Arkansas hires John L Smith as interim coach. Very smart move to!

[aceplace57]

Who is John L Smith you ask?

Smith was also a head coach at Michigan State and Louisville, where he was replaced by Petrino after the 2006 season. He served as the special teams and outside linebackers coach at Arkansas for the 2009-10 seasons under Petrino, who he had worked with at four different schools in all.

Then in a bizarre twist of fate Smith became Petrino's assistant at Arkansas for awhile. He left last year for another head coach job.

Brilliant hire!!!! This is the one guy with big time head coaching experience that knows Petrino's system. He's worked with Petrino's assistant coaches and knows the athletes. He can step right into the program like an old pair of loafers.

This could work out really well. It's almost like having Petrino there without the sex scandal. It is an interim hire, but if he takes us to the Cotton Bowl I bet it becomes permanent.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/...5399cebcc57377

[Marley23]

Originally Posted by aceplace57

He left last year for another head coach job.

He actually left Arkansas in December, so Weber State is being left in the lurch here. But it does make sense for Arkansas.

[mkecane]

That's really harsh on Weber State. I don't know how Arkansas is being projected for next year, but I've never been overly impressed with his work at UL and MSU. Good coach, but not great, and he's got his teams to exceed low expectations. At least that's my impression. I'd expect a typical U of A 8-4 or 9-3 type season this year.

[R. P. McMurphy]

Very few MSU fans were sorry to see him go.

[aceplace57]

Smith is an older retread choice. But Arkansas needed someone that knew the system. They just finished Spring training and had the Red White game.

If they brought in a new coach and staff now, it would be a disastrous season.

Petrino left a really good staff and team behind. If Smith is any good at all he should get a winning season and a bowl game from this team.

[BobLibDem]

Up here at MSU we have sympathy for you folks in Arkansas. There were thousands of Spartan fans who were more than happy to help him pack his bags and many more than that who'd take a day off to hold the door open for him so it didn't hit him in the ass. He is not a big time coach. Good luck with him, you'll need it.

[aceplace57]

The flip side of the story from a Utah paper. Weber state did get hosed. I didn't know Smith was an Weber Alumnus. Dumping his Alma mater was harsh. It's like what Petrino did when he got the Ark job. There's not much loyalty in coaching anymore.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/sports/...coach.html.csp

Smith, hired Dec. 6 by Weber State to replace the retiring Ron McBride, had just finished his first spring practices with the Wildcats.

"I’ve always had a place in my heart for Weber State," Smith, a Weber graduate, said when he was hired. "To come back and run your own program as a head coach again was crucial for me."

Asked about his coaching philosphy that day, Smith said "Loyalty is No. 1."

[R. P. McMurphy]

Petrino to Weber State?

BTW, the hard core MSU football fans called him "Slappy" and not in an endearing way.

[Munch]

Ah - replacing someone who's sleazy off the field for someone who's sleazy on the field. Interesting move.

[Jackknifed Juggernaut]

Originally Posted by Munch

Ah - replacing someone who's sleazy off the field for someone who's sleazy on the field. Interesting move.

Petrino was sleazy in every possible setting, so it's a move in the right direction.

[garygnu]

All the 49ers blogs touched on the hiring. One because the 49ers' OC Mark Roman was rumored to be in consideration, thus continuing Alex Smith's coordinator-carousel. Two because John L. Smith is Alex's uncle.