It was just two weeks ago today that Stan Heath’s replacement was announced. And to the shock and amazement of many, the next Razorback men’s basketball coach was…Dana Altman from Creighton. Uh…where was that big time, big name coach we were all promised? Surely this was just an April Fool’s joke and the real announcement would follow shortly.
Well, that didn’t happen, and the newly introduced coach looked as uncomfortable and uncertain as the fans and media were with his new position. But just about the time most had begun to come to grips with the choice, we started hearing rumors that he was having second thoughts and heading back to his old employer.
Those rumors quickly became fact, and yet another embarrassment for the Razorback program hit the national news. To add insult to injury, it now appears that Frank Broyles was in such a hurry to get back to the Masters in Augusta, that the ink was hardly dry with Altman before he hurriedly boarded a plane that night to Georgia…mere hours after the announcement.
Eventually, Frank was summoned back to Fayetteville to help search for a new basketball coach…again. John White announced that a search firm would be used this time, and reiterated that money would not be a problem. Fans were disappointed, but quickly started discussing and sharing their coaching wish lists with one another…again. Last Sunday, word began to spread that the new Razorback coach would be announced Monday, and his name was John Pelphrey, the former Kentucky player and current head coach of South Alabama.
Pelphrey was hardly the high profile hire that most Razorback fans had hoped — or were led to believe was attainable by the Razorback administration. Aside from his games against Arkansas as a player, there was a lot about John Pelphrey that Razorback fans didn’t know.  Many were left thinking, “did we really fire Stan Heath for this guy?”Â
But when Pelphrey was announced, all doubt was erased for me. Whoever was responsible for hiring him got it right…and that’s saying a lot. There’s not been an abundance of good decisions made on the Hill lately. So whoever made this call, I say give them a raise.
Pelphrey said all the right things during his press conference. He called the Hogs, talked Razorback history, past coaches, his playing days, his coaching style and philosophy. And he capped it off by calling Razorback fans the best in the country. When he finished, I had goose bumps and knew this was the guy to get Razorback basketball back to prominence.
His words and enthusiasm tell me he is the guy to get fans back into Bud Walton Arena. I believe he is the guy to bring back the style of play that so many fans love and identify with Razorbacks basketball. I believe he is the guy to get this Razorback team to surpass their potential.
And I believe he is the guy to mend the wounds of the past and build that bridge back to Razorback greats — the 1994 championship team, Nolan Richardson and Eddie Sutton. The faithful have long been held hostage by an administration that was often too full of pride, ego and political correctness to think of its most important Razorback shareholders…the fans.
I’m anxious to see what players and staff will be added over the next few weeks. And I think come October, we are going to be very pleased with the product that Coach Pelphrey puts on the floor. On behalf of all of us here at RBN, I want to welcome him. And let me be the first to say that I believe HawgBall is back, and that I’m already looking forward to next season’s matchups with Texas, Missouri, Florida and Kentucky.
And just think…all of this might not have been…had Frank stayed behind instead of rushing off to the Masters.
THANK YOU, AUGUSTA!
Pelphry is a likeable guy. He may even have the skills to do all that you say. It is gracious of you to give him the benefit of several large doubts. We could well be right back here in just two or three years.
But, absolutely, give the kid the benefit of the doubt. Welcome him, support him, support the kids.
We will know plenty in one year. We have all assumed that these kids were talented but that Stan could not coach them up. We will see pretty clearly next year if a coach can make the difference. If not, we will be left to wonder was it coach or recruiting? We will have seven scholarships available next year as well. Those seven signees could determine the future of Razorback basketball for at least the next 3 years.
We will have plenty of answers in just one year. That in and of itself is at least a relief. If we need to check out for a few years, at least we will have an answer soon and not have to agonize like we did with Stan. If we can relax and buy in with excitement and expectations we will know that too. Thank goodness.
Its a shame that a fine recruiter like Cyprien couldn't stay especially with seven spots to offer but I'm with Blindhog: support the kids, the coach, and the program. Any questions should be answered very soon. Btw, has Coach Pelphrey finalized his staff yet?
Good post and comments. Agreed…now is the time for optimism. As someone who hasn't been optimistic about Razorback basketball in several years, that's a strange and different feeling.
Have we brought in a no doubt, completely proven head basketball coach? Certainly not. But he does seem to be worthy of the expectations many of us have for next year's team.
I agree, Blind…we still may not know even after a successful next year about the future if Coach Pelphrey's recruiting doesn't bring in the necessary level of talent. In football, 1998 didn't necessarily tell us the level our football program could be consistent at under HDN.
Like BlindHog says, we don't know for sure what the future holds with Pelphrey. We also don't know what the future holds for our first choice, Gillespie, at Kentucky. But if you would have told me after the Gillespie/Altman fiasco that I would like the coach we did get the best, I would have laughed. We'll see whether we are laughing or crying down the road. I'm with HogBaller when I think we are more likely to be laughing with joy than crying with sorrow.
I think it's normal to be optimistic about a new coach. The main two reasons for my own optimism, is the fact that Pelphrey knows from exsperience how to win in the SEC, and that he is a disiplinarian. Disipline is something this team needs a great big dose of. If 2 or 3 don't like the new situation, of not taking it easy when they feel like it, and deside it's too much for them to handle, then fans will need to accept it and move on when they leave. Hopefully this won't happen. With a little luck, these guys might just dive into pelphrey's system head first. The next job for pelphrey, will be to recruit. This will tell the tale about the future of our basketball team.
It says a lot that Pelphrey was next on the Kentucky list after Gillispie. If they think that highly of his talents, then that validates his standing to some degree. I am excited to see his teams play.
Gillespie hiring Cyprien was a good move for the Wildcats. Cyprien will have a great scouting report on all of the Hog players, and thier tendencies. Hopefully, some of their bad tendencies won't carry over. I believe this is the beginning of the better for our basketball program. Pelphrey will get the best out of these guys, if they commit themselves.
Pelphrey was a great find. I think they totally stumbled into it, but he talks the talk. The style he coaches is true Razorback basketball. The fans need that. Hiring Rob Evans was a tremendous move. He will be a great asset in recruiting and coaching this team. I think Hog fans can have hope again that their basketball team is headed in the right direction.
I agree Pignatious, Rob Evans is a fine coach, and a great motivator. His teams always came to play and gave Nolans teams fits when they played. He always had teams that hustled and played great defense, even without the most talent. He will be a good fit for this program. I believe our coaching staff is on it's way to good things