So…how would your list compare to this one?

Rank	Coach	School
1	Billy Donovan	Florida
2	Billy Gillispie	Kentucky
3	Kevin Stallings	Vanderbilt
4	Bruce Pearl	Tennessee
5	Trent Johnson	LSU
6	Mark Gottfried	Alabama
7	Rick Stansbury	Mississippi St.
8	Andy Kennedy	Ole Miss
9	Dennis Felton	Georgia
10	Darin Horn	South Carolina
11	Jeff Lebo	Auburn
12	John Pelphrey	Arkansas

At first glance, I think most people would say, “Stallings seems a little high.  Kennedy looks a little low.  And what the heck do you have against John Pelphrey?”

Now…if I take the same list and add another column….does it make more sense?  Does it surprise you?

Rank	Coach	School	Salary *
1	Billy Donovan	Florida	$ 3,500,000
2	Billy Gillispie	Kentucky	$ 2,300,000
3	Kevin Stallings	Vanderbilt	$ 1,339,643
4	Bruce Pearl	Tennessee	$ 1,300,000
5	Trent Johnson	LSU	$ 1,200,000
6	Mark Gottfried	Alabama	$ 1,063,500
7	Rick Stansbury	Mississippi St.	$ 900,000
8	Andy Kennedy	Ole Miss	$ 800,000
9	Dennis Felton	Georgia	$ 760,000
10	Darin Horn	South Carolina	$ 750,000
11	Jeff Lebo	Auburn	$ 750,000
12	John Pelphrey	Arkansas	$ 750,000

* Salaries compiled from various articles and school web sites.

As you can see, one of the absolute embarrassments left by former Athletic Director Frank Broyles and former Chancellor John White is the salary of John Pelphrey.

Over the years, Broyles tended to be very frugal (to put it nicely) with the salaries of his head coaches.  And that only reinforced the perception that Arkansas was a ‘stepping stone’ job for a head coach.  A nice job to ‘prove yourself’…but if you wanted to make some real money, you were going elsewhere.

Pelphrey’s current contract is heavily weighted with incentives — $1.2 million of incentives — based on higher achievement.

But Razorback Basketball with its tradition, facilities, and fan support should never pay a coach in such a manner.  Higher achievement should be expected at Arkansas, not be an incentive.

Plus…if a coach needs huge monetary incentives to work hard and win championships, chances are you don’t want him to be your coach anyway.  (About half of the SEC basketball coaches have incentives, but none run more than $400,000.)

With the hiring of Bobby Petrino, new Athletic Director Jeff Long has made a statement that under his leadership, Arkansas will take a back seat to no one.  The $2.85 million salary for Petrino ranks him among the top five coaches in the SEC.

So if you want to be the best, hire a hungry young coach like Pelphrey and pay him what an upper-tier SEC basketball program pays.  Then let the rest take care of itself.

I have no doubt Long will correct this mistake at the first available opportunity.  Razorback Basketball and John Pelphrey certainly deserve better.

Let’s just hope that happens before Pelphrey decides to step onto that ‘next stone.’

The drama that consumed the last few years of Houston Dale is over — traded in like a 10 year-old car that ran okay…but had an interior that smelled like old gym socks.

Bobby Petrino appears to be bringing the fan base together and creating excitement in recruiting.  His strong winning record and history of explosive offenses as a college coach have me optimistic about the next few years.

While Petrino has seemingly been humbled and damaged by his experience in Atlanta, I expect he’ll regain his swagger and be ‘in demand’ pretty quickly.

But think of it this way…if Petrino is successful enough at Arkansas to leave for a ‘better’ job, that just makes it easier to attract the next coach.  If Utah under Urban Meyer, Boise State under Chris Petersen, and Louisville under Petrino can get to a BCS Bowl, I’m optimistic Arkansas can, too.

As for the program as a whole, we now seem to have mercenaries in charge of much of Razorback sports.  The ‘We Are Family’ notion is coming to a close as Coach Broyles sails off into the sunset of the Razorback Foundation.

While the mercenaries make us feel really good right now, we must remember that they are primarily motivated by money.  Any appearance that they care is an illusion — created simply because seeming to care appears to be necessary in order to obtain more money in the future.

Yes…I’m a bit cynical.  I’ve also worked with mercenaries and know their ways all too well.  As the old saying goes, “The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that you’ve got it made.”

Unfortunately, lost in the shuffle of an extended coaching search was the fact that the Razorback football team had a pretty good season.  Everyone hoped and expected better but, overall, fans have to be pleased to finish up beating the number one-ranked team and earning a bid to the Cotton Bowl.

The players and coaches deserve a lot of credit.  They could have easily folded after failing to hold on to fourth quarter leads in the first three conference games.

DMac and Felix have been just amazing to watch.  Without a doubt, these last few years the Razorbacks have had a running back tandem unlike anything seen since the days of the ‘Pony Express‘ at SMU.  Other than all the coaching and fan-related drama surrounding the program, it really has been a great time for Razorback football.  It’s too bad we all couldn’t fully enjoy it together.

Reggie Herring has really surprised me as interim head coach with his supervision of the football team through December.  His opening statement to the press was better than anything I’ve heard out of the athletic department in years.  He has been nothing but positive about the players and their preparation for the Cotton Bowl.

The match-up against Missouri should be the best game on New Year’s Day.  Both teams average about 40 points a game, so it stands to reason that it should be a shootout.  I’m excited about the game and more than optimistic about the Razorbacks’ chances.

How optimistic?  Well…hang tight for now.  We’ll be making our bowl predictions with you on Friday.

Go Hogs!

After a regular season in which he gained a school-record 1,725 yards on the ground and led the Southeastern Conference in rushing, Arkansas’ Darren McFadden was honored with the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

Also:

• Hogwired.com: Darren McFadden Wins Second-Straight Doak Walker Award, Razorback Jonathan Luigs Wins Rimington Trophy
• AP: McFadden picked as Walter Camp Player of the Year
• YouTube (Video): Frank Broyles Honored – Part 1, Frank Broyles Honored – Part 2
• Robbie Neiswanger: McFadden Has Company In Awards Spotlight, Broyles Honored For His Contributions To College Football
• Tom Murphy: Taking center stage, UA center captures Rimington, Recognition leaves Broyles happy Hog
• Nate Allen: Luigs takes award as nation’s top center, Broyles discusses awards show, Arkansas’ ongoing coaching search

Updated 12/8/07 9:35 a.m.

The new Athletic Director is just that — ‘new.’  The old Athletic Director announced to the world that Arkansas can’t expect to be competitive year in and year out at the highest level of the SEC.

If Butch Davis is as smart as I think he is…there’s no way he comes to Arkansas.  Besides there’s his health and the whole ‘prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown’ thing.  Plus he’s not going to want to have to constantly deal with his own personal benefactor on the Board of Trustees.

And I couldn’t see any good reason to hire either of the ‘Tommy boys.’  I think both of them are too boring.

Throughout all of this, these quotes have come to mind: *

I don’t know what they have to say,
it makes no difference anyway –
whatever it is, I’m against it!
No matter what it is or who commenced it,
I’m against it!

– Groucho Marx

If I told you what it takes
to reach the highest high,
You’d laugh and say ‘nothing’s that simple’
But you’ve been told many times before
Messiahs pointed to the door
And no one had the guts to leave the temple!

– Pete Townshend

“In my opinion, it will not cease, until a crisis shall have been reached, and passed.  A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

– Abraham Lincoln

Our coaching choices appear to be:  a) someone brave and fearless on the way up — which means success will cause them to move on, or failure will send them back to the minors; or b) someone who got knocked back to the minors over some stupid issue and is working their way back up.

Looking from the outside in, who in their right mind would want to be ‘next?’  We just ran off a coach that won 18 games over the past two years.  We don’t exactly have history on our side.  This place has all the markings of a snake pit.

This is not an easy hire.  We have way more going against us than for us.

* We’ll give away a RazorBloggers t-shirt for the best interpretation and application of these quotes.

Nutt: “We had some little preliminary discussions and we have some more coming this week. We’ll wait until that time to see what comes out of it. Again, right now, I’m excited. Chancellor (John A.) White and Coach (Frank) Broyles want me here. They want me to stay and that’s a good feeling and I’m excited about that.

“(The prelim discussions) were just with Chancellor White right now. Jeff Long was still at the LSU game and he had relatives there, so we’ll wait until this week, about mid-week when he gets back, and have some more formal discussions.”

Also:

• AP: Administration wants to keep Nutt at Arkansas
• Chris Bahn: Nutt Hopes To Know Status ‘Mid-Week’
• TodaysTHV.com (Video): Press Conference Video
• Alex Abrams: Nutt Says White And Broyles Want Him To Stay
• Tom Murphy: Nutt says he has his ‘dream job’
• Nate Allen: Nutt will likely determine his own fate

Updated 11/26/07 8:45 p.m.

Among other things nonsensical, the column included this:

Which brings up a question. Who was Frank Broyles listening to that would let him start the divorce after a 40-year happy marriage with Channel 7?

If it is Matt Shanklin, who is the athletic department marketing guy and has been there only since 1990, then Broyles is making one of the biggest mistakes of his career as athletic director.

As Broyles takes this victory lap on a winning career, he might have been better served by asking advice from people who actually grew up in Arkansas. [...] Shanklin, who is supposed to be the driving force behind Barrett’s appointment, knows about as much about Razorbacks tradition as any North Carolina native.

Shanklin, who coordinates and sells the football and basketball coaches shows, is known to be abrupt, abrasive and downright rude. [...] He has about as much Arkansas charm as a Texas Longhorn.

Never mind trying to make a logical argument…let’s just blame Shanklin!  (Wally must have recently watched the “South Park” movie again.)

Don’t get me wrong…we’ve taken our fair shots at Matt Shanklin in this forum for his part in the current Bud Walton Arena malaise.  Earlier this year, Shanklin also took some of the heat for banning ‘unapproved’ signs at Razorback games.  And at the Swatter’s Club meeting in May, he got raked over the coals by some in attendance for issues at Baum Stadium, most notably the post-game traffic jams.

Some may also remember Shanklin as the guy who had to tell our very own commenter 10KHog a few years ago that the $10,000 shot he nailed from mid-court during a halftime promotion at Bud Walton Arena was nullified because he stepped one foot over the halfcourt line.

After the ruling, Shanklin’s boss — Frank Broyles — who was down near the court, began waving his arms at him and yelling, “Boo!”  Certainly not the kind of public ‘vote of no confidence’ that you want to receive from your CEO.  (It’s still the only time I’ve ever seen Frank boo at a Razorback game.  Well…except for when he yelled at that basketball referee.)

The halfcourt shot promotion was sponsored by Fuji Film and when the crowd realized what was happening, they started yelling, “Fuji Sucks!”  I’m guessing if they would’ve known Shanklin’s name that night, they probably would’ve modified their chant a little.

Eventually it was decided to give 10KHog the money — although, because of the ‘rules violation,’ it wasn’t paid out by Fuji.  They also made a point to announce the reversal over the public address system just to keep any plans for a student riot from being hatched during the second half.

Oh well…if nothing else, you’ve gotta give Wally credit for creating a new battle line in the ongoing debate.  I mean…I can’t say I went to many message boards before Sunday where someone said, “Looks like they’re going to hire Chuck Barrett” and a poster replied back, “Damn That Shanklin!”

Not that Wally thinks we should be arguing amongst ourselves anymore.

Know who the guy is in the picture?  That guy is your new athletic director.

His name is Dan Parker.  And as of Wednesday, his search firm, Parker Executive Search, is pretty much running the show now on The Hill…at least for a little while.

But did you know he’s also the guy who helped Tubby Smith escape from Lexington to…brrr…Minneapolis?  (Now that’s a feat comparable to selling ice cream to Eskimos.)  And now, conveniently, he’s been retained by Kentucky to fill the job that…he just helped to vacate?  I guess it’s like they say…no one goes against ‘the firm.’

According to this article, here’s how Dan rolls.  For a big-time search like Kentucky (and now, Arkansas), he handles the search personally.  Apparently that helps “tighten the circle” of those who are actually in the know about what’s really going on.

And in the case of Tubby’s departure, the Parker “process” was brilliantly executed.  To keep the thousands of rabid Wildcat fans and college basketball junkies around the world in the dark until just hours before Smith put on a maroon cap with a big yellow “M” on it was impressive.

And so far, much to the chagrin of the ‘Cats fan base and the media, he and Kentucky AD Mitch Barhardt have managed to successfully cloak any details about their alleged courtship of Billy Donovan.

But I’ve got news for you, Dan.  This is Arkansas.  And since your “circle” is most likely going to include Frank Broyles, John White, and probably Alan Sugg and BOT chairman Stanley Reed…you’ve got a problem.  And it won’t take long to see that for yourself.

As has been repeatedly proven over the last month, there is nothing known by any of these four people that won’t be found out by an Internet message board poster in Jakarta by sunset.

Discounting the possibility that senility might be the cause of these leaks, the real reason it will happen is because all the cooks in our little kitchen insist on staying informed.  And keeping all the investment bankers and real estate magnates and chicken company executives abreast (sorry) of the latest “can’t miss, big name candidate” is top priority around these parts.

So the good news, Dan, is that you won’t have to hire any “plumbers.”  Since you and your firm have already shown the capacity for discretion, the blabbermouths of the “circle” will be obvious.

It’s the same guys who will be telling the Foundation to write your $90,000+ check after this is all over.

* From “The Firm“

Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles offered the Razorbacks men’s basketball job to Memphis coach John Calipari on Friday in Atlanta, sources close to both basketball programs said Saturday.

The sources said Calipari can now be considered Arkansas’ top target for the position that opened when Stan Heath was fired Monday. The source in Arkansas said Calipari was interested in the position and would mull over the offer.

Also:

• Ryan Malashock: Analysis: Coaching Search Bungled, But Salvageable
• Scott Cain: Altman, Calipari in mix
• Nate Allen: Latest rumors focus on Calipari, Altman
• AP: Memphis grants Arkansas permission to talk to Calipari
• Memphis Commercial Appeal: Cal reportedly not interested in Hogs
• CBS SportsLine: Calipari denies Arkansas job offer, happy at Memphis
• Memphis Commercial Appeal: Calipari says he’s not interested in Arkansas job

Updated 4/1/07 9:45 p.m.

An advance copy of the Democrat-Gazette report was cited in an article that appeared on the San Antonio Express-News web site late Tuesday night:

“We could have a quick announcement,” Broyles told the Arkansas newspaper. “Or it could fall through. I’ve offered the job, and we’re waiting to hear.”

[...] “I have not talked to a single coach,” said Broyles, who retires at year’s end. “But the one I’m trying to get knows I want him to have the job.”

Asked how, Broyles said, “Through channels.”

Also:

• Dallas Morning News: A&M recruit told Gillispie is staying
• Houston Chronicle: A&M coach doesn’t comment on Arkansas rumors

Update 7:45 a.m. - The Democrat-Gazette article in now online.

• Scott Cain: Broyles makes offer, won’t say to whom
• AP: Broyles tells paper he’s offered basketball job

Update 12:10 p.m. – A&M officials have told the Houston Chronicle that Gillispie will reportedly accept a new contract offer and stay at College Station.

• Houston Chronicle: Officials: Gillispie will remain head coach at A&M

Update 5:30 p.m. – A&M University interim president says, “I talked to Coach Gillispie this morning and he told me that as far as he’s concerned, he’s the coach at Texas A&M.”

• The Bryan-College Station Eagle: Davis: Gillispie plans on staying at A&M

Hogblogger, I have to challange you to prove that what has happened with Frank is not something that was not going to happen anyway.

I suppose somewhere along the way I must have said that Coach Broyles was going to be athletic director forever.

It does seem like he’s been around forever.  I first met him in person in 1968 in an elevator at what was then the Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans.  The Razorbacks beat Georgia in the Sugar Bowl a couple of days later 16-2 — Bill Montgomery played the second half with a separated shoulder, by the way — and I watched from what seemed like the top of Tulane Stadium.

I have his autograph on a placemat from a dinner that was held in Newport in honor of Rodney Brand.  I’m sure all of you remember him as an All-American center in the late 60′s.

As a grad student at the U of A, I participated in a project that required me to sit down and interview Coach Broyles.  He was very gracious.  I ran into him one day at Neal’s Cafe in Springdale eating alone and joined him — again he was very gracious and we had a pleasant conversation.

So, I’ve been a fan of Coach Broyles longer than perhaps many of our readers have been alive.  He has done an amazing job as Athletic Director.  And, he’s had a lot of help from good coaches and good fans and supporters of the program.  He’s been an important part of a big puzzle.  We will miss him…but it is a big puzzle.

But I didn’t think he would be around forever.  While I hate to see him ‘forced out’ as many are saying, I do think his staying on ‘forever’ has not been the best thing.  Orderly transition is a good thing, and the best leaders enable those.  ‘Forced’ or sudden transitions are not good things.  If the Board of Trustees have ‘forced’ this, then I don’t think that speaks well of anyone involved, including Coach Broyles.

My fellow blogger, Sunshine, said it very well the other day:  ‘They (Broyles and Nutt) did it to themselves by their actions.’  (The bit about the movie and the samurai warriors was a bit beyond me…so I don’t know about that.)

You can blame the Internet and the message boards, but all they did was get the word out about a lot of the things that went on.  Yes…there’s a lot of senseless chatter out there, too.  But you can get senseless chatter listening to ChuckieB and RickieS, too — especially the last few days.

The long track record of meddling that Coach Broyles had, the NCAA probations that have occurred under his watch, and his statements in Dallas didn’t do him any favors.  The waterdrop effect turned into a waterfall.

As for Houston Dale, he causes himself issues many times simply by talking.  I saw him on the TV the other night explaining that his comments about Coach Broyles last Saturday were taken out of context.

He has said repeatedly that we are going to work on a passing game.

He said ‘no one was rude to Gus,’ when the truth was that many were rude to Gus.  I’ve heard from people that were on the practice field and in meetings.  He says he doesn’t really know about what his wife forwarded when the truth is he knows exactly what his wife forwarded.

So while there are things I don’t like about Houston Dale, I think he should keep his job.  At our budget and with our current athletic director, we are not going to find anyone better.  I just wish he would realize that he’s not fooling people with some of the things he says.  I also wish he would get some help on offense and quit worrying about who gets the credit.

But he’s not going to be here forever.  And the program will go on without him, just as it will go on without Coach Broyles.  Texas managed to survive the retirement of Darrell Royal somehow.

As one of my favorite authors said, ‘today is gone, today was fun, tomorrow is another one.’ **

As for this mess — people picking sides — ‘darksiders’ and ‘huggers’ — Nutt lovers and Nutt haters — Gus lovers and Gus haters — Mitch lovers and Mitch haters — ChuckieB and RickieS — the masses on Hogville — the gang at Hawgs Illustrated…everyone’s had a part.  There are no saints, only sinners.  This blog included.

I’ll state again, for the record, that I’m keeping my donation the same and will keep my season football tickets. I don’t care who coaches or who is athletic director, I’ll be a Hog fan.

As for choosing sides — my seats are on the West side under the press box because that keeps me out of the sun and rain.  I’ll be in them no matter the coach or athletic director.

Now Houston Dale just needs to hush up and coach football.  There’s a passing game that needs work.

* Billy Joel

** Dr. Seuss – if you haven’t read the book, you should, because reading is fun and books are good.

Rebuffing ongoing speculation and commentary today, University of Arkansas Chancellor John A.White affirmed his support of Razorback head football coach Houston Nutt.

“I want to be abundantly clear - the University of Arkansas is committed to head football coach Houston Nutt’s leadership of the Razorback football program,” said White. “It’s unfortunate that the days and weeks following a remarkable football season, which featured 10 straight wins and an SEC West championship, has been burdened by rampant speculation and sensationalist remarks over the future of the program.”

Also:

• Arkansas Blog: Happy as Hogs in slop
• AP: Arkansas chancellor supports Nutt despite turmoil
• SI.com: Mandel: Nutt faces heat in truly bizarre Arkansas soap opera
• Alex Abrams: UA Chancellor Shows Support For Nutt
• Scott Cain: Nutt has support of White, Broyles
• Nate Allen: White gives Nutt a vote of confidence

Updated 2/23/07 8:00 a.m.

The discussion quickly turned to “Who was to blame” for the defrocking of Broyles, and the slander of the embattled Nutt.  The Board?  John White?  Wally?  Teresa Prewett?  Mike Irwin?  The consummate company men, Barrett and Henry gave each of the above their due for “taking a pound of flesh” as they put it, to bring down the man at the top of their kingdom.

The answer to their question was simple, but was not uttered by either of them.  ‘Who’s responsible for this?’  They (Broyles and Nutt) did it to themselves by their actions.

One of my favorite movies of the 90′s was Ronin, starring Robert De Niro.  Besides the thrilling action and some of the best car chase scenes ever recorded on film, the movie offers a look into the post-Cold War lives of secret agents who no longer have employers.  The agents become like the 47 Ronin who were disgraced, leaderless samurai warriors, who committed seppuku — ritual suicide.  They did it to themselves.

By their actions, Coach Broyles and Coach Nutt sealed their fate.  Frank’s comments to the Dallas Alumni on our “potential” were the tipping point in my mind.  He lost his BOT majority as a result of those comments and never recovered.  Nutt’s lies about the e-mails, his unscheduled appearance on Wally’s radio show, and the running off of the one man in this world that could save him — Gus Malzahn — are more than he can overcome now.

Frank reached the conclusion that he could not win this fight anymore and graciously retired.  Nutt has yet to come to grasp with that reality.  Like he said himself…he’s a fighter, which may yield nothing but a messy departure.

Hogwired.com: Athletic Director Frank Broyles Announces Retirement

After five decades with the University of Arkansas, former head football coach and director of men’s athletics, Frank Broyles announced his retirement today, effective Dec. 31, 2007.

Also:

Video

• TodaysTHV.com (Video): Broyles Announces Retirement (Full), Broyles Announces Retirement (Short), Broyles’ Decision To Step Down Proved Difficult, Razorback Fans React to Broyles Announcement
• 4029TV.com (Video): Frank Broyles Announces Retirement (Full), Frank Broyles Announces Retirement (Short), Former Players Weigh In, Fans Weigh In, Search Begins For New AD

The Morning News 

• Alex Abrams: Coach Broyles Calls It Quits
• The Morning News: White to Head Search for New Athletic Director, Facilities, Top Coaches Mark Broyles’ Legacy, Recollections On The Retirement Of Frank Broyles
• Dug Begley: Broyles Retirement Notebook

Democrat-Gazette

• Scott Cain: Broyles out, Jones: Don’t rush Broyles out door
• Bob Holt: Handing over the keys, Chancellor in charge of search for new AD, Firing coaches just part of job, Broyles’ coaching tree fruitful in college, NFL
• Chris Givens: Nolan holding no grudges
• Doug Crise: Tenure includes moves that divided Hogs faithful
• Democrat-Gazette: Frank Broyles Retirement Report, Frank Broyles timeline
• Wally Hall: Broyles leaves his stamp all over Razorbacks

Northwest Arkansas Times

• Nate Allen: Frank Broyles announces retirement after 50 years
• Rainer Sabin: White to conduct search for new athletic director, Broyles offered job as UA consultant
• Northwest Arkansas Times: 50 Years of Frank
• Terry Wood: Jones offers cautionary tale to UA powers-that-be, Broyles’ impact leaves foundation, hurdle for his successor as AD

National Media

• AP: Arkansas legend Broyles will step down as AD, Coaches, former players react to Broyles’ retirement
• ESPN.com: Forde: Broyles goes out as last of his kind
• The Birmingham News: Scarbinsky: For Broyles, it wasn’t personal until it was

Updated 2/19/07 9:20 a.m.

Longtime Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles could announce his resignation Saturday at a meeting of the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees, sources said.

Also:

• AP: Report: Broyles to resign at Arkansas
• YouTube Video: KNWA 10 p.m. Report, Nolan Richardson Reaction
• Grant Hall: Broyles’ Associates React To News
• Bob Holt: Sugg: UA Trustees will not fire Broyles 
• Wally Hall: Apparently Broyles ready to announce retirement
• Nate Allen: AD’s decision comes amid pressure, sources say
• Arkansas Times: A Hogstoric moment
• TodaysTHV.com: Frank Broyles Era May Be Ending
• 4029TV.com (Video): U of A Athletic Director Frank Broyles Leaving His Post

Updated 2/16/07 9:40 a.m.

I thought of the quote that goes something like that from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance when I heard what Coach Broyles said at the Dallas Alumni Association meeting.

I was surprised that he said that the Arkansas football program was “eighth in potential” in the SEC.  He followed up by saying that “his friends tell him” this is the reason we won’t be able to attract a “top coach.”

So, we have ‘experts’ that determine what offense we can’t run and ‘friends’ that determine the level of football coach we can have.

And, apparently we don’t have a ‘top coach,’ since we are not able to attract one.  Houston Dale is apparently as good as we can do.

Is there some support for what Coach Broyles is saying?

In a recent valuation of college athletic programs by Forbes Magazine, the SEC held seven of the top 15 positions.  Georgia was the third most valuable program in the ranking, and considered the most profitable.  Florida came in fifth, Alabama seventh, Tennessee eighth, LSU and Auburn tied at tenth, and South Carolina in the lucky 13th position.

The Big 12 had Texas (2nd), Oklahoma (9th) and Texas A&M (14th) on the list.  Notre Dame led, with the rest of the positions being filled by the Big 10.

On the other side of the coin…

Wake Forest and Maryland operated at a loss last year.  Rutgers broke even.  Rutgers and Wake Forest won 11 games.

Boise State won 13 games and defeated Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

Louisville, West Virginia, and TCU have programs that seem to be doing as well as ours, if not better.

Is Coach Broyles saying we can’t expect to be very good each year, or is he saying we are in a tough conference where we are at a disadvantage?

Is Coach Broyles saying that finishing better than eighth in the SEC makes us an overachiever? 

Are the ‘experts’ and ‘friends’ that are guiding Coach Broyles’ actually causing him to be a limiting factor on the Razorback program?

There’s an interesting post over on the DawgSports blog comparing Coach Broyles to Vince Dooley of Georgia:

… Coach Broyles is throwing fuel on the fire, criticizing Coach Nutt’s assistants and lending credence to published reports demeaning the potential of the Arkansas program. Coach Broyles has become an embarrassing relic of a bygone age, permitting his legend to become an impediment to his team’s success as his utility is surpassed by that of the rising generation of professional athletic directors and capable coaches who want nothing to do with working for him.

Of the 65 schools in the BCS conferences, 35 have made BCS appearances.  Plus, Boise State and Utah have made a BCS game.  Houston Dale has the longest tenure among coaches that haven’t made it to a BCS game.

Should 37 schools be able to get into a BCS game while the Razorbacks can’t?

Was Coach Broyles simply trying to manage the fans expectations – in effect, saying ‘we can only expect to be so good’ and ‘be proud and amazed at what we accomplished this year?’

Or was he just making excuses?

Wally Hall has been nice enough to develop a roadmap for Coach Broyles to make a graceful exit.  Since Wally’s original ideas tend to die from lack of company, I suspect that he’s playing shill for someone:

This may never happen, but what many would like is for him to announce he’s going to move to emeritus status this December.

What will Coach Broyles do?  What is best for the athletic program at the University of Arkansas?

Why do the great fighters stay around until they finally get embarrassed and knocked out?

Lots of questions.  You tell me.

After the event was over, some of those in attendance posted on Razorback message boards their recollection of what Broyles had said.  (See CCCharlie on Hogville and Shortstop6 on WooPig.).  However, because the event was not covered by the news media, the posts could not be independently confirmed.

But during their evening newscast on Thursday, Fayetteville television station KNWA broadcasted excerpts from a recently obtained cell phone audio recording of the event.  A transcript of the excerpts was also posted on their web site.

Here is video of the report, courtesy of YouTube user HogHillsHaveEyes.

Frank Broyles-Dallas Alumni Comments

Update 9:35 p.m.: YouTube user jjfmetal has posted a follow-up video from tonight’s KNWA 6:00 p.m. broadcast.

Update 1/27/07: jjfmetal has now uploaded the 10:00 p.m. report as well.

Their favorite t-shirt says, ‘Because I’m the daddy, that’s why.’

The bunch from Springdale made a lot of noise that continually demanded attention.  Winning the state championship, being nationally ranked, the recruiting attention gathered by the ‘Springdale 5,’ the quarterback becoming the Parade Magazine National Player of the Year — that was a lot of noise.

The Razorback football program had no choice but to embrace and claim ownership of the noise.  It was forced upon them.  After all, the Springdale border was maybe 10 minutes away from the stadium if the traffic is heavy.  Following two losing seasons and calls for the head coach’s head, losing the Parade National Player of the Year, or for that fact any member of the ‘Springdale 5,’ would only serve as the final nail in the coffin for head coach Houston Dale Nutt.

So, the Razorbacks and Houston Dale did embrace –- so tightly that they hired the Springdale ‘High School‘ coach and appointed him ‘offensive coordinator.’  Promises were made that the ‘High School’ coach would bring newness to the Razorback offense.

Just when all seemed lost on the recruiting front, the ‘High School’ coach promptly delivered four of the ‘Springdale 5,’ including the Parade National Player of the Year, to the Hogs campus.  The coffin was placed into storage, the nails returned to the store, and Houston Dale ‘loved that helmet.’

The noise and anticipation grew.  In response to the thrashing at the hands of USC, the Parade National Player of the Year was immediately named as starting quarterback.  Hope was sold and hope abounded.  The decision appeared blessed by the winds and fate.  The Hogs suddenly seemed unbeatable.

However, the Athletic Director, feeling absolutely no need to remind that the key to the room containing the coffin was stored securely in his top desk drawer, made it known to Houston Dale and the press agents that the new ‘passing’ offense was not Razorback football.  Experts had apparently been consulted confirming this fact.  (There is apparently no truth to the rumor that Coach Broyles drafted a memo to Urban Meyer notifying him that spread offense would not work in the SEC and later chose not to send it for fear of providing aid to the opposition.)

Much of the new offense quickly made its way to the scrap heap, which seemed to trouble very few as the Hogs running game was near amazing at times.  With whatever successes the offense had, the head coach made certain to point out that the offense was a team effort and not due to anyone in particular, save for the amazing running backs.  Certainly not due to the ‘High School’ coach who had constructed the offense to put all of the Hogs primary weapons on the field at once.  After all, choosing plays and ‘game planning’ was a group effort.  The ‘High School’ coach merely selected from the pre-approved list — and, even then, it was to be clearly understood that the head coach maintained constant vigilance and veto power.

The noise generated by winning grew louder and attempted to drown out the noise from the Springdale bunch.  However, the Parade National Player of the Year was benched and new energy was given to the noise.  Innovations to the offense that displayed the talents of the Razorbacks first ever Heisman Trophy contender were first credited to the head coach’s brother, prior to some share of the credit being given to the ‘High School’ coach — who was creating even more noise by winning national offensive coordinator awards.

The noise continued to grow.  Rumors of ‘the book‘ and comments made by the Parade National Player of the Year about the head coach swirled.  An undercurrent of ‘we were lied to’ anger came forth from the support base of the ‘Springdale 5,’ as it became apparent that much of the passing offense was the same as it had been the previous year — limited and ineffective — and that the Springdale ‘High School’ coach appeared to serve more as a puppet than a coordinator.

As the season ended in losses — seemingly due to the fact that no passing game was to be found — the Springdale noise got even worse. It was apparent that the Springdale offense had not only been sent to the scrap heap, it had not even been given a fair trial.  Concerned parents met with the Athletic Director.  The meeting was ‘leaked‘ to the public.  The Athletic Director had told the parents that ‘experts’ had told him the spread offense would not work in the SEC without a running quarterback.  Much more noise ensued.

The Athletic Director was not amused at all the noise.  The ‘High School’ coach and the ‘Springdale 5′ seem to be the root cause.  This noise had to be eliminated.  The ‘High School’ coach was summoned and informed that the noise was not welcome.  The Freshman All-SEC ‘Springdale 5′ receiver and the Parade National Player of the Year learned from the ‘High School’ coach that the noise was not welcome.  Ultimatums were given.  ‘Stay or go, decide by sundown.’

The Freshman All-SEC receiver decides to leave.  The Parade National Player of the Year chooses to keep his powder dry.  The ‘High School’ coach lays low, holding his cards close while keeping to the company line.

Houston Dale is named ‘Coach of the Year,’ rising from the ashes of the prior two years to receive a contract extension.  The ‘High School’ coach, now ‘National Offensive Coordinator of the Year,’ is promised a new two year contract.

The bowl game brings another loss.  No passing game to be found.  More noise.  Control has been lost.

The situation must be assessed. Control must be regained.  The head coach informs the quarterback coach that his opportunities lay elsewhere.  An old / new quarterback coach is apparently waiting in the wings to come in, rejoin the family, take a lead role in the offense, and possibly call plays.  The ‘High School’ coach gets wind of this and confronts the head coach.

Assessing a future where both the noise was not welcome, and he was outnumbered by the friends and family program, the ‘High School’ coach moves on to a place where he supposedly will get to call ‘his’ plays.  The Parade National Player of the Year promptly packs and leaves, leaving a posse of young ladies in tears.  The noise reaches new heights.

The masses cry out: ‘The line has been crossed.’  ‘The shark has been jumped.’  ‘Hope has been lost.’

But the path is chosen.  Jobs are secure.  Order will be restored.  The noise will finally abate.  Quiet will come in time.

After all, the Razorback program is much bigger than any one coach or player.

Coach Broyles and Houston Dale can explain that to you, if need be.

In the beginning…all wanted to believe.  That a proud ego had been humbled by evident limitations.  That a new voice would be trusted and followed.  That old men recognized the changing times…and realized that earning prosperity meant embracing that change.

Ultimately…it all proved to be only a mirage.  Nothing more than a schoolchild’s lie.  A devil’s bargain.

For those who continue to reign, nothing will be easier for them to implement than a fond return to a meager past.  A reactionary time warp back to a familiar place.

Most assuredly they believe that you will continue to follow.  That their duplicity will be ignored.  That time will exonerate and validate their actions.

The question is…are they right?  Will you continue to be led by them?

Arkansas athletic director Frank Broyles emphatically supported football coach Houston Nutt on Monday, telling members of the Little Rock Touchdown Club that Nutt was “the perfect person for the job.”

“Houston is there to stay,” Broyles said.

Also:

• Wally Hall: Broyles shows he still can fire up a crowd

Updated 8/30/05 1:50 p.m. – Added additional links.

“Obviously, I’m real happy, and my family and I are appreciative for the extension,” Heath said. “I’m thankful to Coach [Broyles] and the University of Arkansas for the commitment to the program. It hasn’t been a major thing on my mind. I’ve been more concerned with making improvements and adjustments for the upcoming season.”

One interesting note was stated very clearly in the article. After last season’s disappointing end, Frank Broyles was going to fire someone.

Broyles said that in the spring he suggested that Heath make staff changes so a more experienced coach could be hired. Heath didn’t end up firing anybody because one assistant, Rob Flaska, left to take the head coaching job at Centenary, and Heath eventually hired Dan Hipsher, a former head coach at Akron. “We were going to make some changes, so I guess [Flaska’s leaving] is a break in that you’d have had to pay somebody,” Broyles said, referring to severance pay. “He gave us an opportunity without terminating anybody.

“Adding a more experienced assistant coach fulfilled the main objective Broyles said he had given Heath in the off-season. That allowed Broyles to extend Heath’s contract, albeit several months later than usual.

I’m sure the only thing that made Frank feel better when he couldn’t fire someone was the fact that he didn’t have to pay them severence pay after they left on their own.

Always remember…don’t mess with the Big Daddy.