Nolan Richardson

Nolan Richardson has been under a lot of fire at the University of Arkansas for a season that is subpar by the standards he has set over his career. Apparently, the media haven't given him a very fair shake -- at least Richardson doesn't think so, and he's usually a straight shooter (not to mention one of about a dozen active coaches who can boast they've won a national championship in NCCA hoops). Yesterday, his frustrations got the best of him and he ranted at the media. He also prominently injected race into the discussion. That's always a dangerous thing to do, but I'm not sure that he was out of line to do so. Arkansas IS a pretty racist state, still, and I've always respected Nolan Richardson for leaving a great situation at Tulsa to go rebuild Arkansas basketball, given the racial difficulties he had to know he would face there. Fayetteville can't have been the easiest place for him.

Richardson is right that his success and conduct as head coach at Arkansas have earned him a subpar season (or several, actually). Indeed, they've earned him the right to a few outbursts like this as well. He's a class act who deserves some respect for the good things he's done.

[Posted at 19:51 CST on 02/26/02] [Link]