New AD for the U of A

For many years, I have thought - if and when the time ever came to replace Frank Broyles - that the only three candidates should be Terry Don Phillips, TDP and TDP.  He played under Frank Broyles from 1966-1969 and was his graduate assistant from '70-71. His undergraduate and law degrees are from Arkansas, and he's a member of the Arkansas Bar Association. His brother Lloyd is both a state and university Hall Of Famer.  He left here to be AD at Oklahoma State, and did a great job there.  Most thought he was biding his time until he came back home (I know, he's a Texan by birth, but considering that history - Arkansas is home. His hometown of Longview, Texas, isn't very far)

While there's not much buzz here about what's going on, my friends at Clemson are quite up in arms about the situation.  As father time marched on and he never got the call from the Razorbacks, he took the Clemson AD position in 2002 in what seemed to be a marriage made in heaven.  He has built facilities, hired good coaches and handled controversy - and the folks in South Carolina want and intend to keep him.  When questioned last Tuesday, his response twice was, "I don't have to cross that bridge yet."   Not exactly the dismissive attitude Tiger fans were hoping for.

Some folks here want a guy with no previous ties to get the job here at the UofA.  That's silly.  Not as ridiculous as the notion that Terry Don Phillips would be just a puppet for Frank Broyles, but silly nonetheless.  This man has been a successful athletic director at 2 BCS schools,  and would do the job as HE sees fit.  His many previous ties to the UofA would smooth the transition greatly, and a man with his experience will be able to handle the job independently.

I think there is no better choice.  I hope to hear more weeping and gnashing of teeth from Clemson.  I like Terry Don Phillips statement "I've got strong allegiances, but that doesn't mean it overrides everything." and sincerely hope he can find his way home.