My quick thoughts on Coach Bielema

[mizzouman]

Coach Bielema looks beat.  He's not used to losing and it's taking a huge toll on him both personally and professionally.  He physically looks beat down. 

I've seen this happen to coaches before and they really never come out of it unless they take a year or two off and come back re-energized. 

If this doesn't get turned around by the end of the year, then you won't have to fire him.  He'll resign.

[cal34]

He does look like he's given up on the sideline.  Just going through the motions.  I can't see him resigning with
the buyout he has.

[DeltaBoy]

He looked burned out at the post game presser.

[Vantage 8 dude]

Coach Bielema looks beat.  He's not used to losing and it's taking a huge toll on him both personally and professionally.  He physically looks beat down. 

I've seen this happen to coaches before and they really never come out of it unless they take a year or two off and come back re-energized. 

If this doesn't get turned around by the end of the year, then you won't have to fire him.  He'll resign.

Well I'm glad someone finally pointed out SOMETHING, ANYTHING quick about Bret. Of course this comment is not to be confused with the speed with which he cashes his pay check.

[sickboy]

I don't blame the guy. It's gotta be rough to come from what he did at Wisconsin with confidence and think, "I can do this." And then to have the SEC West so resoundingly say, "No you can't."

I feel bad for the guy. He seems like a genuinely good dude. But he needs to walk away and regroup. He's just beat up.

[clutch]

I agree. I think he's drained. I think the stress of the job, as well as the stress of being a new father, is wearing him down.

[HoggyCat]

Who is this coach Bielema you speak of?

[texas tush hog]

Coach Bielema looks beat.  He's not used to losing and it's taking a huge toll on him both personally and professionally.  He physically looks beat down. 

I've seen this happen to coaches before and they really never come out of it unless they take a year or two off and come back re-energized. 

If this doesn't get turned around by the end of the year, then you won't have to fire him.  He'll resign.

No, he will hang out for the buyout. He will take his $5.9 million and will take a couple years off and take a job in the television booth. He and Jen will be set for life and enjoy his little girl.

[mizzouman]

He does look like he's given up on the sideline.  Just going through the motions.  I can't see him resigning with
the buyout he has.

Not so much on the sidelines but just in interviews and press conferences.  He just physically looks like this season has taken a toll.  Honestly, feel bad for him because he's a great guy.  Hopefully it will turn around.

[mizzouman]

I don't blame the guy. It's gotta be rough to come from what he did at Wisconsin with confidence and think, "I can do this." And then to have the SEC West so resoundingly say, "No you can't."

I feel bad for the guy. He seems like a genuinely good dude. But he needs to walk away and regroup. He's just beat up.

Exactly.  Looks like one of those comparison photos of a new POTUS then the POTUS after 8 years. 

[mizzouman]

No, he will hang out for the buyout. He will take his $5.9 million and will take a couple years off and take a job in the television booth. He and Jen will be set for life and enjoy his little girl.

I don't know.  The way he looks physically and if losing continues, he may just cut a deal to get out to save himself and re-energize.

[Wild Boarnado]

He's looked beat down even in the opener against FAMU. After his on the field interview he didn't give his usual "Woo Pig" which was odd. My family and I were watching the beginning of that game and my mom (a 77-year -old life-long fan of the Hogs) said it looked as though his spirit had been broken or something.

I don't know what it could be. I don't like to speculate so I won't, but something really changed at the end of last season and through the off season.

It's time for him and for us that he finds a new job. I wish him all the best.

[Drop the Mike]

The words quick and Bielema should never be put in the same sentence

[AirWarren]

I don't blame the guy. It's gotta be rough to come from what he did at Wisconsin with confidence and think, "I can do this." And then to have the SEC West so resoundingly say, "No you can't."

I feel bad for the guy. He seems like a genuinely good dude. But he needs to walk away and regroup. He's just beat up.

I feel the exact same way.

Good post.

[PorkSoda]

No, he will hang out for the buyout. He will take his $5.9 million and will take a couple years off and take a job in the television booth. He and Jen will be set for life and enjoy his little girl.

I  hope that is how it works out.  I think he's done a pretty good job of getting the pieces together, but for whatever reason can't assemble those pieces into a winning program.  We need to pay him his buy out, and salvage what is left, because if we keep going like this, the rebuild will be worse than what JLS left.

[The_Iceman]

Coach Bielema is a Bully coach. That's the way he coaches at Wisconsin. Now, he is the smallest kid in the schoolyard and still trying to be a Bully, and he is getting his ass whipped.

We need to hire the little kid in the school yard that uses his brains and strategy to make the big kids look foolish. Out smart/scheme them.

[ballz2thewall]

Not so much on the sidelines but just in interviews and press conferences.  He just physically looks like this season has taken a toll.  Honestly, feel bad for him because he's a great guy.  Hopefully it will turn around.

i've worn the following out in other threads, but.....

you could see it before the season started. he wasn't the confident, witty media darling as in years past. it was visible without the benefit of hindsight. my belief, based on what i've seen and speculate on, is that he gave in mentally before the season began.

[Tusks]

Coach Bielema is a Bully coach. That's the way he coaches at Wisconsin. Now, he is the smallest kid in the schoolyard and still trying to be a Bully, and he is getting his ass whipped.

We need to hire the little kid in the school yard that uses his brains and strategy to make the big kids look foolish. Out smart/scheme them.

[Inhogswetrust]

Coach Bielema looks beat.  He's not used to losing and it's taking a huge toll on him both personally and professionally.  He physically looks beat down. 

I've seen this happen to coaches before and they really never come out of it unless they take a year or two off and come back re-energized. 

If this doesn't get turned around by the end of the year, then you won't have to fire him.  He'll resign.

Yep. At least your coach is still showing fire in the belly. Will he get another season?

[MB Hog]

Doesn't he have an infant in the household now?  Yes, I do think the season is taking a toll on him, but late-night criers can also take a lot out of a new parent.

[phadedhawg]

Bret looks 100% checked out

[Redhogs]

I don't blame the guy. It's gotta be rough to come from what he did at Wisconsin with confidence and think, "I can do this." And then to have the SEC West so resoundingly say, "No you can't."

I feel bad for the guy. He seems like a genuinely good dude. But he needs to walk away and regroup. He's just beat up.

Sorry...feel allot worse for the Ar. football program he's flushed down the toilet..than clueless Bert.

[Redhogs]

Doesn't he have an infant in the household now?  Yes, I do think the season is taking a toll on him, but late-night criers can also take a lot out of a new parent.

You can't be serious.....

[311Hog]

Doesn't he have an infant in the household now?  Yes, I do think the season is taking a toll on him, but late-night criers can also take a lot out of a new parent.

indeed... ugh

[jkstock04]

Sorry...feel allot worse for the Ar. football program he's flushed down the toilet..than clueless Bert.

Ditto. I don't feel bad for him one bit. He has made multi millions of dollars sending our football program down the toilet. He's one of the last guys in the world I would feel sorry for.

This feel sorry for him notion is coming from the same people who are going to push the narrative that it was an incredible hire at the time by our wonderous AD..."it just didn't work out, aaawwww shucks!" Was obviously an awful hire from the start.

[311Hog]

Ditto. I don't feel bad for him one bit. He has made multi millions of dollars sending our football program down the toilet. He's one of the last guys in the world I would feel sorry for.

This feel sorry for him notion is coming from the same people who are going to push the narrative that it was an incredible hire at the time by our wonderous AD..."it just didn't work out, aaawwww shucks!" Was obviously an awful hire from the start.

haha it was? wow revisionist history and down right obtuse.  No one thought it would turn out like this when it happened. No one.

[Bebop]

There's no leaning on Alavrez in a weak Big 10 conference to save Bielema.

[elksnort]

I don't blame the guy. It's gotta be rough to come from what he did at Wisconsin with confidence and think, "I can do this." And then to have the SEC West so resoundingly say, "No you can't."

I feel bad for the guy. He seems like a genuinely good dude. But he needs to walk away and regroup. He's just beat up.

This is a good post. Because I love the Razorbacks, I do feel bad for him to an extent. So what he should do is resign soon. If not, then I don't feel bad for him at all.

[jkstock04]

haha it was? wow revisionist history and down right obtuse.  No one thought it would turn out like this when it happened. No one.

I've said from the get go his ceiling here is 8 wins. To be fair though, this has turned out a bit worse than I thought it would.

[WJBilly]

Coach Bielema is a Bully coach. That's the way he coaches at Wisconsin. Now, he is the smallest kid in the schoolyard and still trying to be a Bully, and he is getting his ass whipped.

We need to hire the little kid in the school yard that uses his brains and strategy to make the big kids look foolish. Out smart/scheme them

I thought of Lou Holtz when I read this.

[sickboy]

Ditto. I don't feel bad for him one bit. He has made multi millions of dollars sending our football program down the toilet. He's one of the last guys in the world I would feel sorry for.

This feel sorry for him notion is coming from the same people who are going to push the narrative that it was an incredible hire at the time by our wonderous AD..."it just didn't work out, aaawwww shucks!" Was obviously an awful hire from the start.

Sorry, maybe it's just me, but the human in me knows what it's like to work at something your entire life, 24/7, and see failure from time to time. That doesn't feel good and I feel sorry for the guy on a personal level. When you care about something, and you have other people relying on you, like kids and their football careers, that hurts inside.

I still love Hog football, but Brett Bielema didn't ruin Hog football. He did nothing but represent our program with class and, I'm guessing, did his best. He just didn't turn that effort into wins. It happens. A lot. Like every coach we've had since the 80's, minus the mad man who wrecked his motorcycle.

I wish him the best and I look forward to seeing what our next coach can do.

[JOKERHOG]

The words quick and Bielema should never be put in the same sentence

or "coach"

[East Clintwood]

It's been awhile since I've seen any language from Bert's contract but I think I remember some language in there about termination of the contract during the season not being allowed by either party?   

Maybe I hallucinating or having a brain fart but does anyone else know about this?

[12247]

Do you folks actually believe Bret has worked really hard long productive hours on putting a decent team on the field.  I don't.  Hard work even if not coming from the best will produce some positive results.  We have enjoyed very very little positive results.  Folks, we paid for a pretty decent luxury sedan and got a horse drawn buckboard without the horse.  In every business I have been in over a long period of life, I have always had to produce what I was selling.  Mistakes have been made over the years but in most businesses, it isn't that you won't make mistakes because you will, its how you handle those mistakes that marks what kind of business man you are.  In this instant case, pretty much the mistakes just get worse.  Across the USA, there aren't that many 4 million per year salaries being handed out.  Those that are, usually demand positive results or its bye, bye and way before 5 years have passed.  In fact, the person(s) above the bad hire would also be viewed in how they handle the problem.  So far we know the superiors we expect to correct the problem are doing nothing timely.

[bkjbearcat]

Coach Bielema is a Bully coach. That's the way he coaches at Wisconsin. Now, he is the smallest kid in the schoolyard and still trying to be a Bully, and he is getting his ass whipped.

We need to hire the little kid in the school yard that uses his brains and strategy to make the big kids look foolish. Out smart/scheme them.

Didn't we have that? Then he was fired in the name of integrity?

[porkrindjimmy]

haha it was? wow revisionist history and down right obtuse.  No one thought it would turn out like this when it happened. No one.

I guarantee you I did and stated so.

PRJ

[rtr]

If Coach Bielema wanted to resign, I think it should be with a golden parachute.

[DoubleReedHawgCaller]

The SEC is a totally different animal and he's not been prepared from the start.

[rtr]

It was the wrong move to the wrong place at the wrong time.  It is painful to watch Coach B on the sideline, he is hurting and I do feel badly for him.  There is no doubt he came here with the best of intentions. 

[jkstock04]

Sorry, maybe it's just me, but the human in me knows what it's like to work at something your entire life, 24/7, and see failure from time to time. That doesn't feel good and I feel sorry for the guy on a personal level. When you care about something, and you have other people relying on you, like kids and their football careers, that hurts inside.

I still love Hog football, but Brett Bielema didn't ruin Hog football. He did nothing but represent our program with class and, I'm guessing, did his best. He just didn't turn that effort into wins. It happens. A lot. Like every coach we've had since the 80's, minus the mad man who wrecked his motorcycle.

I wish him the best and I look forward to seeing what our next coach can do.

I can't wait til the stories about this guy his first couple of years here seep out to everyone after he is gone. It'll make you homers' heads spin in circles.

[PonderinHog]

The SEC is a totally different animal and he's not been prepared from the start.

Well, now he knows what big boy football is all about.

[hawkhawg]

I don't blame the guy. It's gotta be rough to come from what he did at Wisconsin with confidence and think, "I can do this." And then to have the SEC West so resoundingly say, "No you can't."

I feel bad for the guy. He seems like a genuinely good dude. But he needs to walk away and regroup. He's just beat up.

I feel the same way.  I don't get why people take it personal.   The guy is in over his head. 

[TNRazorbacker]

He's put on a bunch of weight likely due to stress. He looks like a walking coronary now. If he doesn't take some time off I'm not sure how much longer he makes it.

[sickboy]

I can't wait til the stories about this guy his first couple of years here seep out to everyone after he is gone. It'll make you homers' heads spin in circles.

Clearly, I'm not a homer. I'm in favor of firing him. I am, however, not in favor of insinuating that someone is responsible for whatever it is you're hinting at without evidence. If you want to drag a man's name through the mud, fine. But don't be a wuss and hide behind a moniker online, vaguely hinting at things. Say what it is you know and tell people your name so they can verify the veracity of your claims.

[BearsBisonsBoars]

You can't be serious.....

You must not have kids.

[GoHogs1091]

My thought is that he needs to go coach at the Junior High School level.

That is the level that is most appropriate for him.

[sickboy]

You must not have kids.

My son was born a week or two after Bielema's. The stress from my normal job and my son has been enough to take a toll on my body and I'm just a regular ol' dude. I don't have every other joe on the internet screaming that I should be fired from my day job, nor do I have someone's professional future in my hands, or the pressures of their parents looking to me to fulfill their son's dreams. Can't imagine what it must be like for a college football coach during that time.

[Jimbob111]

haha it was? wow revisionist history and down right obtuse.  No one thought it would turn out like this when it happened. No one.

I did and I posted as much. I even changed my sig line to reflect he was Nutt 2.0. I knew he was a terrible fit.

[MB Hog]

You must not have kids.

I was thinking the same thing.  I wasn't trying to say that the stress of the job and of losing aren't affecting how CBB feels and looks, but having a baby in the house likely tires him out even more.  CBB seems like the kind of guy who would help his wife with the baby-raising tasks.  If so, I'm sure he's pretty worn out by now... in the middle of football season.

[Redhogs]

You must not have kids.

I have raised four, all successful in life, 2 graduating from the UofA with degrees.. At the same time I started and grew 2 businesses, was able to retire at 62.  This is one snowflake, *ussyfied society if having a kid is now an excuse to fail...boggles the mind. FYI..Bert didn't even have any kids his first 4 miserable years here. Unbelievable....