SPRINGDALE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema's busy week of speaking engagements ended Friday evening at the NWA Convention Center, and he focused up three subjects of interest to all Razorbacks fans -- Alabama, Auburn and Texas.
Bielema's week -- coming as Saturday's season-opener against Texas-El Paso quickly approaches -- started at the Little Rock Touchdown Club luncheon Monday, continued at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club luncheon in Fayetteville on Wednesday, and ended in Springdale on Friday night.
Bielema, who is 0-2 against Alabama and Auburn, made specific references about those SEC West opponents, who the Razorbacks play on Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, sandwiching an open date.
Arkansas hasn't beaten Alabama since 2006.
"Right before our bye week we go to Alabama, one of the more competitive environments I've ever been in and around," Bielema said. "I'm excited for that game. I think until we beat Bama we haven't done what we wanted to do in this league. I think that will be a good measuring stick for where we're at. We got close a year ago, but close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades, as they say."
Bielema noted that his teams traditionally play well coming off open dates, which he thinks will set the Hogs up nicely for their game against Auburn at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"It probably doesn't need to be said in here how much I hate Auburn," Bielema said, touching off a round of applause.
Bielema made no promises about how the Razorbacks will play in 2015, but said early in his speech, "It's kind of fun getting up here, knowing that not only do we have expectations as coaches, but you do as fans."
Bielema received several ovations for his humor-laced remarks, but the night's biggest applause was reserved for running back Jonathan Williams, who was introduced by defensive end Deatrich Wise as one of four team captains.
Williams is still on crutches after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left foot that will prevent him from playing in the regular season.
"I'm always going to be a Hog," Williams told the crowd. "No matter what happens after this, I'm always going to support Arkansas football."
Bielema had a group of 56 players, ranging from the team's stars to a few walk-ons, introduce each other in alphabetical order at the podium.
"We pair them up alphabetically so you really have some guys who are introducing players they really don't know," Bielema said. "One of the things we talk about in our program is getting to know your brother a little better, because getting to know someone you don't know makes us all stronger."
Bielema avoided specific references to Southern Cal Coach Steve Sarkisian, who got into trouble last week making profane references to Trojans opponents while appearing intoxicated at a USC function, but Bielema joked -- before opening the floor to questions -- that he was glad there wasn't a bar at the Arkansas event because it usually leads to tougher inquiries.
Bielema, entering his third season at Arkansas, poked fun at himself for the "borderline erotic" comment he made at SEC media days regarding the Razorbacks kneeling with the ball at the end of their 31-7 Texas Bowl victory over Texas.
"I got some notoriety about how exciting it was taking a knee at the end of the game," Bielema said. "To know at the end of the game it was really in our hands and they couldn't do a damn thing about it is really cool."
Bielema said he knew the Texas game would be of great importance to Arkansas fans as soon as the Texas Bowl pairing was announced, but the point was hammered home a few minutes later.
"About 30 minutes after it was announced I received a phone call from Coach Broyles ... and he said 'Coach, let me tell you a little bit about this game,' " Bielema said to laughter, nodding in the audience to Broyles. "I knew when Coach Broyles called it was going to be a big one, not only for our program but for all those who came before us. So to honor you guys and our players and our fan base with a win against Texas, that was really, really special. I hope everybody enjoyed that as much as we did."
Bielema noted after his remarks about the Texas Bowl that those references, and a 2014 highlight video that prominently featured Arkansas' victories over LSU, Ole Miss and Texas at the end of the season, would be going on the shelf for a while.
"It's kind of like that video you just saw," he said. "It's all behind us. Probably won't play that video again, because now we're going to start making new ones."
Sports on 08/30/2015