Friday April 13, 2012

Arkansas: Sources tell me that athletic director Jeff Long views Texas Tech head coach Tommy Tuberville and South Florida head coach Skip Holtz as viable options for an immediate hiring.  Long is weighing options and will continue to do so this weekend, but you can scratch Butch Davis' name as a candidate to replace Petrino.

Syracuse: Head coach Doug Marrone will coach the tight ends this year.

Portland State: College of the Canyons defensive line coach Mike Scheper has accepted the defensive ends job at Portland State.  Also, current Portland State special teams coordinator Ikaika Malloe will now also coach the defensive tackles.

West Alabama: West Alabama wide receivers / recruiting coordinator / assistant head coach Desmond Lindsey has been selected to participate in the 2012 NCAA / NFL Coach Academy in Dallas next month.

Thursday April 12, 2012

Today's Radio Schedule: 620AM Jackson, MS (7:05 am CST), 94.5 WJOX Birmingham, AL (10:35 am CST), Sports Talk with Bo Mattingly Show - statewide Arkansas (2:30 pm CST).

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New Orleans Saints: Joe Vitt will take over for Sean Payton on April 16th.  As mentioned earlier today as a strong possibility (see below), ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting Aaron Kromer is now expected to coach the team in the first six weeks of the regular season.

Arkansas: Sources tell me this afternoon that if Jeff Long stays in-house for the 2012 season, Arkansas assistant coaches are in favor of running backs / recruiting coordinator Tim Horton.  I'm told that Jeff Long has asked the opinion of the current staff.  Long has not decided whether he will stay in-house or go outside at this point.

Oklahoma State: Here are the raises for the Oklahoma State staff, according to the Tulsa World. Todd Monken (from $400,000 to $600,000), offensive line coach Joe Wickline ($400,000 to $440,000), defensive coordinator (from $400,000 to $430,000), co-defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer ($315,000 to $360,000), receivers coach Doug Meachem ($275,000 to $305,000), corners coach Jason Jones ($210,000 to $240,000), receivers coach Kasey Dunn ($185,000 to $210,000), running backs coach Jemal Singleton ($185,000 to $210,000), safeties coach Van Malone ($210,000).

East Mississippi Community College: Sources tell me that Mississippi State offensive grad assistant DJ Looney has accepted the centers & guards job at East Mississippi CC.

New Orleans Saints: I'm told that Sean Payton has allowed Joe Vitt to address the team each Saturday during the season.  Vitt would definitely have the locker room support.  With such a veteran offensive line group, don't be surprised if offensive line coach Aaron Kromer serves as the interim head coach for the first six weeks before Vitt would likely take over the interim head coaching role.  Some people still, however, believe Parcells remains a candidate.

San Diego State: Rocky Long has promoted offensive grad assistant Mike Schmidt to offensive line coach.

Arkansas: A report surfaced on another site yesterday afternoon that citing 2 different sources telling them Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long had already spoken with Garrick McGee about becoming the head coach of the Razorbacks.  UAB athletic director Brian Mackin shortly thereafter denied it.  Late last night, Long tweeted, "At this point I have not spoken to anyone about the Head Coaching position." Not really a tough call on who to believe here.  FYI: Scot Loeffler still hasn't arrived at Akron.

Wednesday April 11, 2012

Arkansas: UAB athletic director Brian Mackin says nobody has contacted Garrick McGee. False report on another site.

Ole Miss: According to the Clarion-Ledger, defensive coordinator Dave Wommack received a 3-year deal at $550,000 per year, co-defensive coordinator Wes McGriff received a 2-year deal at $278,523 per year, co-offensive coordinator / offensive line coach Matt Luke received a 3-year deal at $301,733 per years, and co-offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach Dan Werner receiverd a 2-year deal at $231,667 per year. Each of the four coaches has a $100,000 buyout unless they leave for a sole coordinator position, head coaching job, or NFL coaching job. The rest of staff includes linebackers / special teams coordinator Tom Allen ($200,000), running backs coach Derrick Nix ($175,000), defensive line coach /defensive recruiting coordinator Chris Kiffin ($170,000), tight ends coach / offensive recruiting coordinator Maurice Harris ($170,000) and wide receivers coach Grant Heard ($150,000).

Montana: Sources tell me that Montana will stick with Mick Delaney through the 2012 season.

Arkansas: If Arkansas stays in-house with Paul Haynes or Taver Johnson, that would open up an assistant coaching job on the staff.  Former Clemson defensive coordinator / linebackers coach Kevin Steele could be a valuable resource.  The Razorbacks play Bama, Auburn, South Carolina, and Tulsa next season.  Steele is familiar with the Bama defense, coached against South Carolina the last three seasons, understands the Tulsa style of offense having coached against Chad Morris every day in practice last year, and although Auburn has a new offensive scheme, Steele is familiar with their personnel having coached against Auburn the last two years.  Steele also knows Arkansas assistant Steve Caldwell.  Steele is not currently coaching anywhere.