AD not a done deal?

[razorbackfaninar]

Well, as it turns out, I don't think we could do much worse than what we had, and I thought both were ok until the wheels came off this season.

We can do a lot worse than Long and as bad as Bielema is, we can do worse than him if they aren't careful.  Razorback football is at a crossroads right now.  It can either get better, a lot better, stay the same or get quite a bit worse.

[ricepig]

What was the point for hiring an interim AD if it's just for 5 days...

We didn't hire her, we just promoted her. Organizations need a leader, even if it short termed.

[HF#1]

What was the point for hiring an interim AD if it's just for 5 days...

The AD doesn't just oversee the football program.

[razorbackfaninar]

I don't even claim to have inside info, but I will say this: NO WAY it takes until Jan. 1 to hire an AD.

That would be 6 weeks from the time JL was fired!

It's IDIOTIC to even suggest it will take that long!

Bo must be into Grampa's cough medicine again..

Nebraska took four weeks to hire Bill Moos and the national press was acting surprised that they had hired someone so fast.

[HF#1]

I did in fact start that thread. I will stand by that at the time I wrote it.  There was some late developments that certainly led to that statement being incorrect now.

Care to divulge what is going on?

[Dropkick]

We can do a lot worse than Long and as bad as Bielema is, we can do worse than him if they aren't careful.  Razorback football is at a crossroads right now.  It can either get better, a lot better, stay the same or get quite a bit worse.

1 conference win, a 1 point win over one of the worst G-5s in the nation and beaten by an average of 24 points in our 5 conference losses so far. How in the h3ll can it get "quite a bit worse"?

[lilRockNDubb]

We didn't hire her, we just promoted her. Organizations need a leader, even if it short termed.

Hired.. promotion.. same thing. The organization would've been just fine for 5 days if the new AD was going to be announced in a short manner. If the next coach told the PTB that he's coming home no matter who's AD then it'll be Jan 1st as Bo has said.

[Mike Irwin]

The people I've been talking to haven't been wrong yet which is not to say that they can't be about the AD situation but they're not saying anything about a nationwide search. They have been tight lipped about who the AD might be but they do say he will have Arkansas ties. There is speculation that it will be an ex player (no, not Tim Horton) but they didn't say that.

[ricepig]

Hired.. promotion.. same thing. The organization would've been just fine for 5 days if the new AD was going to be announced in a short manner. If the next coach told the PTB that he's coming home no matter who's AD then it'll be Jan 1st as Bo has said.

Bo said by then, any time between those words and Jan. 1st fits that bill. We have a game on Saturday, certain decisions will more than likely be required to be made, if we didn't have someone in charge, who was going to make it?

[KlubhouseKonnected]

I don't believe for one second that Jeff Long would have been fired unless they already knew who their top three candidates were, and that one or more of them had already agreed in principal to accept the position.

I am not that confident

It almost seems too personal for me to feel that way

[HF#1]

The people I've been talking to haven't been wrong yet which is not to say that they can't be about the AD situation but they're not saying anything about a nationwide search. They have been tight lipped about who the AD might be but they do say he will have Arkansas ties. There is speculation that it will be an ex player (no, not Tim Horton) but they didn't say that.

Scanlon or Fitz Hill maybe.

[Ironhawg]

Good lord what a cluster mess.  We're looking at the possibility of either having Bielema back for another year or not having a new coach until January.  Good idea.  Great idea.  Let's roll with that.   

[Styflin]

Good lord what a cluster mess.  We're looking at the possibility of either having Bielema back for another year or not having a new coach until January.  Good idea.  Great idea.  Let's roll with that.   

Just because it sounds like a mess in this thread doesn't mean it's actually a mess.

[Porked Tongue]

The people I've been talking to haven't been wrong yet which is not to say that they can't be about the AD situation but they're not saying anything about a nationwide search. They have been tight lipped about who the AD might be but they do say he will have Arkansas ties. There is speculation that it will be an ex player (no, not Tim Horton) but they didn't say that.

Seems as if you ALMOST said it.

[HF#1]

Seems as if you ALMOST said it.

So it is Tim Horton?

[Mike Irwin]

So it is Tim Horton?

His name has not been mentioned to me.

[fieldturf]

Harold Horton maybe?

[devildoghawg]

The people I've been talking to haven't been wrong yet which is not to say that they can't be about the AD situation but they're not saying anything about a nationwide search. They have been tight lipped about who the AD might be but they do say he will have Arkansas ties. There is speculation that it will be an ex player (no, not Tim Horton) but they didn't say that.

I know everyone on here likes to think the BOT is made up of rich, uneducated hicks, but I can't believe for a second that they would put themselves in the situation of having to explain why a top 10 AD was fired before a garbage coach was without a replacement already under contract.  I heard from a bunch of different folks that I honestly believe they know what they are talking about that Long would be fired this week, and that was correct.  The same people have said that Bret will be let go after the Miss St game by Peoples and then a new AD will be announced on Monday. 

[sickboy]

The people I've been talking to haven't been wrong yet which is not to say that they can't be about the AD situation but they're not saying anything about a nationwide search. They have been tight lipped about who the AD might be but they do say he will have Arkansas ties. There is speculation that it will be an ex player (no, not Tim Horton) but they didn't say that.

A little disappointed we didn't have our ducks in a row when we fired Long. Would have hoped that we had someone lined up and ready to go before we go whacking our AD. Makes the situation seem less cerebral and more emotional. That worries me.

[cityhog]

Hog fans literally have the shortest memories on earth. It was a mere 10 years ago when everyone was howling that the homegrown GOBN had to go. 'Get rid of HDN and JFB'. Fast forward 10 years and now it's 'Get rid of the carpetbagger this, yankee carpetbagger that', and 'we need ARKANSAS people making the decisions and running the program'.

Sweet Lord. If this mentality weren't so mind numbingly STUPID, it might be funny. I guess in another 10 years we'll be right back where we were in 2007. Hiring outsiders to clean up the ineptitude of those who want the power w/o the responsibility.

[PorkSoda]

So it is Tim Horton?

Seems as if you ALMOST said it.

soo...nick saban?

[Porked Tongue]

A little disappointed we didn't have our ducks in a row when we fired Long.

Not sure they are not lined up.

[Inhogswetrust]

That is either total BS or Peoples is hiring the next football coach.

Which might mean they know who the next coach is are at least believes they do so.

[justmakeit2thebcs]

Long's house has been listed on Zillow for 10 days and listed with a real estate agenet. All the interior photos showed empty rooms, cleaned slick as a whistle. That was some fast moving if he didn't know far in advance.

Long owns multiple houses in Fayetteville.

[razorbackfaninar]

Just because it sounds like a mess in this thread doesn't mean it's actually a mess.

I may be overly worried, but it certainly looks like a giant mess.  I was one who thought Long was doing a good job, but even if you wanted him gone the timing of the firing seems terrible.  I'm a fan of the U of A not any particular AD or coach so if they hire someone who can do a good job at either spot that's fine with me, and granted I don't really know what is going on behind closed doors, but if I can smell a lot of stink coming out from behind the bathroom door, I don't need to stick my head inside to know whats probably going on. 

[razorbackfaninar]

Not sure they are not lined up.

The timing of Long's firing alone should tell you that their ducks are not lined up.

[lilRockNDubb]

certain decisions will more than likely be required to be made, if we didn't have someone in charge, who was going to make it?

The same someone's who booted JL

[PorkSoda]

The timing of Long's firing alone should tell you that their ducks are not lined up.

why?

[justmakeit2thebcs]

Arkansas doesn't need an AD in place to hire the next coach.   Boosters are now in control of the program and will have final say.  Next AD will be nothing more than a puppet.  We just need a smooth talking, yes man with a southern accent.

[TexasHog]

You have got to be kidding me.
CBB better not be the HC again next year WTH.

[ricepig]

The same someone's who booted JL

They aren't going to decide on lobster or pbj's, that's the AD's job.

[online-with-swine]

I know everyone on here likes to think the BOT is made up of rich, uneducated hicks, but I can't believe for a second that they would put themselves in the situation of having to explain why a top 10 AD was fired before a garbage coach was without a replacement already under contract.  I heard from a bunch of different folks that I honestly believe they know what they are talking about that Long would be fired this week, and that was correct.  The same people have said that Bret will be let go after the Miss St game by Peoples and then a new AD will be announced on Monday. 

Exactly.  People did not get put on the BOT or our boosters acquire their wealth by being stupid.  I have faith there is a plan and it is being followed to a T.

[Kevin]

it only looks bad on the outside, I am sure they have a plan.  they all did not just wake up Wednesday morning and decide to fire long

[The NewEra]

it only looks bad on the outside, I am sure they have a plan.  they all did not just wake up Wednesday morning and decide to fire long

Patience is about one millisecond long on this message board.  Over time we'll find out, but I suspect everything is following a well conceived plan.  If not, then there will be plenty of time later to fillet and broil the culprits.  There are likely certain employment laws and procedures that have to be adhered to also.

[parallaxpig]

it only looks bad on the outside, I am sure they have a plan.  they all did not just wake up Wednesday morning and decide to fire long

are you sure about......

[parallaxpig]

The people I've been talking to haven't been wrong yet which is not to say that they can't be about the AD situation but they're not saying anything about a nationwide search. They have been tight lipped about who the AD might be but they do say he will have Arkansas ties. There is speculation that it will be an ex player (no, not Tim Horton) but they didn't say that.

Kevin Scanlon's name sure is mentioned a lot between HV and talk radio. Heard him talked about on 3 different talk radio shows today.

[PorkSoda]

Kevin Scanlon's name sure is mentioned a lot between HV and talk radio. Heard him talked about on 3 different talk radio shows today.

yeah, I get the feeling he is to the top choice, but it remains to be seen if he would accept the position.  its debatable whether its actually a step up from his current gig.

[razorbackfaninar]

why?

What were the reasons to fire Long? They've all been stated over and over on this board, and all of the reasons given for firing Long existed before the beginning of this season.  There isn't one reason given for his firing that wasn't true at the end of last year. They didn't fire him for cause so he didn't steal from the university or anything like that, if it was anything they could slightly prove they would have dismissed him with cause and not have to worry about paying him the rest of his contract.  The real reason that he was fired now as opposed to any other time is that folks in power got their panties in a twist, were being leaned on by big contributors and the season was tanking in a big way.

We are presumably going to part ways with Bielema at the end of the season on or about the 24th. So we are going into one of our most important coaching searches in my lifetime (meaning we can not afford to have two flops in a row that would put us at presumably 10 years of floundering and that is going to be a very tough hole to dig out of) without an AD in place.  No coach worth his salt is going to come here with out concrete knowledge of who the AD will be, and I don't mean assurances from the board, they are going to want to know with 100% certainty who it is.  If we can get it done in 4 weeks,which is a big if, that means hiring an new AD in mid-December.  So now you are looking at mid-December before a coaching search can begin in earnest. Factor in the holidays and the early signing period which is December 20th-22 I think, and I can't see how the timing could have been much worse.  What changed between 10/7 when we got drubbed by Scar and last Wednesday?   How about 10/14 or 10/21 when we got drubbed by Alabama and Auburn respectively. The season didn't get better. They could have let him go after any of those games and given us more time to find an AD and have him in place before the season ended. They made a knee-jerk reaction either at the BOT meeting or just after and have put us in a bad position going forward.  There isn't a plan, there isn't a secret AD who has been hired, They are feeling around in the dark trying to find someone to replace Long.  They may get someone good, may get someone great, but it isn't because they planned it that way.         

[cityhog]

Exactly.  People did not get put on the BOT or our boosters acquire their wealth by being stupid.  I have faith there is a plan and it is being followed to a T.

being rich most certainly does not equate to being smart. And you can double that certainty if the $$ was inherited.

[PorkSoda]

What were the reasons to fire Long? They've all been stated over and over on this board, and all of the reasons given for firing Long existed before the beginning of this season.  There isn't one reason given for his firing that wasn't true at the end of last year. They didn't fire him for cause so he didn't steal from the university or anything like that, if it was anything they could slightly prove they would have dismissed him with cause and not have to worry about paying him the rest of his contract.  The real reason that he was fired now as opposed to any other time is that folks in power got their panties in a twist, were being leaned on by big contributors and the season was tanking in a big way.

We are presumably going to part ways with Bielema at the end of the season on or about the 24th. So we are going into one of our most important coaching searches in my lifetime (meaning we can not afford to have two flops in a row that would put us at presumably 10 years of floundering and that is going to be a very tough hole to dig out of) without an AD in place.  No coach worth his salt is going to come here with out concrete knowledge of who the AD will be, and I don't mean assurances from the board, they are going to want to know with 100% certainty who it is.  If we can get it done in 4 weeks,which is a big if, that means hiring an new AD in mid-December.  So now you are looking at mid-December before a coaching search can begin in earnest. Factor in the holidays and the early signing period which is December 20th-22 I think, and I can't see how the timing could have been much worse.  What changed between 10/7 when we got drubbed by Scar and last Wednesday?   How about 10/14 or 10/21 when we got drubbed by Alabama and Auburn respectively. The season didn't get better. They could have let him go after any of those games and given us more time to find an AD and have him in place before the season ended. They made a knee-jerk reaction either at the BOT meeting or just after and have put us in a bad position going forward.  There isn't a plan, there isn't a secret AD who has been hired, They are feeling around in the dark trying to find someone to replace Long.  They may get someone good, may get someone great, but it isn't because they planned it that way.         

why didn't they fire him at the BOT meeting?  what happened between then and now?

could it be that they needed to ensure they had a replacement lined up?  if someone isn't named by thanksgiving, then I'd be inclined to agree with you.  but I think we should give them at least a week before we declare they had no plan.

[sowmonella]

Terry Don Phillips.

He's in his 70's and has been retired about 6 or 7 years.

[jkstock04]

I know everyone on here likes to think the BOT is made up of rich, uneducated hicks, but I can't believe for a second that they would put themselves in the situation of having to explain why a top 10 AD was fired before a garbage coach was without a replacement already under contract.  I heard from a bunch of different folks that I honestly believe they know what they are talking about that Long would be fired this week, and that was correct.  The same people have said that Bret will be let go after the Miss St game by Peoples and then a new AD will be announced on Monday. 

I have heard the same about Bielema...that Mississippi state will be his last game as coach of the Razorbacks.

[razorbackfaninar]

why didn't they fire him at the BOT meeting?  what happened between then and now?

could it be that they needed to ensure they had a replacement lined up?  if someone isn't named by thanksgiving, then I'd be inclined to agree with you.  but I think we should give them at least a week before we declare they had no plan.

If they fired him because the football program is bad then they could have done that at the end of last year.  Or after TCU, TAM etc.  Something finally broke one way or the other and instead of waiting till a more prudent time they jumped the gun.  They could have kept Long, hired the new coach without Long's input and fired him early next year after we had a coach comfortably in place. After if they wre going to fire him for convenience they don't need circumstances to be right they could do that whenever they wanted.  The new coach may be a little less than pleased but he wouldn't leave at that point, and the sum total of everything would be the same. If it's true as they say they are targeting ex-razorbacks, not a traditional hire, those people will be just as available next year.

[oldhawg]

why didn't they fire him at the BOT meeting?  what happened between then and now?

could it be that they needed to ensure they had a replacement lined up?  if someone isn't named by thanksgiving, then I'd be inclined to agree with you.  but I think we should give them at least a week before we declare they had no plan.

Maybe the Monday after Thanksgiving.  Name the new AD on that Monday and the new coach on Tuesday.

[jkstock04]

Hog fans literally have the shortest memories on earth. It was a mere 10 years ago when everyone was howling that the homegrown GOBN had to go. 'Get rid of HDN and JFB'. Fast forward 10 years and now it's 'Get rid of the carpetbagger this, yankee carpetbagger that', and 'we need ARKANSAS people making the decisions and running the program'.

Sweet Lord. If this mentality weren't so mind numbingly STUPID, it might be funny. I guess in another 10 years we'll be right back where we were in 2007. Hiring outsiders to clean up the ineptitude of those who want the power w/o the responsibility.

Speaking of short memories...the last time we went through this I seem to remember Frank Broyles "stepping down" before we "fired" Houston Nutt. How long was it between Broyles being pushed out and Long hiring? Around a year?

This mantra that it's an impossibility to fire an AD before hiring a new coach is blah.

[ricepig]

If they fired him because the football program is bad then they could have done that at the end of last year.  Or after TCU, TAM etc.  Something finally broke one way or the other and instead of waiting till a more prudent time they jumped the gun.  They could have kept Long, hired the new coach without Long's input and fired him early next year after we had a coach comfortably in place. After if they wre going to fire him for convenience they don't need circumstances to be right they could do that whenever they wanted.  The new coach may be a little less than pleased but he wouldn't leave at that point, and the sum total of everything would be the same. If it's true as they say they are targeting ex-razorbacks, not a traditional hire, those people will be just as available next year.

They fired him at their convenience, it was convenient after Monday's dinner at Omar's in Jonesboro.

[razorbackfaninar]

I know everyone on here likes to think the BOT is made up of rich, uneducated hicks, but I can't believe for a second that they would put themselves in the situation of having to explain why a top 10 AD was fired before a garbage coach was without a replacement already under contract.  I heard from a bunch of different folks that I honestly believe they know what they are talking about that Long would be fired this week, and that was correct.  The same people have said that Bret will be let go after the Miss St game by Peoples and then a new AD will be announced on Monday.

Stupid people get rich too.  I have known my fair share of rich people in my life that have been very good at the thing they got rich doing and terrible at everything else. the other thing to keep in mind is that rich people are accustomed to getting what they want and thinking they always can.  Everybody kisses up to them so they start to believe they are the smartest guys in the room.  It wouldn't be beyond belief that a bunch of rich guys together would assume that they cold fire Long and just go grab the AD of their choice or take the sitting coach of their choice just because that is how they are used to things working. I may be wrong and I hope to God I am but I am not a big believer in secret plans and backroom deals.  I will be more than happy to eat crow if it turns out I am wrong, but this all looks bad to me.

[okrazorback]

I don't know why people keep suggesting this as a possibility??? He's DONE!!!

I don't know if he ls gone, but I sure hope he is gone

[razorbackfaninar]

Speaking of short memories...the last time we went through this I seem to remember Frank Broyles "stepping down" before we "fired" Houston Nutt. How long was it between Broyles being pushed out and Long hiring? Around a year?

This mantra that it's an impossibility to fire an AD before hiring a new coach is blah.

Arkansas went with out an AD for a year? Your'e right I don't remember that.

[LAGNAF]

Arkansas doesn't need an AD in place to hire the next coach.   Boosters are now in control of the program and will have final say.  Next AD will be nothing more than a puppet.  We just need a smooth talking, yes man with a southern accent.

So you don't think folks already making millions per year are going to be a tad hesitant to leave their present gig to take over a program that needs to be rebuilt and they have no idea who they'll be working for?

Generally a bad idea to try and hire a coach with no AD in place.