Arkansas coach Bret Bielema has been running his mouth of late. Here are some timely, topical questions I'd love to hear him answer.
(1)
As you
know, there has been an epidemic of teams & players feigning injury in an
attempt to slow down the modern hurry-up offenses. As a member of college football's Playing
Rules Oversight Panel, what do you think about this controversial tactic, and
what should be done about it?
(2) You posted a link on twitter earlier this week discussing the effects of the spread offense on the NFL. During your 20 year career, you've put six offensive linemen into the NFL. Can you tell us how playing in a spread offense hinders player development? (Link to article - http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14129204/spread-the-blame-when-examining-bad-oline-play) (List of Bielema’s NFL players - http://www.uwbadgers.com/sports/m-footbl/Badgers-in-the-NFL.html)
(3)
At SEC media days, you discussed your concerns
regarding higher injury rates with teams running hurry-up offenses. (A) On average, how many players would you
say are injured every year by hurry-up offenses? (B) Over the years, how many
of your players have been injured by hurry-up offenses? (C) What precautions do you take in practice to
protect your players when you're running your two-minute drill?
(4)
Gus Malzahn was a successful high-school coach
in Arkansas for 15 years, and the offense he developed at Shiloh Christian
& Springdale High has been widely adopted throughout the state. Has that
made it more difficult to find and develop in-state talent and convert them to
your "traditional" offensive system?
Follow up: "And are
you having trouble finding athletes healthy enough to play in your
'traditional' offensive system after spending four high school years in a
no-huddle system?"
(5)
In the college game, recruiting is a big part of
any coach’s success. How does it feel
to lose a star recruit?
(6)
Despite all the hard work you put in, a coaches
fate rides on the back of his players.
This season, almost all of your players were recruited by someone else.
3-5 is rough start for any coach. Do you
think it's fair for you to be judged on your record this season, or should part
of that blame be placed on your predecessors?
(7)
You indicated that your team started preparing
for the Auburn game in the spring of last year.
Auburn went 3-9 last season. Why
did you give this team special attention?
(Link - http://www.al.com/auburnfootball/index.ssf/2013/10/bret_bielema_says_arkansas_wil.html)
(8)
As a member of college football's Playing Rules
Oversight Panel, you helped pass the controversial "targeting rule".
How would you say that is working out, and would you suggest any changes to
this rule? (ALTERNATE PHRASING) As a member of college
football's Playing Rules Oversight Panel, you helped pass the controversial
"targeting rule". What the hell were you thinking?
(9)
In the preseason and at the SEC Media Days, you
were very vocal in your stance against the hurry up offense. However, just this
past Tuesday, your wide receivers coach, Michael Smith, was quoted as saying
"what we are trying to do is play faster." Do you agree with what
coach Smith said? Have you changed your stance against the hurry up offense? If
not, is this sort of disagreement over coaching scheme a part of the reason you
chose to be, in your words, so "abrasive" with your staff this week?
(LINK to quote - http://arkansas.scout.com/2/1341152.html)
(10) When you were hired,
you mentioned bringing Big 10 football to the SEC. How would you say that’s working out?
