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re: Why are Arkansas fans so obsessed with Auburn?
Posted on 8/20/16 at 6:06 pm to TigerProwl24
Posted on 8/20/16 at 6:06 pm to TigerProwl24
quote:
. We supposedly stranded your assistants in an elevator In 2013.
I haven't heard this story. Can somebody please fill me in?
What (allegedly) happened?
4
Posted on 8/21/16 at 4:02 am to Number 31
quote:
Arkansas' Bret Bielema says assistants were 'stuck' in Auburn's stadium elevators at halftime
AUBURN, Alabama -- After Auburn's win over Arkansas Saturday, Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema told reporters his assistant coaches got stuck in a Jordan-Hare Stadium elevator and were unable to meet with the players at halftime.
"We ran into a little glitch," Bielema said. "Our coaches never made it down from the half. They were stuck in elevators. There was kind of a little audible there we had to deal with, but the great thing was the kids had big eyes and big ears."
The game was tied 21-21 at the half before Auburn went on to score 24 unanswered points in third and fourth quarters. When asked if the elevator issues affected his second half game plan, Bielema elaborated a bit.
"It is what it is," he said. "We had to roll with the flow. Obviously I have coaches up in the booth who look forward to coming down here and meeting as a staff and get on the same page. We were able to communicate by phone.
"I'm not trying to make a big deal out of it, they just weren't able to get down there. I don't have the full story on it, I just know they were actually stuck."
Lightning delayed Saturday's game for an hour and a half and caused the stadium's smaller scoreboard to temporarily lose power.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 4:22 am to Number 31
quote:
So Bret Bielema Hates Auburn?
Last night, Bert spoke to a Razorback Football Kickoff Dinner and admitted his hatred of Auburn.
Well, thank you, Bert. Thank you for finally letting us in on what we all already knew.
So, what do we think about Bielema saying he hates Auburn? Not much, really. I think we all knew about it. I can't say that I really understand why he hates Auburn so vociferously over such little quibbles, but ok, he does.
Someone pointed out last season that some of this may be blustering because he's trying to overcome the very legacy of Gus Malzahn in the state of Arkansas. Plenty of high schools run Gus' offense, and Bielema is trying to recruit home state players to run a totally different style and philosophy. Maybe he's just trying to change the culture of football in the state. That's pure speculation, though.
There are plenty of reasons for people in Arkansas to appreciate the Auburn hate. We've come into the state and taken a few coaches and players that have been highly thought of. Not all of them panned out, but we still got them. That makes Auburn a natural target for Bielema to point to a team for the fans to get riled up about. Perhaps this is just an attempt to give Arkansas fans someone to latch on to as a new rival since they don't have too many traditional rivals in the SEC (though the addition of Texas A&M helps reunite them with an old SWC foe).
As for me, I don't hate Arkansas. I don't really consider them a rival, either. They're just a conference foe. I have plenty of friends who are from the state of Arkansas, and I have a deep connection with those friends over the loss of some comrades overseas. I don't even really hate Bret Bielema. He's fun to pick on, but he also does a lot of funny things that I appreciate. I'd put him somewhere above Dan Mullen, but below Les Miles in my "love and hate" of SEC coaches. Dan Mullen is more the "I just really don't like you" and Les Miles being the "you're a rival coach, but I appreciate your charm and appeal for the conference."
Will Bielema's quote to that Kickoff Dinner spark a growth in the Auburn vs Arkansas series? Honestly, I doubt it. Sure, it may provide more of a media narrative to the situation, but I don't think it's going to do much else. And if Bielema doesn't get Arkansas completely turned around (which, in all fairness, I believe he is doing and will do), then this type of comment may get him pushed out the door quicker.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 4:36 am to Number 31
quote:
Bret Bielema notes to Arkansas fans, donors how much he 'hates' Auburn
Bret Bielema brought some extra noteriety to Friday night's kickoff event in the Springdale Convention Center. While speaking to fans and donors, with members of the local media nearby, Bielema threw some gasoline on the fire that is the modern Arkansas-Auburn rivalry.
"Probably doesn’t need to be said in here how much I hate Auburn," Bielema said.
It was just one phrase, reportedly said without hostility, but it was certainly calculated. Bielema and Gus Malzahn's relationship is not nearly as contentious as it was during the 2013 SEC Media Days during the well-publicized debates of hurry-up, no huddle debates.
For Bielema, some of this fan angst is something he has inherited as Arkansas' head coach. Gus Malzahn is, after all, a former Arkansas offensive coordinator and 5A state champion head coach at Springdale High School. But Bielema's actions and comments are more than chum for the fans. The stylistic divide and Bielema's desire to put Arkansas at the top of the SEC West make Auburn a natural enemy for the program.
Posted on 8/21/16 at 4:49 am to Number 31
quote:
Arkansas coaches aren't going to blame being stuck in an elevator at Jordan-Hare Stadium during halftime of Saturday's loss to Auburn for the team's poor showing in the second half.
After Arkansas and Auburn went to the locker rooms at halftime tied 21-21 the second half was all Auburn, as the Tigers outscored the Razorbacks 24-0 the rest of the way.
"It wasn't that big a deal when we finally got out," said Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, one of the four coaches who were stuck in the elevator. "I got to be able to communicate with the coaches down at halftime in the locker room. So it had no bearing on the outcome of that football game."
Chaney, as well as tight ends coach Barry Lunney Jr., linebackers coach Randy Shannon and defensive backs coach Clay Jennings were able to communicate with the locker room via text messages, but that's not quite the same as actually being with the team.
"It is what it is," said Bret Bielema on Saturday. "We had to roll with the flow. Obviously I have coaches up in the booth who look forward to coming down here and meeting as a staff and get on the same page. We were able to communicate by phone.
"I'm not trying to make a big deal out of it, they just weren't able to get down there. I don't have the full story on it, I just know they were actually stuck."
Either way, whether Arkansas coaches want to blame the elevators or not, this is just another possible chapter in the rivalry that's forming between Bret Bielema and Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. I'm sure there are plenty of Arkansas fans out there right now concocting conspiracy theories about the whole thing.
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