Jeff Long is out as the Arkansas AD and, as a result, most assume that Bret Bielema will be following him out the door in Fayetterville. That kind of combination sends things into flux within an athletic department but a very interesting name has popped up in conjunction with the Arkansas AD search.
Football Scoop brings word that former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville could be a candidate with "legit backing" internally with the Hogs.
We hear Tommy Tuberville has legit interest and a legit backing as well among several key players. Presumably Tuberville could get on board with a Gus hire if Gus were available (and would support Gus fully, I'm sure).
If Gus weren't available, the thinking in the profession is Tubs (& presumably other candidates) would like to hire a known Arkansas quantity from the upper echelon of the profession. It would be interesting to watch Tubs attempt to successfully make the move from one chair to the other along the lines of Barry Alvarez or Tom Osborne.
As noted here, Gus Malzahn has been rumored as perhaps the top target as a head coach which comes as no surprise. Still, it would take a few hurdles to leap over before he could return "home" to Arkansas and a name like Tuberville would also be a very big splash at the top of the department.
It has to be noted that other candidates for the AD job almost certainly exist but it is likely that none would be as famous as Tuberville and the Auburn cross-over ties for both Tuberville and Malzahn are interesting.
Of course, Auburn athletic director Jay Jacobs is stepping down within the next year, so the two SEC rivals couple be competing for Tuberville's services over the next few months.
