John L. Smith to be Named Arkansas Coach for 1year – ESPN

Well it looks like Arkansas did decide to go with one of Bobby Petrino’s assistants from the last few glory years to lead the team next season. The Razorbacks are going to name John L.Smith head coach for one season, while they find a permanent hire, ESPN is reporting. According to the report, multiple sources have confirmed this, and Jeff Long may have an announcement as early as this afternoon. Here is a link to the ESPN report.

Arkansas Razorbacks bring back coach John L. Smith with 1-year deal – ESPN.

Gruden, Mariucci, and the Arkansas Coaching Soap Opera

The Arkansas coaching search continued today, as Jeff Long made an announcement regarding the status of the search. Long didn’t provide any new information, but did admit that he has been looking at prospects in and out of the program. He also mentioned that the search will continue through the weekend, and he hopes Razorback fans will focus on the festivities this weekend. Jeff is right this weekend should be about the student-athletes that have been working extremely hard preparing for a spring performance. I am sure that Long knows as well as any of us that will not be the case for most Hog fans.

Razorback fans have been unable to relax and enjoy spring football since the firing of Bobby Petrino. Naturally the fans are very impatiently waiting to find out which direction Long will go to lead a program that was thought to be in great hands by most everyone just a few short weeks ago. Arkansas fans want to hear a “can’t miss” name like Jon Gruden or Pete Carroll announced by Long, but both names have been shot down by numerous reports. Someone close to Jon Gruden said that Gruden was not a candidate, and that he thought Mariucci would be the next coach at Arkansas earlier today.

Chris Mortensen of ESPN, a well-respected journalist who is extremely familiar with the Razorbacks, has said that Mariucci will not be named coach. Mortensen seems to be confident that he knows what is going on, and he claims all the reports he has heard are false. The more info that comes out keeps pointing to the fact that Long likely will not choose an interim coach. He believes interims are generally unsuccessful on the field, and the data seems to support that fact. So if Long is indeed going to hire a coach and all the names have been false as Mortensen believes, it makes you wonder where Long is looking.

 

Arkansas Coaching Search Update

The rumors surrounding the Arkansas coaching search have been at full speed. I have heard conflicting reports for just about every candidate that has been mentioned for the position. I try to follow the information I receive and come to my own conclusions about what it means. That said, Here is the latest information I find to be credible.
Pete Carroll sent a pro Steve Mariucci shout-out yesterday via twitter, and also added a Go Razorbacks at the end! Sources close to the program also believe that Carroll gave Long the name of Washington Head Coach Steve Sarkisian. It seems Carroll is not a possibility as he makes upward of 7 million per year. Two other names that keep resurfacing are Kirby Smart and Paul Rhoades of Iowa State. Smart is thought to be the next big head coach from the SEC, but Rhoades doesn’t seem to fit the mold Jeff Long mentioned after Bobby Petrino’s ousting.

There have been reports of a source close to the situation saying that if Long fails to name an interim by Tuesday, It is unlikely that he is going that direction. The same source is noted as saying that Jon Gruden isn’t a possibility for Arkansas regardless of price, stating his contract with ESPN and the doubt of Gruden coaching again as reasoning. I tend to agree with the statement about the interim coach, but am not sure what to think about the Gruden situation. It may seem far-fetched that Gruden would choose the Arkansas job for his return into coaching, but when one looks at what Arkansas returns it is not far-fetched to think a proven coach would like his chances with this team. Jeff Long has done a great job of keeping his search confidential, but it seems we shall have at the very least a temporary resolution sometime next week. Until then enjoy the spring game Arkansas fans and support those student-athletes.

Jon Gruden Flirting With Arkansas

Just days after pro-golfer John Daly tweeted Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long about approaching Jon Gruden about the vacant head coaching position, it seems Long may have done just that. Rumors have been flying all over Arkansas the last 2 days, some people even claiming that Gruden has accepted the job. No one has been able to confirm that Gruden has even been offered the job, but reports of trustees not denying contact with Gruden, a source close to Gruden admitting knowledge of Arkansas’ pursuit, and a source with knowledge of the UA search saying it may be possible that the two are ironing out contract details as we speak have made this seem to hold a little substance.

The assistant coaches at Arkansas did seem to have a quiet confidence about their demeanor on Tuesday after being addressed by Jeff Long. They almost seemed certain they would have the opportunity to remain on board, regardless of what happened. That may be a possibility with Gruden, considering that he has not been involved in the coaching game for many years. Another bit of info that may lead to that conclusion is the fact that Gruden is close friends with Ron Zook, recently Illinois Head Coach and boss of Paul Petrino, and they visit several times weekly.

Gruden fits the mold of a “big name” coach, like Jeff Long mentioned that he felt the University would find. Gruden would be a name with enough of a proven track record to follow Bobby Petrino’s act, and even have a chance to win the conference. The Hogs return two of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the country, and if Paul Petrino stays in place the offense should experience little to no drop -off. If Gruden is named coach Long may have yet again brought together a fan base that had split ways.

Ricketts drafted by WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury – University of Arkansas Athletics

C’iara  Ricketts was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury in the first round with the 24th pick. Here is the UA on her big day.

Ricketts drafted by WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury – University of Arkansas Athletics.

Kirby Smart Next at Arkansas?

One name gaining steam in the Arkansas coaching search is Alabama Defensive Coordinator Kirby Smart. Smart has been with Nick Saban for years and was the leader of the nation’s best defense last season. Smart has been a hot coaching prospect for quite some time, and he has turned down more than one head coaching spot. There is no question that Smart would help improve a defense that has been mediocre at best in the SEC the last 4 seasons. If Smart was willing to keep key offensive personnel on staff, he could be the answer Arkansas is looking for.

Many naysayers will say that Smart has as much control over Alabama’s defense as Paul Petrino or Garrick McGee had over Arkansas’ offense under Bobby Petrino. This may be true, but the fact of the matter is that both of those men are great offensive minds from working next to Petrino. Smart is not less of a coach because he works for Saban. He is a better coach because of the intense mentoring he has received from one of the games great defensive minds.

Many people believe that if Long pulls the trigger on a new coach this spring it will be Smart, but there is no indication that he is leaning one way or the other. It has come out that the assistant coaches have unanimously endorsed Tim Horton to be interim coach, if Long is unable to find a suitable candidate soon. They have also vowed to do whatever they can to help the team win should a new coach be hired and retain the staff. With his best option for a new coach being an unproven coordinator, it seems that Long may be more likely to go the interim route. I will update the blog daily if new information surfaces. Thanks for following.

Young’s Return Could be Huge for Basketball Team

B.J Young announced he wanted to come back for his sophomore season last Monday evening, while accepting All-SEC second team honors.  Young led the Razorbacks in scoring at over 15 points per game this season, and that was coming off the bench. After the loss of Marshawn Powell, Mike Anderson needed someone to step up big. BJ answered the call and delivered career high point totals in Arkansas’ biggest nationally televised games. The Razorbacks still need to add some size if they plan to make a serious run anytime soon, but they should be improved next season.

The return of Powell will add a savvy inside presence for the Hogs but at 6’ 7” 225lbs, he is not going to fix the problem himself. He is going to need a big jump in production from both Hunter Mickelson and Devonta Abron, both of which showed flashes of great play to come last year. Hopefully with a year of experience they will be able to contribute consistently.

The Razorbacks will get the contributions they need from somewhere, and will also enjoy having a full roster. The Hogs played with as little as 8 scholarship players and ran a full-court pressing system through the meat of their schedule last season. This season the defensive intensity should be much higher, simply because players will be fresh. Not even taking into account the fact that players will have a year of playing in the system under their belt.

The Hogs talent was either very young (no pun intended) or injured last season. More experience for the sophomore class and the return of Powell could spell big things for Arkansas next season. The Hogs are set to play in the Maui invitational to start the season. The tournament always has a loaded field, with this year being no different. So it looks like we will get to see how much the Hogs have improved very quickly.

Arkansas Coaching Search Latest

As Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long continues his near impossible search for Bobby Petrino’s replacement, a few names are starting to surface among sources close to the University. Although several names have been thrown around, 4 candidates would make a pretty good fit and seem to hold some substance as far as possibilities go. Art Briles, head coach of Baylor is an interesting option. He is coming off a 9-win season at Baylor, which is a great achievement, and coached the Heisman trophy winner Robert Griffin III. Briles is a great recruiter in Texas, which has always been Arkansas’ bread and butter as far as recruiting, is concerned. The drawbacks for him would be the fact that he just signed a contract extension with Baylor that includes a hefty buyout, and his spread system may have a transitional period accompanied with it.

Butch Davis is another popular candidate in the media. He was a super-successful recruiter at Miami, leading them to a 11-1 mark in 2000, and North Carolina before the NCAA fallout. The problem with Davis is the fact that the NCAA found several major recruiting violations within his program, although Davis was cleared of any wrongdoing. After the Bobby Petrino incident Long may be hesitant to go with anyone who has had problems recently.

Steve Mariucci of the NFL network is another candidate who seems to be gaining some credibility lately. Mariucci spent 4 successful seasons with the 49ers in the NFL, and almost became the head coach at USC after Pete Carroll’s departure. The only drawback to Mariucci is his lack of Head Coach experience at the college level, spending 1 year at Cal and going 6-6. He does have a lot of experience in the college game as an assistant coach.

Dana Holgorson is likely to be a fan favorite candidate out of this 4-man group because of his explosive offensive style. His West Virginia is coming off a 70 point performance in their bowl game. Holgorson is a coach on the rise, but he hardly has the experience that Long is seeking after being a head coach for 1 season. Chances are Holgorson may not be ready to test the waters at an SEC school like Arkansas, where winning is mandatory.

Other big names that have been thrown around are Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks, and Josh McDaniels the former coach of the Denver Broncos. I have heard that Garrick McGee will not be a candidate for this position. With a pool to pick from like that Jeff Long is not likely to find the big name coach he indicated he was looking for. That may lead Long to stay with an interim coach, and rumor has it that UA assistant coaches came to Long asking that he appoint Tim Horton as interim coach. Long’s best bet maybe sticking with the staff he has considering the Hogs offensive firepower and chances for a successful season. Paul Petrino may be the answer to losing his older brother’s play calling genius. He should provide the offense with the smoothest transition possible if kept in place as offensive coordinator or possibly even head coach. Whatever Long chooses, I am sure he will come to an intelligent decision.

Arkansas Drops Series to Kentucky at Home-UA ATHLETICS

The Razorback baseball team dropped a pair of one-run games in a double-header on Saturday at Baum Stadium. The Razorbacks are reeling a little bit in league play, while the Wildcats continue to have a dominate season. Here is the run-down on both games.

Arkansas drops both games of twinbill – University of Arkansas Athletics.

Arkansas Football Down but Not Out

Tonight Razorback fans got the showcase on ESPN they have been craving. Unfortunately, it was for Athletic Director Jeff Long to announce the termination of Bobby Petrino’s contract. Long’s weeping demeanor during his press conference Tuesday evening summed up the feelings of the Razorback fans pretty well. Petrino did some things that were deemed unforgivable by the administration, and for good reason. The things Petrino did and did not do should cause anyone to lose their job. The fact that Petrino deserved what he got only makes Razorback fans feel worse. Now there is no one to blame except for the man that we have all come to praise and cherish as our own. I think Bo Mattingly had a good metaphor for the situation when he compared having Bobby Petrino as our coach and losing him to catching lightning in a bottle and having it snatched away from you.

Jeff Long did the right thing. Few wanted to lose Bobby Petrino, but most agree it had to be done. While Razorback fans mourn the departure of our beloved coach, I urge them to feel encouraged that we are under the leadership of AD Jeff Long, who definitely has our best interests at heart. I expect Jeff to make a good hire, one that will give us the opportunity to compete in the SEC West. Although this is not a fatal blow to the program, it is a sad day for Hog fans everywhere.