FAYETTEVILLE — What kind of access does Phil Steele get to compile his 365-page preseason college football preview? How about 90 minutes with almost every head coach in the country to cover personnel for the entire team.
Steele came armed with one of his many books of information he compiles on every team to get ready for his summer preview magazine. The Cleveland-based sports writer displayed the fine print that makes it somewhat easy to come up with the best predictions among summer football magazines.
The relationships with the coaches are lasting. Steele told of getting a call several years ago from Bret Bielema, then the coach at Wisconsin.
“Bret was on his honeymoon in Hawaii,” Steele said. “So there is a guy sitting across the table from him with my summer preview. He was showing Bret what it said about his team. So Bret just called me – from his honeymoon.”
Steele said Bielema is one of the more thorough coaches when it comes to information on his team. He'll share the good, the bad and the ugly. Most are forthright with information, including his favorite, Kansas State's venerable Bill Snyder.
“I love Bill Snyder,” Steele said. “It's usually 90 minutes. He knows his team. He can tell you about the fourth-team deep snapper. He'll tell you who is going to play and who isn't going to get on the field. It's every player.”
There are some Steele said didn't know their team. He recalls a phone conversation with Howard Schnellenberger, then coach at Florida Atlantic.
“I asked him about a player,” Steele said. “Howard said, 'He's not a starter. You want to know about a backup? I probably can't help you much with this.' And, he couldn't. He barely knew the starters.”
Steele was the speaker Wednesday at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club's speaker reveal luncheon. The first lunch of the season at Mermaid's Restaurant will be Aug. 23 with Bielema. Among the other speakers are former college coaches Frank Beamer (Aug. 30), Bob Stoops (Oct. 11), Gary Pinkel (Oct. 18) and Tommy Tuberville (Oct. 25).
There was little doubt Steele was prepared with his Arkansas information. He was proud to show off a blue tie with a Razorback jumping through an A. He's always prepared.
“I've been doing this since 1982 when I did a newsletter,” he said. “We've been doing the magazine the last 23 years.”
Steele admits that his publication isn't for everyone.
“If you aren't hardcore, you don't want it,” he said. “But if you love college football and can't get enough, it's for you. I know all of the sportswriters around the country have it.”
Steele thinks Arkansas might surprise this season, but was clear that last year's team didn't live up to his expectations. He thought the Hogs were going to be much better on defense last year with nine starters back.
“I get it why they weren't as good,” he said. “They had injuries with Deatrich Wise, Kevin Richardson and Dre Greenlaw.”
Steele loves the addition of Paul Rhoads as defensive coordinator and the switch to the 3-4 scheme.
“First, I like what they've done on the defensive line,” he said. “They've gone from 275-pound guys to 300 and 330 across the front. That will help them become much tougher against the run.
“Paul Rhoads did a great job at Iowa State. He'll have a solid impact with the Arkansas defense this season.
“On offense, I think they have a great quarterback in Austin Allen. He had a great start, but finished soft. I think he's going to have a good year and I like the running game with Devwah Whaley.
“I think they will have one of the better offensive lines in the country. Hjalte Froholdt jumps off the table to me at offensive guard.”
Looking elsewhere, Steele picked Florida to win the SEC East. He likes the quarterback position there better with three top candidates. It will help the Gators that they get five SEC home games.
“The Florida schedule is huge,” he said. “The road games are at South Carolina, Missouri and Kentucky, and they get Michigan early. That's the time to play Michigan. They are talented but inexperienced.”
On the Arkansas schedule, Steele was asked specifically about TCU and Texas A&M.
“TCU is a dangerous team,” he said. “That's a toss-up game. Gary Patterson has an experienced defense coming back and he's a good defensive coach. Kenny Hill is experienced at quarterback and has a talented group of receivers. The receivers led the nation in dropped touchdown passes, but the talent is there.
“Texas A&M has talent, but they lost a lot. They lost those defensive ends and they are inexperienced at quarterback. The A&M game has been tough for Arkansas. The Hogs were about to score the go-ahead touchdown last year. They didn't, A&M hit a 94-yard pass and it was over.”
Steele thinks Bielema has a chance to turn the corner at Arkansas, but isn't sure it will happen this season.
“Oh, boy,” he said when that came up. “I've seen enough to know they are close (to turning the corner). But I don't like this schedule with only three true SEC home games. The potential is there next year because there are four true SEC home games. If they are going to take that next step forward, it's probably next year.
“I don't think Bret will have any trouble capturing the team. He's going to talk about those last two games of the season every time he has a meeting.
“I love the job he's doing. I think they might contend in the SEC West next season.”
2017 NWA Touchdown Club Speaker List
Aug. 23 – Bret Bielema, Arkansas head coach
Aug. 30 – Frank Beamer, Virginia Tech former coach
Sept. 6 – Jeff Long, Arkansas athletic director
Sept. 20 – Matt Stinchcomb, SEC Network
Sept. 27 – Chris “The Bear” Fallica, ESPN College Game Day
Oct. 3 – Laura Rutledge, SEC Network, ESPN
Oct. 11 – Bob Stoops, Oklahoma former coach
Oct. 18 – Gary Pinkel, Missouri former coach
Oct. 25 – Tommy Tuberville, ESPN, former coach
Nov. 8 – Ken Hamlin, former Razorback safety