nwa

We're about to find out what this Arkansas team is all about. Big time May trips to Lexington and College Station...

Big if true.

Hey, I’m not the one who brought up Cal or the situation in Fayetteville. I was just soaking up the sweet irony of the “bluest of bluebloods” forcing a HOFer out of town under the delusion they could go handpick whoever they wanted, only to end up with a guy who has lost in both of his NCAAT appearances. But your reaction is predictable and everything we could have hoped for. Cue the “Why are you so obsessed with me?!?” memes. This is UK’s day. Enjoy it. Enjoy the attention. Don’t even worry about Fayetteville.

And we all know how Kentucky basketball fans are famously satisfied with "fine."

Not sure how we did any effing around. We loved Muss. He just wanted to go back home, so we needed a new coach.

We have now entered BBN's "find out" stage in the "f around and find out" process.

Sure. I think Muss was one foot out the door regardless. My point was that yes, Arkansas has some maaaaajor boosters with some deeeeep pockets, but the NIL numbers we've heard mean big boosters haven't been wooed and convinced it's a worthwhile use of their money until now. Big money in the state doesn't automatically mean they're willing to throw it at the athletic dept.

BUT we can't ignore how all that money hasn't been willing to shell out much for NIL up to this point. The money is there, but we keep hearing about how the U of A ranks toward the bottom in NIL funds, and that was apparently a big reason why Muss went west. Tells me that these big boosters 1) didn't like Muss, 2) don't see football as a smart investment (or haven't until now), or 3) both.

Frank Broyles and John McDonnell would like a word.

Sure, but he didn't go from LSU straight to Alabama.

We had to take a year off. Our back was kind of sore after carrying this league in March for the past three seasons.

Why in the world would he leave the most successful basketball program of the 2000s?

Kentucky had the 4th most wins of any D1 program in the 15 years he's been in Lexington? I'll happy take that win rate.

I don't know of anyone who genuinely wants him gone. He's widely seen as a great coach whose players just didn't click this year for whatever reason. Seems like he's been peeking over the fence at other jobs since that first NCAAT run, and the radio silence with the latest rumors rub people the wrong way. Arkansas is a proud state with an inferiority complex. We just get our feelings hurt when we love people and they don't love us back, so that shows up in a lot of "Fine, get out of here then!" kind of stuff.

There are some rumblings that Muss has been frustrated with the NIL situation here. Between what I would assume is pretty fertile NIL territory and USC's move to the B1G, maybe he sees a higher ceiling long term? But I think you're right. Dude just wants to be back on the west coast.

I hope this doesn't make me one of the delusional Hog fans that drive me crazy, but I don't think we're a program that has to go fishing in the mid-major pond. Outside of the blue bloods, Arkansas should be an attractive job to anyone. I would like to see us land a reputable name who has a track record of winning big games on big stages. Throw Muss level money at the Iowa St. HC or Greg McDermott and make them say no.

I predict a pretty chalky Thursday and Friday leading to some slugfests on Saturday and Sunday. Upsets and Cinderellas are fun, but I love seeing legit squads who have played well all year fighting it out at the end.

1000%. I'm saying that's the only thing that changes the NCAAT landscape. Any pundit/writer talk about "If X can win a game or two in the conference tournament, that might be enough to sneak in" or "If X can make it to the conference title game, that'll help their NCAAT seeding" completely ignores how the committee has operated the past decade or so.

When are we going to learn that conference tournaments don't move the NCAAT needle unless a bubble team or a team that's squarely out wins the whole thing and shakes things up? The chaos of 5 games in 5 days is a blast to watch and great for fans, but we should know by now that the NCAAT bracket is 99% set. Just ask Buzz how valuable a deep conference tournament run is for a bubble team.

"No question about it, I'm ready to get hurt again." - Michael Gary Scott

Baseball gods, please let this be the year you finally come through for us. It's been a long 12 months in the Ozarks.

Nu uh! I live rent free in yours! So ha! Take that! I win.

No, but you make your low IQ everyone else's problem.

Blah blah blah I’m an idiot, MA'AM.**

How dare you insult us like that?!?! Because we're clearly a baseball/soccer/volleyball school.

Can't decide if framing this as 1/770 of a Jimbo buyout makes it seem like more or less.

But not shocking. The mood around Arkansas football right now is apathetic at best. I don't know that anyone thinks a coach in his 60s who peaked a decade ago is going to turn everything around, but you better believe the hire creates a buzz and the slightest bit of interest. We could very easily go 4-8 again (or worse), but the soap opera alone will sell tickets. Not saying I love the hire, but, given the current state of the program, I definitely get it. There's a vocal part of the fan base that thought he should have never been fired in the first place. (Again, not saying I agree with them, but perception molds reality.)

I know, right?!?! I bet he'd love to poach some of them and see how they do at WR!

I don't get it.

C-USA, Big East, ACC, MVFC. But the whole premise of your conversation is, as usual, pretty stupid. Even if he hadn't won a championship in his entire life, what's wrong with saying "Hey, let's go win a championship"? Or maybe concepts like hope, goals, aspirations, and/or general positivity are lost on you.