FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema became animated last week when relating a story about the Razorbacks' commitment to his plan based on an event that happened in Houston during preparations for the Texas Bowl.
Two days prior to game day, the Razorbacks were practicing indoors at St. Thomas High School -- the defense in the auditorium and the offense in the gymnasium -- because it was raining outside. Bielema said he was getting anxious to let the Razorbacks run full stride and break a sweat, but they weren't able to do it properly in the indoor facilities.
"It's driving me nuts," he said, because the team hadn't run for more than two and a half days. "So finally, in my head, I said we're going to do this.
"I said, 'Everybody go put on your shorts, put on your cleats and we're going to go out and run some striders. We're going to break a sweat and get going.'"
"Not one kid, not one kid, said a word or looked at me or did anything or said anything, but did a U-turn and went into the locker room and put those cleats on.
Bielema said he turned to the assistant coaches in wonderment, noting that usually at least one player will grouse about it or display body language that says they're not happy about the change in practice plans.
"We went out there and hit 10 striders and we were out there for 15 minutes, the kids got into it and they were laughing and on game day we didn't break stride," he said.
Bielema said that workout, and the team's attitude about doing it, played a role in the mind-set the Razorbacks brought into their 31-7 victory over Texas.
"I mean, I can't say 110 players loved it," Bielema said. "I bet you 100 of them did, and the other 10 knew better than to say a thing. And that's kind of what we've got going on now.
"We've got enough good guys going in the right direction that if somebody wants to wander, if somebody wants to make a bad decision and I remove them from the team, that's where they know they'll be. And that works out really well."
Capacity numbers
The Texas Bowl had the fourth-highest attendance of the 38 bowls, with Arkansas' 31-7 victory over Texas attracting 71,115 fans to NRG Stadium in Houston.
The game also a received a 3.4 television rating and was watched by 5.76 million television viewers. That is the same rating LSU-Notre Dame received in the Music City Bowl, Mississippi-TCU in the Peach Bowl and UCLA-Kansas State in the Alamo Bowl. Of the 38 bowl games, only nine received a higher rating than the Texas Bowl, with eight of those coming on New Year's Day or New Year's Eve.
Replacing Randy
Bret Bielema said last week he would not rush the hire of a defensive assistant coach to replace Randy Shannon, who took a job at Florida. He has discussed candidates with all of Arkansas' defensive coaches.
"I've got a list of probably about 15 guys that I've narrowed it down to," he said. "It was much bigger than that. ... I'll talk to a couple of guys at the convention."
The American Football Coaches Association convention started this weekend in Louisville, Ky.
Bielema has long maintained he will always improve his staff when the chance arises.
"If I don't get better as a head coach with every chance I get a chance to make a move, what message am I relaying when we're in recruiting?" Bielema asked. "I always tell kids, you can go ahead and be comfortable.There's going to be a better one coming right behind you, and that's how you keep getting better.
"That's exactly how it will work. We'll bring in a better linebacker coach or a better fit for our defense, and there's no doubt in my mind, with this next hire."
Money move?
Denver Kirkland, a 21-game starter at guard who has dabbled at tackle, might get a longer look at the edge spot in spring drills.
"I think the opportunity for Denver to play tackle would benefit him, not just us as a program," Bret Bielema said. "He is probably one of the better pass-pro[tection] athletes I have ever been around.
"He has incredible feet. For him, and I know he's not thinking or wired like this, but tackles make more money than guards in the NFL and that's a very real thing."
J-Will's deal
Bret Bielema said Jonathan Williams' decision to return for his senior year was a great decision for the running back, who led Arkansas with 1,190 rushing yards.
"He's going to get bigger, he's going to get stronger, he's going to get faster," Bielema said. "He'll know our offense a little bit better. We may be able to utilize him in some ways we haven't in the past."
All-star roundup
Tight end AJ Derby is on the West roster for the East-West Shrine Game, which will take place Jan. 17 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla.
Derby joins tight ends Blake Bell of Oklahoma and MyCole Pruitt of Southern Illinois on the West roster, which is being coached by former NFL quarterback Jim Zorn, who spent two seasons as head coach of the Washington Redskins in 2008-2009.
Defensive end Trey Flowers and linebacker Martrell Spaight are set to play in the Senior Bowl at 3 p.m. Jan. 24 at Ladd-Peebles Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Ken Whisenhunt and the Tennessee Titans staff will coach the North team and Jacksonville's Gus Bradley and his staff will handle the South team in the premier game for college talent.
2015 slate
The Razorbacks' 2015 schedule features 10 opponents who played in bowl games, the same as the 2014 schedule, which was the toughest in the nation based on opponent wins and losses from the previous season.
Arkansas' 2015 opponents combined for a 98-57 record this season for a 63.2 percent winning rate, but posted a 4-6 record in bowl games.
Sports on 01/11/2015