Texas Winds Blowing in Way That Increases Odds Pittman Makes Return Next Year

If Kiffin leaves Ole Miss for Aggies, Yurachek finds him back where he was in 2019 if Arkansas opts to move on from Razorback head coach

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 16, 2023 9:54 AM EST

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Despite there being no coaching opening over at Arkansas, fans haven't relented on proceeding as if there is. For those who live life as if it's a done deal the Razorbacks will have a new head coach next season, the possibility of their alternative reality took a sizable hit yesterday.

"Here's Why Ole Miss' Lane Kiffin is the Coach Texas A&m Needs to Lead Its Football Program" the giant headline screamed. No, not the sports section headline. The main headline for the entire Dallas Morning News.

The push for Kiffin to Texas A&M is real. Even before this unprecedented push, Kiffin led some betting lists at 5-to-1 and the worst odds put him at No. 5 in the pecking order behind leader Mike Elko of Duke. Whether Kiffin actually has people from Texas A&M putting out feelers will likely be evident on Saturday. He's notorious for putting his full attention into a coaching opportunity, placing his team on the back burner, which Arkansas fans got to see first hand last season during a blowout of the Rebels while Kiffin tested the waters at Auburn.

The reason this is an issue for people who think a coaching search at Arkansas is a given is because there's no way a move takes place for the sake of a move. There's already the issue of money and the lack of it available to the Razorback athletic department at the moment. However, a more pressing issue is whether a quality candidate can be found to take the job.

If Kiffin goes to Texas A&M, Yurachek would find himself in the same situation he was in back in 2019, but under worse circumstances. Back then, Arkansas had built-in advantages. The Razorbacks were an SEC program with top-notch facilities, which went a long way with recruits back then. Still, when it came to Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Arkansas, all of which would be open in this situation, the Hogs fell a distant third in the eyes of prime coaching prospects.

That was before NIL became a thing. Since then, the value of what conference a team plays in and the quality of facilities has been watered down. Instead, the amount of money a player can be promised before taking a single step on the field carries major sway. Unfortunately, anyone who takes the job at Arkansas knows this is going to be a great weight holding him back from matching his potential for success.

As a result, instead of feeling confident he can pitch a better situation at Arkansas over Ole Miss and Mississippi State, Yurachek faces a need to deliver at a high level knowing he continues to get pushed down the pecking order in terms of desirable jobs.

Adding Ole Miss to the list adds direct competition to his pool that's already getting depleted with other job openings. At some point, the best option becomes not having an opening at all for stability purposes in recruiting. If Florida comes open, that probably puts Arkansas too far down the ladder to make a move.

The program is simply not in a position to make a change for the sake of making a change. If Kiffin goes to Texas A&M, the addition of Ole Miss to the fray probably bumps a coaching move into that category barring a Houston Nutt type out there who wants the job simply out of love for the Razorbacks.

So, if Louisiana-Monroe plays Ole Miss closer than expected Saturday, it might be time for those running an Arkansas coaching search in their minds to begin accepting the idea of Pittman standing at the podium for the Razorbacks once again next summer when SEC Media Days roll around.