RE: stAtes assistants
I have to tell this story from a couple years ago...it fully explains how the politics work at a small Arkansas High School
Two years ago, I was working as a teacher at a small Arkansas School. We were a poor district, with about 170 total students. The football program existed, and generally had about 20 total players. That year, the team was in the middle of a 2-8 season, and had not done anything in football since the 90's. It was not an ideal place to work...but I loved it, and it was a job...what can I say.
That week, Malzahn had announced the creation of the A-State Ambush. That week, an Arkansas State Coach would personally visit all 232 football playing schools in the state. No matter how big, nor how small. They may never produce a player...but a coach would visit. ASU went all out and put a coach tracker on the website, and actually listed what schools would be visited what days. I looked it up, and found out what day our assistant was visiting. (Naturally I went to work wearing ASU gear)
Before the visit, ASU had called the schools head coach personally and let him know when to expect us. The ASU coach came in at 7:30am, watched a morning workout, and was gone in an hour. I know the players, no way we had any FBS talent on that team...but he still talked to our coach about needing walk ons and let him know that he would be in contact in the future to discuss it further. The thrilled Head Coach went straight to me that day to let me know how nice our coach was, and how great it was that we had visited.
That afternoon, I am in the main office making copies and a guy walks in. His shirt has a pig logo and reads "Arkansas Football Staff" He comes into the main office, and the conversation with our rather interesting secretary goes like this.
"I am here to see coach (Whatshisname)"
Secretary eyes him suspiciously "And who exactly ARE YOU?" Emphasis on the last two words
"I am Coach Horton with the Razorbacks. I am here to see coach (Whatshisname)"
"Did you call and let him know you were coming
"No Mam, I didn't think I needed to"
"Well you are supposed to call and let him know he is coming. As it is, I don't know where he is, so I guess if you have a seat, and wait to see if he comes by the office, he usually does after school."
I then got to watch amused as Tim Horton, one of the most famous Arkansas coaches at the time, and a nationally renowned recruiter who was a finalist for the App State head coaching job sat on the rather uncomfortable chairs of our school office. the same chairs that are designed for troublebamking students who are sent to visit with the principal. After finishing my copies, I finally took pity. I walked up to him...made sure he could clearly see the ASU logo on my shirt and deeply apologized for making him wait, its just that most D1 coaches call ahead before visiting, and directed him to the gym where he could find the head coach.
Tim Horton is a fabulous recruiter, but he was used to the large schools where Razorback coaches are known and fawned over. How he ended up at our school, God only knows, but you could tell he clearly thought he could just walk in, be recognized immediately, and given a proper welcome.
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