FAYETTEVILLE — There was only precious little information that came out of Bret Bielema's media briefing Monday, his last before the Arkansas football team departs for the Belk Bowl in Charlotte, N.C.
The only item that caused a double take was his explanation that Santa can only come once a year. Ah, hum bug. That's something I'm going to dispute.
I think Santa has come several times already for this Arkansas football team in the past week with the news that three junior-college standouts have signed. There's two wide receivers from Mississippi and a junior college standout tight end from Arizona. All are fast, almost as fast as Santa's sleigh.
And, there's word that as many as 11 might join the Arkansas team at mid-term, including those three JUCO stars. That sounds like Santa is making several stops in Fayetteville, spread out over quite a few days. Some of those newcomers will even arrive in time to practice with the team before it goes to Charlotte. I think Santa arrives any time he pleases, multiple times.
No, the Arkansas head coach explained to us twice – in case we still believe – that Santa comes only once. I asked to make sure. I was as disappointed in his take as I was with the second half against Missouri and don't tell me I'm too old for this stuff. Just tell me there are some defensive players under the tree, too.
I know that safety Montaric Brown is on the way. I've heard about defensive lineman Michael Taylor, the JUCO transfer who sat out this last season on campus with the Hogs. Yes, there are commitments from five defensive backs, one defensive tackle and one linebacker. I want a few more!
Presumably, Bielema's explanation about Santa coming only once was to help out his coaches – all with plenty of Christmas gifts to hand out to their children – that are trying to decide whether or not to celebrate Santa's arrival on Dec. 23 – before the team goes to Charlotte – or on the real holiday.
That's what happens when you travel on Christmas Eve. It's a tough deal for parents and Bret is having to figure that out now. He and wife Jen just found out they are expecting their first child sometime this summer, probably July.
Bielema told the media that he'd just met with his staff on the logistics of Santa's travels with the team and staff traveling over the holidays.
“Yes, I told them we can't have a double dip Santa,” he said. “I guess that's for their families. I don't think we will have to tell our players about that. They are a little older.”
OK, just as a reminder, as long as you believe, Santa will keep coming. I know. My stocking is filled every year and it's never been coal.
I believe in Santa as much as Bielema believes in the junior-college ranks, although there have been times in the past when it didn't seem that he believed in that, either. He even admitted as much Monday.
“I took only one (at Wisconsin),” he said. “Our first recruiting stop when I got here was to North Little Rock to see Martrell Spaight's family. And, we did take A.J. Derby that first year, too. But we had some others who we had not known much about who committed to the previous staff who did not get on the field for us. So I want to make sure on jucos, really find out everything about them.”
That was the case with the latest three. Bielema and staff recruited all three heavily from start to finish. The two JC transfers from Gulf Coast, Miss., Community College were recruited for two years. That's Brandon Martin (6-3, 4.37) and Jonathan Nance (6-1, 4.44). Tight end Jeremy Patton (6.6, 4.59) comes from the same coach who sent Bielema his Wisconsin JC transfer.
“I went by to see the two wide receivers in our bye week,” Bielema said. “We know a lot about both of them. Patton came to visit in the summer. He jumped off the tape and all of the west coast schools – Pac-12 schools – came after him late.”
Bielema compared Nance to Arkansas junior Jared Cornelius. He said Martin reminded of senior Keon Hatcher, big and powerful.
There are more goodies coming over the next few days. Bielema said the news of the high school mid-term signees would filter in over the course of one week. All finish classes at different times. They can't be announced until they step foot on campus, either to practice or when classes start.
“I can't comment on them,” he said. “Each one will happen at a different time. It's going to be a minimum of nine, up to 11.”
OK, it's fair to say Santa can come more than once, possibly three or four times. Lets don't even talk about the elimination of double dipping. Heck, I'm going to a Christmas party Monday night and I sure expect to come home with something from Santa.
If it happens to be a defensive end, linebacker, safety or cornerback, I'll call Bret. He can use some of those under the tree, too. He'll change his tune on Santa if they arrive on different days. It's still fun to believe.