One man's theory on staff hires...and Arkansas

Aug 21, 2010
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PREFACE...I have no hard intel on this, just an interesting connect-the-dots idea.

Allegedly there are SEC ADs interested in the Husker job.

Searching "Nebraska AD" on twitter today yielded the name Jeff Long at Arkansas. He looks to be well connected and has a pretty strong bio.

If Jeff Long is hired at Nebraska, how would fans feel about him bringing Boss Hog with him? More pragmatically, would you prefer Riley over Bielema at this point? Could we overlook Bielema's personality for a return to physical, run-based football? Conventional wisdom suggests BB was on Eichorst's short list the last go-around. Did BB want to be here then only to have negotiations get messed up?

Another twist to this theory is that there's probably a good chance Bielema would retain Diaco since Arkansas was going after him too. Ideally that then keeps Donte Williams and his recruits.

Thoughts???
 
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tpmcg_rivals137159

All-Conference
Mar 25, 2002
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not sure how sec ads is plural, but I wouldn't rule anything out. i may have missed out on some info passed along here.
 

CC_Lemming

All-Conference
Oct 21, 2001
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I've been thinking about Bielema too, but I admittedly haven't been keeping tabs on him at Arkansas. I know he isn't exactly setting the world on fire, though.

While I am not actively opposed to hiring Bielema, and while I think most fans would welcome his style of offense, I don't see any way in which he could unify this fan base. First, many would legitimately wonder whether he was a real upgrade over Riley. He might be in terms of scheme and player development, but I don't think he is an upgrade in recruiting or media relations. Secondly, and more importantly, it seems a very large segment of the fan base have their sights set on Frost. The only scenario in which I could see the administration justifying any hire over Frost, especially one of Bielema's caliber, is if Frost starts losing games he should win and generally starts to look incompetent and in over his head -- not likely, in my opinion.
 
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bshirt73

Senior
Aug 31, 2014
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I've been thinking about Bielema too, but I admittedly haven't been keeping tabs on him at Arkansas. I know he isn't exactly setting the world on fire, though.

While I am not actively opposed to hiring Bielema, and while I think most fans would welcome his style of offense, I don't see any way in which he could unify this fan base. First, many would legitimately wonder whether he was a real upgrade over Riley. He might be in terms of scheme and player development, but I don't think he is an upgrade in recruiting or media relations. Secondly, and more importantly, it seems a very large segment of the fan base have their sights set on Frost. The only scenario in which I could see the administration justifying any hire over Frost, especially one of Bielema's caliber, is if Frost starts losing games he should win and generally starts to look incompetent and in over his head -- not likely, in my opinion.

A good read.....thank you!

I would VERY MUCH like his style of offense. But you're correct, the fans would be hopelessly split over that.

Otoh, the fans will be split over even Frost if they don't get another Clownahan, MR fluff-ball HC. It'll be tough. We'll just have to hang in there I suppose.
 

jharold63

Redshirt
Feb 4, 2004
1
1
0
Jeff Long did serve on playoff committee with TO. Think I read somewhere he was on some SEC committee with Hank Bounds. So there are some connection's there. Don't know how good of coach Bielema is. Hasn't done well at Arkansas though that's been a tough division. Seems whoever coaches Wisconsin does pretty well.
 
A

anon_umk0ifu6vj6zi

Guest
PREFACE...I have no hard intel on this, just an interesting connect-the-dots idea.

Allegedly there are SEC ADs interested in the Husker job.

Searching "Nebraska AD" on twitter today yielded the name Jeff Long at Arkansas. He looks to be well connected and has a pretty strong bio.

If Jeff Long is hired at Nebraska, how would fans feel about him bringing Boss Hog with him? More pragmatically, would you prefer Riley over Bielema at this point? Could we overlook Bielema's personality for a return to physical, run-based football? Conventional wisdom suggests BB was on Eichorst's short list the last go-around. Did BB want to be here then only to have negotiations get messed up?

Another twist to this theory is that there's probably a good chance Bielema would retain Diaco since Arkansas was going after him too. Ideally that then keeps Donte Williams and his recruits.

Thoughts???
I say this with 99.5% certainty from speaking to people closer to that situation than many here will care to believe.... Bret Bielema was never contacted, and was not in the slightest considered for the job by Eichorst. That is one of the biggest loads of crap spread about the situation.
 
Jun 7, 2017
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864
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PREFACE...I have no hard intel on this, just an interesting connect-the-dots idea.

Allegedly there are SEC ADs interested in the Husker job.

Searching "Nebraska AD" on twitter today yielded the name Jeff Long at Arkansas. He looks to be well connected and has a pretty strong bio.

If Jeff Long is hired at Nebraska, how would fans feel about him bringing Boss Hog with him? More pragmatically, would you prefer Riley over Bielema at this point? Could we overlook Bielema's personality for a return to physical, run-based football? Conventional wisdom suggests BB was on Eichorst's short list the last go-around. Did BB want to be here then only to have negotiations get messed up?

Another twist to this theory is that there's probably a good chance Bielema would retain Diaco since Arkansas was going after him too. Ideally that then keeps Donte Williams and his recruits.

Thoughts???

Would be like trading a Chevy Cobalt for a Chrysler Sebring.
 

cecilB

Junior
Nov 1, 2001
6,601
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He’s a good coach from the tree of Fry, Snyder, Alvy. Right fit here after Ark flame out...Probably not
 

f00tball_fan

Junior
Aug 18, 2006
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I hope this isn’t true. The failure that everyone in Arkansas wants gone who presided over the Petrino scandal if you think we overpaid Bo......he paid Bielema boatloads for failure.
 
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TwinsRRUs_rivals79748

All-Conference
Oct 1, 2011
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What evidence is there that he is a good coach?

Apparently any coach can win at Wisconsin under their AD.

His record at Arkansas is 27-29.

SEC west is tough, but no evidence that he is a good coach because of the record at Wisconsin since he left has not dropped off, so how would anyone truly know whether it was his doing at Wisconsin verse Barry Alvarez's doing?
 

mt_slothmore

Senior
Jun 24, 2002
2,863
470
83

I dunno, he did pull off one of the greatest recruiting coups of all time
 
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dinglefritz

All-American
Jan 14, 2011
48,534
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He would give us better results than the last 3 Husker head coaches, pretty sure.
no. He was an Alvarez puppet at Wisconsin and owes virtually all of his success there to Alvarez. Why do you think Alvarez could step in and coach Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl that time? Bielema is Bo without ANY redeeming qualities. At least Bo likes cats.....ummm maybe not.
 

newAD

All-American
Oct 14, 2007
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What evidence is there that he is a good coach?

Apparently any coach can win at Wisconsin under their AD.

His record at Arkansas is 27-29.

SEC west is tough, but no evidence that he is a good coach because of the record at Wisconsin since he left has not dropped off, so how would anyone truly know whether it was his doing at Wisconsin verse Barry Alvarez's doing?

He got married in 2012, his last year in Madison. Maybe he lost his focus on football because of....well...you know see pics above.
 
Aug 27, 2006
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no. He was an Alvarez puppet at Wisconsin and owes virtually all of his success there to Alvarez. Why do you think Alvarez could step in and coach Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl that time? Bielema is Bo without ANY redeeming qualities. At least Bo likes cats.....ummm maybe not.

He had way more success at Wisky than Bo did here, it isn't close, and he owned Bo head to head.
 
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piglet mignon

All-Conference
Feb 3, 2004
4,033
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PREFACE...I have no hard intel on this, just an interesting connect-the-dots idea.

Allegedly there are SEC ADs interested in the Husker job.

Searching "Nebraska AD" on twitter today yielded the name Jeff Long at Arkansas. He looks to be well connected and has a pretty strong bio.

If Jeff Long is hired at Nebraska, how would fans feel about him bringing Boss Hog with him? More pragmatically, would you prefer Riley over Bielema at this point? Could we overlook Bielema's personality for a return to physical, run-based football? Conventional wisdom suggests BB was on Eichorst's short list the last go-around. Did BB want to be here then only to have negotiations get messed up?

Another twist to this theory is that there's probably a good chance Bielema would retain Diaco since Arkansas was going after him too. Ideally that then keeps Donte Williams and his recruits.

Thoughts???
I absolutely love this idea ... Please make this happen