State of Bielema Address

Yes, I know it's been a couple weeks since the last football post. Everyone goes through attrition at some point, even us. However, this isn't about the recent changes here or myself. No, this is about the sudden upheaval that is head coaching in the Big Ten. Specifically I'm talking about the recent decision by Wisconsin's Bret Bielema to jump ship to Arkansas (Purdue had fired Danny Hope and hired former Tressel assistant Darrell Hazell but that's pittance compared to this). Keep in mind that when it comes to Bielema, he was hand picked by Barry Alvarez. He's amassed a record of 68-24 in 7 years, with going to the Rose Bowl 3 straight years. He's gone to a bowl every single year at Wisconsin, and in doing so he's maintained a good program which is difficult in any sport, much less where the team might lose 15-20 players a year. Everyone has their thoughts as to why he has chosen this new avenue---and so here are mine:

Previewing Big Ten Football: Wisconsin

Write it in stone: Wisconsin will be the winner of the Leaders division in 2012. This can be attributed to multiple things. The strength of their team. Montee Ball. OSU going through their sanctions and not being able to compete for it. Penn St as well. Having Illinois and Indiana in your division. That leaves only Purdue to compete with, and Purdue can't hold a candle to Wisconsin right now. Yet as this season is beginning to unfold, there will be similarities and differences. Here's what Wisconsin has ahead of them in 2012.


2011 Record:  11-3, 6-2 Big Ten

Returning Starters: Offense – 5, Defense – 6

Bret Bielema is becoming one of college football's elite coaches. He's entering his 7th season coaching the Badgers, where so far he has a record of 60-19 (.759). Last season, he led Wisconsin to back-to-back Rose Bowls for the first time since 1999 and 2000. Bielema coached Wisconsin to victories in 17 of his first 18 games, making it the best Big Ten coaching start since Fielding Yost, who went 55-0-1 when he started. Consistency in coaching is huge in any sport, and a consistent winning coach is one to treasure, and that's also why he received a contract extension earlier this year. One major change, coaching wise, is that there will be 6 new assistant coaches. The biggest change of all is Matt Canada replacing Paul Chryst as the offensive coordinator. Chryst left to take the head coaching job at Pittsburgh, and all of us wish him well there. Wisconsin is also losing their wide receivers, linebackers, and offensive line coaches. That's a huge loss for any team that it trying to hold onto a specific identity.