State of Sorrell

Bret Bielema,

Thank you for: 1. Bringing smiles and hope back to Razorback fans 2. Having a vision, a dream and sticking to it 3. Taking care of our players like they were your own. Going out of the field when one is injured and getting choked up when talking about how proud you are of them 4. Having a strict disciplinary policy and punishing players no matter what their status on the team, it shows when we have no drama off the field 5. Talking to the fans and the press like we were in your living room by telling us how it is. We feel your pain and are supporting you.

Yes Arkansas fans, the last two games have been tough pills to swallow. However, I can guarantee you that the games are a lot hard to swallow as a player and a coach. Our boys are fighters and will never give up. It’s hard to keep into perspective that we lost to Alabama two years in a row 52-0 and yesterday we lost by 1. Now, you can’t tell me that’s not a MAJOR improvement.

We play in the toughest conference in the nation and are set up to cause some serious upsets at the end of the season. The goal posts will come down again in Fayetteville this year, calling it now.

I believe in us, I believe in our players and I’m a Bielemer!

DOWN - SET - HUT - HUT 

If you follow college football then you are well aware of the "elephant" in the room (pun intended) with the proposed NCAA rule change.  This rule states that offenses would not be allowed to snap the ball until at least 10 seconds have run off the 40-second play clock.  Just like anything in the NCAA you have fans, coaches and players who are for it and against it.  

Pro: This rule would allow the student athletes to recover, causing less injuries. 

Con: This rule would stop the hurry up offenses that we have grown fond of watching (i.e. Auburn) 

Okay Arkansas fans.. here it goes.... Let's talk a little football and more importantly stadiums: Little Rock or Fayettevile? To me the answer is very simple, but lets see what city you would go with based on these facts:

1. Little Rock holds 54,000. Fayetteville holds 80,000. 54,000 tickets? 80,000 tickets? Lose money? Make money? 54,000 screaming fans? 80,000 screaming fans? Quiet? Loud? 

2. Sell out tickets or don't? This past Saturday was the lowest attendance in Little Rock since 2002. If you can't sell out a 54,000 stadium but you can a 80,000 stadium - why are you still playing there? 

3. Away game or home game? Little Rock is thought of and treated as an away game by coaches and players - umm that can't be good.

4. Have you seen how we play down there lately? If you haven't, let me tell ya - it ain't pretty

5. Play in Little Rock, make your other fans pay for a game that is in there state. Yes, because the game is in Little Rock, everyone else in the state needs to fork up at least $35 dollars to watch the game and don't try to watch it on ESPN3 because they black it out. WHY ARE YOU STOPPING YOUR FANS FROM WATCHING A GAME IN THEIR STATE? RIDICULOUS 

6. How many other universities play in two stadiums now? Let me take that one - NONE (Yes Alabama and Ole Miss use to, but not anymore) 

7. In 2015, Arkansas will play 3 "home" games on the road - Little Rock, Dallas and Little Rock. How many ACTUAL home games does that leave us with? 2... 2 GAMES IN FAYETTEVILLE, ARE YOU SERIOUS? WAKE UP PEOPLE!! 

8. Would you rather WOW recruits with a brand new facility & amazing campus or a dump (no offense War Memorial)? If you were a recruit, what would sell you? 

To all of my fellow Arkansas fans - I am addressing this post to you:

It has been a hard few weeks, but I've noticed a few things about the Razorback fans out there -- many are what I'd like to call fair weather fans. These fans won't cheer or go to games unless their team is ranked or playing how they want them to. I've got news for you - it doesn't always turn out the way you want it. And lets all face it, after Bobby Petrino was fired we all knew this year could go one of two ways:

1. Bring in an interim coach and hope that he would be the glue our team needed to continue on for National Championship dreams.

2. Bring in an interim coach and it be a complete disaster. 

Yes, as of right now is looks like we are leaning in the way of number two - but I have some news for you again we have lost 2 GAMES, 2!! There is a lot of college football left to be played.

We lost to Lousisana-Monroe which is shocking (yes, even I cried) - but Tyler Wilson didn't come back out after halftime - therefore, our leadership was gone. We also lost to the number 1 team in the nation, Alabama. This game was played without our starting quarterback and quite frankly some stupid mistakes in the first quarter caused the momentum to shift quickly - making the crowd & Hogs give up.

Which leads me to another bone I need to pick with all my fellow fans - WHY LEAVE AT HALFTIME? Don't ask me if I saw the scoreboard - I did and know it was 24-0 at half, but our team needed the fans in there. What if we had a momentum shift in the second half? There wasn't a big enough crowd in Razorback Stadium to even encouarge our players to do that. Did our players give up at times? Yes, but who wouldn't when they see their fans rushing out at HALFTIME?

Our job as fans is first off to support the team - we aren't doing that. We are turning our backs against them and just looking for someone to blame. Quit trying to blame someone or heck - just blame Bobby Petrino and his selfless act to hire his mistress on the UNIVERSITY DIME - actually really I don't care - but get over it and just CHEER FOR YOUR HOGS.  

We've had two bad, okay terrible, weeks but don't turn your back on these guys that go out everyday and practice for us. Give them a chance - go to every game (good or bad) and call those Hogs from start to finish - that's all they ask of us. 

Would you recruit this guy? I would!!

- 40 yard dash: 4.46 seconds

- Height: 6 foot

- Weight: 205 pounds 

- Broad Jump: 9 feet 3 inches

- Vertical Leap: 34 inches

Now let me rephrase the question? Would you recruit the guy above if he was in 8th grade? You read that right, but in case you missed it - 8th grade!!

If you answered yes, you would be LSU. LSU has offered Dylan Moses, a middle schooler, a full ride to play football starting in 2017. 

For starters - I want all of my followers to know that I am a Dallas Cowboys fan.  Yes, it is very much a love/hate relationship due to their performance the past couple of seasons.  But, nonetheless win or lose - I am a Cowboys fan. 

Recently Skip Bayless called Tony Romo a top 5 quarterback.. yes, a TOP 5 QB.  I have to say this almost leaves me speechless.  I am a Cowboys fan and would NEVER consider Romo to be a top 5 QB - maybe a top 10...maybe.  Don't get me wrong he is up there with those who I would consider a top 5 in passes complete, but you have to look at his overall quarterback performance.  Romo is not there when it comes to being a leader to his team and crucial games.  When it comes down to the 4th quarter in a very critical game - Romo throws it away - literally.  A top 5 quarterback knows how to handle their team and seal the game - Tony Romo does not.  

Bayless want to know my top 5? 

1. Peyton Manning

2. Eli Manning

3. Tom Brady

4. Aaron Rodgers 

People think that when it comes to football or sports in general - it is all about winning. And coming from a sports fanatic - trust me it's true, most of the time it is all about winning. Period. End of Story. But, then there are certain events that happen, proving to everyone that it isn't all about winning or is it? 

What is your definition of winning? Is it the score on the board at the end of the game or is it the amount of pride you feel for that particular team/school? If you asked me yesterday, I would've told you all that matters it the final number on the scoreboard. But, ask me today and I would've given you a completely different answer. 

If you didn't know already - I am 110% an Arkansas Razorback fan. AND... if you've seen  SportsCenter lately, you know our football world was just ROCKED!

Our coach Bobby Petrino was in a motorcycle accident April 1st, but was not alone like he had told his boss, the nation and Razorback fans - with him was 25 year old Jessica Dorrell an athlete department employee - that PETRINO had hired. Shortly after finding out about the other passenger our Athletic Director, Jeff Long, said he would need time to review the fact before any actions were taken. SOO speculation flew from there.. was he going to stay or would he be fired? - Like most people my first thought was: "Well we just hire coaches to win right? So why not just bring him back?" Boy was I wrong... Today the final decision was announced by Long - Petrino was fired. Today was the day I learned the true meaning of winning. So what, we may lose a game or two this next season, but one that we won't lose is our INTEGRITY and PRIDE. Jeff Long showed the nation today that our school isn't just run by one individual and that's something we all need to be proud of. So to all of you Razorback fans out there, pick your heads back up. The true recruits will be the ones that see Arkansas for all that it truly is and come here not just because of a coach, but for the incredible university it is. "No individual is bigger than a team or its fans" - Jeff Long

Perfection -- something most of us strive for, but can never seem to achieve.  A word the NFL seems to avoid and I now know why.

Perfection -- something I thought the Green Bay Packers were going to be able to achieve this season. 13-0 going into the game versus Kansas City on Sunday the odds were in their favor. I can't tell one person that thought the Chiefs would beat Green Bay (expect for Chiefs fans of course). But, after witnessing that game I now understand why coaches and players avoid the word perfection. I don't think its possible in the NFL. The Packers have the ultimate team, but even those teams have its off days. Green Bays defense couldn't seem to stop anything unless it was on the 2 yard line and the Chiefs caught almost every pass thrown. Unexpected moments like this are what makes sports so exciting!   

This past weekend of College Football hasn't been as entertaining or interesting as the week before, but I think we have all learned something extremely important -- the BCS is horrible. 

After watching the BCS Countdown show tonight, it is hard for anyone to deny that this system has major holes. How in the world are you going to have the number 15 and 16 teams in BCS bowl games? Just forget this BCS, BS -- take the top 8 teams and let them battle it out! 

What a Saturday it was in the land of College Football:

1. After 35 consecutive wins at their blue field (yes, BLUEEEE), #5 Boise State fell to TCU.

TCU drove down the field in the 4th quarter only to have an incredible catch in the end zone. After the touchdown, TCU had a tough decision to make: A. Go for the extra point and tie it B. Go for the 2 point conversion for the WIN. Being risk takers they choose B and succeeded. But, it wasn't over yet. Boise had a chance to drive down the field for a chance at the field goal and the game to keep their BCS hopes alive. The field goal went wide right and TCU took upset victory on the road.

2. Oregon proved that they aren't all about the uniforms. 

We all know Oregon has some of the best looking uniforms out there and a new one every Saturday at that. But, on Saturday November 12th they proved that it ain't all about those unis. #7 Oregon took down undefeated #4 Stanford 53-30. Yes, you heard me Oregon put up 53 points on Stanford. Is Luck really as good as people think he is? I question that... 

3. And what a Saturday if you are an Arkansas Razorback fan

1. I'm going to call it now, this is the Buffalo Bills year. 

2. Mike Vick is out again this week, but instead of a concussion it's a broken hand. I'm not sure this guy is ever going to get a break. He's an incredible football player so I hope to see him out there again soon. 

3. You know what's really sad? Watching the Colts play without Peyton Manning. You know what's even worse? Having him as your second choice on your fantasy team (yes, I did that)

4. If you weren't aware before today, Darren McFadden as proven himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL. Period. 

5. As much as it pains me to say that, I believe that Cam Newton is one of the best QBs in the NFL... 

6. Alabama and LSU are playing on a WHOLE other level. November 5th, in my mind, is the National Championship game. You are kidding yourself if you don't think either of those 2 teams would KILLL Oklahoma or Boise State... 

7. Georgia proved to the nation on Saturday it is not the worst team in the SEC. Thank you Ole Miss!

My senior year I was selected to tryout for commencement speaker. I may not have been chosen in the end, but loved writing my speech and wanted to share it with my followers: Enjoy!

Commencement Speech 2011

When deciding on a college, I probably didn’t pick one like most of you. I picked a college based on the excitement surrounding the sports. I know, a little bit odd right? I mean it also helped that the Walton College of Business was one of the top ranked and well-known business schools in our nation. A business school that continues to be ranked time and time again, with professors and faculty pushing you to reach new heights you never thought you could achieve.

After officially deciding on attending the University of Arkansas, I knew that college was very similar to the sports I loved so much: 4 quarters in a game, 4 years in a college and of course the occasional overtime that some here may have experienced. But, like most sports and games, it’s all about the journey. Same applies for life here at the Walton College. Where would life at the Walton College be without those miserable 7:30am classes? The classes that none of us had the option of choosing. We were either placed in them or didn’t have a say. Where would life be at the Walton College without the 4 core classes we never thought we’d get through? Human Capital, Financial Resources, Markets and Consumers and last but not least, Goods and Services. Where would life at the Walton College be without the numerous hours at the library? The number of hours and sleepless nights spent in good ole Club Mullins are endless. And of course the hours spent in that library getting on Facebook, just to avoid what we were suppose to be doing. Where would life at the Walton College be without making sure we space out our printing before we have to start paying?

The Walton College was not the only part of our journey here at the University of Arkansas. Where would our college life be without the ice storm? Not having class for a whole week, now who is going to argue about that? A week without electricity for our generation: however, now that's a different story. Where would our college life be without our professors we’ve learned so much from? Or the professors that knew our name on the first day of class? Where would our college life be without our friends we never want to leave? The friends that have made college full of memories of times we will never forget. Where would our college life be without our parents, professors, friends and moral support? The people that coached us all the way through those good times and bad.

In many sports after 4 quarters or that overtime, the buzzer goes off and time has run out. Win or lose, it doesn't end there. You learn, prepare and go on to the next game. In college after those 4 years (or more), your time has run out as well. But from those years we have learned, been taught and prepared for the real world in which we are about to enter. The Walton College has given us our playbook to take on the world before us, a world that needs us now more than ever. It needs us to inspire, be its next leaders and answer its questions. In this room, like in football, some of you will be that star quarterback, some will be coaches, others the reliable linebackers. But, we should never forget that some of the most valuable players in life are the kickers that quietly come off the bench, kicking for that unglamorous extra point. Yet in life and in the real world, the one pointers can make all the difference.

My recap of week one in NCAA Football:

1. After years of taking a beating Baylor finally showed up on Friday, taking it one day for a ranked team to go down and the stands to storm the field - Making it one heck of a game to watch, leaving me with a couple of takeaways: One, Baylor has a great quarterback in Robert Griffin III. Granted nobody knew his name prior to that game, but he is on the map now -- after completing 21/27 passes and throwing for 359 yards. I don't think that this will be the last we see of Mr. Griffin. Second and finally learning, TCU isn't going anywhere this year... Sorry Horned Frogs this ain't your year... 

2. Auburn will not be National Champions this year, they will not even come close. Even though they did win on Saturday it was clear they are not going to survive the wrath of the SEC West. Tigers Beware. 

3. Waking up on Saturday I would have told you that LSU didn't stand a chance against Oregon (and their SICK uniforms), but did those Tigers prove me wrong. Despite not having their starting QB, Jefferson, LSU came through, fought the battle and deserved that win. LSU will be one to contend with this year. Oh and Jefferson, I hope that bar fight was worth it because you might lose your starting position.. 

4. Alabama is well Alabama. What can you say about them? They did what I thought they would do and stomped Kent State. Being a little bit shaky with their quarterback position they still look like National Championship team to me.  Roll Elephants Roll.

5. Boise State you may have beat Georgia but I think it was because their new uniforms were so ugly it was distracting them. Thats okay though, your field is so ugly it distracts everyone. PS Nice orange shoes.

6. I will have to say I was a little bit surprised about Ohio State. After all that they have gone through in this off season I had very low expectations for them this year: New Coach, Bad Rep, New everything. They played like a team, even if it was just again Akron. The Buckeyes looked good. 

7. Arkansas Razorbacks. If they are going to do anything, this will be the year. Their defense has experience and is ready for whatever comes after them - that was shown time after time on Saturday. They have a great, if not the greatest, punt returner in the nation - Joe Adams. When that dude is gone, forget it you're not going to catch him -- next time you'll see him is on the big screen doing its touchdown dance. Greg Childs is back and you know that isn't good news for the other team. Once Childs and the QB connect its massive yardage or he's in the endzone - take your pick. As for the quarterback position Wilson has this in the bag and can carry the team to big things (if he doesn't dive into the endzone with his head again). WOO PIG BABY!