Arkansas job officially open

[brewcity77]

Andy Katz just said on ESPN that the top candidate is Mike Anderson at Missouri, and their second choice would be Marquette's Buzz Williams due to his Arkansas ties.

Personally, I don't think he'll be going, though it would make sense for Arkansas since the top two players of their vaunted #7 recruiting class were also Buzz targets.

[HouWarrior]

I'm sure there's more to it, but here's a news article I found at the time. Looks like Gillispie made himself available to Arkansas, which provoked A&M to hand him a raise. I don't think that's uncommon at all, coaches using potential job offers to get a raise out of their current employer. Anyway, here's the link I found:

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/4661783.html

Another article:

http://www.aolnews.com/2007/03/26/billy-gillispie-to-arkansas/

Thanks-- that helped. Billy then rewarded AM by jumping to UK.
Also, This job at Ark was given after the embarrasment of creighton coach accepting and bailing. ...."Pelphrey was not the first choice when he was hired. Then-Creighton coach Dana Altman took the Arkansas job and held a news conference before going back to Creighton. Altman is now the head coach at Oregon....."
If the same drama story repeats its history of 4 years ago...ie, we may see rumors of contacts with Billy G. Buzz and the Mizzou asst...could be fun to watch.

[Knight Commission]

Katz is reporting that In Buzz We Trust is Arkansas' #2 choice. can't see Anderson leaving Mo., he has done a hell of a job there. Would Buzz leave?

Of course he would.

[Blackhat]

Of course he would.

Taking into account your thorough reasoning and detailed explanation, I've decided..  I agree.


C-ham better not get on any planes.

[Knight Commission]

Lets get Jeter warming up to replace Buzz. After Jeter leaves MU in a few years, then Wardle or Harris will be ready. Then a few years after they take over, Diener and/or Novak will be ready.

The program will make the coach.

[ChicosBailBonds]

He'd also be the first to be offered a big time job after just three years at MU

Not true but certainly believe whatever you wish

[ChicosBailBonds]

At the end of the day...the fact Buzz is rumored to be Arkansas's Number 2 choice speaks volumes about how he is perceived nationally.

Weird...so all the job offers for our previous coach didn't mean this because you labeled him a fraud, but for Buzz it means something different.  Weird. 

LOL.  I love it. 

[brewcity77]

Is Arkansas a better job right now? Closer to home for Buzz, but not sure about money. I'm sure that if he makes a Sweet 16 run, C-ham will have no problem paying him if we need to. He's currently in the best conference in the land, which is a double-edged sword. Arkansas currently has an easier road with the strength of the SEC West, but considering Alabama is a bubble team with a 12-4 conference record, it will probably be harder to get in the tourney.

This isn't the Arkansas of Nolan Richardson, and this isn't a case of "It's Arkansas, it's Arkansas". I think right now he stays. Unless it's Texas or one of the classic major programs like Kansas, Kentucky, or UNC, he stays put for now.

[mugrad2006]

Weird...so all the job offers for our previous coach didn't mean this because you labeled him a fraud, but for Buzz it means something different.  Weird. 

LOL.  I love it. 

I agree with your point, but please don't turn this into a Buzz vs. Crean thread.  I would gather a ton of us were worried (I know I was) when Crean was mentioned for other jobs premier jobs, but proud of where it meant we were. 

I don't want to lose another coach.  I think that right now continuity is key for MU, even with the warts we know Buzz has.

[jsglow]

I'd be very surprised to see Buzz leave.  He understands the blessing that MU gave him.  We might be writing a bigger check but I do not expect him to cut and run.

[GGGG]

The facilities at Arkansas are top-notch.  My understanding is the best in the SEC behind Kentucky.  Wal-Mart money.  I can see why he would be interested.

[Lennys Tap]

Not true but certainly believe whatever you wish

The first big job I recall TC allegedly being offered was Illinois after year 4. I know for a fact that "offer" never occured. They're may or may not have been an Arkansas offer between Illinois and Indiana - I don't have personal knowledge on that. Who is it you claim offered TC after year 3 at MU?

[jsglow]

Plus how is that Indiana thing working out?  Granted he's making big money but . . .

The grass isn't always greener.  I can see why Arkansas may have an interest in Buzz.  I just think he's thinking about seeing if their recruits want to practice up here in the AL.

[StillWarriors]

And let's hope Ark would be no better than Buzz's second choice.

[nyg]

Mike Anderson was an assistant at Arkansas from 1985 to 2002.  Even though he has had success at Missouri, it would be one of those "homecoming" jobs coaches eventually go to.  Like Gary Williams at Maryland and Roy Williams at UNC as two examples. 

[Blackhat]

So if Buzz leaves for Arky I guess that just proves the Cottingham coach hiring process worked beautifully.






*Throws big gas-drenched log into freakshow fire*

[mugrad2006]

So if Buzz leaves for Arky I guess that just proves the Cottingham coach hiring process worked beautifully.






*Throws big gas-drenched log into freakshow fire*

Ugh...

[lab_warrior]

Anytime you can leave back to back great recruiting classes, a job at a great university where basketball is KING, and play in the best conference in college basketball, to go to an SEC bottom-feeder where nobody cares about basketball, whose recruits are fleeing as if from a house fire, YOU'VE GOT TO DO IT.  No drawbacks there!!

[GGGG]

Basketball is huge at Arkansas. 

[Doris Burkes Thong]

If Buzz leaves for Arkansas go after Todd Townsend from Northern Illinois.

[Blackhat]

Arkansas is a very appealing job, imo.   Near a hot bed for basketball recruiting, if I was from that area it'd be very enticing.   


Honestly, I don't know if Buzz has shown enough to get into a bidding war...the cold hard facts are we have regressed each year.

[willie warrior]

I do not think he would leave the best conference in the Country for a football conference.

[The Maestro]

Andy Katz, for whatever reason, always mentions MU coaches for job openings. first with KO, then Crean a few times and now Buzz. To me he's a muckraker. 

[Tugg Speedman]

I do not think he would leave the best conference in the Country for a football conference.

$$$$ will do it.  But, if you have $$$$, why not go after a more established head coach?

[lab_warrior]

He's basically a rumor-mongering dips***.  Reminds me of the 'ol Lionel Hutz line,  "Well, I've got plenty of HEARSAY and CONJECTURE, those are KINDS OF EVIDENCE?!" 

Again, WHO WANTS SOME SCOTCH??