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Arkansas Razorbacks: Five reasons why Hogs can win the SEC

By Nicholas Ian Allen

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Nov 1, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema congratulates his players after a play during the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs defeat the Razorbacks 17-10. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports

1. Bret Bielema Can Flat-Out Coach

BERT.

There were plenty of jokes about Bielema floating around SEC country after the former Wisconsin head coach took over in Fayetteville thanks to the shirtless photo, a quote about Bijhon Jackson’s “incredible, incredible ass” from SEC Media Days in 2014 and the team’s 0-8 record the previous year.

But Bielema can flat-out coach, and his unflinching program philosophy is a big reason Arkansas is a legitimate SEC title contender.

Bielema compiled a 68-24 record and three Big Ten championships as the head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers before leaving for the SEC. Things didn’t start smoothly in Fayetteville, but Bielema stuck to his philosophy and asked his players and the fans to do the same.

Just when it looked like the Hogs were ready to turn the corner, they couldn’t hold a 14-point fourth-quarter lead against Texas A&M and lost in overtime. If that wasn’t the most deflating loss of the year, then a missed extra point in a 14-13 loss to Alabama the following game was. Arkansas got blasted by Georgia the next week – the Bulldogs led 38-6 at halftime – but Bielema’s squad fought hard in the second half before falling 45-32.

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The heartbreak continued with a 17-10 loss to No. 1 Mississippi State, but the head coach was able to keep his team together while consistently preaching his commitment to controlling the tempo of the game with time of possession, which simultaneously keeps the ball away from opponent’s offenses and shortens the game while wearing down the opposing defense.

It’s a theory that worked at Wisconsin, and Bielema knew it could work in Fayetteville. But every close loss is still a loss and somehow – after 17 straight conference losses – Bielema got more than 100 18-to-23-year olds to believe they could win.

And that’s the thing about Bret Bielema. It’s not the X’s and O’s – although lining up with a tight end and fullback is far less common today than it once was, which actually gives the traditional Razorbacks a bit of a schematic advantage because today’s college players are more used to four-receiver sets. They’ve recruited extremely well on the offensive and defensive lines with some talented skill position players and developing under-the-radar recruits into solid SEC starters.

It’s that Bielema has a firm plan in place to line up and pound the football, run the clock, play fundamental defense and special teams (with a few tricks thrown in, such as the Tretola TD pass and punter Sam Irwin-Hill’s fake punt TD run against Texas A&M) and to recruit the players that fit that philosophy – both physically and mentally.

The hard work paid off and the Hogs finally snapped their year-and-a-half SEC losing streak with a 17-0 victory against rival LSU. One week later, Arkansas dominated Ole Miss – a team that had been ranked No. 3 in the country just three weeks earlier – 30-0. After a close loss to SEC East champion Missouri, the Razorbacks demolished Texas 31-7 in the Texas Bowl.

That late season success understandably led to a great deal of optimism for 2015, both inside and outside the program. Believe the hype – Arkansas can win the SEC.

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