This week will be judgment week for John Pelphrey!

This mornings paper lists Arkansas as holding second position behind Alabama in the Western division of the Southeastern Conference. I'm more than a little amused they've refused to put Arkansas in their proper position, which is actually third.

The way I understand conference standing calculations to be tabulated, two teams with identical records, 7-7 in this case, the team which has beat the other one holds the edge in any tie. This means Mississippi State holds a firm grasp on second place in the west by their victory over Arkansas earlier in the season. Arkansas is actually the third place team in the west, and if the season ended today they would not receive a first round bye in the SEC tournament---Mississippi State would.

The only ways for Arkansas to gain a first round bye are:

1. Beat Miss. St. Wed. night. (If Arkansas does, they get it no matter what happens)
2. If Arkansas loses Wed., Arkansas must win Saturday on the road at Ole Miss, and hope South Carolina knocks off Miss. St. in Starkville.

There it is--beat Miss. St. Wednesday night and Arkansas will get the first round bye. One game, one night, for second place in the west.

I know those that have supported Pelphrey want his future to be determined by the wins over Kentucky and Auburn, but there are three games remaining and they are important ones.

John Pelphrey's team should have plenty of momentum heading into these games, and if he's the coach they claim him to be, there's no reason his team shouldn't finish the season strong. A good coach should be able to get his team to respond with so much hanging in the balance, especially his job. Right?

However, John Pelphrey isn't a good coach, and has no business being discussed in those terms. John Pelphrey is an impostor. He has proven he will do, or say anything to maintain his job. He will play a player that has shoplifted if he thinks it will help keep his job, and in the same instance, throw the other player caught shoplifting under the bus for the same reason. There is no method to his madness, or principle. His players have recognized this, and so have I. Like most of them, I choose not to respect him.

This is why I hope Arkansas doesn't win another game the rest of the year. I hope Arkansas loses to Miss. St. on Wednesday, Ole Miss on Saturday, and whoever they play in the tournament the week after. This will free up Jeff Long to go and get a coach everyone can respect, especially the players!

I know some feel it out of line to hope for losses, that's alright, you don't have to. I will hope enough for all of us, and the future of this program.... You can hate me for it, but right now is the time for a new coach, and without these loses we probably don't get one.

It will be the same thing again next year at the peril of yet another group of young men, and the expense of another wasted year. I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do everything within my power to see this doesn't happen, even if it's the meager act of hoping for loses so a coach I have no faith in loses his job....It wasn't my choice that it come to this----It's those that have kept this lame coach propped up for four years and lied to us do it...