility this season. Want to try again?

nope, he had to purge those bad apples in order to set the right culture of winning. Still seeing the effects of the loser mentality.

[RME]

nope, he had to purge those bad apples in order to set the right culture of winning. Still seeing the effects of the loser mentality.

Lol how moronic.

[farmhawg]

Lol how moronic.

If you have a better thought please share.

[Bubba's Bruisers]

nope, he had to purge those bad apples in order to set the right culture of winning. Still seeing the effects of the loser mentality.

Those bad apples produced his only competent defense.  I'll take more of those please.

[farmhawg]

Red delicious or Jonathan?

[12247]

Gentlemen, what we learned in 2012 is that a good HC who micromanages cannot be replaced by Grandpa.  Grandpa was told he just had to show up and hold the HC title.  The assistants would get the job done.  They didn't because their previous HC drove them like rented mules to success.  So we went 4-8 with 2 conference wins with an 8 or 9 win squad.  No conditioning, no mental toughness, no decent game plans, no second or third team planning, just a group of Guys showing up and sand lotting it out there.  Then we hired a coach who wanted a different scheme and he proceeded to go 3-9 and 0 conference wins. 

2015 was BBs best team so far mainly because Brandon Allen finally showed some QB talent and willed us to win a couple.  If  BB would have had the team ready to play at the start of the season, we could have won 2 more and I agree, we could have lost 2 more that we did win.

[Inhogswetrust]

Red delicious or Jonathan?

According to others on here they will be Golden soon.

[farmhawg]

According to others on here they will be Golden soon.

Very nice.

[ballhogger]

2013: 3
2014: 7
2015: 8
2016: 7, chance at 8


I would say a 1 win differential isn't enough to warrant a "not even close" conclusion but...I guess our definitions of "not even close" are a little different.

It'll be interesting to see what people say if we're still winning 7/8 games (which, as we all know is pretty standard) in two years. Then they won't have the "previous coach" excuse.

I would say that 2014 would have been a better team than this one overall.  This year we won the non conference games which makes the record look a whole lot better.

[Swine-as-wine]

2013: 3
2014: 7
2015: 8
2016: 7, chance at 8


I would say a 1 win differential isn't enough to warrant a "not even close" conclusion but...I guess our definitions of "not even close" are a little different.

It'll be interesting to see what people say if we're still winning 7/8 games (which, as we all know is pretty standard) in two years. Then they won't have the "previous coach" excuse.

By "not even close", I think he meant that we seemed to get worse in the later part of the season, rather than better as we
had the previous 2 years. At the end of those years, we as fans all had hope and were chomping at the bits for the next
season to begin. Only thing I'm chomping on right now, is a bag of tater chips.

[MushroomCloudHog]

What? 7-6, 8-5.

listen..CBB is undefeated in the Red/White game....so get it right...he was 8-6, 9-5....

[LZH]

listen..CBB is undefeated in the Red/White game....so get it right...he was 8-6, 9-5....

Apparently he's also undefeated at the grill.

[farmhawg]

Apparently he's also undefeated at the grill.

Got to Git your priorities right.....

[LSUFan]

You have to be wholly ignorant of college football history to make a statement like that.

No, not really. He makes a valid point of the Peter Principle.

[LSUFan]

If you have a better thought please share.

What are you doing right now? Cocaine, heroin, weed, or shrooms?

I know you better than this.

Are you just toting the line for the ashole mods/admins on this bored? Biggus? Dr. Tom (Wilson)?

[hoghearted]

What are you doing right now? Cocaine, heroin, weed, or shrooms?

I know you better than this.

Are you just toting the line for the ashole mods/admins on this bored? Biggus? Dr. Tom (Wilson)?

he's channeling IntegrityHog

[TNRazorbacker]

AR is s seven or so win program. Thats what we've been traditionally in this league and thats what we'll be under Bielema.  I see no reason to expect that changes next year. 

My hope for Bielema was that he'd keep us consistently bowl worthy given his focus on fundamentals and player development. That should at least keep us competitive. I don't expect is to have many 10 win seasons, but also hope to see fewer sub .500 as well.