FAYETTEVILLE — Each time Jeff Long remembers the catch in his voice when he addressed the hardships the Razorbacks football players endure from him firing their head coach, he should catch himself.
The University of Arkansas athletic director should catch himself if he really thinks about hiring a replacement thinking system switches and staff changes.
These Razorbacks don’t deserve that. Particularly those sacrificing so much to return for a projected banner year they thought would still be under Bobby Petrino, fired last week after four years, the last two seasons with 10-3 and 11-2 records.
They don’t deserve a wholesale change from their fired head coach even though he doesn’t deserve to coach them and they deserve better than to be coached by him.
Long, at the same press conference that cracked his voice discussing the players, announced Petrino was fired with cause.
Long’s thorough explanation of events everyone now knows by heart last week by daily reading page one so justified the firing to be without buyout compensation that Petrino did not appeal.
Seems nearly unfathomable that any remain who still think that Bobby Petrino should be Arkansas’ head coach.
That said, it’s equally unfathomable to deny that Bobby Petrino is a great offensive coach with a great system. It’s a system he has taught well to be orchestrated by Tyler Wilson, the fifth-year senior 2011 All-SEC first-team quarterback.
Wilson would have been a high NFL draft choice this month but opted to return to the Razorbacks he grew up dreaming to quarterback.
He deserves that system as do so many others who have thrived like 2010 All-SEC running back Knile Davis, robbed of the 2011 season by a broken ankle.
The Hogs have another Petrino to coordinate the system intact.
Offensive coordinator Paul Petrino was Bobby’s offensive coordinator at Louisville and for 2008 and 2009 at Arkansas before returning in December after two seasons as the play-calling offensive coordinator at Illinois.
Paul’s Razorbacks coordinator standing should not be tarnished by his brother’s conduct. But given the immediate culture change requiring the football program to recognize and be recognized that it is within the UA and not above it, it seems not in the cards for a Petrino to be the immediate interim head coach.
Besides, Paul has a full plate directing the offense and calling plays without the massive PR work the next head coach will require in his brother’s wake.
Running backs coach and recruiting coordinator, and lone staff UA grad, Tim Horton got the head coaching endorsement in this space Saturday, a ripple in the increasing tide of player and alumni support he’s receiving.
Regardless the eventual 2012 head coach, these Hogs deserve offensively to continue under Paul Petrino, Horton, line coach Chris Klenakis and receivers coach Kris Cinkovich.
And the defense deserves continuing to learn the system of December hired defensive coordinator Paul Haynes rather than be subjected to yet another defense under yet another coordinator when the August preseason begins.
Last week Long choked up discussing the players minus their head coach.
It would be hard to swallow should their position coaches and systems be subtracted, too.
Sports, Pages 16 on 04/16/2012