Berry Tramel, Sports columnist

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Sutton's best move is staying put
Tramel: Sutton's best move is staying put

By Berry Tramel
Published: April 5, 2007

In a week or so, Arkansas has gone from Billy Gillispie to someone south of Dana Altman in its quest to find a basketball coach.

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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.


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