Hogs would prefer to avoid roll call

FAYETTEVILLE - Perhaps Bret Bielema will show up on one of those late-night infomercials.

Anyone espousing he’s improved academics without opening a book surely could pitch one of those supply-is-limited miracle programs for only $19.99 plus shipping and handling.

Addressing the Fayetteville Boys and Girls Club awards luncheon on Tuesday having just completed his first semester as the University of Arkansas’ football coach, Bielema said the Razorbacks “actually had the highest team semester GPA over the last eight years since they have really been tracking it.”

Then Bielema explained how some improved their grade-point average, starting with the no books study program.

“When I got here they didn’t really understand and appreciate the meaning of going to class every day,” Bielema said. “So we had this thing called Saturday morning study hall. It was at 5 a.m. and they didn’t come over with books.”

Instead, they studied the ground.

“Because they had already missed their opportunity in class, we did 200 yards of log rolls,” Bielema said. “You lay down on the ground and roll 100 yards, and then you take a deep breath and roll back 100 yards. It will give you the worst headache you have ever had and you will usually throw up. It’s a very discomforting feeling.”

Dangerously discomforting with a buddy system.

“We started off doing that for those who missed class,” Bielema said. “After that didn’t work, we started inviting their buddies as well. So if you were a running back and didn’t do it, you brought all the running backs with you. That’s when things began to change. Not just did they get punished but their whole position group did. If it continued any more, it would not be just their position group but their whole respective side of the ball. We never had to make it that far.

“What we did was get through to our guys how important academics are.”

Bielema said one player began the semester flippantly retorting that “D’s get degrees” upon the announcement that not just F’s but D’swere unacceptable.

“You just don’t learn that,” Bielema said. “He had been told that, but he graduated this semester with all B’s and one C’s. That’s the culture we are trying to create.”

On the field, Bielema made no promises other than Arkansas’ opponents would be sore losers or at best sore winners.

“I don’t know how many wins we will get,” Bielema said. “But I will assure you that when you get done playing Arkansas, you are going to feel it not only on Sunday and Monday but hopefully a little bit on Tuesday as well.”

Bielema promised a hard-hitting team while plugging hard for Boys and Girls Clubs.

“When I took over here we started to hit our kids up about community service,” Bielema said. “I asked who in this room has been involved with Boys and Girls Clubs growing up in their lives?’ Sure enough, about half the room raised their hands.

“It’s a group that speaks volumes about what you can do with young peoples’ lives.”