Bielema Back To The Big Ten? Could Be Headed To Nebraska? (UPDATED)

UPDATE AT BOTTOM OF STORY

Football Scoop.com is citing sources that Nebraska athletic director Shawn Eihorst has Arkansas

head coach Bret Bielema in his cross hairs and wants the Boss Hog to move north to Lincoln, Nebraska to coach the Cornhuskers.

Getty Images

Bielema and Eihorst have a relationship dating back to their Wisconsin days.  Eihorst wore many hats in the Badger athletic department from 2006 - 2011 moving up the latter as Deputy A.D. under Barry Alvarez.

Of course Bielema was the head coach of the Badgers.

The current Razorback head coach was asked about his commitment to Arkansas during a teleconference with local reporters.

“I took this opportunity without anybody knowing about it or hearing about it. … I’m not one of those coaches that gets my name involved or anything like that. When I started talking to Arkansas, I told them, ‘If my name comes out in a way other than my own release, then I’m going to be out of this conversation.' It’s just how I’ve always operated. … I can't tell you how excited I am for next year. Obviously, my commitment to Arkansas is long-term."

Should the two parties reach an agreement then Nebraska would have to pony up $2.5 million to buy out Bielema's contract.

Would Bielema bolt Arkansas to return to the Big Ten Conference?  Nebraska would seem to be a great fit for his system.

You have to ask why would he make that move to leave an Arkansas program that has some momentum.  

The carousel keeps spinning

Chris Low of ESPN.com spoke to Bielema Wednesday afternoon.

Talked to Bret Bielema and he said he's not going to Nebraska and that he's all Hog.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 3, 2014

Bielema has worked too hard to get the Hogs' program to a point where they can compete in the West to bolt now.
— Chris Low (@ClowESPN) December 3, 2014

"Dogs Dodge A Bullet From Hogs, Mississippi State Keeps Winning

Dan Mullen After Arkansas Game

It may not have been pretty for #1 Mississippi State but the Bulldogs will take it.

“A win is a win, man,” Mississippi State defensive lineman Chris Jones said.

The Bulldogs were not their sharpest showed a quality that most championship teams display when it's not all clicking, showing the will to win and succeeding.

"As coaches, we all know how hard it is to win in this league."  Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen said.  "That was a huge win for our team tonight against an excellent Arkansas football team. Fortunately we were able to make one more play there at the end of the game. Our guys are finding ways to win, and that’s all that matters.”

"Give a lot of credit to Mississippi State."  Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema said.  "They’re a very, very good football team and are deserving of their number one ranking."

Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott did exploit Arkansas' secondary torching the Hogs with his first 300 yard passing game of his career.  Prescott threw for 331 yards and his only touchdown pass of the game, a 69 yard strike to Fred Ross was the game winner.


“We had to make a play, and the line did a good job and held up." Prescott said.  "I just got out of the pocket and Fred Ross got open. That could be a Heisman moment for him but I didn’t do much there.”

"He knows we have great confidence in him." Mullen said.  "He expects to make plays. The great thing about him is that he’s going to study the film and learn from it and not make mistakes a second time.”

Mississippi State's win streak has now reached 11 second behind Florida State who has won 24 in a row.

Now mighty Alabama is next for Missisiippi State in Tuscaloosa.

You think Maroon Madness will swarm T-Town?

Bret Bielema Gets Emotional In Postgame Presser After Bama Loss

((HT: Saturday Down South))

The HQ will stipulate (much to Brother Wilkie's liking, we're sure) that Arkansas will be very good...

Not necessarily this year, maybe next year, definitely the year after that if head coach Bret Bielema gets to keep doing what he's doing.

He knows he's close. Just listen to his preamble in the questions and answers session after the tight loss to Alabama


It's now to the point where he is not even referencing his old conference by name...

Redacted past for the new guy...

Ess-E-Cee Recap: Congrats To UK And What Was Bielema Thinking...???

((HT: WLEX-TV/KBTX-TV))

Mark Stoops was able to do something that his successors have not been able to do- actually beat an SEC opponent for the first time in almost 1,100 days...

The Wildcats knocked off Vanderbilt (who are looking to be a really bad football team, by the way) in Lexington- even as a favored program heading into Saturday.

Strangely, fans would like to see the stands at Commonwealth Stadium more-filled than they currently are...
Just ask them...
On the flip side, the HQ would like to know what Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema was thinking in overtime running to the right on a 4th and 2 when he needed a first down to keep the period moving- and your running game was non-existent. You had your chance, Arkansas, and you flat blew it. "A lot of things that caused us to lose this game today came from within our locker room," Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema said postgame. "Our third edge we talk about is playing clean, and that means playing penalty-free. ... The good news is we can correct those things. Our guys did several things throughout the course of the game to get excited about. But obviously, not enough to close it." Here's your local look...

Razorbacks QB's Truck Possibly Torched

((HT: KFSM-TV))

The Chevy Avalanche pick-up Razorback back-up QB Brandon Allen drives was burned very early Monday morning. The incident is being investigated as an arson...

The car alarm was going off outside Allen's apartment and he apparently went outside to see it burning, drifting backwards, and roling into a ditch.

Head football coach Bret Bielema, at his weekly press conference, said Allen is fine, and that the school is letting local police handle the case. Bielema also said that Allen will not be speaking publicly about the case.

Strangely, Allen's truck was not the only car fire in Fayetteville early Monday morning...

Here's the story of a burned group of cars...

Bielema Apologizes, Sandy Barbour Explodes

((HT: ESPN/Arkansas Razorbacks))

Here's where it all started with Bret Bielema...


And it finally got to the point where Coach Bielema apologized (finally) for dragging the name of deceased Cal football player Ted Agu into the discussion that said, in part:

"In my press conference last night, I referenced information about the tragic loss of a life of a student-athlete. My comments were intended to bring awareness to player safety and instead they have caused unintended hurt. As a head coach who works with young individuals every day, the passing of Ted Agu is a reminder to us all how short and precious life is. I would like to extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to the Agu family, Coach Sonny Dykes and to the University of California family."

Cal AD Sandy Barbour responded in kind via her Twitter:

"Bret Bielema’s comments about our Ted Agu are misinformed, ill-advised and beyond insensitive.”

“Using the tragic loss of one of our student athletes as a platform to further a personal agenda in a public setting is beyond inappropriate.”

Bielema even went further in a ridiculous interview before the apology discussing why he brought Agu into the discussion...

From Sports Illustrated:

"The reason I brought up the Cal player is this: We all have sickle cell players. To me, it's the most scary individual thing we face. There are no signs. There are no indicators. You test every one of your players when they come in. And there are players who come in that have no idea they have it. Then you've got to call the parents, sit the kid down and talk to them what it means -- what the possibilities of things happening are. It's a scary deal..."

Bielema's interview in SI is mandatory reading for its silliness and stupidity over the idea of clock stoppages and instant diagnoses of athletes physical problems...

Oh...

Arkansas has their season opener at Auburn...
How do you think that will go...???

Kinda like this...???
((HT: Auburn Athletics))


And the prevailing opinion on the Plains will go a little something like this...

Bret Bielema Has Issues With Hog Walk

((HT: Jimmy Cone via Instagram))

Some people, like some in the Vrabel household, might hashtag this #karma as well...

But, hey, the pavement was a little on the wet side...

Nice recovery, though...
Carry on...