Arkansas Family Ready To Welcome Head Hog
By: Jocelyn Tovar, KARK 4 News
Updated: December 9, 2012
They said they were as shocked as everyone by the news their nephew was selected as Arkansas' new head coach, but they said he's going to fit right in.
Gary and Mary Lou Huitink know a thing or two about hard to pronounce last names.
"Bielema is Dutch, and Huitink is Dutch, and they have those two vowel sounds in them," said Mary Lou Huitink.
In fact, she spent most her life having to explain how to pronounce Bielema as the younger sister of Bret Bielema's father.
Mary Lou moved to Arkansas with her husband in the 70's and quickly learned just who to root for.
"Well how can you not be a Razorback fan?" she said.
So when news broke her nephew was selected as the next head Hog, she immediately called her daughter who just so happens to live in Fayetteville.
"When I told her Bret was coming she said 'well I can have him over for dinner'," Mary Lou said.
It'll be a bit of a family reunion for the couple who watched Bielema grow-up and have witnessed first-hand the way the coach is able to combine graciousness with aggressiveness for a winning combination on the field.
"He's worked hard to get where he's at," said Gary Huitink, "And I think he'll do a good job."
The kind of drive many fans got a sneak peak of during the coach's first press conference held shortly after the announcement.
"We enjoyed that so much we were thinking 'Go Bret!" said Mary Lou.
A proud aunt and uncle watched on and said they're even more excited for the upcoming football season.
"It just makes it a little more important to see the Razorbacks win," they said.
Something they expect will be happening a lot more often.
Of course there's always criticism in this kind of a situation.
The Huitinks said even if fans don't embrace their nephew right away, they know the team will get behind him very fast.
Gary and Mary Lou Huitink know a thing or two about hard to pronounce last names.
"Bielema is Dutch, and Huitink is Dutch, and they have those two vowel sounds in them," said Mary Lou Huitink.
In fact, she spent most her life having to explain how to pronounce Bielema as the younger sister of Bret Bielema's father.
Mary Lou moved to Arkansas with her husband in the 70's and quickly learned just who to root for.
"Well how can you not be a Razorback fan?" she said.
So when news broke her nephew was selected as the next head Hog, she immediately called her daughter who just so happens to live in Fayetteville.
"When I told her Bret was coming she said 'well I can have him over for dinner'," Mary Lou said.
It'll be a bit of a family reunion for the couple who watched Bielema grow-up and have witnessed first-hand the way the coach is able to combine graciousness with aggressiveness for a winning combination on the field.
"He's worked hard to get where he's at," said Gary Huitink, "And I think he'll do a good job."
The kind of drive many fans got a sneak peak of during the coach's first press conference held shortly after the announcement.
"We enjoyed that so much we were thinking 'Go Bret!" said Mary Lou.
A proud aunt and uncle watched on and said they're even more excited for the upcoming football season.
"It just makes it a little more important to see the Razorbacks win," they said.
Something they expect will be happening a lot more often.
Of course there's always criticism in this kind of a situation.
The Huitinks said even if fans don't embrace their nephew right away, they know the team will get behind him very fast.
