Dykes deflects coaching rumors

In this Nov. 3, 2012 photo, Louisiana Tech head football coach Sonny Dykes talks with his team during an NCAA college football game against Texas-San Antonio at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La. (AP Photo/The El Dorado News-Times, Michael Orrell)
In this Nov. 3, 2012 photo, Louisiana Tech head football coach Sonny Dykes talks with his team during an NCAA college football game against Texas-San Antonio at Joe Aillet Stadium in Ruston, La. (AP Photo/The El Dorado News-Times, Michael Orrell)

— One name likely to come up in several schools’ coaching searches after this season will be Sonny Dykes, Louisiana Tech’s coach. He already has been mentioned on various sports talk radio shows in association with Arkansas’ job and Dykes’ odds of landing the job were listed at 6-1 by Arkansas Democrat-Gazette sports editor Wally Hall on Wednesday.

While he did not mention the Arkansas job specifically, Dykes said perception isn’t always reality when it comes to which coach might end up in a new place.

“There is so much information out there about everything and so many ways to communicate,” Dykes said. “Our players have done a great job of focusing on what matters. I just try to tell them to avoid getting involved in any of that because we really can’t worry about it.”

With a possible Western Athletic Conference championship on the line Saturday against Utah State, Dykes said his team has plenty to worry about without getting involved in any rumors.

“We just need to focus on one game at a time. I know that sounds cliche, but it’s true,” Dykes said. “If we look past one game, it will bite you in the rear end. If we just focus, everything else will take care of itself.”

Sports, Pages 23 on 11/16/2012

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