Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Several options exist as Arkansas looks to fill its vacant football head coaching position.

Athletic Director Jeff Long could go with somebody in-house, depending on how 2012 goes with John L. Smith as temporary coach. Arkansas could go with a proven coordinator at a BCS school in an attempt to find what Long calls the “next Bob Stoops.” Or the Razorbacks could use a willingness to spend money on head coaching salary and facilities to lure an established name.

Long continues to review all possibilities.

Well, all possibilities but one.

What about re-hiring Bobby Petrino? Would Long consider bringing back the man who was fired after attempting to cover up an affair with a football staff member, the man who won 21 games with two Top 10 finishes the last two seasons?

Here’s what Long told Matt Turner of KNWA in a recent interview:

JEFF: Yeah, there's no...there's no...validity to that. That's not going to happen.

MATT:  Not going to happen?

JEFF: It's not going to happen.

MATT: Ok. I just had to make sure. That probably won't even be on camera! Just had to make sure!

JEFF: No, I know. It amazes me that that's still out there.

Long has plenty of options. Bringing Bobby Petrino back isn’t — and frankly shouldn’t be — one of them.