This is the Man we Need

[Hog N Bama]

Mike Huckabee?

[theFlyingHog]

Rick, is that you?

I came here to post that. 

[WilsonHog]

WRONG! I don't give a chit if he couldn't point out Arkansas on a map as long as he could come here and win! Cultivate a relationship with fans....really its a simple answer....WIN! I mean hell if BB was winning we wouldn't be saying he looks dumbfounded with those looks on the sidelines we would be saying that's Socrates thinking up his next genius idea!

I expect you will see that our next AD at the very least has Arkansas connections, and probably will be a former Razorback.

By the way, if Long possessed the characteristics I outlined, he likely would still be our AD.

[RebHog]

I expect you will see that our next AD at the very least has Arkansas connections, and probably will be a former Razorback.

By the way, if Long possessed the characteristics I outlined, he likely would still be our AD.

Well as long as he is the right man for the job I am all for it. I just hate to tie a string that it must be an Arkansas guy. I want THE BEST guy we can possibly get.

[Con el Cerdos]

Why do people think that Arkansas is some super special snowflake that only people from Arkansas can comprehend. Lived and grew up in Arkansas and now live in CO, and I don't see it being all that unique, to be honest.

Actually, you've completely missed the whole point.

It's not about understanding the people of Arkansas that matters.  Or whether they are all that unique.  It's about CONSIDERING all the people of Arkansas when football and basketball decisions are made by the athlete director.

Whatever you think of Long, it's hard to argue that he has closed more doors on the people in east, SE, and south Arkansas with some or maybe even a lot of his business decisions involving the Razorback football program.

[HogMantheIntruder]

Fitz to the Hill!

[Boardon Hamsay]

LOL, isn't that like hiring a high school football coach to be the next Razorback coach and telling he can learn how this all works when he get here.

Yep. We go from ditch to ditch so that feels about right.

[jdelo77]

We need an athletic director who understands what the Razorbacks mean to our State as a whole, from Fayetteville to Marianna, from Piggott to Foreman, and all points in between.

We need an athletic director who understands Arkansas, our culture, and values that we are really three or four States in one.

We need an athletic director who understands and appreciates the history of our program, our traditions and rituals.

We need an athletic director who can walk into Community Grocery in Osceola one afternoon and into a $1,000 a plate dinner in Bentonville that night and make both groups of people feel equally important.

We need an athletic director who understands the critical nature of cultivating relationships with all Razorback fans.

Find that man, and then let's go hire our next football coach.

Alright I'm ready .shared this by the way

[Boardon Hamsay]

After carefully rereading the OP, I have concluded that OTR, or Overtheroadtruckdriver for the newer folk, should be our next AD. Native Arkansan. Knows folks all over the state. Loves the Hogs. And, as some of you know already, he was the best basketball player Logan County ever produced. This should happen ASAP.

[RedRock]

Butch Davis

[Athog]

Scott Varady. From Little Rock, attorney, currently leads the Razorback Foundation.  Arkansas Grad.  Hand on the pulse of boosters and common fans alike. 

Good choice!

[KA-BLAM]

Sounds like Dr. Sean Rochelle to me.

He's not a hog.

Look, I don't post much and I have not spoke to Sean in a while, but I've got to stick up for family. Our grandfather made sure we were going be to Hogs no matter where we went to school. I have no idea whether he would be interested or not, and granted he didn't play at Arkansas, but you won't find a bigger Hog. I know he put his heart and soul into his time at the Foundation.

[elviscat]

Hooter, nowhere near the program. Tom Bowen, Memphis would be a great hire.

[ricepig]

Actually, you've completely missed the whole point.

It's not about understanding the people of Arkansas that matters.  Or whether they are all that unique.  It's about CONSIDERING all the people of Arkansas when football and basketball decisions are made by the athlete director.

Whatever you think of Long, it's hard to argue that he has closed more doors on the people in east, SE, and south Arkansas with some or maybe even a lot of his business decisions involving the Razorback football program.

How's that?

[MuskogeeHogFan]

Actually, you've completely missed the whole point.

It's not about understanding the people of Arkansas that matters.  Or whether they are all that unique.  It's about CONSIDERING all the people of Arkansas when football and basketball decisions are made by the athlete director.

Whatever you think of Long, it's hard to argue that he has closed more doors on the people in east, SE, and south Arkansas with some or maybe even a lot of his business decisions involving the Razorback football program.

Like Wilson (err, the Arkansas Traveler said) this guy has to be someone who can directly relate to the fans all over the state, be a politician at the same time and be an effective businessman on behalf of the University. That is what good AD's are made of. Long was a good businessman, he just wasn't good with the people. You have to be able to make folks think and buy-into, that what you are doing is for the best of the University and the people, otherwise you lose support. You have to be able to kiss the babies while stealing their candy and everyone thinks it is the right thing to do, while leaving your options open. Difficult job.

[snoblind]

Varady or Hill from names mentioned.  Quinn flunked coach hiring.  Will concede that was 20 years ago.

[redeye]

We need an athletic director who understands what the Razorbacks mean to our State as a whole, from Fayetteville to Marianna, from Piggott to Foreman, and all points in between.

We need an athletic director who understands Arkansas, our culture, and values that we are really three or four States in one.

We need an athletic director who understands and appreciates the history of our program, our traditions and rituals.

We need an athletic director who can walk into Community Grocery in Osceola one afternoon and into a $1,000 a plate dinner in Bentonville that night and make both groups of people feel equally important.

We need an athletic director who understands the critical nature of cultivating relationships with all Razorback fans.

Find that man, and then let's go hire our next football coach.

It sounds like you're describing Forest City Joe. 

[PorcineSublime]

I expect you will see that our next AD at the very least has Arkansas connections, and probably will be a former Razorback.

By the way, if Long possessed the characteristics I outlined, he likely would still be our AD.

I think you are probably right about that, and to the point they will choose an almost unqualified candidate if he is from here. That and the candidate will not run the department unencumbered. They will look for someone who will look to them for approval. As someone stated GOBN 2.0.

As for your original list, nothing on that list requires having even driven through the state to do all those things. I think Jeff did what he thought was asked of him. Get the tentacles of the GOBN out of the department. It remains to be seen whether doing so caused the failure to connect with the state, or if it was just this personality, but not being from Arkansas didn't prevent him from connecting. A smart manager would have consulted someone to help guide him in how the state works and the particular quirks of the state. Where the Dr. was standing when he slapped his hiney at birth is not nearly as important as can he connect and also do a good job. Having said that I am not naive. I know that the first qualification for those doing the hiring was slapped on his butt at birth by a doctor wearing Razorback red gloves at the time.  

[BOAR_N2BWILD]

I heard Kevin Scanlon's name mentioned today.

[moses_007]

Steve Sullivan from KATV.  He's all-Hog... just like his predecessor, Paul Eells.

[jnhogs]

Dilly! Dilly! I vote for this one.  This committee could vote on themselves and we would get a Blood Red Razorback.

This

[Hawgphat]

Tall order. And what if all those traits exist in a woman?

Keep looking.

       

[bennyl08]

We need an athletic director who understands what the Razorbacks mean to our State as a whole, from Fayetteville to Marianna, from Piggott to Foreman, and all points in between.

We need an athletic director who understands Arkansas, our culture, and values that we are really three or four States in one.

We need an athletic director who understands and appreciates the history of our program, our traditions and rituals.

We need an athletic director who can walk into Community Grocery in Osceola one afternoon and into a $1,000 a plate dinner in Bentonville that night and make both groups of people feel equally important.

We need an athletic director who understands the critical nature of cultivating relationships with all Razorback fans.

Find that man, and then let's go hire our next football coach.

Plenty of people can meet those requirements and not have a clue how to manage a budget, what to look for in hiring a coach, and not be able to bring in money either.

What we need in an athletic director is somebody who can bring in the money, who can spot and recruit good coaches, who can schedule games, manage compliance of the rules, promote the athletic program, and mange the budget and facilities.

Long was excellent at all of those except arguably one, the hiring and firing of coaches. Even then, 95% chance that Auburn would have hired Bielema if they knew he was in play over Gus in 2013. Who wouldn't want to hire a coach that went to 3 straight BCS bowls?

I could not care less if the AD can even correctly pronounce Arkansas before the press conference if they can do the job well. I don't want our program to go back to when we had some of the crappier facilities in the conference because we couldn't afford better. When we couldn't afford to hire coaches or were afraid of relatively small buyouts even. Sure, all else being equal, yeah, I'd rather a guy who already knew about our state and program. Otherwise, I'd rather somebody who is a complete stranger to the state that is slightly better at being an AD than somebody who meets all of your needs to a T but isn't as skilled at actually performing the job of being the AD.

[forrest city joe]

We need an athletic director who understands what the Razorbacks mean to our State as a whole, from Fayetteville to Marianna, from Piggott to Foreman, and all points in between.

We need an athletic director who understands Arkansas, our culture, and values that we are really three or four States in one.

We need an athletic director who understands and appreciates the history of our program, our traditions and rituals.

We need an athletic director who can walk into Community Grocery in Osceola one afternoon and into a $1,000 a plate dinner in Bentonville that night and make both groups of people feel equally important.

We need an athletic director who understands the critical nature of cultivating relationships with all Razorback fans.

Find that man, and then let's go hire our next football coach.

We need all that. but the main thing we need is an A.D. who tells all his coaches that their man job is to win.WIN GAMES! that is the main reason they were hired.no excuses,just win.

[HBTHogs]

Jimmy Dykes

[Hogaholism]

^^^ done deal...

[007 License To Squeal]

I think someone from the Camden area would be great.

[WorfHog]

No, we just need to go find the best AD we can. 

[swineology]

We need an athletic director who understands what the Razorbacks mean to our State as a whole, from Fayetteville to Marianna, from Piggott to Foreman, and all points in between.

We need an athletic director who understands Arkansas, our culture, and values that we are really three or four States in one.

We need an athletic director who understands and appreciates the history of our program, our traditions and rituals.

We need an athletic director who can walk into Community Grocery in Osceola one afternoon and into a $1,000 a plate dinner in Bentonville that night and make both groups of people feel equally important.

We need an athletic director who understands the critical nature of cultivating relationships with all Razorback fans.

Find that man, and then let's go hire our next football coach.

Obvious choice, Kevin Trainor

[moses_007]

Might be the perfect time for Jimmy Johnson to come back home.

[Rudy Baylor]

We need to start with a selection committee: Jerry Jones Chair with Ken Hatfield, Jim Lindsey, Terry Don Phillips, Jimmy Johnson, Barry Switzer and other great Razorbacks to bring back the hog tradition to the program. I think Terry Don would be a great starting place for AD until we can hire the special person we are looking for.

Jim Lindsay does not need to be anywhere close to the process

[Rudy Baylor]

That OP is Rick Schaefer or he listened to the buzz around 4:15 this evening. Exactly what he said. Almost verbatim.

Lol

[Polecat]

Kevin Scanlon.

[Rudy Baylor]

I'd be happy with either.

Please stop with the Fitz Hill stuff

He's a good guy. He was a mediocre coach.

So what?

[bennyl08]

We need an athletic director who understands what the Razorbacks mean to our State as a whole, from Fayetteville to Marianna, from Piggott to Foreman, and all points in between.

We need an athletic director who understands Arkansas, our culture, and values that we are really three or four States in one.

We need an athletic director who understands and appreciates the history of our program, our traditions and rituals.

We need an athletic director who can walk into Community Grocery in Osceola one afternoon and into a $1,000 a plate dinner in Bentonville that night and make both groups of people feel equally important.

We need an athletic director who understands the critical nature of cultivating relationships with all Razorback fans.

Find that man, and then let's go hire our next football coach.

You literally just described Houston Nutt through and through.

When Houston Nutt checks every single box on the list, you've made a faulty list.

[Rudy Baylor]

I'm not in any way saying it needs to be him but doesn't Tommy T. fit that well?

No

Nice guy, good coach, so what?

[theFlyingHog]

Jim Lindsay does not need to be anywhere close to the process

Seconded and thirded

[bphi11ips]

Sounds like we are looking for a politician instead of an administrator 

A politician can hire administrators.

[Hogindasticks]

Chip Kelly would be a definite fit....I think that would be exactly what the program needs...TCU is very good this year.

[Rudy Baylor]

This thread "Gave America Herpes Again"

[HogPhilosophy]

Dave Van Horn.

[bphi11ips]

You literally just described Houston Nutt through and through.

When Houston Nutt checks every single box on the list, you've made a faulty list.

You obviously don't know Houston Nutt.

[razortrack]

It's McDonnell, not McDonald!  Hell no to Hootie. He's a scumbag!

[Boardon Hamsay]

That OP is Rick Schaefer or he listened to the buzz around 4:15 this evening. Exactly what he said. Almost verbatim.

Hmm....better get a mod on his trail then...

[bennyl08]

You obviously don't know Houston Nutt.

He a used car snake oil salesman who spent a lot of time in Arkansas.

That's what the OP is apparently looking for.

[BILLYBOB]

We need an athletic director who understands what the Razorbacks mean to our State as a whole, from Fayetteville to Marianna, from Piggott to Foreman, and all points in between.

We need an athletic director who understands Arkansas, our culture, and values that we are really three or four States in one.

We need an athletic director who understands and appreciates the history of our program, our traditions and rituals.

We need an athletic director who can walk into Community Grocery in Osceola one afternoon and into a $1,000 a plate dinner in Bentonville that night and make both groups of people feel equally important.

We need an athletic director who understands the critical nature of cultivating relationships with all Razorback fans.

Find that man, and then let's go hire our next football coach.

Oh dear God this is such a bunch of bull$hit. Look, fella, the only damn thing we need is someone who will deliver SEC Championships in football and basketball. No one gives a damn if the AD "understands" our values and culture.

[TebowHater]

Obvious choice, Kevin Trainor

Another good pick.

Top four for me would be
Varady
Scanlon
Kevin Trainor
Derrick Gragg

[snoblind]

Kevin Scanlon.

I heard Kevin Scanlon's name mentioned today.

Me too. 

[WilsonHog]

No one gives a damn if the AD "understands" our values and culture.

The people orchestrating (and I use that word purposely) this thing definitely do.

[bennyl08]

The people orchestrating (and I use that word purposely) this thing definitely do.

Difference between being the person we actually need vs what some snowflakes want.