The job description also listed "master's degree in related field" as a preferred qualification. Again, Dorrell was the only finalist not to meet that standard.
According to his resume, Wilkerson completed a master's degree in sports management at LSU in August 2011. He also had the most extensive football background. Wilkerson was a four-year starter at offensive line at LSU, from 2001 to '04. He was part of the school's 2004 national championship team and was named a first-team All-America. He went on to play for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2005 and '06, and for the Atlanta Falcons in 2007 and '08. Petrino was Atlanta's head coach in '07. At the time he applied for the Arkansas job, Wilkerson was an intern with the LSU football program. Wilkerson, who joined Grambling State as offensive line coach this month, did not want to comment specifically on the Arkansas situation. "I'm ready to just go on," he told SI.com. "Of course I interviewed for the position, but I'd rather not discuss it because of the whole thing ... I'm starting a new job now and that's my focal point."
Polite says he is disappointed that Wilkerson, who is African-American, was apparently the runner-up in an unfair process. There is "a lack of representation of African-American males in player development positions ... hiring is often not based on merit."
Fields, the third finalist, has two master's degrees from Arkansas, one in communication and one in education, and is currently a law school student at the law school. She worked as a tutor at Arkansas for student athletes, and since '09 had been an Arkansas recruiting assistant and helped organize summer football camps -- which is one of the player development coordinator's duties -- recruiting visits, and team travel. Petrino is listed among Fields's references.
