Arkansas held its kickoff luncheon today and new coach, or interim coach, John L. Smith didn’t just tell jokes at the affair to celebrate the start of the Razorbacks’ football season.
In a question-and-answer period with emcee Jimmy Dykes, the former Louisville coach got all choked up.
Chris Bahn of Arkansas 360 reports that Smith became emotional when talking about what the opportunity to be the Hogs’ coach meant to him.
Excerpt:
Asked by Dykes what first popped into his mind when Athletic Director Jeff Long called to offer him the job, Smith needed a minute to gather his thoughts. Then he had to take time to regain his composure.
“Gosh, I get to go back to my family I just left,” Smith said before lowering the mic and fighting back tears.
Whatever the end result of Smith’s 10-month contract might be — Liberty Bowl, BCS title or something in between — it became even more clear that he genuinely cares about his players and assistant coaches. Whatever compelled him to leave the program as an assistant coach in December wasn’t nearly as big as the pull he felt to come back.
Smith replaced Bobby Petrino after the latter became embroiled in scandal over a mistress who also happened to be an Arkansas’ athletic office employee whom Petrino had just moved into the football office.
Related links:
- Out of a job, Bobby Petrino is tearful, regretful
- Long-time reader disagrees about John L. Smith
- Follow John Clay on twitter
I’m sure the Weber State players, recruits and assistant coaches got emotional as well when he up and stiffed them after taking the job there and not even staying to coach a single game. Only they probably got emotional in a very different way.
Classy guy that John L.
Mark Liptak
Let’s see. The school you left calls you and tells you they want you back to coach their team, which you helped build, have a residence in the area and therefore, won’t have to uproot your family, change venues etc. and not to mention are going to be rav5dnked in the top five in the country.
And Weber State, with the shortages of football coaches out there isn’t going to be able to find one I’m sure.
Smith did the same think any coach would do in the situation. He did what was best for himself, his family and accepted the challenge to return to Arkansas. The ultimate hot seat.
Sounds like to me he’s got his priorities straight.