Right Coach at UA is Crucial as Arkansas State Rises to Legitimacy

As the writing of this, the new Razorback football coach is still unknown. This has not stopped the absolute onslaught of guessing. We have heard the top names floated over and over no matter how ridiculous in Gruden, Patterson, Petersen, Stoops, Gundy, and Miles.

But of all those names above, the most bizarre rumor that became ludicrous reality was that Jeff Long, vice chancellor of athletics, had conversations with Miles. Within a day or so of those rumors getting out, Miles was rewarded handsomely Houston Nutt style with a raise to stay at LSU.

The point has been made by the UA Flack Squad that no offer was ever made to Miles. OK, whatever you say. But I agree with Shane, the caller to Drive Time Sports — it doesn’t matter. The perception nationally is that the Razorbacks were snubbed and put back into its place as not a top tier football program. Perception in this game of finding a coach can become reality.

I’m not sure what Long was trying to accomplish, but I guess he does. If for some reason Miles had been hired, he would have started with half the fan base hating him. Most fans still are angry at Miles last year for supposedly running up the score on the Hogs after the tragic death of Garrett Uekman. It had Coach Bobby Petrino yelling profanity across the field at Miles, a filth-laced tirade that will be one of Petrino’s lasting legacies.

I have been tough on Long through in this process because I said in the spring the hire should have been made in April, but he needs to take as a long as it takes to get the right hire. Hiring for the sake of hiring would be a mistake, and the Razorbacks, no, the people of Arkansas, cannot afford a mistake on this hire like a Jack Crowe or Stan Heath.

It has to be the right guy and price should not matter. There is nothing more expensive than losing.

With that said, I will hit the panic button on Friday if the Razorbacks do not have a new coach and Tennessee and other schools have picked all the good fruit while our laborer is still in the field.

I get asked from time to time who I would hire. I think the right hire is Chris Petersen of Boise State if he will come. He is the right fit. He beats better teams with Boise State’s inferior talent. That is the kind of coach Arkansas needs. The Razorbacks in general will always be deficient in numbers of talented players compared to LSU, Florida, and Alabama.

It takes a special coach to win at Arkansas, and that would not have been Les Miles even though he is a good coach because even when you have great talent it still takes a good coach to assemble it and win. See Auburn’s performance this year as an example.

Other rumors have also abounded in the last week. The most bizarre is that of Arkansas State trying to get into the Big 12. Not that I don’t think ASU wouldn’t jump at the chance. I just can’t see that ever happening in the foreseeable future.

No doubt, the Big 12 has to find two more teams to remain viable and have a bogus championship game like everyone else. I also agree Texas probably does not care a whole lot who the additions are provided they can beat them and keep their television contract.

I was told former U.S. Sen. David Pryor and the Big 12 commissioner met, but I think if it ever did happen it was to only look at art at Crystal Bridges. It’s awesome and thanks Alice Walton.

But what if, as Arkansas leaves Little Rock and the writing is on the wall, ASU lucks out and lands in the Big 12. Anything is possible, and conference realignment is in a weird state.

What happens one day if the Razorbacks are gone from Little Rock and ASU has its annual matchup scheduled against Texas in War Memorial Stadium where ASU plays all its big games in Little Rock?

Long better hire the right coach.

Robert Shields is a world-class mime who partnered with Lorene Yarnell for a prime-time television show in the late ‘70s. He later moved to Sedona, Arizona, to become an artist and make jewelry. THIS IS NOT ME.

Buy “Daphne and the Mysterious Girls Secret Bathroom Society” and “Diminishing Paige” at fruitbatbooks.com. Send your coaching choice to fromthebench@yahoo.com and follow me on Twitter @robert1shields.