[media-credit name=’BRYAN FAUST/Herald photo’ align=’alignnone’ width=’648′][/media-credit]Sitting at a banquet at a table with other writers during the week leading up to the Capital One Bowl, we were joined by a surprise guest.

Defensive coordinator and future University of Wisconsin head coach Bret Bielema pulled up a chair and visited with us — well, mostly just one of us — for a few minutes. Even though I wasn't the one he was interested in talking with, I still felt like I was witnessing something special.

Sitting there, I just couldn't picture Barry Alvarez grabbing a seat at a table full of members of the media, especially with hundreds of boosters at dozens of tables surrounding us.

At the same time, this gesture didn't surprise me. For one, he was getting chummy with one of the beat writers from one of the three major papers in the state of Wisconsin — a pretty smart move.

But it also failed to catch me off guard, because talking to him in the past two seasons, I've realized that, beyond being a good coach, Bielema is also really a good guy. One that, if it weren't for UW hockey captain Adam Burish, would be at the top of my list of people to listen to as far as interviews are concerned.

Let's just say that after meeting and interviewing him for the first time two years ago, I already knew he was going to be a head coach.

I wasn't sure it would be here at Wisconsin, but I thought it should be. I even had a column ready to run that would have told the athletic director in Alvarez to make sure he had this guy locked up in the UW program.

Of course, after a 9-3 season that very few saw coming, it seemed like it would be inappropriate for me to call out Alvarez, ask him to step down and tell him to make Bielema the head coach right then and there.

Then again, little did I know that that was exactly what would happen just a few months down the road when Alvarez announced over the summer that the 2005 season would be his last, and Bielema would assume the throne.

Some of you might not believe that whole story, but I promise you it's true and I don't regret not running it, because I still think I would have looked insane.

Instead, it is Alvarez who looks like a genius, and granted, the move shows he is very smart.

Though Bielema has already been on the recruiting trail and has also been putting together his assistant coaching staff, he officially claims the title as head football coach today, and let's just say the program is in good stands.

There is some hard and fast evidence.

First off, his defensive unit was criticized all year long for its efforts, yet it passed its test against a solid Auburn team Jan. 2. But that's just the start.

Today, along with Bielema's first official day on the job, is official signing day. Expected to be included on Wisconsin's list are a pair of four-star players — according to Scout.com — 12th-ranked wide receiver Lance Kendricks and 22nd-ranked offensive lineman Jake Bscherer.

The class should also include eight three-star prospects according to the same website.

No, this is not an out-of-this-world class — Scout has it listed as the 35th best in the country — it is a solid start to Bielema's career. And considering the recruiting resumes of he and his assistants, this is just the beginning.

The latest of those assistant coaching additions is Bob Palcic. In a move announced Tuesday, Bielema hired Palcic to take over as offensive line coach, replacing Jim Hueber, who moved on to the Minnesota Vikings.

Palcic joins Mike Hankwitz as one of the two newest veteran assistants, as Bielema has put together an outstanding combination of young up-and-comers and veterans with solid resumes.

Along with keeping Henry Mason and Paul Chryst on board, the new head coach has hired Dave Doeren and Kerry Cooks, two upstart coaches — much like himself. The only negative to these coaches is that they are going places, and who knows how long they will be at Wisconsin?

Nonetheless, though it is just Bielema's first real day on the job, he has already made a variety of decisions — all of which will have a positive impact on the program.

But there are, of course, things that Bielema will need to work on. There always are with head coaches who take their first jobs.

He could start by issuing an official wave goodbye to running back Booker Stanley — a boot out the door that is long overdue and would be a strong move to show what kind of players he wants on his team.

And why not give some love to the little guys. While those of us at smaller newspapers may not be the ones people look to for the best opinions on your coaching prowess, it couldn't hurt to sit down and have a chat with us, if you get a chance.

You know we would invite it after having some head coaches throw questions back in our faces or answer our questions with long, vague stories from their childhood. Though feel free to share those in passing as well.