FAYETTEVILLE -- By this time next year, Bret Bielema would like to be a regular listener in addition to viewer of the SEC Network.
Addressing the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club Wednesday at Mermaid's Restaurant, the second-year Arkansas coach admits hearing little good from the SEC Network talking heads and national pundits about his Razorbacks, coming off a 3-9 season including 0-8 in the Southeastern Conference.
Arkansas opens its season at 3 p.m. Saturday on the SEC Network visiting No. 6 Auburn, reigning SEC champion and national runner-up, at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Ala.
"I love the SEC Network but I hate listening to it all the time," Bielema said. "I have it on permanent mute in a corner of my office until we start getting back on track where we want to be."
Despite the "negativity" obviously resulting from the 4-8 season of 2012 under interim coach John L. Smith and the 3-9 season last year, Bielema said the holdovers have responded positively in the rebuilding efforts and that the recruits he and his staff added for this season's squad "are walking into a situation where they want to give Arkansas everything they deserve."
Bielema said he and his staff are entrusted with instilling the belief they have the confidence deserving success.
"A team that has won seven games of 24 in two years doesn't build confidence unless you foster it every day and make them understand that their swagger really does matter," Bielema said. "That part is the most challenging and most rewarding."
It would seem the biggest challenge besets his starting quarterback, Brandon Allen. The fourth-junior from Fayetteville weathered one of those no-good-deed-goes-unpunished seasons last year. Only missing one game, Allen suffered a separated shoulder, played hurt, only threw two more touchdowns than interceptions and took the bulk of criticism, though he didn't get much help from receivers' dropping passes.
Add to that, his vehicle was egged in Fayetteville while the Hogs were returning from their overtime loss to Mississippi State in Little Rock.
Last Monday around 4 a.m. , a suspected arsonist or arsonists destroyed his vehicle in Fayetteville.
On Tuesday, after the team's mandatory off day, Allen practiced well by all accounts from his teammates and offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, which Bielema confirmed Wednesday.
"He had a practice yesterday that told me made a stride," Bielema said. "What told me he made a big stride is his ability to throw the football and the ability to deliver it accurately and the ability to know what's going on around him. I am very excited to see him play because of the players that believe in him around him. I think that will be exciting for us to watch."
Later Bielema told the media, "He's handled what he's had to handle. He seems upbeat about everything and working with the people he needs to work with, but keeping that kind of away from the game."
Addressing some injury situations, Bielema said third-year sophomore JaMichael Winston will start at a defensive end but that third-year sophomore Deatrich Wise, the first-teamer until missing nearly two weeks with a sprained knee, has been practicing since Thursday and will split the position with Winston.
Senior cornerback Tevin Mitchel, the first-team corner late spring but requiring shoulder surgery then followed by injuring his hamstring during the August preseason, likely won't be ready for the Auburn game.
Mitchel, sophomore D.J. Dean and true freshman Henre Tolliver on Monday's depth chart were deemed alternates to first-team cornerbacks Jared Collins, a third-year sophomore letterman, and second-year senior junior-college transfer Carroll Washington.
Defensively as a whole, Bielema promised at least one major performance difference over last season.
"One you will see right away is the ability to line up and challenge people at the line of scrimmage whether it be a D-lineman, linebacker or DB," Bielema said. "We should have the ability to play good, aggressive football from the first half to the last half."
Sports on 08/28/2014