I earlier was told that Jeff Long was looking to hire an interim and it would be Tim Hooten. However, this article below indicates that Long is not leaning that way but will go with another coach in days. I think that Paul Petrino would be a great pick.
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.
Related posts:
How about a coach swap? :Charlie Strong to Arkansas and Bobby Petrino to Louisville April 11, 2012 – 7:37 am
Video and transcript of Jeff Long’s press conference announcing firing of Bobby Petrino April 11, 2012 – 5:53 am
Bobby Petrino has achieved the American Dream, but still is looking for something more April 8, 2012 – 1:46 pm
Can Bobby Petrino, Tom Brady and Coldplay all find the satisfaction they are seeking? April 6, 2012 – 2:15 pm
Two choices now for Bobby Petrino: Follow the path of purity or impurity
If Bobby thinks he is bruised now, then he needs to read about the guy in Proverbs 7:10-27 and what happened to him. I really am hoping that Bobby Petrino can put his marriage back together. He has a clear choice between two paths. In the sermon at Fellowship Bible Church at July 24, 2011, […]
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