Bret Bielema has an interest in brawny, straight-ahead football. He has an interest in fishing. He has an interest in cooking, sometimes tweeting recipes.
What he doesn’t have an interest in is having a filter.
“One thing I’ve always believed is that if you’re honest in what you say, you never have to remember what you said,” Bielema said Wednesday. “I’ve used that my entire life.”
Sometimes Bielema’s lack of a filter is quirky. In July he said that being able to take a knee at the 2-yard line in a bowl win vs. Texas was “borderline erotic.”
Sometimes that lack of a filter is troubling. In a search for evidence arguing against faster pace of play in the games, he cited the February 2013 death of former Cal player Ted Agu from an offseason workout. “Death certificates,” Bielema said. “There’s no more I need than that.”
Sometimes that lack of a filter leads to justice. In 2012 he called out newly hired Ohio State Urban Meyer on what Bielema found to be sketchy recruiting practices.
Sometimes that lack of a filter leads to boastfulness. In March 2013 Bielema said Nick Saban’s record as a Big Ten coach could not compare to his. Sometimes that lack of a filter breaks rules, like in October 2013 when he cast aspersions on Auburn game film to the media instead of raising the issue privately with the Southeastern Conferenceoffice.
Continue Reading: Is honesty the best policy for Arkansas coach Bret Bielema?
