Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas defensive ends coach Steve Caldwell spent 14 seasons at Tennessee and knows Phil Fulmer well. But Caldwell isn’t saying much about any interest his former boss might have in the Razorback head coaching opening.

Caldwell wouldn’t say if he and Fulmer had discussed the job, which became available when Bobby Petrino was fired last week. Instead, Caldwell deferred to the Arkansas administration, but did offer up something of an endorsement of his former boss.

“I think he’s a great guy,” Caldwell said of Fulmer. “He’s just a good individual and a quality coach. You don’t win 152 games in this conference and not be a good coach.”

Fulmer, who went 152-52 and 98-34 at Tennessee, had nice things to say about Arkansas on Wednesday in an interview with the Knoxville News-Sentinel. He denied contact with the school, following a radio interview in which another former assistant said the Razorbacks and Fulmer had been talking.

“When I left Tennessee, I was asked if I would coach again, and I said I would consider it if it was a place where I could compete for a championship,” he said. “Arkansas does qualify as that kind of place, as there is a very solid foundation there.”

Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll, a former graduate assistant at Arkansas, also had positive words for the Razorbacks on Wednesday. Carroll, who according to one report, was contacted by Arkansas about getting back into college coaching, teased his involvement in the search on the social networking site Twitter.

Carroll, an Arkansas grad assistant under Lou Holtz in 1977 said: "I still love the Arkansas fight song... But Mooch is the man... Go Razorbacks!"

Carroll, who was 97-19 with two national titles at USC, was apparently referring to NFL Network analyst Steve Mariucci. Mariucci, who went 6-6 at Cal in his only season of college coaching, said he had “no contact” with Arkansas.

Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long fired Petrino on April 10. Long said at the time he planned to have Taver Johnson act as head coach through the spring, but would begin a search for a possible full-time replacement to Petrino. Tabbing a current assistant — Johnson, offensive coordinator Paul Petrino or defensive coordinator Paul Haynes — was also an option, Long, said.

No update on the timetable was available Wednesday, according to a spokesman for Long. It is believed the decision could come as early as Monday, following the completion of spring practice. Arkansas holds its Red-White game Saturday.

Long has been unavailable for comment since the press conference to announce Petrino’s firing. Arkansas’ AD has used Twitter to provide updates on his search, including one post Wednesday.

“Hog Fans, please remain calm and please do not believe rumors. But do come out to the the spring game and support our young men!!”

Kickoff for the Red-White game is 2 p.m.