Maybe it's just because we are home to so many Fortune 500 companies that Arkansas fans are blessed with such business acumen. I'd like to take this opportunity to share some of our wealth of knowledge with the board.

Here in Northwest Arkansas, we know that no matter how good times are, it is always prudent to have a succession plan for your leadership. Nobody lives forever, not even Sam Walton.

Example 1 - Goldman Sachs

The top investment bank/financial services provider is currently headed by CEO/Chairman Lloyd Blankfein. In September, it was announced Blankfein was diagnosed with a treatable form of lymphoma. However, they have been grooming President/COO Gary Cohn to take over for Blankfein when the time comes. This is extremely prudent succession planning

Example 2 - Walmart Stores, Inc.

Although Walmart was not only the world's #1 retailer, but the world's "Fortune 1" company, the board decided to achieve the company's aggressive goals, new leadership was needed. They felt confident replacing Mike Duke with a UA alumni, Doug McMillon, who you may have seen in attendance at the Arkansas/Alabama game. His educational pedigree doubtlessly will lead to unprecedented success for WMT in the near and long term. Watch out Amazon...

Example 3 - University of Arkansas football

In the mid-1950s, the Arkansas Razorbacks under Jack Mitchell were a modestly successful ballclub. However, when Mitchell jumped ship to return to Kansas, the University of Arkansas leadership, lead by former football coach John Barnhill, tapped young Frank Broyles, head football coach at Missouri to take the helm. Broyles knew that despite his best efforts, the Tigers were destined to languish in the Big 8 cellar, and he didn't particularly care for the limited nightlife, cold climate or inhospitable yankees of COMO. He jumped at the chance to make a mark in Fayetteville, where he lead the Razorbacks to seven conference titles and the 1964 National Championship.

Example 3B - University of Arkansas Athletics

Barnhill knew that despite a homerun hire in Broyles, he himself would one day have to step down as Arkansas Athletic Director. Due to excellent succession planning, mentorship and leadership, Broyles had been groomed to replace Barnhill, which happened in 1971. A seamless handoff of administrative duties propelled Arkansas athletics into the 21st century.

Example 4 - University of Arkansas Basketball

Hall of Fame coach Nolan Richardson groomed Mike Anderson on the sidelines during eight conference titles, three Final Fours and the 1994 National Championship, even yielding control of the program to his understudy for a portion of the 2001-02 season to allow Mike to develop his skills. Shortly thereafter, Mike returned home to greener pastures where he has "The Fastest 40 Minutes" running full tit in Fayetteville.

Sometimes, this type of prudent planning goes horribly, horribly wrong. Although I very clearly laid out a case that no organization should be groping for leadership, sometimes institutions are feckless or simply incompetent at replacing leadership.

***WHEN SUCCESSION PLANNING GOES HORRIBLY WRONG***
Example 5 - University of Missouri University (UM/MU) Football

For example, Missouri coach Gary Pinkel is currently struggling to maintain relevance in a down SEC East. As if a 21-3 loss with Drew Lock, fabled to be a crossbreed between Johnny Unitas and Dan Marino, at the helm wasn't shocking enough, now Missouri fans simply don't know how to react. Fans are calling for Pinkel's head, defending him in earnest, and even cannibalizing their own.

The problem these fans are facing is a lack of succession planning. It is clear that old man Pinkel intends to ride the gravy train for 5+ more seasons while the genteel midwesterners try to give him more time and hope for the glory days of that 2007 Cotton Bowl in vain.

Traditionally, Missouri has looked within for football coaches. In 2012, Missouri promoted Josh Henson, a no-name coach who had previously only coached offensive linemen to replace David Yost as OC.

According to MUTigers.com

quote:
That decision to promote internally by Pinkel paid off handsomely in 2013, as Henson oversaw an offense which was undoubtedly one of the most improved in the nation

Prior to this week, we were told that OC Josh Henson was a quality coach...essentially the "coach in waiting", indicating Missouri indeed had a succession plan. However, at this critical juncture where it is likely the time to begin a transition, fans are instead losing confidence in Henson and even calling for his ouster. This is supposed to be the guy in waiting!! What a mess.

Clearly this is a program lost at sea with no sextant. Maybe call PwC?