FORT SMITH - Bret Bielema never misses a chance to make a good first impression.
Bielema took the latest trip on his lengthy Razorback Club speaking circuit to the Arkansas River Valley on Tuesday and delivered a performance full of humor, insight and one-liners.
“I believe this is like my 58th Razorback Club event,” Bielema said after pointing out the 800-plus in attendance represented the largest group he had spoken with on the circuit. “Just kidding, I think we’re under 20. No, we’re not taking it up to 58.”
Bielema made light of his spot in the speaking order, which came behind former Arkansas coach and athletic director Frank Broyles, record-setting former Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson and Wilson’s coach at Greenwood High, Rick Jones, a multiple state championship winner.
“When they told me Tyler would be here, the week of the NFL Draft, I’m playing second fiddle already,” Bielema said. “They bring in Coach Broyles. Then they bring in Coach Jones, who has won 38 games in a row. So I’m very, very happy to be batting clean-up tonight. I’m in a baseball town, so I know y’all would know about that.”
Bielema also congratulated Wilson on his career and his future opportunities in the NFL.
“I wish he had one more year,” Bielema said.
Bielema mentioned at a previous Razorback Club function that he came to Arkansas to try to win the SEC and to beat Alabama and that his record in theBig Ten was better than Nick Saban’s, and he was asked Tuesday if he’d had a chance to make amends with the Alabama coach.
Bielema took a more serious tone answering that question, saying that one of the first notes he received after taking the Arkansas job came from Saban to welcome him to the SEC. He added that at Arkansas he would keep striving to reach Alabama’s level and “hopefully surpass” it at some point.
Speaking to the media prior to the program, Bielema said he hasn’t really changed his approach at speaking engagements after the flap about his Alabama remarks.
“I was pretty light-hearted last night in Pine Bluff,” he said. “Great crowd, great energy, great people. And realize that when you’re talking, I realized this as a head coach, everywhere I am, you’re exposed to 24-7 scrutiny no matter what you say, no matter what you do, no matter who you’re around. It’s just something that you have to expect as a head coach.”
Arkansas’ first-year coach made an impression on the fans who got signed memorabilia from him Tuesday.
“Coach Bielema is very personable,” said Steve Jones of Fort Smith. “He spent extra time with me, and he’s a lot more personable than our former coach.”
“He was very approachable,” said Carrie Taliaferra, the cheer leading coach at Greenwood High School. “He actually spoke with me about going to the Pine Bluff Razorback Club last night. I’m from Pine Bluff, so we had a conversation other than just sign the football and move on.”
Bielema kept the crowd rolling with humor, such as when his coaches suggested he could “Skype” the mother of punter prospect Sam Irwin-Hill in Melbourne, Australia, rather than make an expensive overseas call. He jokingly mentioned he didn’t know what Skype meant but that it didn’t sound like something he should be doing.
Bielema joked about needing to send a Mother’s Day card to the mother of Razorbacks signee Alex Collins, who had to delay signing his national letter of intent by a day because of her reluctance to let him leave the state of Florida.
Asked if he would call any offensive plays, he replied, “I’m only going to call the ones that work. That’s a very key coaching point.”
Bielema also mentioned he saw a few beer bottles in the line of his autograph signing.
“Questions tend to be a little easier in those dry counties,” he said.
One of his barbs was even aimed at Arkansas’ former coach, Bobby Petrino.
“I’m married to a beautiful blonde,” he said. “If you see her on the back of a motorcycle, call me.”
Bielema’s talked up his Razorback Club appearances and what they mean to his introduction to the state.
“Every stop has just been a little bit more unique to each spot,” he said.
Sports, Pages 17 on 04/24/2013