Rasmus

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:48 PM ^

I don't know about the people making the hire [in Fayetteville], but in general people in Arkansas (i.e., my brother, a newspaper photographer who knows a lot of people) think the Razorbacks have a very good team coming back this year, capable of challenging for an SEC title.

I wonder if the rest of the staff will stay, especially Taver Johnson and the other Ohio escapee who came with him -- if they do, then maybe they can hold the team together for a year.

hart20

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:05 PM ^

His name is my name too.

Whenever we go out,

The people always shout,

There goes John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt.

Dah dah dah dah, dah dah dah

 

Sorry, that's what immediately came to mind when I heard his name.

 

 

Robbie Moore

April 23rd, 2012 at 5:06 PM ^

Along with everyone else I enjoyed a good laugh when I heard about John L becoming Head Coach at Arkansas. Guffaws aside, what was the Arkansas AD supposed to do? You can't get a top notch coach in April. You're stuck with what you have.  John L was on the staff, knows the coaches and players, has been a Head Coach and can handle the media (though how well I wonder). The coordinators can continue to coordinate, Arkansas gets through the season and then hires a long term solution.

Bonus: John L may slap his QB at a post game presser.

DrunkOnHiggins

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:08 PM ^

Wow! Thought it was a late April Fools joke...If I was a Razorback I would be so mad right now.

Did they just throw a dart at a map and it landed on East Lansing? Thefefore they decided to hire the last coach in East Lansing?

M-Wolverine

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:21 PM ^

And I'm sure there will be even more in East Lansing, so it's not even Spartan bashing...I'm not sure it's a horrible move. He wasn't horrible at Louisville, and how many coaches are out there that will take a job at this date on an interim basis?  As long as John L. is just using it to spring board into being a candidate to a lower job, and Arkansas is making sure he's just an interim, no matter how well they do with all that talent, and don't turn it into a "he won X games let's give him the full time gig" it's not a bad band aid on a bad situation. I mean, the only guy they could get to leave their team at this late a date to take over the Razorback program currently is.....the guy they just fired.

FrankMurphy

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:41 PM ^

Louisville competed in Conference USA when Smith was their coach. And he only had 2 good seasons while he was there. He was an absolute train wreck at MSU. I don't see how he's capable of being anything other than a sub-par coach in the SEC. Taver Johnson is an up-and-comer and would have stood a better chance of holding the team together than an old dude who failed miserably in his last head coaching gig. 

M-Wolverine

April 23rd, 2012 at 4:50 PM ^

I think you're staying away from assistants because you want to make a clean break and not have a team rally and say "keep this guy around, we love him" because A) they should be pretty good regardless, so it might not be an accurate reflection and B) they don't want anyone who was associated with a guy who's on strike 3 taking over the program.  Now, if they cave and keep John L. at the end of the season, well, nevermind.

chitownblue2

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:22 PM ^

This isn't stupid - you can't hire a real coach in April, they all have jobs.

John L was already on the Arkansas staff, he has head-coaching experience at 2 BCS level schools, and has lead them to bowl games.

He's also coached this exact offensive scheme.

It's about the best they could do in the situation.

MI Expat NY

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:35 PM ^

Technically he was no longer on staff.  He left in the off-season to take over Weber State.   

I do agree that this isn't necessarily a stupid move.  It saves them from having to pick Paul Petrino (akward) or a defensive coach as HC.

LSAClassOf2000

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:29 PM ^

...and John was available (as many former coaches are in April), because after all, "That's a dang coaching mistake...". It is a one year appointment per the AP article, so at least Razorback nation had no intention of being "LOLHog" on a long-term basis. I imagine the list of potential permanent replacements (and I bet they are working on it now) is a good list at Arkansas though.

cw51

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:24 PM ^

Is it just me or does JLS and Gerg seem like a match made in heaven?  After watching that clip, I think someone needs a furry little stuffed Hog to cuddle with and serve as a motivational tool

Wolverine Devotee

April 23rd, 2012 at 3:42 PM ^

I literally burst out laughing when I read this.

Maybe he'll slap himself with the other hand now?