If Razorback Coaching Search Happens, Will Be Much Different Than Last

Yurachek shows he's learned how to stay off Arkansas fans' literal radars

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
Nov 13, 2023 2:02 PM EST

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A tweet about a small story that flew under the radar for most a week or so ago gives a good idea that this time around, the potential search for a new Razorback football coach will be carried out much differently than last time. That is, if there ends up being one.

The tweet revealed Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek had sold his house. That led ESPN Arkansas radio hosts Ruscin & Zach to contemplate whether this meant the Razorbacks might soon be looking for a new AD, which isn't the case.

It seems Yurachek learned a lesson from the last time he purchased a home in the area because he reportedly used more discreet methods to purchase a new home in the area well prior to his being sold. He learned the ways of the nosy Arkansas fan and adapted.

That bodes well for the public nature of what most believe will be an impending coaching search sometime between now and early December. Part of the fallout of the removal of Chad Morris was the embarrassing nature of how easy it was for fans to follow the search and connect the dots as to with whom the university discussed the job only to not end up head coach.

This time, it's likely the usual plane tracking crowd won't get a chance to be revved up before an announcement of a new coach is made. The most prudent way to handle things would be to let Pittman finish out and retire as gracefully as can be at the end of the season to avoid public humiliation of a likable man who helped the program get through a difficult time.

Meanwhile, it is in Yuracheck's best interest to conduct a search behind the scenes despite Pittman still being in place. Maybe send a plane to the Dallas-Fort Worth area to throw the plane trackers into believing either Sonny Dykes, Kendal Briles or Gus Malzahn protege' Rhett Lashlee is the next hire. It would take things up a notch if it turned out that plane had a generic official from the department who flew to the area to simply discuss arrangements to close out the final year of the agreement with Jerry Jones to play Texas A&M in Arlington.

Doing such would free Yurachek to discreetly fly or drive to meet coaching candidates, or, and hold onto your backsides for this, simply conduct a Zoom call to a personal device owned by either the candidate's agent or a family member of the coach.

The odds of this being a 1980's style pursuit like Arkansas fans saw last time are low. There are just too many ways around it and Yurachek has become too seasoned, too savvy to go through that again.

In the world of cell phones, it's almost impossible to have Pittman retire and an hour later a surprise announcement of the new coach takes place where everyone is stunned to see the new face of the Razorbacks walk out. Still, what will likely take place has a higher chance of being closer to that scene than what happened last time.

But, happy plane tracking, nonetheless. It's become quite the tradition in Arkansas and there are some guys out there who are great at doing it. Just don't read so much into them this time around. Seeing how Yurachek functions these days, he may already have an agreement with his guy, and much like his house, we won't know until the contract is signed and the new guy has moved in.