Another day, another rumor about USF's Alex Golesh.
This time, it's Arkansas instead of Oklahoma State. Pat Forde of Sports Illustrated, and it's something to take at least a little bit seriously. Forde is a veteran, respected reporter/columnist who doesn't toss speculation around without at least some foundation.
SI.com reported, "I think Alex Golesh at South Florida has done a good job there, could be in play possibly at Arkansas,” Forde said on The Dan Patrick Show.
Now, I don't imagine Pat wakes up in the morning wondering, hey, where is Alex Golesh going? But he talks to people in the know and they tell him things. Arkansas clearly has the resources to give Golesh everything he demanded (and received) from USF, and more, so maybe that is appealing. Certainly, it's a better job than Oklahoma State, another place where Golesh has been linked.
SI noted, "Arkansas’ search has already seen notable candidates fall away. Rhett Lashlee agreed to an extension at SMU, and James Franklin accepted the job at Virginia Tech. That pushed the Razorbacks deeper into their list, which now includes Golesh among names such as Pat Fitzgerald, Eric Morris, Kane Wommack, Jake Dickert, Jon Sumrall, Ryan Silverfield, Tony Elliott, and (interim coach) Bobby Patrino. Many candidates carry strengths, but few match Golesh’s blend of SEC experience, offensive design, and upward trajectory.
Patrino has a lot of friends in Razorbacks Nation, but he is also 0-5 as the interim head coach. Donors may have decided to look outside the box.
Would Golesh leave USF for Arkansas?
If Forde's crystal ball is right on, don't be naive: Golesh would have to listen.
But I've said before and will say again, this guy is a different kind of cat. The son of Russian immigrants, he was raised without most of the comforts we take for granted. His $2.5 million salary at USF -- which certainly would greatly elevated whether he goes to Arkansas or not -- is a level of wealth and comfort he could never have imagined.
With him, I don't think it's about chasing the dollars. In USF, he has found a place where he is happy and, more importantly, his family is happy. His players love him. He has largely kept his staff intact for three years, which is rare in big-time college football.
If Arkansas really calls, he would have to listen.
But he loves USF, and as Amir Abdur-Rahim said, love wins.