Contracts and "Big Daddy" Frank

Following the news over the weekend that Houston Nutt's contract had been extended, Scott Cain reports in today's Democrat-Gazette that the same courtesy has been extended to Stan Heath through 2010.

"Obviously, I’m real happy, and my family and I are appreciative for the extension," Heath said. "I’m thankful to Coach [Broyles] and the University of Arkansas for the commitment to the program. It hasn’t been a major thing on my mind. I’ve been more concerned with making improvements and adjustments for the upcoming season."

One interesting note was stated very clearly in the article. After last season's disappointing end, Frank Broyles was going to fire someone.

Broyles said that in the spring he suggested that Heath make staff changes so a more experienced coach could be hired. Heath didn’t end up firing anybody because one assistant, Rob Flaska, left to take the head coaching job at Centenary, and Heath eventually hired Dan Hipsher, a former head coach at Akron. "We were going to make some changes, so I guess [Flaska’s leaving] is a break in that you’d have had to pay somebody," Broyles said, referring to severance pay. "He gave us an opportunity without terminating anybody."

Adding a more experienced assistant coach fulfilled the main objective Broyles said he had given Heath in the off-season. That allowed Broyles to extend Heath’s contract, albeit several months later than usual.

I'm sure the only thing that made Frank feel better when he couldn't fire someone was the fact that he didn't have to pay them severence pay after they left on their own.

Always remember...don't mess with the Big Daddy.