Arkansas luring Tuberville?
In the wake of Houston Nutt's departure from Arkansas, incoming athletic director Jeff Long is apparently going after Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville.
As has been reported so many times in the past, Tuberville was passed over in 1997 for the Razorbacks head coaching position when the search committee elected to give Nutt the job. Tuberville is a Camden native and often talks about his days growing up as a Razorbacks fan. But Auburn seems intent to keep him on the plains.
Great coach. Native Arkansan - and there's something to be said for that. Incredible SEC road record, like 15 - 1.
The main thing, in my opinion, is keeping John White OUT of whatever process develops in terms of finding the next head football guy.
Tuberville will get run off for the same reason Hatfield and Nutt did...not a sexy enough offense, even if it is successful. That is also an awfully phat load a dough we are going to have to shell out to get him. I guess we will just take what we get from the bowl game, cash the check, and write it to Tuberville as a down payment just to start paying on his buyout.
John White should personally pick up the next coach's compensation package. This dude is clearly trying to become de facto director of athletics and is not looking out for the best interests of the university.
If Arkansas does the right thing, they will bring Gus Malazan back as head coach. He is the right fit!
A proven winner would be nutts to walk into Arkansas right now. I hope everyone enjoyed the basketball coach search. I see a replay coming. After the SEC CG, all the dominoes are going to start falling with Michigan/LSU, Nebraska, etc. If Les Miles goes to Mich, Pelini goes to Nebraska, LSU gets some other big name, where does that leave Arkansas. Leftovers. This will be just like UK "taking" Gillispie away from us. I'm happy with Pelphrey, but he wasn't the big name that was promised. And I think our basketball program has a better winning traditon than our football team. Most people remember the 90's a little better than the 60's and 70's. Does South Alabama have a decent football coach that we could get?
MCFADDEN FOR THE HEISMAN !!!
Did we really "pass" on Tuberville? I remember Tuberville passing on us. I think Tuberville is a good coach but I agree with friscohawg, he'll get run out just like Nutt.
But mostly, I agree with dwhite - HIRE GUS MALZAHN! You can't argue with this stat: http://web1.ncaa.org/d1mfb/natlRank.jsp?year=2007&div=4&rpt=IA_teamtotoff&site=org
hmm lets see..
--from TODAYS nwanews..
But Tuberville has indicated he's happy at Auburn and doesn't plan to leave.
Tuberville is in the third year of a seven-year contract that pays him $ 2. 6 million this season. He's scheduled to make $ 2. 8 million next year.
The contract extension Tuberville signed with Auburn in 2005, after the team went 13-0, includes a $ 6 million buyout that Tigers Athletic Director Jay Jacobs has called "pretty much an ironclad"agreement.
--end
6 Million Buyout is pretty much IRONCLAD as can be..
A ligit source has stated Tommy signed an extension today..
Arkansas should be in strong DISCUSSION with Lane Kiffin's .. In my mind..
Rainer I know you have to get pots stirring, but geesh do some research before u issue this spin..
GO HOGS
Link just in case u needed it...
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/208934/
GO HOGS
I would like to hear a definitive NO from Jimmy Johnson first off and why. Jeff could offer Jimmy a short 4-5 year deal and let him groom the next guy to take over. I am not a coach expert and all I can go by is proven results. Tuberville is a good coach but I would think he would have to concede some of the money because he wants to be the razorback coach and come home to Arkansas. Secondly, I like Norv Turner, Leach, Peterson, Tiffen and several others. I also think it comes down to the entire staff working together. Can Peterson or Gus put together a totally awesome staff? If Gus gets it how will the rest of the existing staff react? Is the university going to spend the money to fill in the rest of the staff if and where needed? Seems to me we need either a proven A-List coach or a set of the best young minds in the game today. They have to be able to recruit in either case.
I read a few weeks ago that Jimmy Johnson doesn't want to coach period, because in order to be successful he had to become completely obsessed with it. That means putting the team before family, God, fishing, and any other priority you may have in life. It's 24/7/365. Some may think that is a worthwhile sacrifice, but I agree with Jimmy. If I could make seven figures working half the hours with a tenth of the stress, I would stay on TV instead of the sideline. I'm not doing either though, so I guess I don't have that dilemma.
It would be more clear if he made a public statement, but that would just create more bad publicity and look like people are turning us down again.
Younghog:
This is a report coming out of Alabama, not Arkansas. I hate to break it to you, but the journalists in Alabama are closer to the Tuberville situation than the scribes in Arkansas. That's the beauty of the Internet. We can now cull and post reports from journalists in other states who are more privy to the matters in their coverage areas.
I am certainly not advocating Tommy Tuberville to be Arkansas' next head coach. But if a legitimate news source is mentioning that he is a strong candidate, it's worth noting.
Why doesn't it stike anyone as noteworthy that the contract discussions with Auburn are coincident with Tuberville's name being mentioned as the head coach? He hasn't signed the extension, and so yeah he is likely taking calls from Jeff Long. We have the money, and he would be a fantastic choice as our head coach. Until the ink is dry on his contract with Auburn, it isn't out of reach.