OT: Former Michigan Associate AD Jeff Long out at Arkansas
November 15th, 2017 at 11:21 AM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 11:27 AM ^
Bielema was coming off 3 straight Big Ten titles. The 3rd one was aided by OSU & PSU NCAA sanctions, but that is pretty impressive. I think most people were pretty surprised he was able to get Bielema to leave Wisconsin for Arkansas after the Bobby Petrino scandal.
November 15th, 2017 at 11:36 AM ^
Yea I was more surprised at the time that Bielema would go to Arkansas than anything else. I'm not sure what other candidates would have been a better hire for Arkansas at the time.
That being said it was always a strange fit and the writing is on the wall now for Bert. Turns out the grass wasn't greener in the SEC.
November 15th, 2017 at 11:58 AM ^
I don't know about fit. It's easy to call it a bad fit when firing someone.
If I were hiring the next coach at Nebraska, I would seriously consider Kevin Sumlin or Bret Bielema before the shiny new object of Scott Frost. I think both of those guys are getting tossed from programs with expectations out of whack.
November 15th, 2017 at 12:14 PM ^
Hindsite is one thing but even to begin with Bielema at Arkansas seemed odd to me. Kind of like Rich Rod at Michigan. But it's true that once a coach has success the "fit" angle goes out the window. Urban Meyer had no experience coaching in the south and obviously did fine at Florida (wish he was still there).
November 15th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
I don't think Bielema was a terrible fit. I think if he had won more there, the fans would have loved him. I don't think there was a huge culture shock there when he took over, and most of the fanbase embraced his attitude when he was hired. Everyone throws out the Rich Rod example, but Rich Rod's failures had more to do with the job he did than fit. And Bielema embraced Arkansas and its culture more than Rich Rod at Michigan.
Compare him to Nick Saban or Pete Carroll. Saban spent his entire career in the Midwest and didn't take MSU past the middle of the pack in the Big Ten. There was a lot of grumbling at LSU when he got hired. Carroll had some northern Cali roots, but he spent almost his entire career in the NFL east of the Mississippi River. Carroll was USC's 3rd or 4th choice. Both of those guys became "great fits" after they started winning. Even Urban Meyer at Florida. Meyer had spent his entire career outside of the South.
November 15th, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^
Saban's MSU performance is misunderstood. They were hit hard by the NCAA right before he arrived and he had to work under sanctions his first four years. In 1999 he finally got the full 85 scholarships and went 9-2. In fact, he was considered a rising star in the ranks during that time and obviously attracted the attention of LSU (and even some NFL teams, IIRC).
November 15th, 2017 at 2:32 PM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 6:19 PM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 6:39 PM ^
Perles commited some recruiting violations.
November 15th, 2017 at 3:25 PM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 5:05 PM ^
It sounded like Alvarez was still doing a lot of recruiting for them.
November 15th, 2017 at 3:26 PM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 9:23 PM ^
If I was hiring the next coach at Nebraska it would be a no brainer to go after Frost. He's essentially their Jim Harbaugh just less established. Frost "fits" from a culture aspect way more than Sumlin or Bert.
November 15th, 2017 at 12:56 PM ^
I think Wisconsin is a system team to such an extent that it frustrates coaches. Chryst is the best case scenario coach for them until B-Alv is long dead, someone who just wants the job and doesn't care about being micromanaged.
November 15th, 2017 at 12:00 PM ^
and more of what drove him (and Gary Andersen) out of consistently winning program in Madison...might rhyme with Larry Halvarez
November 15th, 2017 at 12:08 PM ^
working for him must be a Dave Brandon level pain in the ass. If Brandon actually knew how to coach.
November 15th, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
The dude put on an extra 200 pounds
November 15th, 2017 at 1:48 PM ^
I looks like he entered a wet tracksuit contest.
November 15th, 2017 at 2:36 PM ^
Seeing Mrs. Bielema in a wet t-shirt contest.
November 15th, 2017 at 2:38 PM ^
And this is why I don't wear white (or maize).
November 15th, 2017 at 2:12 PM ^
Why would Bielema leave Wisconsin for Arkansas when he was having such great success? Does anyone really think Arkansas is a better job, other than more money? I think Bielema wanted more money, got an offer for more money, told Alvarez he had to match it and Alvarez told him to take a hike. Pure speculation on my part, but it sure fits the situation.
November 15th, 2017 at 4:19 PM ^
Two reasons he left:
1) Ego - he was hand picked as Barry's successor and stepped in and did well. He overestimated his abilities to obtain that level of success elsewhere
2) Money - Arkansas backed up the Brinks truck. I don't blame him for leaving because they paid what we couldn't or wouldn't. Funny thing is, if being able to pay assistants more is the magic bullet to success, why does he suck so much right now? And why is he so goddamn fat?! (unrelated question)
Most UW fans wouldn't have begrudged the guy for leaving except for the fact that he had to try and go scorched earth on the place on his way out.
November 15th, 2017 at 4:38 PM ^
Why is UW so reluctant to pay market value for coaches? Surely you can't be hurting for money with Camp Randall always filled and the B1G television deal?
November 15th, 2017 at 5:07 PM ^
A couple thoughts...
I just don't think we have the donor support to be able to bankroll that type of spending. In the SEC if you need to pay a $10mm buyout you pickup the phone and make a call. And we're never going to be able to compete with an LSU and pay our DC $1.3mm per year. Second, many of our coaches are first, second, third year guys at their position, so they are still "proving themselves" and therefore not worthy of salaries approaching a guy like Don Brown, who has been doing it well for decades. Last, and probably most importantly, is that they haven't needed to. In the last 20 years, the Badgers are tied for 5th (with LSU) in wins in all of college football.
November 15th, 2017 at 5:50 PM ^
they had a fundraising campaign for facility upgrades. No original Big Ten school ADs are hurting for money. My impression is that Alvarez is personally opposed to paying high salaries, especially for assistants. Maybe it has something to do with his own coaching experience.
November 15th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 1:43 PM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
From UA's perspective it wasn't a bad move on paper. Bielema was very successful at Wisconsin. Arkansas is just a tough job. It was dumb of Bielema to go there.
November 15th, 2017 at 5:48 PM ^
One of the funniest comments I've seen here. The description is also spot on.
November 15th, 2017 at 11:26 AM ^
must be because of his dancing...
November 15th, 2017 at 11:30 AM ^
Their expectations may be out of line, and because of that, maybe Long didint agree with firing him. Look at the openings, who are they going to pull?
November 15th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
The SEC West is minefield. The addition of Texas A&M really hurt Arkansas as well. If Texas A&M opens up this year, Arkansas could be the 3rd or 4th best job available in the SEC behind Florida, Texas A&M, and Tennessee. Ole Miss is probably going to be open as well.
What solid AD candidate is going to want to sign up for that? Long made two pretty good hires with Petrino followed by Bielema. I doubt the next AD is going to be able to do better.
November 15th, 2017 at 1:35 PM ^
It would definitely be 4th out of those teams you listed. And it isn't close. Florida is teh best of those, followed by Tenn/Texas A&M (either or). Arkansas would be next maybe. It might be Ole MIss if that is open too. And that is just the SEC. There are plenty more around the country that might be better than Arkansas. Not a good job in my opinion.
November 15th, 2017 at 11:33 AM ^
Bielema's seat is hot enough that I can smell the bacon from here.
November 15th, 2017 at 11:35 AM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 11:37 AM ^
Am told things really got sideways at #Arkansas last week at a Board of Trustees meeting.. Jeff Long flew in for it but was not a part of the meeting. BOT had decided it was ready for a change. https://t.co/Xw8BzPWQkZ
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 15, 2017
Re: Jeff Long & Arkansas> Have heard some version of this from several folks about JL: "He's the best guy I've ever worked for." https://t.co/eynTMLtw0p
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) November 15, 2017
November 15th, 2017 at 11:39 AM ^
So....
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 15, 2017
Auburn doesn't have a permanent AD
Arkansas doesn't have an AD
Tennessee doesn't have a permanent football coach
Florida doesn't have a permanent football coach
Ole Miss doesn't have a permanent football coach
November 15th, 2017 at 12:22 PM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
I think both of those guys would be a tough sell to SEC fans. Neither one of them are going to even make a bowl this year. The new coach smell wears off immediately once you drive it off the Group of Five lot into Power 5 competition.
November 15th, 2017 at 12:34 PM ^
I don't think you can row a boat too far in Arkansas
November 15th, 2017 at 5:11 PM ^
Wait to see if the NCAA comes down hard. If they do hire someone squeeky clean, then fire them for someone who cheats to win in a few years.
If the NCAA doesn't come down, hire a cheating coach now.
November 15th, 2017 at 11:53 AM ^
It seems like the SEC is melting down because it was the dominant football conference for over a decade and now the pendulum is swinging away.
November 15th, 2017 at 12:05 PM ^
Alabama and Nick Saban. He has dominated the conference since coming to Alabama after several schools had just tasted success (Florida, LSU, Auburn) and utterly dominated their one of their rivals (Tennessee). I think it has drove the other schools to madness. Some think he even scared away Urban Meyer, the second most successful coach during this era.
November 15th, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^
November 15th, 2017 at 1:47 PM ^
i am familiar