They're still not hiring Bo Pelini...

Every one of them, minus the ones that call in to sports radio wanting to draft a lineman and keep Brady as the franchise guy next year.

Brett Bielema is Houston Nutt v2...never win the big one

I don't think he should be fired the guy has won 9 or more every year. If he had more experienced coordinators instead of hiring his friends from Ohio he would have experienced more success.

Bitching about a coach who's won his conference the last 3 years because he doesn't run the spread is absurd.

Gotta put an asterisk next to this year's. They got in solely because tOSU wasn't eligible.

The Petersen rumor was made up by an Arkansas fansite who had posted similar fake articles about Gundy and Les Miles.

He lost to TCU in the Rose Bowl that's all I know.

I hope this is confirmed soon. I'm so tired of the Patterson to Arky chatter.

Thought maybe the Hogs and the inbreds down at Auburn would have gone a little more high profile than they have. Maybe UT will do that?

Seems like a step down for Bielema but I would imagine he'll make a lot more money and Arkansas has way, way better facilities and resources than Wisconsin. Also gives him the chance to step out of Alvarez's shadow. And yes, he's conservative, but the SEC seems to be moving that route now anyway - LSU and Alabama certainly don't spread it and fling the ball around, and Florida's moving that way as well. The question is whether he can bring in enough talent to be competitive with those teams. I suspect the answer will be 'no'. I do think it's probably a better hire than any of the other names I've heard though, with the possible exception of Gus Malzahn, and he's obviously back at Auburn.

Moving into the SEC isn't a step down. Especially if he can field a team and compete for championships. Metriculate that ball down the field, boys!

You're going to deal with "Patterson to [insert big money program here] rumors every single year.

Until he finally takes an offer that's too good to ass up.

Sorry, them's the breaks.

The theory down here, which I tend to favor, is that Arkansas needs a "niche" that doesn't overlap with the other SEC West teams. If we're trying to compete in recruiting and such in those areas in which they (Alabama and LSU) already excel, we're going to lose out. However, if we become known for our great receivers and QBs, then we're distinct from our competitors and may draw some of those 4-5 stars at those positions. We need our own distinct identity separate from the rest of the West, otherwise we're doomed to always be below the other programs.

Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a Big 10 versus SEC thought. I was saying moving to Arkansas is a step down. Yes, it's the SEC, and, yes, that's a big deal, but the school itself is not exactly a football power. Going to be up to him to try to turn them into one. But basically he's going from a place where he was always in the hunt for a conference championship (and a BCS bid...) to a school where he's just...not.

But there are reasons to do that, as i said. Better pay. Better facilities. No Barry Alvarez as AD.

And it could work...

His wife is hot at least.

http://www.rightentertainment.com/wp..._Bielema_1.jpg

Makes perfect sense to me.

I don't think it will work, just that it could. I'd echo thoughts earlier in the thread that he's just too conservative. But maybe he'll have an easier time recruiting at Arkansas than he did at Wisconsin. Who knows. Or maybe he'll even take a different approach, and not be as conservative.