CBB article

[RebHog]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/lessons-learned-from-his-arkansas-tenure-bret-bielema-has-a-decision-to-make/ar-BBIpzVe

Article full of excuses on why he failed including this lil gem:

"The biggest difference between the two, he believes, was how well he understood the Badgers' program before he took over as the head coach after spending two years as Barry Alvarez's defensive coordinator. "I want to go into a situation where you know everything that's going on," Bielema said. "I didn't have to worry about uncovering land mines halfway into the job."

[Arazorbackguy1]

What land minds is he speaking of? 

[Busta_Nutt]

Thanks for sharing.

Nice truck you got there, Reb. Used to have me one just like it, except mine was green. Had a headache rack too. Bet somebody down there in Saline Co. is enjoying the heck out of her. Big Honch was what I called it. It was country boy loaded - had duel exhaust and all.

[Inhogswetrust]

UNLESS one is familiar with all aspects of a job by having worked there for your predecessor then there will NOT be any situation where you know "everything" that's going on. BUT after three or four years you should know it and if something isn't working right then fix it! Some coaches are better at seeing problems and coming up with fixes. Others can't.

[Inhogswetrust]

What land minds is he speaking of? 

The only one's I can think of he planted them.

[k.c.hawg]

What land minds is he speaking of? 

There is not a direct line drawn but in the next paragraph he states he didn't understand how much depth you had to have in the O Line and D line to be competitive in the SEC. The writer then stated that might be an unsolvable problem at Arkansas because Bama, Auburn, LSU and so on were always going to get first crack at those guys.

[Snout team]

Well if it was half way through his coaching tenure here it is safe to say he either created it or recruited it.  The turn around happened with guys he inherited mixed with some he recruited.  His flop happened with his guys.

The lack of recruiting on the lines didn't happen until he ran off his coaches.

Hmmm

[SemperHawg]

What is it he always used to say?  "You earn everything" 

I guess that doesn't apply to getting fired, because I didn't see a ton of ownership in there.

[SemperHawg]

The Irony of this all is talking about uncovering land mines from the previous coaches and then taking credit for a player the previous coach left him in the same article.

[Inhogswetrust]

The Irony of this all is talking about uncovering land mines from the previous coaches and then taking credit for a player the previous coach left him in the same article.

Nice catch!

[Redhogs]

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ncaafb/lessons-learned-from-his-arkansas-tenure-bret-bielema-has-a-decision-to-make/ar-BBIpzVe

Article full of excuses on why he failed including this lil gem:

"The biggest difference between the two, he believes, was how well he understood the Badgers' program before he took over as the head coach after spending two years as Barry Alvarez's defensive coordinator. "I want to go into a situation where you know everything that's going on," Bielema said. "I didn't have to worry about uncovering land mines halfway into the job."

Piss poor excuse maker from day one....left us in shambles, screw him. $30 million thrown down the toilet.

[hawgon]

Landmines?  What, you mean like that the SEC is hard and we actually expect to win at Arkansas?  I tell you it is tough to coach under those conditions.

[Con el Cerdos]

There is not a direct line drawn but in the next paragraph he states he didn't understand how much depth you had to have in the O Line and D line to be competitive in the SEC. The writer then stated that might be an unsolvable problem at Arkansas because Bama, Auburn, LSU and so on were always going to get first crack at those guys.

One of my first observations of Bielema's "system" after his announced hiring was what he has stated he has figured out after mostly a five years of failure at Arkansas.

And I've never coached anything above Pee Wee level.

[kp72204]

Thanks for the link. Was a very intresting read. Shouldn't there be an asterisk by his 3 Championships. wasn't his conference down and Ohio St on probation? I'll admit recruiting could be tough for certain people (really tough) but shouldn't you at least be competitive in the games? Shouldn't you post game pressers at least sound different instead of we had a good week of practice? I thought he was a good guy off the field (pulling up on random fans and having a beer), but a horriblein game adjuster. I am curious to know what jobs he's been offered.

[Virgil]

Man he just rubs me wrong.  Just admit you franked up and didn't get the job done. 

[DeltaBoy]

He ran off his best recruiters and it came back and bit him in the 6.  Boo Hoo for him NOT he got 30 million a hot wife and a healthy child. He is set if he smart.

[twistitup]

What land minds is he speaking of? 

Tito

He's not the first to step on the Tito land mine

...not the last

[oldgoat]

"He's one of the few coaches who wouldn't have to change anything about his delivery to succeed on television."

True.  But he would have to change his pants.

[AflacHawg]

"He's one of the few coaches who wouldn't have to change anything about his delivery to succeed on television."

True.  But he would have to change his pants.

Yes, because he has always been full of darn.

[Grizzlyfan]

It's hard to argue that you get to 8-5 and 5-3 in year 3 and then discover the land mines.  The more likely explanation is complacency.

[hogcards]

I said 5 years ago that he was a garbage coach as well as a guy with a very questionable character. I was correct. He's the worst coach we've ever had.

[SemperHawg]

I said 5 years ago that he was a garbage coach as well as a guy with a very questionable character. I was correct. He's the worst coach we've ever had.

I was going to start arguing with you on that, but to put it into perspective.  Two of Bielema's 5 years here he had a worse conference record than Johnelle.  That is astounding that he couldn't best Johnelle in two of the five years he was here.

[hawgon]

He is Houston Nutt without the southern accent.  Well, that and he was not as good of a coach. 

[870hogfan]

Who cares? He's gone....

[farmhawg]

Who cares? He's gone....

[jgphillips3]

Land mines:

1. "They actually wanted to win."
2. "Being fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life."
3. "Expecting wins in exchange for compensation."

[HognitiveDissonance]

Bielema is a great guy, but he's always been too confident(or, cocky) in his own abilities; too much hat, not enough cattle. He talks a better game than he plays. He'll always win the press conference, but he may not win as many games as you want.

The 'landmines' are that he discovered that Arkansas is a tougher place to win than Wisconsin.
He found out the hard way.
And he's damaged his career because now everyone knows Wisconsin's success under him was not really due to him, seeing that each coach who followed him has duplicated the same success, including last year when they were 12-0 at one point.

It also needs to be pointed out that his predecessor, Petrino(I don't count John L. Smith), managed to win 10 and 11 games in back-to-back years. Petrino was in the same job, same conference, as Bielema, facing the same challenges, and he managed to excel.

Bielema's excuses are just that...excuses.

[Monsterhog]

This quote from the article says it all in my opinion.

" he should have better understood before he took the job how difficult it would be to recruit the type and quantity of players he needed to recruit to play the style he wanted to play. New Arkansas coach Chad Morris, whose preferred offensive style is more similar to those in the Big 12, may have an easier time finding what he needs. "

What kind of research does a HC need to understand how difficult the SEC, in particular the SEC West is?   This guy is basically admitting he just flat out failed...   He may indeed find his way back to a HC job in college as this author states.  it won't be in a Power 5 conference with an admission like this.   

[Hog N Bama]

The great excuse maker.

[Pig in the Pokey]

He is Houston Nutt without the southern accent.  Well, that and he was not as good of a coach.

actually Nutt is WAY better.

[Bebop]

This quote from the article says it all in my opinion.

" he should have better understood before he took the job how difficult it would be to recruit the type and quantity of players he needed to recruit to play the style he wanted to play. New Arkansas coach Chad Morris, whose preferred offensive style is more similar to those in the Big 12, may have an easier time finding what he needs. "

What kind of research does a HC need to understand how difficult the SEC, in particular the SEC West is?   This guy is basically admitting he just flat out failed...   He may indeed find his way back to a HC job in college as this author states.  it won't be in a Power 5 conference with an admission like this.

Surprise, surprise, he basically states that he didn't know what he was getting into when he came to Arkansas. Daddy Alvarez wasn't helping him out anymore. Somehow, however, he "...needed more time". Dude is a giant excuse maker. He reminds me of the type of people that what the title and authority and none of the responsibility.


It became apparent by year 3 that he wasn't going to get it done here. I wished I would have seen it sooner.

[Atlhogfan1]

He took the wrong job at the wrong time.  Made a bad career mistake. 

[Bebop]

He took the wrong job at the wrong time.  Made a bad career mistake.

Correction: there would never have been the right time for Bielema to be our head coach. He's not a good head coach.

[Atlhogfan1]

Correction: there would never have been the right time for Bielema to be our head coach. He's not a good head coach.

No need for a correction.  He took the wrong job at the wrong time. 

[hoghearted]

Correction: there would never have been the right time for Bielema to be our head coach. He's not a good head coach.

This sums it up pretty well.

[King Kong]

I hope he gets well playing job soon to cut down our buyout

[Atlhogfan1]

This quote from the article says it all in my opinion.

" he should have better understood before he took the job how difficult it would be to recruit the type and quantity of players he needed to recruit to play the style he wanted to play. New Arkansas coach Chad Morris, whose preferred offensive style is more similar to those in the Big 12, may have an easier time finding what he needs. "

What kind of research does a HC need to understand how difficult the SEC, in particular the SEC West is?   This guy is basically admitting he just flat out failed...   He may indeed find his way back to a HC job in college as this author states.  it won't be in a Power 5 conference with an admission like this.

Let's hope he doesn't turn us into Ok ST or TT.  We'll  get rolled in the SEC.  Happy to see Morris and staff recruiting the Deep South and not obsessing with just the B12 region. 

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

Tito

He's not the first to step on the Tito land mine

...not the last

I'm waiting for Boris' Revenge to come out... That would be the name of my Tequila if I was a Rooskie...

[DoubleReedHawgCaller]

All bark no bite....

[Oklahawg]

No need for a correction.  He took the wrong job at the wrong time. 

Co-sign.

We will have a thread in a few years where the same folks who take glee in bashing him here are proclaiming that his UA experience is the reason he is successful somewhere else.

No.

Sometimes, it is the wrong time, and sometimes it is a bad fit (regardless of timing).

[Oklahawg]

Let's hope he doesn't turn us into Ok ST or TT.  We'll  get rolled in the SEC.  Happy to see Morris and staff recruiting the Deep South and not obsessing with just the B12 region. 

Another that I agree with. It is easy to be smitten with the new girl at school.

[WPS007]

[ "I didn't have to worry about uncovering land mines halfway into the job."

[/quote]

Land Mine = Working Hard

[Bacons Rebellion]

Everybody involved in college football knows the SEC West is located behind a huge sign that says, "ACHTUNG MINEN!"

[Atlhogfan1]

Co-sign.

We will have a thread in a few years where the same folks who take glee in bashing him here are proclaiming that his UA experience is the reason he is successful somewhere else.

No.

Sometimes, it is the wrong time, and sometimes it is a bad fit (regardless of timing).

True on the fit.

[From Tusk Till Dawn]

Will be interesting to see how Morris does with Bielema's players in the new scheme.  Also interesting to see where CBB goes next and how he does cause it will likely be a rebuild too.

[Atlhogfan1]

Will be interesting to see how Morris does with Bielema's players in the new scheme.  Also interesting to see where CBB goes next and how he does cause it will likely be a rebuild too.

Bielema has left some good skill talent which should excel and some prospects at qb.  Just not a premier RPO qb.   

BB needs to focus on loading up on HS olinemen from the beginning at his next stop and don't stop till he is 3 deep. 

[hoglady]

Man he just rubs me wrong.  Just admit you franked up and didn't get the job done. 

I'm with you.
Can't hardly stand to listen to him talk.

[McKdaddy]

One of my first observations of Bielema's "system" after his announced hiring was what he has stated he has figured out after mostly a five years of failure at Arkansas.

[McKdaddy]

It's hard to argue that you get to 8-5 and 5-3 in year 3 and then discover the land mines.  The more likely explanation is complacency.

[Razorbax]

Co-sign.

We will have a thread in a few years where the same folks who take glee in bashing him here are proclaiming that his UA experience is the reason he is successful somewhere else.

No.

Sometimes, it is the wrong time, and sometimes it is a bad fit (regardless of timing).

And sometimes it is a bad coach.