The Arkansas Razorbacks will wrap up Southeastern Conference spring football this afternoon with their Red-White Game, which will be held inside Walker Pavilion due to inclement weather.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema is in his fifth year in Fayetteville, having taken over a program that was reeling from the Bobby Petrino firing and the calamitous one season under interim coach John L. Smith. Bielema lost his first 13 SEC games but has established some stability with a 22-17 record the past three seasons and three consecutive bowl appearances.
Bielema was a guest earlier this week of "Press Row" on Chattanooga's ESPN 105.1 FM.
Q: How would you assess your performance at Arkansas to this point?
A: "It's probably twofold, because as coaches you're always evaluated on wins and losses, and I get that. The reason I got this job was obviously because of the success I had at other places. We've had a lot of growth off the field. Our team has a 2.98 GPA, and we've led the league the last three or four years in academic performers.
"Our guys, for the most part, have kept their noses clean, but even though we've been to three straight bowl games, we haven't been to that next level yet. I think we're on the verge of it. It's the closest we've ever been, and at my last job we won our first championship in year five."
Q: You're among multiple SEC West coaches considered on the hot seat. Does that pressure get to you?
A: "It never has and it never will. We had a 7-6 season at Wisconsin one time, and we came back and won 10. You've just got to worry about your job. It hasn't come up one time in recruiting, and I've got a pretty strong contract."
Q: Do you feel you have everything you need, including the recruiting base, to win the West at Arkansas?
A: "In the West, a lot does fall on the recruiting pool and what you're able to get done. I'm a big believer in the Kentucky Derby theory of coaching: Everybody wants to talk about the horse who won, but they don't want to talk about the jockey. We're building every day and have more depth than ever, especially on the lines.
"We have facilities that are second to none. I think if you haven't been to Fayetteville, you have this picture or this vision of what it will be, but there is a 'Wow' factor once you get here. People are commonly taken back by the facilities and the atmosphere around the campus and the town."
Q: How is Jen's pregnancy going?
A: "We entered our third trimester this week. I'm getting heavily involved in the world of cravings. I've had them my whole life, but now I'm having to make runs on my wife's expense. She had another great appointment Monday, and we're looking forward to having a healthy baby girl. I could not be more excited."
Q: You're a rarity now in terms of speaking your mind. Would you get out of coaching before becoming a robot?
A: "The only person I know how to be is Bret Bielema, and I don't try to pretend to be anybody else. I'm not saying that's great or that everybody has to like him, but I know that I'm me. I just think that what you say is what you get. It's real. It's 100 percent every day.
"I think the word 'consistency' is a really good thing in today's world. I wish more people were more consistent."
Q: You've got your quarterback and top two tailbacks returning. What's your biggest concern about the 2017 Razorbacks?
A: "Because of the transition we're making on defense from a 4-3 to a 3-4, until you go through some of those land mines, you're going to have a little bit of anxiety. I am very excited about what we've got on offense."
Q: Turning to our rapid fire, what's been your favorite win so far at Arkansas?
A: "Winning on the road against Ole Miss in overtime (in 2015)."
Q: What is your most painful setback?
A: "I would say the second-half collapse against Virginia Tech (in the 2016 Belk Bowl) or maybe Missouri the game before."
Q: Who do Arkansas fans say is your biggest rival?
A: "Probably the 'Battle for the Boot' - LSU."
Q: What is the one comment you wish you could take back?
A: "Borderline erotic."
Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.