Take Gus’ postgame answer however you want

Andy Hodges
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VIDEO COURTESY OF AL.COM

Gus Malzahn gave an answer in his postgame press conference Saturday that you can take however you want.

He said he “wants to be” the coach at Auburn next year.

To some that sounded like a commitment. It wasn’t. That’s coachspeak for “if they give me what I want, then I’ll think about it.”

In reality, what do you expect him to say at a time like that? Coaches hardly ever deny that and it certainly wasn’t as strong of a claim as what Nick Saban made back in 2006-07 to questions about him coming to Alabama from the Miami Dolphins.

Remember, that was when Saban said he “was not going to be the coach at Alabama” … and then he was a couple of weeks later.

Even Dan Wolken at USA TODAY thinks Malzahn should head out to Arkansas:

At least one person thinks it will be a Tuesday introduction. We will have an announcement before any introduction, by the way.

Longtime Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Wally Hall tweeted this:

That is pretty much what I was thinking, too.

There was a Twitter report late Saturday afternoon about the cheerleaders told to be ready for a Sunday pep rally, but the guess here is that’s not going to happen.

There is usually enough of a period of time between the announcement and press conference-pep rally to allow media time to get to Fayetteville.

But, really, nothing would surprise me.

Time is now for Malzahn … or maybe never

Andy Hodges
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It’s not a big secret that being the head coach at Arkansas is one of Gus Malzahn’s dream jobs.

In case you’re wondering, coaching the Dallas Cowboys is the other.

There is presently an opening in Fayetteville. It’s not a huge stretch to believe that Malzahn has been the principle target of whoever is making the decision to replace Bret Bielema for a few weeks before the axe was finally swing on him last week.

With Auburn losing the SEC Championship Game to Georgia on Saturday afternoon, any logical stumbling blocks were removed.

This shouldn’t be complicated.

Either Gus really wants the job or he doesn’t. At Auburn you’re only wanted after your most recent game if it was a win.

Malzahn found that out after last year’s Sugar Bowl when Oklahoma trounced the Tigers down in New Orleans and there were Auburn fans who would not have been that upset if he had left then.

Now? Who knows?

The Razorback fan base has convinced itself if the Tigers lost Saturday’s game, then Malzahn to Fayetteville was a done deal.

For his part, Malzahn ducked and dodged questions all week. Apparently, some in the media assumed that when Gus started an answer to a question about his loyalty with, “Yeah …” then gave a completely rambling answer saying nothing that it was a pledge to stay at Auburn.

In all the years that I’ve interviewed Malzahn, I think he starts every answer with, “Yeah …” It’s more or less his way of acknowledging he understands the question and the answer will follow.

So now is decision time.

Rumors have been swirling for a month (or more in some cases). The Malzahns obviously know just about every person from Little Rock to the River Valley to Northwest Arkansas because everybody has a “source that knows them” with some opinion of what’s going to happen.

Well, if it’s going to happen the moon, sun and stars have all aligned for the dream of many fans for Malzahn to be the head coach of the Razorbacks to finally happen.

And, naturally, there are others that would rather have anyone BUT Malzahn as the coach.

It should be an interesting few hours and there will be updates here.

Malzahn dodges talk about leaving … again

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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VIDEO FROM AL.COM

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn deflects talk about going to Arkansas by, well, just not talking about it which is what he’s done repeatedly.

Bielema’s buyout reduced a little, but still high

Andy Hodges
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Contracts are usually the starting point for negotiations and that’s been the case for former Arkansas coach Bret Bielema.

An ESPN reports says the former coach, fired last Friday following the eighth loss of the year for the Razorbacks, will get $11.8 million.

There was some confusion as to the amount people were expecting:

Some members of Arkansas’ board of trustees tried to argue that the school owed Bielema between $5 million and $6 million. Bielema’s attorney, meanwhile, wanted the full $15.4 million buyout. But the sides agreed on the negotiated settlement, which should be executed in the next few days, the source told ESPN.

As we’ve said, sports contracts are the starting point for negotiations to break them.

Neighbors looking forward to Kansas road trip

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors is looking forward to the Hogs’ road trip to Kansas and introducing his players to legendary Phog Allen Fieldhouse.

Jon Price Sports Information Traders

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Morning Rush Hour 2

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 1

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 1

3 in the Lane with Nick Mason

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Gragg maybe, Gus still a maybe, Leach a definite no

Andy Hodges
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Thursday was one of those days like nobody has seen at Arkansas … ever.

To be fair, it’s because Arkansas has never been in this position before. It’s the first time the athletic director position has been vacant (sorry Julie Cromer Peoples, but you’re not the AD) at the same time as the head football coach.

It started with sources telling us and other media outlets that Tulsa athletics director Derrick Gragg was the choice to be the next AD for the Razorbacks.

That rolled around for a couple of hours before the UA jumped out to walk it back, saying, well, it’s not official.

“No decision has been made,” UA spokesman Mark Rushing told WholeHogSports.com.

Apparently, though, he is the leader in the clubhouse for the job and had no comment in Tulsa when he came out of a board of trustees meeting.

According to sources, Gragg is the choice of the board of trustees. Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, however, is reportedly pushing for former Arkansas quarterback Kevin Scanlon, who has worked at Stephens Inc. for years.

It was reported by other media outlets that the search committee retained this week would still be vetting candidates and no decision expected until midweek next week.

And if you thought confusion was only on that side, the football coach search continued to get more interesting.

There are multiple reports that mercurial Washington State coach Mike Leach reached out regarding the Arkansas position, but there was no interest from the Hogs.

Some fans have had him high on their list, but he will not be considered for the position. That is a good thing because he would be a horribly bad fit at Arkansas in my opinion.

Oh, Leach is entertaining, but has only shared a Big 12 South championship in 2012, was fired at Texas Tech for cause and really hasn’t exactly turned Washington State into a championship contender.

While he may make press conferences interesting, there’s zero proof he’s prepared for what’s required these days in the SEC in terms of recruiting. His only time in the league was offensive coordinator for Hal Mumme at Kentucky from 1997-98.

Scratch Leach off the list.

Gus Malzahn is still the No. 1 choice and more people are starting to believe he’s going to come to Arkansas regardless of how the Tigers fare in the

Even those who didn’t believe it possible two weeks ago are now actually thinking there is a good chance.

Oddsmaker Danny Sheridan, who lives in Alabama, said on a radio show Thursday if the Tigers lost to Georgia on Saturday, Malzahn was headed to Arkansas. He said if they win he puts the odds at 65 percent and if they win the national championship, he said it’s 50-50.

So, Gus MAY still be coming to Arkansas, who doesn’t have an athletic director, although it appears there is a power struggle going on for that position.

And we still don’t know WHO is in charge of anything.

Welcome to the most memorable silly season in Arkansas football history.

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