Brett Bielema to Arkansas?

[keg in kc]

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.

[Mr. Flopnuts]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

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. 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!

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by Mr. Flopnuts

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!

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...

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

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...

People don't buy this if they're not down south, but the Arkansas job is one of the tops in the whole country. They have a rabid fan base, crazy resources, and play in the best conference in the nation.

I'm a UGA fan, and I'd honestly put Arkansas a bit below UF/Bama/LSU, probably even with UGA and Tennessee. I'll give you OSU/Michigan/USC as maybe the only couple that jump in front of that group. Maybe, and I mean maybe, you can throw Texas in there too.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Bewbies

People don't buy this if they're not down south, but the Arkansas job is one of the tops in the whole country. They have a rabid fan base, crazy resources, and play in the best conference in the nation.

I'm a UGA fan, and I'd honestly put Arkansas a bit below UF/Bama/LSU, probably even with UGA and Tennessee. I'll give you OSU/Michigan/USC as maybe the only couple that jump in front of that group. Maybe, and I mean maybe, you can throw Texas in there too.

Sorry I had to...

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Sorry I had to...

If you never need to explain to someone the point where rabid turns to creepily batshit nuts, that's the video. Online Arkansas fans hate Liz now.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by keg in kc

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.

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.

[keg in kc]

Originally Posted by NewChief

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.

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.

[DJ's left nut]

Originally Posted by NewChief

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.

That's my hope with Mizzou. We're not going to 'outBama' Alabama, we're going to have to beat them some other way.

For Mizzou, it should be focusing in high-end QB talent and skill players and utilizing rapidly developing offensive plays to help neutralize the massive advantages that Alabama, LSU, etc... are likely to have in the trenches.

That's why I hope Mizzou sticks with the spread - we need to zig while the traditional powers zag. We'll never be an annual championship contender like that, but that wasn't going to happen anyway. What it could allow us to do is what we did in Daniel's Junior year or even what Arky did from 2010-2011. Catch the right QB and the right mix of skill position players and maybe you'll get a nice 2-4 year run where you're running with the big dogs and are a break here and there from being in the championship equation.

Try to go the 'conventional' route in the SEC and you're likely to just be another Ol' Miss.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by NewChief

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.

That's the way I see it.

This appears to be an attempt to "match" Alabama and LSU. What it will likely end up being is that Arkansas is a somewhat lesser copy of the two.