Will the Last Hog to Leave Please Turn Out the Lights?
by John Expat on Jun 17, 2011 11:42 PM CDT
in Arkansas Razorback Basketball
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PrintThe Mike Anderson Era Hogs seem to have a bit of a player retention problem. Following closely on the heels of Jeff Peterson and Glenn Bryant's recent departures, Rotnei Clarke, he of the sweet jump shot and even sweeter faux-hawk, has apparently left the program
Clarke has seemingly made an annual habit of threatening to transfer, but as recently as this April it seemed like that situation had been quelled and the sharpshooter was on board with the Anderson regime. But, rumors of his exit started to leak out yesterday, and this afternoon Jeff Goodman of CBSSports.com unleashed a bombshell column in which it was revealed that Rotnei had asked for a release and been refused. Drama!
But, this evening, a team meeting was held sans-Clarke (we're thinking it didn't take a very big room to hold everyone), and the word out of Fayetteville is that he's no longer on the team. More drama!
Furthermore, Goodman's article also dropped this tidbit (without any further detail or context): "Two members of Arkansas' highly regarded recruiting class -- which was assembled by former coach John Pelphrey and his coaching staff -- both asked Anderson for their release." Yikes.
At this rate it seems safe to say that a) if you're a decent-to-good intramural player currently enrolled at the U of A now could be your chance to fulfill a dream and land a spot on the Razorbacks and b) Anderson has quite a bit of work to do.
As for Clarke, my thoughts tend to follow those of Dave Barr in this column...that his choirboy image probably overshadowed a serious "me first" ego, and that he's surely getting some bad advice from whomever is urging him to leave. As for the rest of the team, it's increasingly looking like next year is going to be a lot tougher than previously assumed. And as for the fans, any hopes that the constant turmoil that has plagued the basketball program for the last several years had ended seem firmly dashed at this point.
Woo pig sooie?
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Mitch Mustain Redux
I’m disappointed by your hysteria, John Expat.
The problem here is that the U of A refuses to recognize Rotnei Clarke’s birthright. John Pelphrey never understood that Rotnei was the franchise player, that the other players exist just to make Rotnei look better. And now CMA comes in with a system that will require Rotnei to work harder in practice, and will reduce his playing time due to the demands for more frequent substitutions.
Many will question the role of racism, the Clarke family’s refusal to accept a Black coach. But I don’t think we should paint them with that brush until there is real evidence.
The only thing that matters here is that Rotnei is not a team player. His actions prove that it is all about Rotnei. So he is better off somewhere else.
In the end, CMA and the Razorbacks will be better off. We might lose a game or two without Rotnei’s shooting, but our talented freshman will have more playing time and develop more quickly. CMA will be able to have more of a fresh start with players who really want to be Razorbacks and really want to learn his system. And next year he will have another scholarship to offer.
There is no drama here. Any time you show the door to a prima donna, you will be rewarded by stability and growth among the remaining players. I wish Rotnei all the best. I hope he finds what he is looking for. But we are better off without him.
Manners
Please excuse if my post comes off as too negative. I love your writing and the blog!
There's probably going to be some bad PR stemming from this.
People are going to see “Arkansas denies player release” and get all self-righteous without any knowledge (or regard) for the backstory.
Clarke first asked for his release after Pel was fired. Jeff Long told him to wait, that there was no way that he could even be released until a coach was hired. Was this a lie? It sounds plausible enough to be true.
Mike Anderson convinces to hold off on asking for a release, to see how he likes it.
Then, in April, he reportedly was committed to the program.
If this last part is true, then Clarke should absolutely not be given his release. If he thinks he can just change his mind in the middle of the summer, it’s time he grows up and learns that he can’t always get what he wants, when he wants it, especially when it comes at the expense of others.
Clark definitely looks selfish, I hope he ends up at a garbage MAC school. As for the state of the program, I think the Hogs will be better off in the long run for making the move. They may lose players, they may even lose some highly touted recruits, but the program was going nowhere fast with Pelphrey. What would have happened when those stud recruits came to the trough and things didn’t go smoothly? More transfers, more suspensions, and more years wasted on the Pelphrey Era.
GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!
by hoosier3 on Jun 18, 2011 7:49 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Middle of the summer?
It was just one week ago both Peterson and Bryant left and that seemed to be ok with everyone.
Ok, so in April it “seemed” Clarke was “commited”, but you didn’t hear that from Clarke himself did you?
Something tells me the leadership in the UofA basketball program isn’t completely innocent in this matter. We heard Rotnie was “commited” from MA, not RC, if I remember correctly.
I’m not saying MA lied, but I think the truth can be twisted a bit by both the program leaders and the media looking to jump on a fairy tale story.
It seems a little funny to me Clarke used the releases of both Peterson and Clarke to make his point with the national media. Selfish? I dunno, but what I’d like to know is did Clarke actually give a solid recommitment for next season back in April with MA, or did he agree to give it some more time?
If the later is true, then both Anderson and Long have some explaining to do, but if the report of Clarke recommiting to next season is true, then I think it’s time for Clarke to do a little fessing up of his own. Just my 2 cents.
Peterson graduated.
Glenn Bryant made it clear that he wanted to move closer to home, and did so in a timely manner. It’s also clear that he was sincere; he’s a better player than EMU quality.
Clarke + transfer is becoming a running joke. This is how many times now? At least it’s the last.
The fact that you doubt anything that Clarke didn’t say outright himself is part of the problem. For every other program in the country, if the coach says something about a player, its taken as gospel truth. But for Rotnei, oh, no, he has to call a dedicated press conference and we have to hear it from his own mouth. You understand how ridiculous that is, right?
Finally, given Rotnei’s penchant for press conferences and media interviews, you’d have us believe that if MA’s announcement about his recommitment was not 100% accurate, we wouldn’t have heard about it by now? Unlikely.
by dxf04 on Jun 19, 2011 11:26 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
Preach it preacherman!
GET TO THE CHOPPA!!!
by hoosier3 on Jun 20, 2011 6:31 AM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Employment Chances
The unemployment rate right now for recent college graduates is horrible. But I have a feeling that the unemployment rate of famous former Razorbacks within the state of Arkansas has to be pretty low and always low. Clark might make it in Europe, and it is even less certain that he has a spot anywhere in the NBA in his future. But until this stunt, he likely always had a place of employment somewhere in Arkansas. Former Razorbacks get hired, especially the famous ones. Instead of being Rotnei Clark, the great shooter at Arkansas, he is now, Rotnei Clark, the guy who spells his name funny and left the Hogs his senior year. But who knows? He might have no interest at all in returning to Arkansas for any reason.
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