Where does Arkansas go now?

Photo from: Deadspin.com
UPDATED ON 4/23/2012

ARKANSAS HIRES JOHN L. SMITH (laughable)

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Today the University of Arkansas announced there replacement for Bobby Petrino ----> John L. Smith will be taking over for the Hogs for this season, he will only have a 10 month deal, but with Nile Davis and Tyler Wilson, Smith should be able to win 10 games. Which I think will happen and if I was a Razorback I would pray for a losing season, because 10 wins season for Smith will equal a contract extension. Is an extension something you want from a 63 year old who's last HC job he went 22-26 and was fired after four year on the job up in East Lansing.

Here's a good read for you (Smith Jilts Wildcats) ,  John L. Smith just left Arkansas as there special teams coach to be the HC of Weber St his Alma Mater. When asked about his coaching philosophy at Weber St he replied ""Loyalty is No. 1." I'm sure the kids at Weber St feel that loyalty, but I guess money talks$

This is how I see it playing out: He knows the players and will keep the system, and win 10 or so games this season. He then will get a 4+ year deal worth millions, and go something like 21-15 over the next three years moving Arkansas back to the middle of the SEC West. Then you guessed it he will be canned. Bad move Arkansas I really do think you just set yourself back five years if not more.

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The dust is finally starting to settle after running Bobby Petrino out of town, now its time for Arkansas's AD Jeff Long to start looking at the future. There are two routes he can go. The first route he could choose to hire away a head coach from another program and sign him to a new deal. The second road he could go down would be much like the one Ohio State took and give the keys to an assistant and hire a big name coach at seasons end.

If Long just wants to get this over with and move on then they might have a shot at UAB's Garrick Mcgee or Arkansas State's Gus Malzahn. Both Mcgee and Malzahn have served time at Arkansas and both are only a few months into there new jobs. There are some other rumors out there that Arkansas might make a run at Art Briles of Baylor, Skip Holtz of South Florida, or Tommy Tuberville of Texas Tech, but I think all would be a long shot since its already April.

If Long decides to go the Ohio State way and give Tavor Johnson the keys to the Hog for a season, then after the season go and try to get the best coach available. Also that would give him a year to watch Mcgee and Malzahn on the job, because both of them will still be on the list in a year. Others like Briles, Holtz, or Tuberville might be begging for this job come winter. They might even get lucky and have someone like a Bobby Petrino fall in there lap again.

If Long wants Malzahn or Mcgee and they want to come then it might be the best move, but I'm not sold on that. I think it would be best to just wait it out for a season, there's enough talent up there for a nice season no matter who is running the show.

-Patrick Pierce

Follow me on Twitter @Patrickp13