Arkansas Blog

Apparently Lu Hardin's ban on Razorback Red inside city limites kept Frank from talking to Coach Conque.

Did you notice AD Long's search for this new coach was all east of the Mississippi? No ventures to the west?

I want Reggie Herring.

Two news stations (channels 7 and 11) led this story in the 10 pm news today

Neat process. The UAF might be able to hire even more overpaid white men if White could ignore the AA/EOE requirements for advertising positions when hiring vice chancellors and faculty like he does in hiring coaches.

Let's get the U of A math department involved in this. We trade a coach with a 60.80 win percentage with a coach with a 51.70 win percentage. Did I miss something while I was at the university or is this that new math?

Don't know how Grobe will work out. Soembody will probably set up www.firejimgrobe.com by daybreak. Seems like he doesn't throw much more than HDN did, with a yards per completion average that is even less. Passed for avg 190 ypg this year compared to UA 160? But I'd be foolish to judge a man on stats. Maybe we can let him coach a game or two before we order the t-shirts.

Didn't go to UA law shool, or undergrad, but I know this -- at a time when many law schools are lamenting the lack of women in tenured positions, Dr. White's push for Dean Cynthia Nance seemed a progressive move, for which I have commended him.

But for all I know she may be the only minority he's ever allowed to be hired, so I don't mean to take issue with you Cassandra.

I wax and wane as a Razorback fan. At this point, I don't give damn who's the coach. I'm too burnt out with keeping up with all the previous rumors. Now that I'm disillusioned by the process again, which reoccurs inevitably every few months, I'm wondering why the hell these people get paid so damn much....

Although 2 black coaches were good enough for last year's superbowl, apparently there is no black coach worthy of consideration for a head coaching position at the University of Arkansas. Apparently the policy is blacks need not apply?

That's a huge, speculative jump, Severus. Do you actually know which black coaches are available? Do you know which black coach(es) AR interviewed?

White, black, or purple, the color of a person's skin should never be factored into a hire. The best man available should be given the job. Whether you're using skin color to justify hiring or not hiring, it's the same distinction and is morally reprehensible.

I don't think there is anything wrong with "casting a wider net" in areas of historical disparity. If you are looking for new engineering school graduate, for instance, I don't think there is anything wrong with making a point to interview at Florida A&M in addition to your planned interviews at s Georgia Tech -- as long as when it comes to decision time you *choose* based on the best qualifications and fit for your job opening.

If UA made a point of interviewing and giving fair consideration to two potential coaches who are black, as has been reported, but ultimately chose Grobe as the best man for this particular job, then I don't it's fair to complain that a white man was hired OR that black coaches were specifically targeted for fair evaluation.

I do think when a black head coach is hired at UA someday, it will be a native son, a former Razorback who already has broad and favorable name recognition in the state. (A football Sidney Moncrief, but with an outstanding coaching resume) Or perhaps someone with connections to the state like Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Ron Meeks, who played at Arkansas State when I was there in the late 70s.

The nitty gritty of the Deal for the Deacon:

FAYETTEVILLE - Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is going to be the next football coach at the University of Arkansas and is likely to be introduced today.
FAYETTEVILLE - Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe is going to be the next football coach at the University of Arkansas and is likely to be introduced today.

The board of the Razorback Foundation met briefly via conference call Wednesday evening and approved a salary supplement for Grobe, 55, who just completed his seventh season at Wake Forest University.

The board of trustees members were polled and the majority backed Grobe's hire.

The contract is apparently around $2.2 million per year for five years.

A coach's salary from state funds is limited, so the foundation must agree to guarantee any other money that is promised a coach.

For instance, former coach Houston Nutt received a state salary of $330,000, but his total package was about $1.5 million. Among other things, Nutt was guaranteed $600,000 for radio-TV and $250,000 for speaking engagements.

The foundation would not be asked to approve a specific compensation package unless Grobe had agreed to the deal. The process was evident on Monday night, when the board was supposed to meet to approve money for Clemson coach Tommy Bowden.

The meeting was postponed twice and then canceled when Bowden agreed to a contract extension at Clemson.

At one point, it appeared the foundation would bump Bowden's salary so he could personally take care of a buyout at Clemson. The same process could be in play with Grobe, whose contract reportedly includes a buyout of $2 million.

It is believed incoming Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long zeroed in on Bowden and Grobe as his top two choices in the days after Nutt resigned. People interested in the search were told Long would hire the best coach available.

University Chancellor John White indicated in an e-mail to The Morning News on Wednesday the search to find Nutt's replacement was close to being finished.

Wake Forest assistant athletic director Steve Shutt said Wednesday it was against university policy to say whether Arkansas asked for permission to speak with Grobe.

Grobe has a 45-39 record leading Wake Forest's Demon Deacons, including an 11-3 Orange Bowl team last year and an 8-4 team this year headed for the Meineke Bowl. Following last season, he signed an extension through 2016 for what was believed to be about $1.1 million per year.

Grobe's name has come up lately for several coaching vacancies, including both the Michigan and Nebraska jobs. He said Monday he's happy at Wake Forest, though he's not opposed to listening to schools interested in him.

Grobe acknowledged this week he's been approached by several schools over the past two years, but he wouldn't name any specifically.

Personal Profile

*Born: Feb. 17, 1952, in Huntington, W.V.

*Family: wife, Holly; sons Matt (daughter-in-law Melanie), Ben; grandchildren Mackenzie and Cameron

*Education: University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.; master's in education, 1978; bacherlor's in education, 1975; Ferrum Junior College, Ferrum, Va., associates of science, 1975

*Playing History: University of Virginia, 1973-74; middle guard, 1973, linebacker, 1974; two-year starter; Academic All-ACC selection; Ferrum Junior College, linebacker, 1971-72; Catlin Citizenship Award; Big Green Award

Coaching Record

Year School Record Conf. Bowl

2007 Wake Forest 8-4 5-3 Meineke Bowl vs. UConn

2006 Wake Forest 11-3 6-2 Orange (L)

2005 Wake Forest 4-7 3-5

2004 Wake Forest 4-7 1-7

2003 Wake Forest 5-7 3-5

2002 Wake Forest 7-6 3-5 Seattle (W)

2001 Wake Forest 6-5 3-5

2000 Ohio 7-4 5-3

1999 Ohio 5-6 5-3

1998 Ohio 5-6 5-3

1997 Ohio 8-3 6-2

1996 Ohio 6-6 5-3

1995 Ohio 2-8-1 1-6-1

Totals 78-72-1 51-52-1

Go Hogs!

Thank the Lord; back to roundball...

New rumor circulating Thursday morning is that he's staying at Wake.

This is really getting funny.

JD,

No, I do not know which black coaches are available. I'm not in the business of hiring coaches, so I don't keep up with it. However, there is an organization of black coaches that contacts athletic departments when an opening is available to provide such a list of coaches.

Because the hiring process is secretive, closed, arranged through agents and representatives, it needs some scrutiny to ensure that all qualified coaches are given a fair opportunity.

A caller to the Sports Crap show asked whether UA had considered Sylvester Croom of Mississippi State. One of the so called expert commentators replied that even though Sylvester was qualified, he might not be the best for "unifying the Hog Nation" - whatever that means.

What message does it send to all of your black football players, that there are no blacks qualified to coach them? I certainly hope that at least one qualified black coach has been given serious consideration.