Bielema shows his great PR side at NWA TD Club

Bret Bielema knows it’s a crucial year.

He’s mentioned on several occasions in the preseason this is the fifth year and he is well aware it’s put up or shut up time.

But, dang it, you talk to the guy and you hope he can get Arkansas over the hump.

He did it once again at the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club in Fayetteville on Wednesday.

After his general talk (which delivered no earth-shattering revelations), he was asked about changes with Briella, who is now six weeks old.

“Jen wanted to celebrate her birthday Saturday, which would be every week since she was born,” he said, laughing. “I mean, she’s not even going to think birthdays are that big of a deal at this rate.”

But it has changed other things, too.

“I came home last Saturday night and was going to watch some things on TV,” he said. “I went to the adult refrigerator, got an adult beverage and went to sit down. That was taken out of my hand and I was handed a bottle.

“Well, when I left there was breast feeding going on. I would watch and coach ’em up a little, so that was a disappointment.”

You just don’t get stuff like that with most other coaches. For the first time since Danny Ford, the Razorbacks’ football coach is approachable.

He goes to the grocery store. He’s out and about around town. You get the idea Jen keeps him busy running errands.

When he is out and about, he converses with fans.

If he was similar to at least one other recent coach, he would already be under such intense pressure it might be unbearable.

Bo Mattingly pointed out that the Hogs are 13-7 in their last 20 games, which is fourth in the SEC. For the record, Bo didn’t come up with that … the UA sports information guys did starting last year.

That’s pulling facts out of your backside to justify a result, especially when you don’t mention that before the end of last season they were 13-5, which was more interesting, but still a little misleading.

Add in the six games not included in that selective total (2-4, by the way) and you’re suddenly 15-9.

That’s seventh in the SEC West. It’s 10th overall in the league. Without a couple of miracle wins against Auburn and Ole Miss in 2015, then TCU last year, the record would be worse.

Bielema knows this better than anyone. He also knows four straight losses to Texas A&M — three of them kicking off the SEC schedule — puts you in a hole from the get-go.

“I’m glad we have a bye week before we play them this year,” Bielema said Wednesday.

Yes, the culture has changed.

“We’ve created a culture I’m happy to be a part of,” Bielema said.

But, as he has pointed out several times, that has to translate into wins.

This isn’t a spelling bee. If you go 4-4 in the league every year, but win all four non-conference games (and there aren’t any daunting opponents the next few years there), you have eight wins a year.

Which means the Hogs fans will have to, sooner or later, address the biggest question: Is average good enough?

The guess here is no.