Backing Bret

Bob Stoops, the former Oklahoma Sooners football coach who spoke at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club on Wednesday, said the Razorbacks’ 2-3 start doesn’t mean they can’t turn their season around and that Bret Bielema is a “great” coach.

“We started 1-2 a year ago and ended up beating Auburn in the Sugar Bowl and ended up fifth in the country,” said Stoops, whose final team was 11-2. “So you’ve just got to have some patience and keep improving through the season.

“I believe in [Bielema]. He’s an excellent coach so I hope they can finish the year strong.”

Stoops said coaches can’t blame injuries for why their team might be struggling. The Razorbacks lost top tailback Rawleigh Williams, top cornerback Ryan Pulley and top receiver Jared Cornelius to season-ending injuries, and in Williams’ case, a careerending injury.

“I can say it now that I’m not coaching, but you get a few key injuries and it’s hard to overcome them,” Stoops said. “[Bielema] can’t come out and say it … but they affect you.

“To have a deaf ear to that and a blind eye, you’re not being realistic. Sometimes you lose some key guys and it makes it hard at this level.”