If Rumors True, Boosters Trying to Put Money in Wrong Place

It doesn't matter what coach Arkansas Razorbacks have at helm next year if NIL support doesn't change

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 15, 2023 12:52 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Before this even starts, let's address a bit of reality. When it comes to coaching searches, there are a lot of people out there who like to be sources who are convinced they have more power when it comes to who is going to be the head coach than they actually do.

They like to feel important, so they reach out to reporters or friends of reporters and start acting like they are doing the hiring or know more than they really do about those who do. That's why unless Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek sits down next to a member of the allHogs staff and says something directly, no matter who the "source" or the person reporting what that source says happens to be, it should be taken with a grain of salt.

That being said, one of the stories that made the rounds rather heavily over the weekend centered around a booster or group of boosters who reportedly offered to pay Razorback head coach Sam Pittman's buyout so long as Gus Malzahn became the next head coach. If there is any truth to this story, that was never going to happen. No one has gone out of their way to be more clear about not feeling comfortable about returning to Arkansas than Malzahn.

For those who don't remember, it wasn't exactly the greatest drama free experience for Malzahn and his family the last time he worked in Fayetteville. There was a lot of effort to make his life pretty miserable as the state divided into two factions in regard to Malzahn and the "Springdale Five."

At the moment, there is no job for Malzahn to have. Pittman is coach at least through Saturday. And while these theoretical boosters may not be able to get exactly what they want, there is a path at half the cost to get what they're truly wanting to happen.

The goal is to make Arkansas a consistent winner, but it doesn't matter who Yurachek brings in. The Razorbacks are so far behind when it comes to NIL that not even Nick Saban could attract enough high level talent to compete for the SEC championship. There's enough to produce nine wins once every five or six years if a coach can get the players to perform above their talent and that's it.

Is it fair? No. It's a system that penalizes a state as small and relatively poor as Arkansas. It's stomach churning to see events go on during the holiday season to raise money for NIL instead of helping people who can't afford utilities, food or Christmas presents. But that's where the program is right now. People offering up their last shillings in hopes of cobbling together enough money to afford a single 4-star offensive lineman.

However, there's a solution. If donors were truly willing to cough up $16-$20 million to subsidize an extension of Pittman's lake lifestyle into the fall season while the next coach to collect a big buyout four years from now takes over, then would they be willing to take half that to put toward NIL over the next four years instead?

Pittman didn't forget how to coach offensive linemen. Arkansas didn't suddenly start looking like the world's ugliest campus to receivers above the Division II level. The Razorbacks simply can't afford the type of linemen who can take what Pittman is teaching and apply it to natural skills powerful enough to slow the 5-star beast trying to bull them over. There's not enough money to land another Treylon Burks at wide receiver either.

However, stacking an extra $2-$2.5 million per year onto what little is in the coffers can go a long way toward making that happen. If Pittman can at least get a good offensive line, he can win. But neither Malzahn, nor anyone else fans can dream up to take the post, can consistently win where things are financially at the moment.

Razorback fans need to come to grips with the idea their coaches aren't playing with a loaded deck anymore. Before, the clout of playing in the SEC along with the facilities SEC payouts provide made Arkansas attractive to enough high level players for the Razorbacks to hit pockets of success here and there. Houston Nutt had several great years and everyone remembers the two huge years under Bobby Petrino.

That advantage isn't there anymore. As long as the money is right, star athletes will go to lesser conferences to play and practice in lesser facilities to perform in front of abysmal crowds.

Arkansas has enough money to produce a high level baseball program. Arkansas has enough money to produce a high level basketball program. However, the reality is, Arkansas doesn't have the money to produce a high level football program.

However, if these boosters are real, there's enough money to have a reasonably good football team with an outside chance at a high level one special year if they're willing to burn the money on players instead of making sure Pittman's pool is in pristine working order. The question is whether they are willing to put their money where their heart is.