Initial Names Put Out By Hogs' Fans Either Bad Idea or Not Going to Happen

If Arkansas Razorback coaching search list includes either of these two names, skip it, look for something more credible

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 13, 2023 11:53 AM EST

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Let's start by saying that as of this writing, Sam Pittman is still the head coach at Arkansas and the press conference schedule put out by the university over the weekend indicates he is the coach at least through Florida International this Saturday.

That could change at any moment, especially after the news this morning that Zach Arnett was fired at Mississippi State. However, social media has already moved forward as if Pittman no longer works at Arkansas.

There are two calls fans are putting out for future head coach that need to be put to rest right away. The first is for now former Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher.

This is a terrible idea for two reasons:
1) If Fisher couldn't win at Texas A&M with what may be the greatest NIL war chest in all of college football, he can't win at Arkansas with one of the worst in the SEC.
2) How motivated is Fisher going to be to rebuild Arkansas when he's already got $76 million in the bank? It's awful hard to get pumped about earning $5 million when his A&M payout, if it didn't require an agent cut and taxes, would generate over $3.3 million in interest at current CD rates to hang out wherever he wants and drop in as a guest analyst on the SEC Network from time to time.

While Fisher would be a terrible choice, the second name, Colorado's Deion Sanders, is not an option. Everyone knows the story of Jerry Jones supposedly pushing for Sanders to get an interview back when Pittman was hired. That's not one we've verified, but it's definitely made the rounds enough for Razorback fans to believe it whether it happened or not.

At the time, the only coaching experience Sanders had was limited time as a high school coach at a private school in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. If he did get time with Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek, it definitely would have been strictly as a favor to Jones. No name is big enough to land a Power Five job, even Arkansas, with those credentials.

If it did take place, Sanders has too much pride to take the job if offered now. He's a prove you wrong kind of man, not a come crawling back for opportunity kind of man. Plus, he has a great situation at Colorado. He's going to be playing in Power Four conference with an easier path to the playoffs than he would have in the SEC and is guaranteed time in Texas each season, which has been his home for the majority of his life. It's where he recruits best.

Image also goes a long way for Sanders. The uniforms at Colorado present an image that screams "Prime Time." It's hard to picture the same level of swagger in Razorback red versus the all black with gold highlights of Colorado. Sanders in all black complete with the shades, white cowboy hat and gold chain is an iconic look.

Speaking of swagger, it's unclear if the Razorbacks would even allow him the freedom to be the persona that draws so many recruits his way. It's hard to imagine a few of the handful of powerful donors at Arkansas not demanding things be toned down a bit, which would be a huge mistake. Sanders has to be allowed to be his true self no matter where he goes and Colorado was willing to accept that.

If Sanders walked into the Razorback locker room tomorrow and told most of the team they will be relieved of their duties, it won't go over well at all. Colorado stuck to it because they believe in and support Sanders fully. He's just to big of a personality to believe Arkansas fans across the board will do the same.

If Pittman gets fired or he voluntarily retires, there will be well thought out lists that will come out. If either Fisher or Sanders is on one, then move on because that's not one of them.