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Nolan is funny, admits ASU talks Tuesday, Mar 4, 2008 By Harry King NORTH LITTLE ROCK - Nice screen, Joe Kleine. The beneficiary of the pick was Nolan Richardson, the former Arkansas coach who still had time for a few questions after finishing an entertaining half-hour in front of the Downtown Tip-Off Club on Monday. Annette Fisher stood up to thank him for allowing her to pick his brain about ways that son Derek could improve and then somebody asked about something Frank Broyles had said. The Broyles stuff and the overtures from new athletic director Jeff Long were old stuff, and next came the question that was bound to be asked. Without mentioning Arkansas State University, somebody wanted to know about Richardson being linked to a job opening in Arkansas. Before the coach could respond, Kleine intervened with, "We don't want him in the Sun Belt." Kleine, a former UA standout and the butt of a couple of Richardson barbs, is an assistant coach at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Like ASU, UALR is in the West Division of the Sun Belt. Everybody laughed and Richardson finished up with a couple of other things. When it was over, he signed more autographs, posed for more pictures and stayed seated at the head table to answer questions from the media. Clearly, the interest between ASU and Richardson is a two-way street. "I've talked to them," he said. "I'll be talking to them again." The next dialogue could occur in a day or two, he said. He also said he had been surprised by the number of positive calls he had received from ASU boosters and that hiring former Razorback Todd Day as an assistant at ASU would be a "no-brainer." There is no doubt Day would jump at the opportunity. At 66, Richardson still loves to compete. "As I tell everybody, when you're forced out, that doesn't translate back to me as being burned out," he said. He was even funny about that. "I've still got some years in me, especially with the six years I've rested and saved up," he said. "Maybe I can use some energy and get back out there if the right situation occurs." Somebody mentioned location and ability to win and asked him what was most important to him. "The thing that is important is that you can take something and make something," he said. "I probably want that more than being able to go somewhere that's already set in stone of how good they are." Ironically, a few weeks ago, former coach Pat Foster told the Tip-Off Club that he had learned the hard way that a coach on the move should go to a program that is down. "The more you say you can't, the more it intrigues me that I can," Richardson said. With former Razorback Corliss Williamson sitting at a table near the back of the crowded room and Kleine to his left at the head table, Richardson had a couple of convenient foils. He said he was amazed at the end of practice on one of those cold and snowy days in Fayetteville when Williamson told him to "Be Careful." Playing for Don Haskins at Texas Western, Richardson said he "hoped something would run over that guy." He was funny with other topics and serious about the Razorbacks. He said he talked with coach John Pelphrey prior to the Vanderbilt game. "He's going to have those ups and downs on the road," Richardson said. "The fans of Arkansas won't let you lose ... if you can get home." He also said he thought the Razorbacks would do some damage on a neutral court. "Respect is one thing and fear is another," he said. "I think there's some fear there, on the road, but I think in time that fear will change. It's about believing you can get things accomplished, and I think John is the man to get it accomplished." Kleine introduced Richardson and the packed house of more than 350 or so welcomed him with a standing ovation, noticeably absent a Hog call. Richardson picked up on that and organized the Sooieee. Surely, ASU won't hold that against him. ------- Harry King is sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com. |
