Hog Calls

Expect Auburn questions for Bielema

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema talks with reporters during the Southeastern Conference football Media Days in Hoover, Ala., Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema talks with reporters during the Southeastern Conference football Media Days in Hoover, Ala., Wednesday, July 17, 2013. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

FAYETTEVILLE -- Surely during the Arkansas Razorbacks' session of SEC Football Media Days on Wednesday, second-year Coach Bret Bielema will be asked in general about the Razorbacks kicking off the season against the Auburn Tigers and in particular against Coach Gus Malzahn.

It could be interesting comparing any differences in questions to Bielema or in his answers Wednesday regarding this Auburn game and Malzahn to a Bielema interview last January 15 that included the same subjects.

Arkansas, which went winless in the SEC last season, and Auburn, the reigning SEC champion and national runner-up, open the 2014 season against each other on the new SEC Network at 3 p.m, Aug. 30 in Auburn, Ala.

It marks Arkansas' first season opener against a conference opponent since Lou Holtz's 1980 Razorbacks kicked off on Labor Day against Southwest Conference rival Texas in Austin.

The national spotlight of course shines almost entirely on Malzahn, inheriting a team that went winless in the SEC in 2012 and fashioning a 12-2 conference championship season including a regular-season closing victory over reigning 2012 national/SEC champion Alabama and SEC Championship game victory over Missouri before losing to Florida State in the national championship game.

However because of Malzahn's Arkansas' past and past with Bielema, there will be some Arkansas focus during SEC Media Days.

Bielema and Malzahn espouse conflicting offensive styles and conflicting views of player safety associated with the hurry-up, no-huddle offense that Malzahn employs.

The conflict lit sparks at last year's SEC Media Days then took an almost humorous turn during Auburn's 35-17 victory over Arkansas last season in Fayetteville.

Malzahn is fabled for trick plays, but it was Bielema's Razorbacks springing a successful fake off a swinging gate.

Meanwhile, Malzahn, a critic of defenses feigning injuries to stop the clock on his fast-paced offenses, saw one of his Tigers suspected of dramatics stopping the clock while Arkansas had momentum.

To some, Malzahn a Fort Smith native, state champion high school coach and the 2006 Razorbacks offensive coordinator, has seemed almost like a living ghost haunting Arkansas during his 2007-2011 seasons successfully coordinating offenses at Tulsa and Auburn then coaching Arkansas State to a 9-3 record in 2012 and Auburn to its 2013 SEC title while the 2012 and 2013 Hogs floundered 4-8 and 3-9.

"I am not afraid of ghosts," Bielema replied to the ghost of Malzahn question back in January. " I haven't seen one yet. I am very impressed with what he did and who he is and what he has done throughout his career. I am not trying to minimize that, but there is no measure of that [a haunting presence] at least from where I sit."

As for Arkansas opening against a conference foe, get used to it, Bielema said.

"It is trying to draw a spotlight to our conference which I think is great," Bielema said. "Opening up on the road I think is a great way to challenge your team playing in a hostile facility."

Sports on 07/14/2014

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