Opponents View: Bielema knows Hogs can't take Ragin' Cajuns lightly

[NewsCopy]

Every coaching chapter of Arkansas's sometimes-tortured football history has its own wrinkle. The natural progression of things is that an incoming coach is there because the predecessor measurably faltered in some way.

Bret Bielema starts authoring his portion of the anthology Saturday afternoon at Fayetteville against Louisiana ...

The rest of the story
_ arktimes.com _

[zephyr]

I watched the entire replay of the UF game last weekend, and after watching it (and I want to prefface this), the coaching staff let this one get away. I know coach was playing for overtime and was willing to put the ball in the hands of our incredible punter. But ultimately we allowed UF to get back into the game by playing very very complacent ball, offensevilly at the end of the game. If we had played like we did for 3-1/2 quarters on offense at the end, we would have won. And I never have questioned coach Hud and his staff before, but this one got away from us by not trying to move the ball. We played very conservative on offense and we put ourselves in a position to get beat.

Just my opinion.

You know, I remember this after the game and all I could think about and post here was how much Hud and staff lost that game for us. Now that I've had all this time to reflect on that game, I still think that is the case. I love Hud as much as the next poster here and he has been a godsend for this program, BUT, his philosophy of playing ultra,ultra conservative and trying to play for overtime cost us that game. Period. I'm not so sure he wouldn't admit that if presented the question. Nothing we can do about it now but its a painful loss.

[zephyr]

If you are in a boxing match with Mike Tyson and you have him on the ropes in a bewildered state, you don't try to win by decision because he is the champion and you are the challenger, you throw everything you have at him and go for it 100%! You really have nothing to lose in that situation.

Exactly. Plus, one of the hardest things to do in all of sports is win on the road so......Why play for overtime on their homefield when its already one of the toughest places to play in all of college athletics...? I didn't understand the philosophy then and I still don't.

[Boomer]

I remember early in his career at UL that he stated he likes a big bruising back who can just "At the end of the game" run the ball down and move the chains and eat up the clock---Not a bad idea but this time it didn't work!!! I am sure that he would do it differently had we a chance to do it over but remember I think B-Way was just getting things reved up at the time!!!

[CajunDawgPound]

RD you said it all. I was beside myself watching that game. I had about 10 people at home and we all had the same reaction. Turn them loose and move the ball like you did the whole game. Don't set back on 3 and out. I think Hud knows that he maybe let this win get away from him.........

He knows that win could have vaulted him to a multi-million dollar offer from another school, which did not happen.

[CajunEXPRESS]

You know, I remember this after the game and all I could think about and post here was how much Hud and staff lost that game for us. Now that I've had all this time to reflect on that game, I still think that is the case. I love Hud as much as the next poster here and he has been a godsend for this program, BUT, his philosophy of playing ultra,ultra conservative and trying to play for overtime cost us that game. Period. I'm not so sure he wouldn't admit that if presented the question. Nothing we can do about it now but its a painful loss.

Hud did not lose the game for us. No hud, no chance to even be there. He made a call I did not agree with. There is not a chance in the world I would want to play the gators at the 25 yard line. I like our chances of a big play, and maybe a long field goal over something good happening in overtime.

The reason he did not lose the game is because we were not in position to win, we were in position to maybe get a fortunate big play and a long field goal. That is hardly losing it. That makes it sound like he had defeat snatched away.

[CrazyCajun]

We were a couple first downs away from winning....not a big play or long field goal. Offense went conservative and it cost is the game. If we are in that same position again, I promise you it will be handled differently.

[ULGrad@HOU]

Bielema has a new QB and a new system in place. I think he will play it on the safe side as to not make too many mistakes and try and not let the Cajuns get any momentum going. The Cajuns on the other hand, need to come out smoking, and go all out, especially on defense, swarming with near recklessness, to put a little doubt in the Hogs heads and give the Cajuns some confidence. After this is established, the crowd will be silent and UL can work the offense like clockwork and crush the Hogs dreams of a big day, establishing the initial setting for the biggest season in Cajun football history!

Geaux UL Ragin Cajuns!

[CajunEXPRESS]

We were a couple first downs away from winning....not a big play or long field goal. Offense went conservative and it cost is the game. If we are in that same position again, I promise you it will be handled differently.

I am pretty sure we needed more than a couple of first downs. We started at the UL 27, and got to the UL 34 with conservative plays. Yes, we needed several plays and one would have to be over twenty yards which is a big play against that defense.. We started the drive at the 1:42 mark.

Our longest run was 15 yards, we had one pass gain of 48 yards on a total of 171 passing yards.

Regardless, Hud did not lose the game, and I see no way we win the game playing at the 25 yard line, we had an excellent field goal kicker, they had an excellent field goal kicker. Playing at the 25 just looks like advantage home team big time, so in that respect he gave away a real chance of winning, but once they tied the game, our chances were slim in any case.

Florida had more big plays running, more total and net yards than we did on the ground. We did have a slight advantage in the passing game yard wise.

[ULGrad@HOU]

We were a couple first downs away from winning....not a big play or long field goal. Offense went conservative and it cost is the game. If we are in that same position again, I promise you it will be handled differently.

I agree with what you are saying and Hud said this year is different because he has complete confidence in Broadway running a two minute offense. He stated that the Fla game was only his 3rd start or so, this implies to me that he kept it simple for Broadway as to not put him in position to make a mistake. Therefore, yes they went conservative on play calling. I don't expect that for this game.