give him at least two more seasons. He's just got to build his depth of talent up to SEC standards, and seems to be making progress, but will the fans be patient enough to allow that to happen? If you watch them play, you can see that it's the lack of talent that's holding them back.

I heard Barry Booker, the TV analyst and former great player, being interviewed on Bo Mattingly's show yesterday, and he says Arkansas has three good players on the current roster who will return next year. Fortson, Clarke and Powell. The rest are not up to SEC standards. And he doesn't think they can move up that far next season, no matter who they recruit.

He says Pelphrey wants to play more of an up and down game, but doesn't have the quality depth to do it. When he does, he'll open it up.
But will he do it at Arkansas? And is it Pelphrey now, Pelphrey tomorrow,
'PELPHREY FOREVAHH"!" (Courtesy of Robert C.)

Which is why they fired Coach Heath.

(03-13-2010 09:48 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Which is why they fired Coach Heath.

Stan Heath never had a chance. He was following a legend, and the program was in turmoil because of the Nolan-Frank Feud. Any person with half a brain knew the reason why Heath was hired. He wasn't the best qualified candidate by a long shot. But with the discrimination lawsuit pending, they couldn't afford to dare hire a white coach, so Heath was found to be acceptable. An intelligent, likeable person, who had one great year at Kent State. He was destined to fail.

The logical hire should have been Mike Anderson, but there was so much bad blood between Nolan and Frank, that anyone connected with Nolan was certainly not acceptable at that time. I'll bet some of those folks up in Northwest Arkansas are kicking themselves in the butt every day when they realize they could have had Mike for a song at that time. One of the best programs in the country has been down in the dumps for around 15 years now. Shows what bad hiring decisions can do for you.

(03-13-2010 09:59 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 09:48 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Which is why they fired Coach Heath.

Stan Heath never had a chance. He was following a legend, and the program was in turmoil because of the Nolan-Frank Feud. Any person with half a brain knew the reason why Heath was hired. He wasn't the best qualified candidate by a long shot. But with the discrimination lawsuit pending, they couldn't afford to dare hire a white coach, so Heath was found to be acceptable. An intelligent, likeable person, who had one great year at Kent State. He was destined to fail.

The logical hire should have been Mike Anderson, but there was so much bad blood between Nolan and Frank, that anyone connected with Nolan was certainly not acceptable at that time. I'll bet some of those folks up in Northwest Arkansas are kicking themselves in the butt every day when they realize they could have had Mike for a song at that time. One of the best programs in the country has been down in the dumps for around 15 years now. Shows what bad hiring decisions can do for you.

I recall you were all for firing Coach Heath. They got what they deserved. A coach who appears totally clueless coaching at the SEC level.

(03-13-2010 10:03 AM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 09:59 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 09:48 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Which is why they fired Coach Heath.

Stan Heath never had a chance. He was following a legend, and the program was in turmoil because of the Nolan-Frank Feud. Any person with half a brain knew the reason why Heath was hired. He wasn't the best qualified candidate by a long shot. But with the discrimination lawsuit pending, they couldn't afford to dare hire a white coach, so Heath was found to be acceptable. An intelligent, likeable person, who had one great year at Kent State. He was destined to fail.

The logical hire should have been Mike Anderson, but there was so much bad blood between Nolan and Frank, that anyone connected with Nolan was certainly not acceptable at that time. I'll bet some of those folks up in Northwest Arkansas are kicking themselves in the butt every day when they realize they could have had Mike for a song at that time. One of the best programs in the country has been down in the dumps for around 15 years now. Shows what bad hiring decisions can do for you.

I recall you were all for firing Coach Heath. They got what they deserved. A coach who appears totally clueless coaching at the SEC level.

How could a guy who starred in the SEC, and was a top assistant to Billy Donovan for all those years in the SEC be totally clueless about coaching in the SEC. It comes down to recruiting, not coaching. Can he get enough quality players in quick enough to survive? I don't know, but I think he's certainly as qualified as any to coach in that league.

(03-13-2010 10:03 AM)mjs Wrote:  They got what they deserved. A coach who appears totally clueless coaching at the SEC level.

And won 7 SEC games this year. Which except for the 05-06 season, is as many as Coach Heath won his entire tenure at Arkansas.

(03-13-2010 10:07 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:03 AM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 09:59 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 09:48 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Which is why they fired Coach Heath.

Stan Heath never had a chance. He was following a legend, and the program was in turmoil because of the Nolan-Frank Feud. Any person with half a brain knew the reason why Heath was hired. He wasn't the best qualified candidate by a long shot. But with the discrimination lawsuit pending, they couldn't afford to dare hire a white coach, so Heath was found to be acceptable. An intelligent, likeable person, who had one great year at Kent State. He was destined to fail.

The logical hire should have been Mike Anderson, but there was so much bad blood between Nolan and Frank, that anyone connected with Nolan was certainly not acceptable at that time. I'll bet some of those folks up in Northwest Arkansas are kicking themselves in the butt every day when they realize they could have had Mike for a song at that time. One of the best programs in the country has been down in the dumps for around 15 years now. Shows what bad hiring decisions can do for you.

I recall you were all for firing Coach Heath. They got what they deserved. A coach who appears totally clueless coaching at the SEC level.

How could a guy who starred in the SEC, and was a top assistant to Billy Donovan for all those years in the SEC be totally clueless about coaching in the SEC. It comes down to recruiting, not coaching. Can he get enough quality players in quick enough to survive? I don't know, but I think he's certainly as qualified as any to coach in that league.

There was nothing wrong with their talent level. Clarke is supposedly the best shooter in the country and they can't get him a shot. Powell was freshman first team. Washington was supposedly a first round NBA pick. Fortson is a NBA talent, but is allowed to play totally out of control. Yet they ended the season as the worst team in the SEC. Remember, Pelphrey lost his last 6 games at USA before he was hired.

(03-13-2010 10:11 AM)Scotto Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:03 AM)mjs Wrote:  They got what they deserved. A coach who appears totally clueless coaching at the SEC level.

And won 7 SEC games this year. Which except for the 05-06 season, is as many as Coach Heath won his entire tenure at Arkansas.

I don't say Heath is a bad coach. He's doing pretty well at South Florida. But following Nolan with a coach playing Big 10 grinder ball was a huge mistake. If they had hired anyone who played up tempo like the successful Razorback teams, it might have worked. But they went from
an exciting brand of ball to an unknown, unproven coach, who played a boring style. Just wasn't a good fit. And yes. I did say Heath should move on. He wasn't the right man for the Razorback job for the reasons listed above.

(03-13-2010 10:18 AM)mjs Wrote:  Yet they ended the season as the worst team in the SEC. Remember, Pelphrey lost his last 6 games at USA before he was hired.

Check the final standings. They were 7th in a 12-team conference. How does that equate to worst team in the SEC..? You're anti-Hog bias is showing again.

I guess using you're logic we were the 4th best in the SBC this year.

(03-13-2010 10:28 AM)Scotto Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:18 AM)mjs Wrote:  Yet they ended the season as the worst team in the SEC. Remember, Pelphrey lost his last 6 games at USA before he was hired.

Check the final standings. They were 7th in a 12-team conference. How does that equate to worst team in the SEC..? You're anti-Hog bias is showing again.

I guess using you're logic we were the 4th best in the SBC this year.

You always say its how you finish. Lost last 6. Lost 7 of last 8. Lost to LSU, who had been the worst team in the league. Ended their season with a 13 point loss to the worst team in the East. By my calculations they were the worst team in the league at the end of the year. That's all that counts.

Again, check the final standings. It just kills you that they won 7 SEC games.

(03-13-2010 10:32 AM)mjs Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:28 AM)Scotto Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:18 AM)mjs Wrote:  Yet they ended the season as the worst team in the SEC. Remember, Pelphrey lost his last 6 games at USA before he was hired.

Check the final standings. They were 7th in a 12-team conference. How does that equate to worst team in the SEC..? You're anti-Hog bias is showing again.

I guess using you're logic we were the 4th best in the SBC this year.

You always say its how you finish. Lost last 6. Lost 7 of last 8. Lost to LSU, who had been the worst team in the league. Ended their season with a 13 point loss to the worst team in the East. By my calculations they were the worst team in the league at the end of the year. That's all that counts.

Well the only thing we know for sure. They weren't the best.

(03-13-2010 10:34 AM)Scotto Wrote:  Again, check the final standings. It just kills you that they won 7 SEC games.

No it doesn't kill. It thrills me. I wish they won one more game. Then I'd be sure they'd keep him for another year. I'm not 100% convinced at this point no matter what Long says publicly. I'm afraid they'll fire him and actually get themselves a "real" coach.

(03-13-2010 10:32 AM)mjs Wrote:  You always say its how you finish. Lost last 6. Lost 7 of last 8. Lost to LSU, who had been the worst team in the league. Ended their season with a 13 point loss to the worst team in the East. By my calculations they were the worst team in the league at the end of the year. That's all that counts.

Don't guess we need to worry about anyone hiring Shields out from under us, we lost 7 out of the last 8 this year.

(03-13-2010 10:44 AM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:32 AM)mjs Wrote:  You always say its how you finish. Lost last 6. Lost 7 of last 8. Lost to LSU, who had been the worst team in the league. Ended their season with a 13 point loss to the worst team in the East. By my calculations they were the worst team in the league at the end of the year. That's all that counts.

Don't guess we need to worry about anyone hiring Shields out from under us, we lost 7 out of the last 8 this year.

"OUCH".

(03-13-2010 10:47 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:44 AM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(03-13-2010 10:32 AM)mjs Wrote:  You always say its how you finish. Lost last 6. Lost 7 of last 8. Lost to LSU, who had been the worst team in the league. Ended their season with a 13 point loss to the worst team in the East. By my calculations they were the worst team in the league at the end of the year. That's all that counts.

Don't guess we need to worry about anyone hiring Shields out from under us, we lost 7 out of the last 8 this year.

"OUCH".

Touche. Good point. At least we didn't lose to the worst team in the league in that stretch and didn't lose to the second worst team by 13 points in our final game. We took a team that led the league much of the season to overtime in our last game. That gives me some hope with all 5 starters back. Still you are right, we didn't start or end the year very well.

(03-13-2010 10:56 AM)mjs Wrote:  Still you are right, we didn't start or end the year very well.

The middle part was awesome though.

They will fire him in the next couple of years. U of A has high standards and this guy can't produce them.

U of A should be a top 25 program every year. As a U of A fan I would accept nothing less. The current coach can't produce that, period!

No doubt UAF has high standards. That's what winning a N/C does to you. If Coach Pelphrey can't get it done, they'll find someone who can.

(03-13-2010 05:30 PM)Scotto Wrote:  No doubt UAF has high standards. That's what winning a N/C does to you. If Coach Pelphrey can't get it done, they'll find someone who can.

And unlike the UALR program, they won't wait around forever to do it.
I don't know if Pelphrey can ever win a national championship, but I think he can be a decent coach, and I'm not sure if anyone can win another national championship at Arkansas. The Hogs won a football championship in 1964 and haven't done anything like that since, so it might have been a one time thing. But at least the Hogs keep trying. If something doesn't work, they try something else. A lesson that could be well learned by the UALR administration.