Arkansas is looking for a new head football coach to replace Bobby Petrino, and a report says they attempted to hire Pete Carroll. 5News Sports in Arkansas says the school reached out to Carroll but was turned down by the current Seahawks coach.
Carroll seemed to confirm the overture via Twitter, and he also promoted a colleague for the gig:
I still love the Arkansas fight song… But Mooch is the man… Go Razorbacks!
— Pete Carroll (@PeteCarroll) April 19, 2012
“Mooch” is Steve Mariucci, who hasn’t coached since being fired by the Lions in 2005. Mooch has been mentioned in connection with several jobs since then. News 5 reported that it was Mariucci’s agent who contacted the school about the vacancy. My guess is Mooch’s agent is just doing a really good job of keeping his client relevant by dropping his name in various coaching searches. Not only does that help in case Mooch ever wants to get back into coaching, but it’s also a good tactic for gaining leverage in contract discussions with his current employer, NFL Network.
As for Arkansas, it’s clear they’re aiming high. They have plenty of money, a rabid fan base, and a good foundation, so someone will want this job.
