It is human nature to compare and contrast.
So it has been natural that much of Razorbacks Nation has been trying to get a grip on new head football Coach Bret Bielema.
In just a few months it has become obvious he is a stickler for detail, organized and has a great work ethic, although it would be difficult to find someone who wasn’t driven to success after growing up working on a pig farm where there is never a shortage of mucking to be done.
Bielema is busy touring the state, inspiring Razorback Clubs and still working on recruiting and other various details that go with the “off” season.
Just to be honest, there is no off season anymore,unless it is the two or three days around July 4th, Christmas Day and maybe part of Thanksgiving, but certainly not the entire day.
Anyway, the University of Arkansas has a long history of football coaches with distinct personalities, and Bielema may be compared with some of them.
Frank Broyles was a CEO type. He (like others from his era) was not on the field during practice, but in a tower taking notes for his assistants. Broyles was a strong personality who had an eye for talented assistant coaches, thus the Frank Broyles Award for the top assistant in college football every season was established.
Bielema also has the presence of always being in charge and selecting great assistants.
Lou Holtz was an offensive genius. Defensive coordinators could not find a rhyme or reason for his play-calling. He also had huge mood swings, going from grouchy to unbearable in a split second. Nope, don’t see any of Holtz in Bielema, thank goodness.
Ken Hatfield had a keen eye for detail, was incredibly organized and had an unbelievable work ethic. By percentage, he is still the all time winningest Razorbacks coach. Bielema, as already stated, has those same characteristics, but may tend to fit in a little better during the happy hour parts of his job.
Jack Crowe was a good man who wanted to win. Cowe’s giggest problem was he was following Hatfield and back-to-back Cotton Bowl appearances. Bielema appears to be a good man who wants to win.
Joe Kines wasn’t given a real chance in his one season as interim coach. He made one mistake, bringing in his close friend Danny Ford as an adviser; and Ford, after a campus wide search, ended up as the next head coach. Bielema definitely isn’t interim.
Ford had an eye for talent. He saw things in prospects others might not see and he developed offensive linemen. Bielema seems to have an eye for talent and his reputation has been built on dominating offensive lines.
Houston Nutt was a passionate leader who loved to be the quarterback on Saturdays. Bielema seems to have a passion that runs deep but he doesn’t have as much rahrah.
Bobby Petrino was an offensive genius who loved to develop quarterbacks. He loved playing quarterback on Saturdays, too. Recruiting, or the people skills to be successful, was catching up with him. Don’t see much of him in Bielema either.
John L. Smith was an interim. Bielema still isn’t.
Comparing and contrasting is normal, it is part of the procedure, but while Bielema may share some of the better qualities of past coaches, he’s got some of his own - ability to recruit and patience, the one thing he needs from fans.
Petrino took the Razorbacks to their only BCS game, but it wasn’t until his third season and with a quarterback who transferred from Michigan.
Bret Bielema is his own man, his own coach, and he just needs some time to prove himself.
Sports, Pages 23 on 04/28/2013