Bret Bielema Has Doubled Down On Calling Out Penn State Fans By Saying Nebraska Is A Tougher Place To Play

So I blogged earlier this morning how Bret Bielema was unnecessarily poking the bear by mocking Penn State's "White Out Energy" leading up to their undefeated vs. undefeated matchup on Saturday night in Happy Valley. Do I think the White Out is as important as Penn State fans do? No, I don't. That's why they've moved it each year to easier games instead of the traditional Ohio State and Michigan matchups that they were going about .500 with. But do I think it's smart for Bret Bielema, head coach of the 17.5 point underdogs on Saturday night, to give bulletin board material to the Penn State faithful? I do not, especially when Penn State has the ultimate secret weapon in this matchup: the far superior team.

Interesting comment, that's for sure. And I'm sure with all the media publicity it's gotten, Bret has probably just wished he didn't say it. Football coaches just want to worry about football. But upon further review today, I stand corrected. Bret said exactly what he wanted to say. And he doubled down again on it today by saying Nebraska is a tougher place to play than Penn State.

Oh shit…..Nebraska is tougher? Don't get me wrong, Nebraska is a tough place to play with 86,000 people screaming after Will Compton hypes them up, but let's not forget that Tom Osbourne won't allow them sell alcohol in the stadium. It can't be that crazy if they're all sober! The alcohol will be flowing on Saturday night in Happy Valley. And Bielema has a clip out there of him saying it won't be that tough to play in?

Well someone needs to get that on video and then immediately to the hands of the production team at Beaver Stadium. Illinois really is fucking around until they find out, huh? Look, you guys know me, I talk my trash. But one common denominator in all of my trash talk is I do it when we're the better team. Bret Bielema, and you kinda gotta respect it, is coming in firing with a more than 2 touchdown underdog squad heading into a night game at Happy Valley. The balls on this guy are unreal…..but he's also about to get his ass kicked and then hopefully mocked from the opening kickoff til the final bell on Saturday night. 

I'm trying to figure out what Bielema's prerogative is here?  I talk trash because I am a fan, I enjoy it, and it drives engagement. I personally don't feel it actually helps my football team on the field, but that is not my job. His job is literally to win football games, and I would argue that his comments are actually lessening his team's chances of winning on Saturday night. (Although it certainly does enhance his trash talk after the game if they win).