SEC notes: Fun Bielema deserves success

HOOVER, Ala. — Let’s hope Bret Bielema wins big.

He deserves it. Check that, we deserve it.

Arkansas’ fun-loving coach has redefined what means to be in last place.

Bielema actually looks like he’s having fun out there. He called beating Texas in the bowl game, “borderline erotic.” Nike-sponsored Bielema showed up Wednesday at the 2015 SEC Media Days declaring a “shoe war” on Mississippi State’s Dan Mullen (Adidas). Bielema matched Mullen’s Yeezys with a pair of custom Air Force 1s.

“One thing that jumped out to me that no one has really written about is how an advantage being a Nike school is,” said Bielema, a former Adidas guy at Wisconsin.

Somewhere in the Nike corporate headquarters, the marketing department just popped a bottle of champagne. Bielema would rather win than trend on Twitter, but it’s a heck of a distraction for now.

Don’t forget the Hogs have finished last in the SEC West in Bielema’s first two seasons. It just seems like the program — with a 7-6 record in 2014 — has more ceiling than the Sistine Chapel.

Arkansas was one of seven SEC West teams — the entire division — to go bowling last season. It beat LSU, Ole Miss and Texas while improving by three-and-a-half games. That’s not the look of a program in a downward spiral.

“I feel like the general public sees us as trending upwards,” tailback Jonathan Williams said. “This is not a landing point for us, it’s a launching point.”

We’ll see. The Hogs gave up only 28 points in four games after Nov. 1. Bielema’s physicality in the running game is reflected on the cover of this year’s media guide. It features the offensive line; that line sprung the only two 1,000-yard rushers to also be teammates last season (Williams and Alex Collins).

“The offensive line position is probably the dirtiest, grittiest position and you get no respect,” quarterback Brandon Allen said. “We do everything we can, we put them in first class on our plane. They deserve every bit of media coverage.”

Bielema has won exactly one true road game in his first two seasons. He’s done the calculations. To win the SEC, you have to win on the road. The last five SEC champions, he says, are 18-2 in road games.

“It’s not where we want to be but it’s a good launching point,” Allen said. “We’re on the rise; we’re doing good things. We’re not happy about the 7-6 season, but we’re happy with the way we’re headed.”

As for the swagger and toughness Bielema established at Wisconsin, “We’re getting there (at Arkansas),” he said.

The shoes look good, though.

More from the 2015 SEC Media Days…

Allen was lucky enough to participate in this year’s Manning Passing Academy. Eli and Peyton Manning taught one of the drills for the college quarterbacks in attendance, a list that included Missouri’s Maty Mauk, Tennessee’s Josh Dobbs, Clemson’s Chad Kelly, Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg and USC’s Cody Kessler.
	SEC
You think you’re tired? New SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has done 49 separate interviews since Monday.
Quarterback Maty Mauk revealed he took pain-killing injections in his throwing shoulder the last eight games of the 2014 season. He separated it in October against Georgia. “It would be hard to get up for workouts on Sunday morning,” he explained. “Aleve and Ibuprofen became my best friends.” Being healthy, he said, “will be a day and night difference.”
Bielema fielded questions about not bringing Collins, a junior, to the media days. The coach says he takes seniors only as a reward for accomplishment. “If the SEC passed a rule [against that], I’d take them to court,” he quipped.
	Missouri Tigers
Strength coach Pat Ivey is teaching the team breathing drills. Center Evan Boehm says he actually thinks — between plays and drills — about breathing in for eight seconds, holding it in for four and blowing out for five seconds. “At Mizzou, we think it’s a sign of weakness if we put our hands on our knees,” he said.
	SEC
The SEC preseason poll, as voted on by the media in attendance at the Wynfrey Hotel, will be released Thursday. How do you not pick Mizzou as the favorite in the East? They’ve fooled us twice, why not a third time? Alabama and Missouri are tied for most overall victories the last two years in the SEC: 23. “I saw something yesterday that said Mizzou was a Cinderella team from last year,” Boehm said. “I don’t know how you go 12-2 and 11-3 and you’re a Cinderella team.”
	Pro tip: good eats
If you’re looking for one of the best local diners in Birmingham, try Salem’s in Homewood. Ask for Wayne and Evelyn. They’ll take care of you.
	CBS Sports Network
New analyst Rick Neuheisel is making the rounds in Hoover. When it was suggested to him that he is the Weird Al of the sport — see “Born In The SEC” — Neuheisel immediately belted out a subverted version of the Christmas classic “Silver Bells.”

Bret Bielema is bound to start winning big for the Hogs. (USATSI)

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