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Arkansas Football: 3 reasons Rich Rodriguez should be next head coach

By Dante Pryor

TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 25: Head coache Rich Rodriguez of the Arizona Wildcats watches from the sidelines during the first half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TEMPE, AZ - NOVEMBER 25: Head coache Rich Rodriguez of the Arizona Wildcats watches from the sidelines during the first half of the college football game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Tempe, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 11: Head coach Rich Rodriguez of the Michigan Wolverines waits with his team before entering the field for a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 11, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan defeated Notre Dame 28-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 11: Head coach Rich Rodriguez of the Michigan Wolverines waits with his team before entering the field for a game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium on September 11, 2010 in South Bend, Indiana. Michigan defeated Notre Dame 28-24. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

1. Understands unique football places

Rich Rodriguez comes with a bit of baggage. There was the mess at Arizona, there were the NCAA allegations while at Michigan and even while at West Virginia, claims of his overbearing attitude were whispered in corners of the Puskar Center.

Let’s be honest about something, the Arkansas Razorbacks have no issue hiring heat-seekers. Their last four coaches were Chad Morris, Bobby Petrino, Bret Bielema and Houston Nutt; all guys that were heat magnets.

Rodriguez’s three years at Michigan did not go well. That was as much about fit as anything. He needs the anonymity of a place like Fayetteville to thrive.

Arkansas is a big program with resources, but it isn’t a pressure-cooker like Michigan was. It’s out of the way, but has some history. It’s not as obscure as Washington State and it’s not low on resources like Duke. Rodriguez acclimated himself very well with the unique atmospheres in Morgantown and Tucson. He’d endear himself well with Razorback nation.

Next. Ranking college football's top 50 fanbases. dark

Besides, he wants back in the game, he’d behave — for a while at least.

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