UA Spokesman no AD

[harrisburghog]

UA spokesman: No AD decision

Story by Tom Murphy
Friday, December 1, 2017
FAYETTEVILLE -- A University of Arkansas, Fayetteville spokesman said Thursday the search for the school's permanent athletic director was moving briskly but has not reached its conclusion.
"We're still vetting candidates," said Mark Rushing, assistant vice chancellor for university relations. "No decision has been made."
Rushing's remarks followed widespread reports citing anonymous sources that said the university had hired Tulsa Athletic Director Derrick Gragg as the permanent replacement for Jeff Long.
    UA Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, who fired Long on Nov. 15, is consulting with a seven-member advisory committee in the athletic director's search. The school announced this week that it has hired the executive search firm Korn Ferry to vet candidates for a one-time fee of $75,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Gragg, 48, spent Thursday afternoon in a meeting with the Tulsa University Board of Trustees, the Tulsa World reported, adding Gragg had no comment on the Arkansas job when he left the meeting.
John Hoover, a columnist in Tulsa and long-time reporter and columnist for the Tulsa World, posted on his Twitter account Thursday evening, "Source tells me Tulsa AD Derrick Gragg will 'interview' at Arkansas on Monday. TU's regular coaches meeting scheduled for then has been pushed back a week."
    Gragg is considered a leading candidate for the position. Sources familiar with the search said there were other candidates, including former Arkansas quarterback Kevin Scanlon, who is an executive vice president and director of the private client group at Stephens Inc., and Scott Varady, the executive director of the Razorback Foundation, the fundraising arm of the UA athletic department.
A native of Beaver Falls, Pa., Scanlon is a 1979 UA graduate who holds the single-season record for completion percentage (66.2) in 1979.
Gragg is a former wide receiver at Vanderbilt who earned a doctorate at Arkansas in 2004. He joined the UA athletic department in 2000 and was promoted to senior associate athletic director in 2003. He is a native of Huntsville, Ala.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette received a copy of Long's release agreement on Thursday following a Freedom of Information Act request. The agreement stipulates Long's severance payment, which has been previously reported by the Democrat-Gazette, of $83,333.33 per month from the date of his firing on Nov. 15 through the end of his contract on June 30, 2022. The total of the release payment is $4.625 million, which is to be offset on a monthly basis by any future employment by Long.
The release agreement, officially between the UA Board of Trustees and Long, states that Long has "an affirmative duty of mitigation to diligently seek and to obtain other employment."
Under section 11 of the agreement, titled "Disclosure of Agreement and Non-Disparagement," is the following language:
"The Parties agree not to make disparaging remarks regarding each other and to state, if asked, that any differences between them were resolved on an amicable basis."
The release agreement was signed by UA System President Donald R. Bobbitt, Steinmetz and Long.

[Hoggle]

Not a done deal. A ray of hope. Get Scanlon and be done.

[SchrodingersHog]

I hope it's not Gragg or a similar AD.  Get an AD with a blah record from Tulsa?  Tulsa?  People would go crazy if a coach of the same qualifications were hired.  An AD makes decisions that can influence the program for years.  The choice of an AD is just as, if not more, important than the choice of a head coach.  If anyone doubts that, just think Jeff Long.

[ricepig]

I hope it's not Gragg or a similar AD.  Get an AD with a blah record from Tulsa?  Tulsa?  People would go crazy if a coach of the same qualifications were hired.  An AD makes decisions that can influence the program for years.  The choice of an AD is just as, if not more, important than the choice of a head coach.  If anyone doubts that, just think Jeff Long.

So....Tim Horton for AD, or HC?

[SchrodingersHog]

So....Tim Horton for AD, or HC?

If Gragg really is the pick for AD, we might as well hire Horton. 

Then we would look back on the Long/Bielema years with nostalgia.

[rljjr]

I hope it's not Gragg or a similar AD.  Get an AD with a blah record from Tulsa?  Tulsa?  People would go crazy if a coach of the same qualifications were hired.  An AD makes decisions that can influence the program for years.  The choice of an AD is just as, if not more, important than the choice of a head coach.  If anyone doubts that, just think Jeff Long.

You realize he has spent years at Arkansas in the athletic department and has his PhD from Ark. That checks the Ark ties. He's a former WR from Vanderbilt. That covers the football experience part. He's a sitting AD. That covers the experience part. The guy is qualified all the way around.

[Razorbackers]

I hope it's not Gragg or a similar AD.  Get an AD with a blah record from Tulsa?  Tulsa?  People would go crazy if a coach of the same qualifications were hired.  An AD makes decisions that can influence the program for years.  The choice of an AD is just as, if not more, important than the choice of a head coach.  If anyone doubts that, just think Jeff Long.

Name one coach with the same qualifications as Gragg.

[SchrodingersHog]

Name one coach with the same qualifications as Gragg.

Coach?

[rljjr]

Coach?

Forget it, he's rolling.

[ipigsooie]

You realize he has spent years at Arkansas in the athletic department and has his PhD from Ark. That checks the Ark ties. He's a former WR from Vanderbilt. That covers the football experience part. He's a sitting AD. That covers the experience part. The guy is qualified all the way around.

I agree but I also see the point of the other side that questions his hires. Why would he hire Frank Haith?    That makes no sense after the mess he left behind in Missouri.

[PORKULATOR]

PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT HIS RECORD? We're not hiring him as a coach. We're trying to hire a sports minded beaurcrat. It's what the job is.

[Hogtimes]

You realize he has spent years at Arkansas in the athletic department and has his PhD from Ark. That checks the Ark ties. He's a former WR from Vanderbilt. That covers the football experience part. He's a sitting AD. That covers the experience part. The guy is qualified all the way around.

Some fans on the Tulsa rivals board are celebrating.  It appears those fans have wanted to get rid of him for a couple of years. 

[Hogs run wild]

i'm not thrilled with Gragg. we need someone that can reach the deep pocket donors and the common fans at the same time. Scanlon could do it.

[hassettsportsman]

A good friend hired Gragg for his first UA job.  If he is the selection, how much influence will it carry with current Hogs and future recruits that he is African American?  How will that impact fundraising if he's given that role too?

[Kneph13]

If Gragg is hired, it will be a mistake, just like if Gus is hired.

[The_Iceman]

So much ignorance in this thread.

[elkhog]

UA spokesman: No AD decision

Story by Tom Murphy
Friday, December 1, 2017
FAYETTEVILLE -- A University of Arkansas, Fayetteville spokesman said Thursday the search for the school's permanent athletic director was moving briskly but has not reached its conclusion.
"We're still vetting candidates," said Mark Rushing, assistant vice chancellor for university relations. "No decision has been made."
Rushing's remarks followed widespread reports citing anonymous sources that said the university had hired Tulsa Athletic Director Derrick Gragg as the permanent replacement for Jeff Long.
    UA Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, who fired Long on Nov. 15, is consulting with a seven-member advisory committee in the athletic director's search. The school announced this week that it has hired the executive search firm Korn Ferry to vet candidates for a one-time fee of $75,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Gragg, 48, spent Thursday afternoon in a meeting with the Tulsa University Board of Trustees, the Tulsa World reported, adding Gragg had no comment on the Arkansas job when he left the meeting.
John Hoover, a columnist in Tulsa and long-time reporter and columnist for the Tulsa World, posted on his Twitter account Thursday evening, "Source tells me Tulsa AD Derrick Gragg will 'interview' at Arkansas on Monday. TU's regular coaches meeting scheduled for then has been pushed back a week."
    Gragg is considered a leading candidate for the position. Sources familiar with the search said there were other candidates, including former Arkansas quarterback Kevin Scanlon, who is an executive vice president and director of the private client group at Stephens Inc., and Scott Varady, the executive director of the Razorback Foundation, the fundraising arm of the UA athletic department.
A native of Beaver Falls, Pa., Scanlon is a 1979 UA graduate who holds the single-season record for completion percentage (66.2) in 1979.
Gragg is a former wide receiver at Vanderbilt who earned a doctorate at Arkansas in 2004. He joined the UA athletic department in 2000 and was promoted to senior associate athletic director in 2003. He is a native of Huntsville, Ala.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette received a copy of Long's release agreement on Thursday following a Freedom of Information Act request. The agreement stipulates Long's severance payment, which has been previously reported by the Democrat-Gazette, of $83,333.33 per month from the date of his firing on Nov. 15 through the end of his contract on June 30, 2022. The total of the release payment is $4.625 million, which is to be offset on a monthly basis by any future employment by Long.
The release agreement, officially between the UA Board of Trustees and Long, states that Long has "an affirmative duty of mitigation to diligently seek and to obtain other employment."
Under section 11 of the agreement, titled "Disclosure of Agreement and Non-Disparagement," is the following language:
"The Parties agree not to make disparaging remarks regarding each other and to state, if asked, that any differences between them were resolved on an amicable basis."
The release agreement was signed by UA System President Donald R. Bobbitt, Steinmetz and Long.

Well someone better tell the local news stations because they are saying he is it.

[elkhog]

If Gragg is hired, it will be a mistake, just like if Gus is hired.

Don't know about Gragg, but Gus would not be a mistake.

[MissippHog]

You realize he has spent years at Arkansas in the athletic department and has his PhD from Ark. That checks the Ark ties. He's a former WR from Vanderbilt. That covers the football experience part. He's a sitting AD. That covers the experience part. The guy is qualified all the way around.

^^^^

[SchrodingersHog]

A good friend hired Gragg for his first UA job.  If he is the selection, how much influence will it carry with current Hogs and future recruits that he is African American?  How will that impact fundraising if he's given that role too?

Since you mentioned the AA thing, I'm going to come right out and admit my real reason for opposing Gragg.  I know I will be labeled a prejudiced bigot, but I might as well say it.

The the guy is an ALABAMIAN.  Born in Huntsville, Alabama.  Replace the Carpetbagger with an ALABAMIAN?  NOOOOOOOO!

[jimhog]

Vett in depth. We don't need someone to come here and get the school put on probation.

[010HogFan]

LOL this thread is so bad. He would do fine here and I hope it's him.

[Boss Hog in the Arkansas]

I like Tom Murphy, but I refuse to read any further than "University of Arkansas, Fayetteville"

[Ex-Trumpet]

Vett in depth. We don't need someone to come here and get the school put on probation.

As previously mentioned, he's from Alabama; they know how to avoid probation.

[TNarch]

Fans on the Tulsa rivals board are celebrating.  It appears that they have wanted to get rid of him for a couple of years.

And some Hog fans were celebrating when Ken Hatfield left.  He is still has the best W-L record of any Razorback coach.

[cjack]

UA spokesman: No AD decision

Story by Tom Murphy
Friday, December 1, 2017
FAYETTEVILLE -- A University of Arkansas, Fayetteville spokesman said Thursday the search for the school's permanent athletic director was moving briskly but has not reached its conclusion.
"We're still vetting candidates," said Mark Rushing, assistant vice chancellor for university relations. "No decision has been made."
Rushing's remarks followed widespread reports citing anonymous sources that said the university had hired Tulsa Athletic Director Derrick Gragg as the permanent replacement for Jeff Long.
    UA Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, who fired Long on Nov. 15, is consulting with a seven-member advisory committee in the athletic director's search. The school announced this week that it has hired the executive search firm Korn Ferry to vet candidates for a one-time fee of $75,000 plus out-of-pocket expenses.
Gragg, 48, spent Thursday afternoon in a meeting with the Tulsa University Board of Trustees, the Tulsa World reported, adding Gragg had no comment on the Arkansas job when he left the meeting.
John Hoover, a columnist in Tulsa and long-time reporter and columnist for the Tulsa World, posted on his Twitter account Thursday evening, "Source tells me Tulsa AD Derrick Gragg will 'interview' at Arkansas on Monday. TU's regular coaches meeting scheduled for then has been pushed back a week."
    Gragg is considered a leading candidate for the position. Sources familiar with the search said there were other candidates, including former Arkansas quarterback Kevin Scanlon, who is an executive vice president and director of the private client group at Stephens Inc., and Scott Varady, the executive director of the Razorback Foundation, the fundraising arm of the UA athletic department.
A native of Beaver Falls, Pa., Scanlon is a 1979 UA graduate who holds the single-season record for completion percentage (66.2) in 1979.
Gragg is a former wide receiver at Vanderbilt who earned a doctorate at Arkansas in 2004. He joined the UA athletic department in 2000 and was promoted to senior associate athletic director in 2003. He is a native of Huntsville, Ala.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette received a copy of Long's release agreement on Thursday following a Freedom of Information Act request. The agreement stipulates Long's severance payment, which has been previously reported by the Democrat-Gazette, of $83,333.33 per month from the date of his firing on Nov. 15 through the end of his contract on June 30, 2022. The total of the release payment is $4.625 million, which is to be offset on a monthly basis by any future employment by Long.
The release agreement, officially between the UA Board of Trustees and Long, states that Long has "an affirmative duty of mitigation to diligently seek and to obtain other employment."
Under section 11 of the agreement, titled "Disclosure of Agreement and Non-Disparagement," is the following language:
"The Parties agree not to make disparaging remarks regarding each other and to state, if asked, that any differences between them were resolved on an amicable basis."
The release agreement was signed by UA System President Donald R. Bobbitt, Steinmetz and Long.

That was the most interesting thing to me.  Kind of like fighting on the way to church.   "I hate you.  Yeah, I hate you too.  Everyone act like everything was fine and smile for the cameras."

[Westcoasthog]

Kevin Scanlon fits the qualifications to be the Arkansas Athletic Director.

[tkhog]

Since you mentioned the AA thing, I'm going to come right out and admit my real reason for opposing Gragg.  I know I will be labeled a prejudiced bigot, but I might as well say it.

The the guy is an ALABAMIAN.  Born in Huntsville, Alabama.  Replace the Carpetbagger with an ALABAMIAN?  NOOOOOOOO!

His name is carved in on the sidewalk on campus. Is yours?

[BorderPatrol]

His name is carved in on the sidewalk on campus. Is yours?

He doesn't know what you are referring to.

bp

[HogCard]

Something to me seems very odd about the TV stations all saying Gragg and then everyone going, hey not so fast.  Are we waiting for the game tomorrow?  Who knows, maybe Gragg does not like Gus or vice versa.  Maybe there is a deal in place if Auburn wins and Gus stays.  Maybe not if Gus loses and he comes home. 

Maybe he was offered thinking Gus had signed the extension and then we heard he had not signed it?

[kp72204]

Something to me seems very odd about the TV stations all saying Gragg and then everyone going, hey not so fast.  Are we waiting for the game tomorrow?  Who knows, maybe Gragg does not like Gus or vice versa.  Maybe there is a deal in place if Auburn wins and Gus stays.  Maybe not if Gus loses and he comes home. 

Maybe he was offered thinking Gus had signed the extension and then we heard he had not signed it?

Yeah i believe that as well. It's done deal one way or the other. If Gus wins then he stays and next coach will think they are the 1st option. Gus loses and will be new coach Monday. Don't care either way, i just want to start trying to salvage recruiting for next year.

[zuko]

Since you mentioned the AA thing, I'm going to come right out and admit my real reason for opposing Gragg.  I know I will be labeled a prejudiced bigot, but I might as well say it.

The the guy is an ALABAMIAN.  Born in Huntsville, Alabama.  Replace the Carpetbagger with an ALABAMIAN?  NOOOOOOOO!

I thought where people come from is no longer an issue any longer.

[Mike Irwin]

Steinmetz wanted Gragg and it appeared that he had the votes to hire him. The word leaked all over town Thursday morning but three separate factions that want Tom Tuberville, Kevin Scanlon or Tim Horton raised objections so now Gragg will have to come over and interview either Sunday or Monday depending on who you talk to. Only one of those factions has a vote on the committee so unless something changes it will still be Gragg.

[The real Hogules]

I'd be happy with Derrick Gragg and thrilled with Kevin Scanlon. Tommy Tubberville, or little Timmy Horton, not so much.

I'm apparently behind on the latest info, I though that I had read that Kevin Scanlon wasn't willing to move from Little Rock. Has that since changed, or was it just bad information?

[factchecker]

that want Tom Tuberville

Whoever wants Tubs needs to be identified and have the following explained to them.

Tuberville is not a Razorback.

He never stepped foot on campus as a student.

Never played for the Razorbacks.

Never coached the Razorbacks.

Coached against the Razorbacks and said nothing smells worse than a wet hog.

Got in an argument with a fan (while walking off the field) when he was at Cincinnati.

Left Texas Tech during the middle of a recruiting dinner to take a job at Cincinnati.

ZERO EXPERIENCE as an athletic director.

Just because you are from Arkansas doesn't mean you are a Razorback.

Just because someone says something nice about wms doesn't mean they should be our AD.

[donbro]

i'm not thrilled with Gragg. we need someone that can reach the deep pocket donors and the common fans at the same time. Scanlon could do it.

What exactly is the comment fan

[wachhog]

If Gragg really is the pick for AD, we might as well hire Horton. 

Then we would look back on the Long/Bielema years with nostalgia.

Never. There is absolutely nobody they could hire who would make me look back on the Long-Bielema debacle with anything but disgust. NOBODY. If we never when another game, I will still view the situation favorably compared to the Long-Bielema era. Because it didn't have to be.

[Inhogswetrust]

Since you mentioned the AA thing, I'm going to come right out and admit my real reason for opposing Gragg.  I know I will be labeled a prejudiced bigot, but I might as well say it.

The the guy is an ALABAMIAN.  Born in Huntsville, Alabama.  Replace the Carpetbagger with an ALABAMIAN?  NOOOOOOOO!

Good grief what insanity ward do you idiots come from. There have been a lot of Razorback greats AND administrators including Frank that BUILT the program into what it became that is NOT from Arkansas.

[Inhogswetrust]

Steinmetz wanted Gragg and it appeared that he had the votes to hire him. The word leaked all over town Thursday morning but three separate factions that want Tom Tuberville, Kevin Scanlon or Tim Horton raised objections so now Gragg will have to come over and interview either Sunday or Monday depending on who you talk to. Only one of those factions has a vote on the committee so unless something changes it will still be Gragg.

I certainly hope so. He would be better than any of the three mentioned those factions want instead.

[Inhogswetrust]

As previously mentioned, he's from Alabama; they know how to avoid probation.

No they don't they've been skewered quite a few times.

[Inhogswetrust]

Some fans on the Tulsa rivals board are celebrating.  It appears those fans have wanted to get rid of him for a couple of years. 

True no matter who the AD is at any school.

[factchecker]

Good grief what insanity ward do you idiots come from. There have been a lot of Razorback greats AND administrators including Frank that BUILT the program into what it became that is NOT from Arkansas.

they want a good ol' boy from Camden because he made them feel good about their city at a touchdown club.

tubs might be a mulerider, a rebel, a tiger, a red raider, and/or a bearcat but he is NOT a razorback.

[Inhogswetrust]

they want a good ol' boy from Camden because he made them feel good about their city at a touchdown club.

tubs might be a mulerider, a rebel, a tiger, a red raider, and/or a bearcat but he is NOT a razorback.

I'm from Camden and don't want TT.

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Hearing tonight it may be Gragg...anyone have anything?

[factchecker]

I'm from Camden and don't want TT.

It's not the city of Camden who he made feel good.

It's the Baz (LR Touchdown Club) and the wms commission that he buttered up.

[greasy_corner]

Whoever wants Tubs needs to be identified and have the following explained to them.

Tuberville is not a Razorback.

He never stepped foot on campus as a student.

Never played for the Razorbacks.

Never coached the Razorbacks.

Coached against the Razorbacks and said nothing smells worse than a wet hog.

Got in an argument with a fan (while walking off the field) when he was at Cincinnati.

Left Texas Tech during the middle of a recruiting dinner to take a job at Cincinnati.

ZERO EXPERIENCE as an athletic director.

Just because you are from Arkansas doesn't mean you are a Razorback.

Just because someone says something nice about wms doesn't mean they should be our AD.

Damn fine post.  I agree wholeheartedly.

[TrueBlue]

Steinmetz wanted Gragg and it appeared that he had the votes to hire him. The word leaked all over town Thursday morning but three separate factions that want Tom Tuberville, Kevin Scanlon or Tim Horton raised objections so now Gragg will have to come over and interview either Sunday or Monday depending on who you talk to. Only one of those factions has a vote on the committee so unless something changes it will still be Gragg.

That's a shame. Should be Scanlon. Gragg has made poor decisions @ Tulsa.

[hog.goblin]

Whoever wants Tubs needs to be identified and have the following explained to them.

Tuberville is not a Razorback.

He never stepped foot on campus as a student.

Never played for the Razorbacks.

Never coached the Razorbacks.

Coached against the Razorbacks and said nothing smells worse than a wet hog.

Got in an argument with a fan (while walking off the field) when he was at Cincinnati.

Left Texas Tech during the middle of a recruiting dinner to take a job at Cincinnati.

ZERO EXPERIENCE as an athletic director.

Just because you are from Arkansas doesn't mean you are a Razorback.

Just because someone says something nice about wms doesn't mean they should be our AD.

AND, Ole Tom thinks coaching is overrated.  He said it's all about recruiting the best players.  Sure, that's a big part of it, but so is coaching.

Bring Dr. Gragg home.

[Ex-Trumpet]

No they don't they've been skewered quite a few times.

Naw, when bama gets busted UAB loses their program!

[BorderPatrol]

That's a shame. Should be Scanlon. Gragg has made poor decisions @ Tulsa.

What kind of a experience does Scanlon have running an athletic department?

bp