I love this hire. I can tell you why this makes sense:

 

1) He's old school football. He'll line up in double tight, two back all night long if he can and ram it down your throat until you stop it. He's always had very solid QB's as well. Kids that, well, remind me a lot of the QB's 'Bama has had under Saban. Russell Wilson was tough at NC State, but he went to Wisconsin and went to a whole different level of play IMHO. I think Bilema had much to do with that.

2) His teams play great defense. Ironically, in his first year I think it was is when Wisconsin played Arkansas in the Capitol One Bowl (or was it the Outback?) when Arkansas had McFadden and Jones in the back field. Not only did Bilema lead the Badgers to a win, but they also held Jones and McFadden to their lowest totals of the year.

3) Cash Money

 

I absolutely love this hire and kudos to Arkansas for actually going for broke. They didn't settle. They offered Miles over $5 mill, he said no, so what. Next on the list? A man who has coached his team to 3 consecutive Rose Bowls (yes, I know this year it was somewhat by default), but Wisconsin was about as injury plagued as any team in the country, yet they still got to 6 wins and that beat down of Nebraska the other night was just downright scary.

 

Wisconsin isn't flashy. They don't try to go 5 wide and run 100 plays a game, hoping to outscore people. Yet, they win. That's what excites me about programs and coaches. This is a perfect fit in my opinion.

 

Another thing, Bilema has been known for sending Offensive Linemen to the league left and right. It's almost become "O-Line U", and he's a main reason for that. If he goes out and gets these bigtime linemen (I see no reason why he can't, if you can recruit to Madison, WI where it stays frozen 9 months out of the year, I don't know why he wont be able to do the same in Fayetteville) along with being able to recruit the skill types, then you might have another Alabama in the making.

 

What RB wouldn't want to go play for this guy?

 

I never watch Big 10 football unless it is Wisconsin. Arkansas just got a new fan (I wouldn't go that far, but I'll dang sure be tuning in).

I think it is a great hire. Surprising that he would leave after three straight Rose Bowls though. Maybe it says a little bit about what he thinks he has coming back at Wisconsin?

 

I think it's the perfect time for him to leave. Think about it:

 

1) 3 Straight Rose Bowls (that's as good National Championships to the northerners).

2) Enter, Urban Meyer to Ohio State.

 

I think he probably realized that there wasn't going to be much more that he could do at Wisconsin. Outside of winning a National Championship, how can you possibly top 3 Straight Rose Bowls? As a matter of fact, he'd be two 7-8 win seasons and no Big 10 Championship appearances away from being on the hot seat or fired.

 

He struck while the Iron is hot. Not only that, but he went to a program in Arkansas that is crazy about football, but not Alabama crazy + more money than he was making at Wisconsin.

Did not see this coming. Thought he was a perfect fit at Wisky. Thought he would be there a long long time.

 

He went from 2.5 to 3.2. I would think Wisky would have matched that.

 

Wonder if there was some sort of falling out.

Well he won't be able to run the style he likes at first given who he has on scholarship. Most of the guys there are suited to run out of the spread offense and the shotgun so it will take a little bit to get the guys he wants into place to play like he wants. It'll be interesting to see to say the least.

Definitely never expected this; but I do believe he's a good fit.

Well he won't be able to run the style he likes at first given who he has on scholarship. Most of the guys there are suited to run out of the spread offense and the shotgun so it will take a little bit to get the guys he wants into place to play like he wants. It'll be interesting to see to say the least.

 

I think he'll be just fine. Now, I'm not saying they will win 8+ ballgames next year, but SEC athletes are just that, "athletes" in every sense of the word. Outside of actually being able to throw the ball to themselves, there isn't much I dont think the kids at Arkansas cant run.

 

Most of your run schemes in D1 college football are "zone" and old school "power" run schemes as is. Be it from the gun like Oregon or under center like Alabama (and, Wisconsin). Their philosophies are the same, but their terminology (the biggest obstacles) to go along with the smoke and mirrors of how they dress it all up is different.

 

I know a high school team this year that, the first half of the year was in the shotgun the whole time. Well, everybody thought it was this wild, new looking offense instead of what had been done in the past. It wasn't. The only thing that changed was center/qb exchange point. As the season went on, this team went back under center for the rest of the year. Guess what everybody thought? New offense. Negative. Just simply went back under center.

In what way?

I just don't think his power game will work in the SEC..... too one dimensional. The defenses are too good. He'll have to pass. I know he's had Russell Wilson (as a transfer) but can't recall any other good passing QB's he's had. I would imagine he recruited mainly in the upper Midwest----that'll have to change. Those boys probably will not want to go to Fayetteville. If I'm not mistaken, he is and born and bred Badger. It'll be a little bit of a culture change in Arkansas. I have no animus toward him. I hope he succeeds. The SEC is a different breed of cat. I think he'll do OK but not reach the top tier in the conference.

I just don't think his power game will work in the SEC..... too one dimensional. The defenses are too good. He'll have to pass. I know he's had Russell Wilson (as a transfer) but can't recall any other good passing QB's he's had. I would imagine he recruited mainly in the upper Midwest----that'll have to change. Those boys probably will not want to go to Fayetteville. If I'm not mistaken, he is and born and bred Badger. It'll be a little bit of a culture change in Arkansas. I have no animus toward him. I hope he succeeds. The SEC is a different breed of cat. I think he'll do OK but not reach the top tier in the conference.

 

They've thrown it as much as Alabama has. I don't think they will be the tops in the West either, but I do think they will be in the Top 4 in the West after he gets established, and when you consider the fact that 6 of the current Top 10 teams in the country are from the SEC, being in top half of the SEC means perinnial Top 25. That will work.

 

He has won at a place in Wisconsin that has no players in the state. Nor does Minnesota, Iowa, Indiana, Northwestern, etc; yet he has been the tops in the Big 10.

 

If he can be the best at Wisconsin with nothing, I don't know why he cant be in top half of the SEC at Arkansas (which has facilities, players and will absolutely sell out to their football program).

Well, not as much as Alabama in yardage. Wisconsin has only gone for a little over 2,100 through the air on 273 attempts. However, they have also gone all the way down to their 3rd QB this year due to injuries.

 

Bama has gone for just under 2,800 passing in exactly 300 attempts.

 

Attempts are very close.

I just don't think his power game will work in the SEC..... too one dimensional. .

 

Nick Saban disagrees.

Deal is 6 yr/$3.2M with big incentives.

He didn't like Urban Meyer's recruiting tactics in the Big Ten, wait till he gets into SEC recruiting. It is way more cut throat than anything he has seen in the Big Ten.

Surprised he made this move.

Have heard he's not the biggest "go-getter" when it comes to recruiting....Not sure how that'll play in the SEC West.

Nick Saban disagrees.

 

Let's revisit this in 3 years. Don't know if Bret is quite the coach Nick is.