The Hogs of Eddie Sutton and Nolan Richardson seem far, far away.
Which explains why some in the Ozarks want Sean Sutton to ride to the rescue.
The Sutton name represents comfort and security.
A lifeline to the past.
That's a wrong attitude; Arkansas should want Sean only if it believes he's a lifeline to the future.
But an even better question is, should Sean consider Arkansas?
His first Oklahoma State season was uneven; a 15-1 start but a 22-13 finish. In the Boone Pickens era, that has to be disconcerting for a coach.
Pickens is on record as saying he was glad Les Miles left for LSU, and all Miles did was produce winning teams and go to bowl games, after the Cowboys avoided both for 15 years.
But Sean is better off staying at State.
If he's on shaky ground working for an athletic director, Mike Holder, who didn't hire him, that situation won't be improved in Arkansas. Frank Broyles is on the way out in the hills, so Sean would have a new boss soon.
Sean's OSU ties are as deep as anyone's could be. Player in glory days. Assistant coach in glory days. Now head coach.
The Cowboys have good players, great support, a wonderful arena. They've got all they need to win, and if Sean wins, he will be in Stillwater for a long, long time. No reason for Pickens or Holder to start looking elsewhere. No reason for Sean to, either.
•To OU senior D.J. Wolfe, who keeps getting knocked down the depth chart and keeps climbing back. Now at safety, where he shined in a scrimmage last Saturday, Wolfe seems determined to get back on the field.
•To the life of Eddie Robinson, who died Wednesday at 88. In Robinson's final season of 55 as the Grambling football coach, he graced Oklahoma City with a game at Taft Stadium against Langston, and 20,000 fans swarmed the grounds. A memory to cherish.
Jeers
•To Dana Altman and the increasing number of coaches who jump the gun by taking jobs they don't really want. Gene Stephenson, Glen Mason, Bobby Cremins. A little patience goes a long way.
•To Bill Belichick, who showed up at the NCAA title game in coat and tie, looking as uncomfortable as a 9-year-old at a piano recital. Hey, Bill, if the sweatshirt is good enough for the NFL sidelines, it's good for Florida-Ohio State hoops.
Sean Sutton would be better off staying at OSU and spurning Arkansas. By BILL WAUGH, THE OKLAHOMAN
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