The CheckerBoard

I think that Strong is at least as solid a coach as Bielema (and probably, in the long run, better on the recruiting side than Bielema will ever manage to be). But it has to be said that the way Arkansas pulled the Bielema hire apparently out of nowhere was big in terms of the news cycle/publicity. No one will be surprised by our hiring Strong (or Fedora, if it comes to it), and while in the long run either will probably end up being a good coach, there's a lot to be said for making it look like you pulled off something that no one imagined you would.

Auburn, on the other hand.... No question Malzahn has some chops, but the hire surprises no one, and I'm not really sold on the idea that Malzahn will actually make a better HC than Chizik. Now, if they could have lured Cam Newton back from the helpless Panthers... talk about a coup! ;)