@YahooForde: Exclusive: Bret Bielema leaving Wisconsin for Arkansas.

That's a lateral move. At worst its a slight step down.

(12-04-2012 03:36 PM)brista21 Wrote:  That's a lateral move. At worst its a slight step down.

A lot more money, less stability.

Strange move.

Definitely strange. Wouldn't have called that one. Kind of reminds of when Saban left Michigan State for LSU though. A lateral move at best at the time, but right circumstances. That said, Wisconsin's potential in the Big Ten is probably bigger than Arkansas in the SEC.

(12-04-2012 04:49 PM)ohio1317 Wrote:  Definitely strange. Wouldn't have called that one. Kind of reminds of when Saban left Michigan State for LSU though. A lateral move at best at the time, but right circumstances. That said, Wisconsin's potential in the Big Ten is probably bigger than Arkansas in the SEC.

I disagree about LSU being at lateral move from MSU. MSU will always be Michigan's little brother, whereas LSU is the undisputed king in Louisiana. I'm sure the money is much better at Arkansas but I don't think it's a great job. They are at best the seventh or eight best program in the SEC (Alabama, LSU, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Auburn, Texas A&M), but the fans have sky high expectations.

I am guessing that he may have taken some slack within the conference from the situation between him and The Great White Hope of the conference.

(12-04-2012 07:21 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  I am guessing that he may have taken some slack within the conference from the situation between him and The Great White Hope of the conference.

Could you please elaborate for the newbs?

(12-04-2012 07:42 PM)UpStreamRedTeam Wrote:  

(12-04-2012 07:21 PM)He1nousOne Wrote:  I am guessing that he may have taken some slack within the conference from the situation between him and The Great White Hope of the conference.

Could you please elaborate for the newbs?

When Urban Meyer came to town he supposedly did some things that went against the "code". Bielema called him out rather publicly about it. What Meyer did is common practice in the SEC. He went after recruits that had committed to other Big Ten schools.

Well, due to how this season has gone and how much criticism has been leveled at our conference, I think perhaps Urban has been put on a massive pedestal due to what he has done with Ohio State. I am thinking that really burns at Bielema.

Yes Arkansas is in the SEC but come on...it's Arkansas. It is not one of the traditional powers of the SEC. Wisconsin IS a traditional power of the Big Ten.

That is why I feel there has to be some personal motivation in this, it is not really a great career move in my opinion.

I mean, it is so damn ironic and amusing that Bielema is now going to a conference where it is common practice for the coaches to do what Urban did. Makes you really wonder about Bielema and how genuine he was being about what Urban was doing or if he was just threatened by what Urban might do so he tried the best way he could to prevent Urban from taking committed recruits.

I think it's all money. He's at peak value now and you never know where the future will leave you (look at Ferentz at Iowa, who was top of the game a few years ago, but dropping quickly). Arkansas was willing to offer millions more than Wisconsin and thus got him (although it's shocking Arkansas would be willing to spend millions more).