Bielema Headed to Arkansas Shows SEC Dominance

Bret Bielema was the head coach of football at the University of Wisconsin up until today when he shocked the college football world and announced that he would be heading to Arkansas next year. Bielema has led the Badgers to three straight Rose Bowls and has built a very very respectable program in Madison. His departure shows that the Big 10, and all conferences not named the SEC do not have anywhere near the same prestige factor as the SEC and when given the opportunity, any coach will jump to the SEC.

The SEC is the NFL of college football. Just look at the track record. The last 6 winners of the BCS national championship have come from the SEC and this years winner most likely will. Also, 2 of the last 3 Heisman trophy winners have come from down South, with Manziel likely to be the 3rd in 4 years. Bielema recognizes the fact that in order to establish himself as a great football coach, he must do it at the highest level. Saban left Michigan State for the SEC and LSU just about a decade ago and now he is considered the greatest coach in college football. There are a few jobs in the SEC that many people would not take, that is true, but when a job at a school like Arkansas, LSU, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, etc. comes up...it has to be taken.

But even more than just for a coach's legacy, the SEC builds better teams. The power that the name "South Eastern Conference" has is undeniable, especially in recruiting. Now Bielema will be able to build a team that is not only stacked with NFL O-Line products, but with a potential for an NFL player at every position. He will  have athletes on his team that will all look like Montee Ball and Russell Wilson. That is a little bit of an exaggeration but for the most part is true. The athletes and talent found in the SEC trump every other conference. Notre Dame didn't play one SEC opponent this season and they're sitting pretty at 12-0, while Alabama very nearly could have 3 losses all against the SEC.

Nobody can blame Bret Bielema for wanting to leave Wisco, they just finished this past season with 5 losses and his most prolific player ever is graduating (Montee Ball). Bielema took the opportunity to start over and rebuild a troubled Arkansas program. It may be a few years before Arkansas is back in the national title conversation, but they most certainly will be. Welcome to the SEC Mr. Bielema.