BADGERS HIRE FORMER VIKING SLASH KICKER- Page 51

[MikeIsGood]

I will just say this: people hate Bielema so much that they are not able to look at situations like this with any sort of objectivity, as their opinion of him is too clouded. He's the reason all the coaches left (it couldn't be that our assistant coaches are woefully underpaid and the Athletic Department refuses to compensate them fairly - this is not breaking news), he's the sole reason we have 5 losses this year (nevermind that whole coaching turnover thing and our transfer QB being a giant flop). It seems quite convenient that no one remembers Barry's losing seasons, yet BB first down year after back to back Rose Bowls and we're ready with pitchforks and fire. I know he didn't win his Rosé Bowls, and that is a factor of course, but that doesn't completely excuse the predacious public. I really just hope that the grass isn't greener on the other side and we go through some tough years. I also really hope we don't lose the fantastic class we had started in 2013.

GJ, it's a dirty job standing up for him - its not like I'm head over heels for him either, he's a flawed coach naturally - but I think someone's got to do it. There's no point in sour grapes. Note that I don't want him coaching us in the Rose Bowl, either, and he won't, but it's peculiar to me people are ready to spit on his grave.

Hope we find a great replacement, and hope that person gets in the recruits' ears ASAP.

[JayMKE]

Wow, is the door open for me to return as Badger football fan?! I never liked Bielema, thought he was an overrated coach and way more arrogant than he needed to be.

I can't see Alvarez throwing away his undefeated Rose Bowl record.

Isn't Tressel banned from coaching for a few years?

My money would be on that Chryst if he wants the job. Childress a possibility too, but I think Alvarez would know that would be an unpopular hire in this state. I don't think Bevell would get it.

The sanctions against Tressel would follow him to where ever he would be hired unless Wisconsin could "show cause" to as why they shouldn't.

[WiscSports1]

I laugh at all the people that wanted him gone. I think people forget how hard it can be to get back to this level of success with a new coach. Yeah, yeah, he didn't win a RB. We should have beaten TCU, but had no chance vs Oregon., but you can't win the big game if you don't get there. He had flaws, but he was a winner. Period.

No only do I think this is a huge mistake for BB, but I loathe where this leaves the program. The good news is that I trust BA and appreciate his efforts here 10 fold now.

[El Duderino]

I laugh at all the people that wanted him gone. I think people forget how hard it can be to get back to this level of success with a new coach.

Yea, i made a post earlier in the thread listing numerous winning programs which took a serious decline after their coach left, it happens a lot. Some college fans seem to think that just because one or two coaches won a lot of games, that it will be really easy to find a replacement who will simply keep the train rolling. My buddy is one of those people and wanted to see Bret hit the road, but i brought up to him some examples of what a bad hire can bring to a winning program.

Tennessee
Alabama pre-Saban
Michigan
Kansas State after Snyder left and now back up after he returned
Florida after Spurrier left and before Meyer took over
Notre Dame for nearly two decades
Miami
Washington used to be good
UCLA went into the dumpster for quite awhile

That's just off the top of my head and many of those schools have a better tradition of success.

[RiotPunch]

For the record, I have never been in on the Barry suckfest that most people are either. He was slightly overrated and unlikable in his own right.

People can defend Bielema all they want, my opinion on the man will not change. He was overall a good football coach who struggled to keep his ducks in a row in big games. He represented our program very poorly off the field. You're right, MIG, the compensation to our assistants, or lack thereof, is definitely a factor in everyone leaving-- but I still believe Bielema being an unlikable sleazeball didn't help anything either. He played a role in the coaches leaving, pursued O'Brien hardcore, started him even though he must have looked awful and made a horrible O-Line coach hire.... so he did have an impact on this 5 loss season too, imo.

I am not happy he is gone from a strict football perspective. Of course continuing the type of success he has been giving us will be very difficult. Also, who knows who Barry will hire-- he might totally botch it. But I am happy I no longer have to force myself to overlook who Bielema is when I root for my Badgers.

[Kerb Hohl]

Dude, yeah the O'Brien move was bad and the o-line hire was bad -- quickly remedied.

I mean, if you want to overlook all of the good stuff and bring those up as bad, be my guest.

I have heard just as many (or more) frat boy Bielema stories. Just wondering why this is so horrible. I don't care what these guys do off the field as long as it is within a legal realm. 90% of the Packers we cheer for and love are banging somebody that isn't their wife this weekend.

[RiotPunch]

Very different having young players doing that crap and having your head coach and leader of the program doing it, but you're right. That is a reason how it is very easy for me to hate on Jermike as well.

I am acknowledging the good things and bringing up some of the bad too. There was enough bad for me to not like the guy and be glad he's not the face of my team anymore. Like I said, my opinion isn't changing.

[ACGB]

He should take Bo with him.

[Kerb Hohl]

Very different having young players doing that crap and having your head coach and leader of the program doing it, but you're right. That is a reason how it is very easy for me to hate on Jermike as well.

I am acknowledging the good things and bringing up some of the bad too. There was enough bad for me to not like the guy and be glad he's not the face of my team anymore. Like I said, my opinion isn't changing.

You must hate about 95% of coaches based on your standard. Obviously Bielema has plenty of flaws in his record, but he also has one of the greatest winning percentages ever.

Among all of the stories of his off-the-field life, have we ever heard some horrendous one? Dude slept around and was not married. Do we know that he has cheated since he got married a few years ago? Does he have some illegitimate kid?

Trust me, I actually even talked to a former player that was on his team at Iowa and heard some hilarious stories, but are any of them horrendously bad? I mean, I wouldn't vouch for his character being awesome but I also am not going to slam a guy that wants to not get married until his late 30s and party along with it.

[ReasonablySober]

If he runs a clean program and wins I really don't care what the man is like off the field. My reasons for being indifferent that he's leaving have little to do with him as a person. I'm on Twitter all day; I know that the guy is largely a punchline in many respects. Who gives a ****? So was Les Miles not a year and a half ago.

I don't mind seeing him gone because I don't think he had a lot to do with what's made Wisconsin a power in the last twenty years, namely the offensive line, the runningbacks and, lately, the innovative offensive system.

Hopefully the buy-out isn't a dealstopper with Chryst. But if it isn't, I don't think Wisconsin will miss much of a beat with whoever it is they bring in.

[RiotPunch]

I have heard of some horrendous stories of Bielema that were somehow swept under the rug and not made public, yeah. Not claiming to be some insider douche, but I know people who own/work at establishments in the Dells that are very trustworthy who have filled me on some of the **** the guy has done.

I have my reasons, can't we leave it at that? I already said I am not happy about the guy leaving from a football perspective, as it will be hard to find someone better. But at the same time there are other reasons for UW becoming a big time program other than Bret Bielema. Don't know why you are going out of your way here, as my mind will not be changed on him.

[Kerb Hohl]

Alright, I guess I didn't catch that you were not happy about the football side of it.

I'd love to hear these stories, but I'll leave you and Newz to yourselves to gossip like little schoolgirls about players/coaches and their non-football antics

[RiotPunch]

Alright, I guess I didn't catch that you were not happy about the football side of it.

I'd love to hear these stories, but I'll leave you and Newz to yourselves to gossip like little schoolgirls about players/coaches and their non-football antics

The gist was him being blackout drunk, cornering uninterested girls, getting rough and groping said uninterested girls, being asked to leave by establishment owners, him not stopping and laughing at the owners' requests, breaking ****, authorities escorting him out, etc.

He did that crap on a nightly/weekly basis AFTER he got married and whatever. Just rubbed me the wrong way, I guess. There were more stories too, but that is a vague theme and I won't get into specifics more than that. Definitely nothing technically criminal, like you said. I realize that most HC's are no angels, but it doesn't condone his disgusting antics and doesn't mean I have to like him or accept it.

Hopefully the buy-out isn't a dealstopper with Chryst. But if it isn't, I don't think Wisconsin will miss much of a beat with whoever it is they bring in.

I know, this has me worried. Had a buddy tell me that Chryst has informed his Pitt recruits that he'll be staying? Anybody hear anything about any truth behind that?

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

Only two stories I've ever heard: He once ordered shots for everyone at a bar in New Glarus and then refused to pay the bill because "he's Bret Bielema." Then the bar owner kicked him out. The other story I heard was that Barry wanted to hire him a driver because he was scared that he was going to get a DUI and then he may have to fire/suspend him. Who knows if either is true. Neither are all that damning even if they are.

[ACGB]

idk if this was posted yet

Tom Lea ‏@ESPNTomLea
Montee Ball briefly addressed reporters. Clearly wasn't in a great mood. Said bielema wants to 'win a championship.' #Badgers

[PkrsBcksGphsMqt]

First statement from Chryst:

AP_Top25 ‏@AP_Top25
“@WillGravesAP: Pitt coach Paul Chryst: #I am committed to the Pitt football program and the University of Pittsburgh." #badgers

[Ayt]

I can't believe I'm defending Bielema as much as I am, but is he really that much of a POS human being, especially in comparison to the rest of the country's coaches? Other than being a glorified frat boy, what is so bad? He ran what is assumed to be a clean program.

Carroll, Petrino, etc. don't even need explanation. Urban Meyer left Florida because he basically was disregarding his family it seemed like. There are a lot of these tools in the college football coaching landscape.

Not gonna argue with that, there are a lot of scumbags out there. It's off the field, personal stuff about Bret that makes me conclude he is a crappy person. He is a drunk pervert womanizer, and never stopped even after he was engaged/married. Not a good reason football-wise, I know, but it made it hard for me to root for him and like him. Pair that with all of the in-game blunders he has had and there you have my dislike towards the guy.

You overstate Bielema's recruiting in the success of the program during his tenure. He was a very solid recruiter, but like Alvarez , go look at his recruiting classes from year to year since taking over, generally those classes were only ranked in that 3rd-6th area of other Big Ten teams. Yet, his teams often out-performed other programs with better ranked recruiting classes, also like Alvarez.

That is true, but I think it had a lot to do with finding the "right kids" as far as kids who fit our system well, and finding late bloomers as well.

That's pretty funny. My younger brother was very good friends with a lot of the staff at the Great Dane in Fitchburg over the last decade or so (where they did the Bret Bielema Show), and I heard some stories from a lot of people who worked there when I would hang out with them.

[ReasonablySober]

I've heard similar stories. Van Pelt even hinted about it on the radio in as delicate a way as possible. Again, I'm amazed anyone gives a ****.

[Ayt]

I've heard similar stories. Van Pelt even hinted about it on the radio in as delicate a way as possible. Again, I'm amazed anyone gives a ****.

To be clear, I really don't give a ****. I just thought it was funny that it was brought up since I hadn't seen it discussed here. I'd never brought it up over the years.

I didn't ever hear about him crossing any huge line beyond your typical drunken obstinacy.

[Kerb Hohl]

I think I posted it a few months ago, but I chatted with a former Iowa LB (I ended up finding his name on a roster the next day) at a bar.

His older bro was good pals with Bret. They were juniors or seniors when the guy I was talking to was a frosh.

Story 1 was that younger bro was moving in. Bret and older bro packed up his pickup truck and drove it over to the dorms on move-in day. Basically, as they drove by the girls' dorm, BB yelled to the people moving in, "DADS, BETTER SAY GOODBYE NOW BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA **** EM WHEN YOU LEAVE."

Story 2 was that he obtained BB's phone number from his brother. After an Iowa game where we had a tough loss, he started texting BB (Bret apparently had deleted his number) acting as if he was some random chick that had met him at the bar last night, consoling him over the loss. Apparently he took it hook, line, sinker.