Bielema anxious to get going
FAYETTEVILLE — When it comes to football recruiting, Bret Bielema knows that coaches have become too much like fans.
Some fans are notorious for avidly following recruits practically from junior high through commitments and flirtations all the way through signing day then immediately refocus on the next recruiting class while ignoring the guys just signed.
The recruiting process - it never stops - compels coaches to some extent act like those fans who always seem more concerned with who might sign next as opposed to those who just signed and arrived.
NCAA rules only exacerbate the look- ahead trend, Arkansas Razorbacks coach Bielema believes.
Because while incoming freshmen are encouraged to report in the summer months so they can get a head start academically with summer classes and work out under strength and conditioning coaches’ supervision, they aren’t supposed to be coached by their football coaches until preseason practice officially begins in August.
“It’s been unbelievable,” Bielema said. “We can’t be around them. One thing bad about the NCAA rules as they exist now is here you recruit these kids and spend all this time and all this energy to get them here and then once we get them here we can’t really be around them. Herb ( strength coach Ben Herbert) and his staff can. That’s why it’s tremendous to build a relationship with those guys. But as coaches we can’t go out and work with them on a daily basis.
Bielema said he used one of his summer camp sessions for elementary school- aged campers as an opportunity to involve the freshmen.
“We had a youth camp where it was first-, second-, third- and fourth- graders,” Bielema said. “We asked our guys if they could say hello and have an autograph session to see how their personalities are. A couple of them did touchdown dances and some of them - I hope they never score. That might be a blessing for all of us.”
From casual contact, Bielema said he can see the rookies are physically taking shape.
“You see them around,” Bielema said. “You can see our freshmen coming in and buying into it. I won’t see the results until Aug. 4 but I know the guys are very excited.”
It’s not just the rookies about whom Bielema is excited officially to coach starting Aug. 4.
How much a summer has improved the players that Bielema practiced for 15 official spring practices will be a major evaluation priority for the head coach and his assistants.
“Really enjoyed the last couple of weeks working hands on with them in drills and stuff,” Bielema said right after spring practice before the Razorbacks began summer classes and offseason conditioning. “Seeing the athleticism and seeing the way they bought into what coach Herbert has been preaching in the weight room. They are very coachable and eager to win. Very hungry, hungry, hungry to be coached in the right way. And to see that all tied together and what you might be able to get your hands on in the fall is pretty exciting.”