| Really? |
Mon, 23 April 2012 12:25  |
 Marty Otto
Messages: 7662
Registered: April 2006 |
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You're telling me a good mid/upper mid level SEC program can't find a coach?
AP source: John L. Smith interim Arkansas coach
By KURT VOIGT, AP Sports Writer – 14 minutes ago
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A person familiar with the decision says Arkansas is bringing back John L. Smith on an interim basis next year to replace Bobby Petrino.
Smith, who left the Razorbacks after last season to become the coach at Weber State, is returning on a one-year appointment, according to the person who spoke Monday on condition of anonymity because the school had not made its decision public.
Smith is also a former head coach at Michigan State and Louisville.
Petrino was fired April 10 after his affair with a woman he hired as his assistant was revealed by an April 1 motorcycle crash.
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| Re: Really? |
Mon, 23 April 2012 15:58  |
Gimbeaux
Messages: 2296
Registered: October 2005 |
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The thing is, the timing of this Petrino mess couldn't be worse, and at this stage, I seriously doubt that Long and the suits and Arkansas could have brought in their "name" replacement. I think the Smith hiring sort of builds them a bridge to The Next Guy, and the reported 10-month contract essentially gives Long a window to look at other options and not be bound to Smith. At the same time, Smith should know what he is, and that is a caretaker who is not going to upset the apple cart. He just took the Weber State gig, which essentially means he was onto his Swan Song anyway.
Petrino has ties to Smith, whom he worked under at a couple of locations and actually replaced him at Louisville. Smith was also on Arkansas' staff before taking the Weber State job. So I'm guessing they'll run similar stuff under Smith, assuming Petrino's brother Paul and other key assistants stay on board. I guess Arkansas could have gone the "Fickell" route and promoted a current staff member to the head role for the season. The situation is made even more difficult, because the Hogs figure to have a very competitive team that'll be in the hunt for the SEC West. This should not be a "throwaway" season like Ohio State essentially had in '11.
Even though it has solid resources and a very quality fan base, Arkansas is a very difficult coaching job that Petrino put into the nation's elite. Some still argue that the school is not where it belongs in the SEC, as it's more of a geographical and cultural fit in the Big XII. I guess the moves of Texas A/M and Missouri gives them some more schools that sort of "look like them," and maybe helps build some more rivalries and help recruiting down the road. But Arkansas itself isn't a hotbed for in-state talent, and it's hard to go into the state of Texas, like Bob Stoops and Mike Gundy, if Arkansas isn't playing very many games in the state, as they would be in the Big XII. Petrino did a great job there, and I have no doubt the administration would have looked the other way, if not for the mistress being streamlined into her job with the department.
I think after the brief Smith tenure, you may see a guy like a Skip Holtz or a Charlie Strong show more interest down the road. I just think those guys didn't want the negative PR that would come with taking a job in April. I guess Malzahn can always be in play, but there are some whispers that his professorial personality may not mesh well in the SEC, where as I have said many times, you need to be part coach, part politician, part schmoozer. As for Petrino, I think there is going to be at least one desperate school down the road that will give him a look. Maybe the one in Knoxville, Tennessee or the one in Lexington, Kentucky? He may have to do the NFL quarterback coach thing for the short-term --- assuming an NFL team gives him that chance, with the whole Falcons saga --- but because he doesn't have NCAA-leveled sanctions with a show clause, some desperate needs-to-please-the-fanbase school will probably roll the dice again.
[Updated on: Mon, 23 April 2012 16:00]
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| Re: Really? |
Tue, 24 April 2012 11:24 |
rock19912002
Messages: 573
Registered: October 2011 |
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Smith is no doubt the "bridge" to the next guy. I felt they should've tagged someone on the current staff (someone who knows Petrino's plan for the season, offensively at least) as interim coach for a season. I will certainly be staying away from betting Arkansas as a side early in the year.
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