A farm team providing football coaches to the Arkansas Razorbacks? Could be worse, not much, but worse.

Let’s not go there.

First, it was Bobby Petrino taking a circuitous route from Louisville through Atlanta and down to Fayetteville. The funny thing about it is that Petrino is still there a year after doing the whoo-pig-sooey cheer at a news conference.

Now, if WHAS-TV is right, John L. Smith, another former UofL coach, is headed to swine country to serve as an assistant to his old assistant. Going to be part of the defensive coaching staff.

Coach Bobby Petrino is scheduled to meet with media at 1:30 p.m. Friday. The press conference was scheduled 24 hours before reports of a coaching hire began circulating.

Petrino and Smith do have a history. In fact, Petrino was an assistant at Louisville for Smith, who had a 132-86 record in 18 seasons as a head coach. Smith was also head coach at Utah State and had Petrino as part of his staff there.

John L. has been co-hosting a daily radio show with Drew Deiner on WKRD in Louisville for several months, bouncing back after being shown the door at Michigan State.

One can only hope John L minds his manners and stifles any negative thoughts on his way out of town this time around.

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By Charlie Springer

Charlie Springer is a former Louisville editor and sportswriter, a public affairs consultant, a UofL grad and longtime fan.

4 thoughts on “John L Smith To Arkansas”
  1. Just to clarify, Pinnochio has hired the Cowboy to shore up his special teams. At least on paper. And, John L. knows special teams. As we well know, coaches come in sometimes doing one thing and eventually
    get reassigned. For example, who would have thought two months ago the Brent Guy would be the Cards defensive coordinator. Would have loved to had Vegas odds on that one.

    As far as John L. and a Cardinal connection, it never had a snowball’s chance in Hades. We may have had a softer, gentler mindset toward John L. after his return to the Ville, but Tom Jurich never forgets. And, did Steve Kragthorpe really want a former coach with a unique way of doing things his way hovering over his shoulder? Let’s face it, a popularity poll between the Koach and the Cowboy would be a landslide victory for John L. Krags has made it abundantly clear that he’s going to rebuild the program his way, and had no need for a spirited ex-coach whose teams consistently led C-USA and the nation in personal fouls and late hits. It would have been like hiring a bouncer to lead a prayer service. For John L., one can only surmise the Arkansas job will be a springboard to better things…at least that’s what he is hoping. Parallel it to Ron Copper, if you desire. After being shown the door at UofL, he did resurface as a head coach at Alabama A&M, then worked with Spurrier at South Carolina and now moved up to the Geaux Tiger lair in Baton Rouge. Despite his self-explosion here, he is an outstanding defensive coach. So his John L. The chance for either Smith or the Coop to ever head coach at a major D-1 program is unlikely, but in this topsy-turvy would of college football coaches…never say never. Ask Brent Guy. Ask Phil Fulmer. Ask me what I think this time next year…when we’ll have the full knowledge on how the Krags rebuiling task is going, and how JLS and CBP’s merger in the Hog pen went.

  2. I am happy for John L but it bugs me that while he is good enough to run the defense at Arkansas, he apparently wasn’t good enough to be given a chance to do that at U of L when Ron English left. Too bad. Yes, Joey, he does regret what he said about the haves and have nots – actually he regrets ever leaving U of L as Head Coach but time goes on – he hung around for a while and he and his wife love Louisville. I think it’s sad that U of L didn’t give him another shot – he would have been a smart hire after Ron English left. Here’s to you, John L. Thanks for the (good) memories and best of luck to you. I heard he is keeping his home here which sounds like he and his family might be returning some day. Go CARDS!

  3. All in all,John L is a great guy,who I believe regrets the words he spoke about U of L and the fans on his way to Michigan State. I wish Coach Smith much success wherever it may be he coaches! Too bad I really can’t say that for his new boss!

  4. John L. returning to coaching in itself is not all that strange. The coach has said several times that he would like to coach again, and he did apply and interview for the Hawaii job. Going to work for Pinnochio isn’t all that weird either. They have a history together and John L. has been a stanuch defender of the squirmy little liar since he’s been on the air. Let’s quit playing around here…John L. came back here because his wife loves the area and he had a $3 mil. bailout form MSU to play with. He joined us at the Parrish House for a few game this year, and made it known that he would eventually like to get “back in the game”. Out of the limelight, he (and she)are sweet people and fun to be around. But, John L. missed “the life” and wanted to get back in it. Looks like he now has.

    Don’t expect him to trash talk the Louisville area before he goes, and don’t expect him to sell his “Old Kentucky home.”
    His wife may go down there with him for periods of time..but this will always be his “Camp David” and they’ll eventually retire here.

    The flight of Louisville coaches is amazing to Fayetteville, though. First we had Tom Collen, the WBB head coach. Then the Petrino mob. Now, JLS. Somebody better put incarceration monitors on Dan McDonnell and Pam Bustin.

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