FAYETTEVILLE -- Chances are it works out better for Arkansas' Liberty Bowl game that Bret Bielema promoted a graduate assistant his Razorbacks offensive linemen know well as opposed to bringing bringing back a big name to coach, like Lou Holtz did before the 1980 Sugar Bowl.
Bielema, like Holtz in 1979, has been down a coach in December with a bowl game on the horizon.
The difference is Bielema is preparing for this Jan. 2 Liberty Bowl game against Kansas State. Holtz's 1979 Southwest Conference co-champion Razorbacks were heading into the Sugar Bowl against Alabama.
Monte Kiffin, the defensive coordinator for Holtz's 11-1, 9-2-1 Razorbacks of 1977 and '78 and in 1979 all but the 24-9 Sugar Bowl loss to national champion Alabama, was hired to head coach North Carolina State, the team that Holtz head coached from 1972-75.