HOOVER, Ala. - Unfazed. Always moving forward with a degree of aggressiveness if necessary.
Bret Bielema entered Suite 1221 for his time with invited media - local and some national guys who might have expected him even earlier - before his mandatory time at SEC media days.
He was late - the plane had landed a little behind schedule and traffic was awful - but he made no apologies. Bielema simply leaned against a wall and started talking and taking questions.
Much of what would be addressed from the podium in front of hundreds of media members was revealed.
Of course, Bielema had no way of knowing that when he had his first full-blown SEC news conference, some guys who cover Auburn would try to make it a showdown between Gus Malzahn and the Arkansas coach.
Apparently, Bielema, Alabama’s Nick Saban, LSU’s Les Miles and perhaps others have voiced concerns that the hurry-up, no-huddle offense can lead to injuries, especially on defense.
Malzahn, who has written a book about the hurry-up, no-huddle offense, took the big stage right before Bielema and was peppered with questions about the injury concerns, with some reporters hoping to set up fireworks.
It wasn’t quite that, but there was definitely a difference of opinion, and what Razorbacks fans are learning is they have a fiery coach who not only isn’t afraid of confrontation but welcomes it at times.
It has been chronicled Bielema will fire back at people on Twitter, and Wednesday he was adamant and outspoken about his feelings about playing against hurry-up, no-huddle offenses.
He didn’t care that the SEC tapes and transcribes every word and that reporters also tape the interviews.
Bielema’s high road is right down the middle with his head up and eyes focused.
It’s as if he feels if he isn’t going forward, he must be going backward.
He’s a great fit in the new world of the SEC.
In the old days, Pat Dye, Vince Dooley, Danny Ford and others would get together and trade cows, stories and friendship.
Those days are long gone, set aside almost the day Saban stepped on campus at LSU and forever removed when he showed up at Alabama.
Now it is every team and every coach for himself in this high-priced battle for TV exposure.
Bielema isn’t the first Arkansas coach to understand that, but his approach appears to be slightly different, more in line with Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and others.
He doesn’t think he’s going to out coach anyone.
He believes players, with good coaching, win, so he thinks recruiting 24-7.
That’s why he is big into social media. Whatever it takes to be on the minds of recruits all over the country, and the man is not afraid of rejection. He and his staff go after four- and five-star recruits expecting to get some, but not backing down or getting their feelings hurt if they don’t.
Bielema is engaging, but on his terms, with the media.
Whether it was in front of a dozen in a suite, hundreds in the main interview room or with TV or radio folks, he was in control of the interviews.
The guys from Auburn didn’t trick him. He embraced their questions and used them to say he cared about his players; he owed it to the parents to do everything he could to protect their sons from injury. Maybe it wasn’t directly a recruiting ploy, but those words, printed in newspapers across the country, will show up in the homes of recruits.
It is the same strategy Saban, Steve Spurrier, Miles and others use.
SEC media days is a chance to discuss the coming season and an opportunity for coaches to share their agendas.
Bret Bielema fit right in.
Sports, Pages 17 on 07/19/2013