Do we even have a track and field program anymore?

Did you think, maybe, about searching for it?

Redneck out.

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Is Bucknam just not up for it or do we just not care about excellence anymore?

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It's not okay for track, but it's okay for basketball?

I agree, though. It's disappointing how far they have fallen. No NC's since 2013.

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It's no where near the same thing.

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Your expectations for a big 2 sport vs an afterthought sport? Nope. Nowhere near the same thing.

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Again, how many times did Nolan win the SECT and the SEC outright in 17 years?

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How many times did Nolan win a NC? How many since? How close since?

How is that relevant, anyway? You have higher expectations for track than basketball. Our prior coaches have proven it can be done in both.

News Flash.

Mike Anderson probably isn't a once in a generation coach. The sooner you realize that, the less miserable you'll be.

Get over it and enjoy being in the mix again.

And before you say Bucknam isn't a once in a generation coach, I don't really care, I was just asking why we've kept him around this long and not made changes if he's not proving to be elite.

Pretty sure we could snag just about anyone out there.

Very disappointing showing in Indoors this year. We were ranked 3rd this year going into nationals, but had some disappointing results.

Bucknam had been winning at the SECCs, but the teams haven't been built for nationals over the past 4-5 years. This year "felt" like we were more built for nationals, but then fell flat.

I've wanted Bucknam gone for years. I was beyond shocked when he fired Dick Booth, but would give him the benefit of the doubt. At the end of the day, he's just not going to win us many national championships.

Appreciate the information.

Fair to assume we could snag almost anyone, at least any bright young coach?

Are the premier programs still A&M, UF and Oregon?

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I take that back, I was hammered last night after the game.

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I appreciate that. Drunk happens.

I love the Arkansas Razorbacks, through thick and thin. It's how I'm wired. I've been a die hard Mavs and Rangers fan since the 80s. I won't quit them, just like I won't quit the Hogs. I watch as many games as I can. I'm thrilled to be back in the South so that I can actually go watch games in person more often.

Wanting them to be better isn't evil, a sign of mental illness, or an indication as to the quality of one's life. We can debate all of the same things without being reductionists.

Edit: Yeah, I can totally see how this post deserved a cowardly downvote.

Re: the coaching questions: T&F is very different than other sports with coaches. Rarely will top tier coaches be poached without a push from the incumbent school (e.g. Booth). Up and coming coaches are tough to judge. Bucknam was one of the best up-and-comers you could've asked for, but his rigidity has cost us dearly.

The problem with finding coaches with Arkansas ties is most of Mac's coaches were loyal as frick-all to Mac. Hence... the coaching tree is not a Broyles/Holtz clone where there are multiple people with Arkansas ties everywhere.

I'm not worried about our program falling into oblivion like Nebraska/Tennessee in football because the gap between the top schools in track and everyone else would make pre-enlightenment fuedelistic cultures look like a NYT Op-Ed author. It's unreal the gap in facilities and spending.

So... we have time. Much more than a big 3 sport does in a transitional period. But that's counterbalanced by the static nature of truly elite coaching talent. We'll see, and I very may well be wrong on Bucknam because human beings can (and must in this profession) constantly learn, and he may adjust and become the type of winner that we've become accustomed to. He has the luxury of time I've mentioned due to his sport. But I personally don't see enough adjustment as means of encouragement.

The one word of caution I'd give to the "rabble rabble" crowd is at the end of the day... it's fricking T&F. If there are minor issues in the big 2 sports, major issues in T&F are immediately put to the wayside. Hence part of the reason for the static nature of elite coaching talent. Because once you get there, it'll be fricking A-OK... you got major funding a couple times, which is more than 99% of schools can claim.