Arkansas Fans, Meet Your New Head Hog

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The new Head Hog is taking control of the University of Arkansas (UA) football program.

Bret Bielema has officially been introduced to the media and Razorback fans in a news conference this afternoon in Fayetteville.

Stepping up to the microphone after UA Athletic Director Jeff Long's introduction, Bielema, wearing a Razorback red tie, ceremonially slipped on a white baseball cap with a Razorback on the front. He then removed it before getting down to the business of making his opening statements.

Saying he's "looking forward to the days ahead," Coach Bielema referred to his dream of college coaching.

The new coach said he met briefly today with next year's returning players and is excited "to get to know the fan base." 

Bielema also revealed he has family in Arkansas and talked about cousins in Little Rock and Fayetteville he's looking forward to being around again. It was through their Arkansas connections that Bielema said he became familiar with the Razorbacks, even wearing the hats as a kid. Bielema also recalled listening to the fan's hog calls during his first year as a college football coach.

"I wanna give you something you've never had," Bielema said about taking charge at Arkansas. He mentioned how important it will be for his staff to recruit high school football champions to the Razorback program and "keep them at home."

About his players, Bielema said he didn't want normal and wants them to be "uncommon."

Before Bielema took questions from the media, he invited his wife of eight months, Jen, to join him on the podium with Long as they called the Hogs.

Bielema joked, "that was my first public 'Woo Pig Sooie,'" saying on his family's pig farm he called hogs a lot from age 4 to 18.