FAYETTEVILLE -- Whether it's appreciating the little, paid for house over the mortgaged mansion that guarantees lifetime debt or ingesting a third helping at the all-you-can-eat buffet that really isn't a value worth indigestion, less is more can be a lifetime lesson.
It applies to football coaches, too.
Desperate for a SEC victory after going 0-13 in conference play since taking over the Razorbacks football program in 2013, a younger Bret Bielema would have used every bit of the open date week two weeks ago to prepare his team for last Saturday's game with LSU. Every competitive fiber implored Bielema to capitalize on every waking moment.
A less passionate but more reasoned view told him something else. That something else likely helped Arkansas whip the 17th-ranked Tigers 17-0 on a freezing night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"During our bye week we practiced less than we ever practiced any time in my career during a bye week," Bielema said. "I think it shows the growth for me to get out of what you feel comfortable doing. I thought our guys needed rest and knowledge more than they needed to go out there and pound it out."
Certainly the Razorbacks (5-5), two weeks buffered from their painfully close 17-10 loss at then No. 1 Mississippi State, looked and played more refreshed than the Tigers did coming off LSU's 20-13 overtime loss at Alabama.
This Saturday the bye week advantage rests with Arkansas' opponent.
Coach Huge Freeze's Ole Miss Rebels (8-2, 4-2) enjoyed a virtual bye week Nov. 8 while clobbering outclassed nonconference nonentity Presbyterian 48-0 in Oxford, Miss. Last week the Rebels enjoyed an actual bye week while the Hogs spent themselves physically and emotionally against LSU.
So the Rebels might range from superbly well-rested and focused to perhaps a little stale upon their arrival in Fayetteville.
"Hugh is a very, very good football coach," Bielema said. "My guess is those bye weeks he has used very well for his football team. But how they use their bye week is going to be up to them, and I can't really worry about that other than to play them."
Rather than worry about Ole Miss' bye, Bielema says hello to a happy concern, but a concern nonetheless. Arkansas must find a way to transfer the excitement of winning its first SEC game to the highly inspired preparation required against Ole Miss.
"I told them, 'Be your own critical self this week,' " Bielema said Monday. "Your mom, your dad, all your friends, your girlfriend, whatever, is going to think you are better than you are this week. But Ole Miss is not looking at that game other than an opportunity to make themselves better.
"I think our reality slapped us in the face pretty quick and hopefully will carry through the week."
Sports on 11/19/2014