It's the Final Count Down (2025 Razorback Football)

[Barton Fink]

I'd trust Little making that kick over just about every other option we had. KJ didn't give me any confidence he could make a play to win in that stadium.

I'm with you there. I just want to win. I honestly don't care who is coaching. You can win with better coaching and you can win with better players. Whatever works....

[The Whyte Boar]

This. I don't get the thought of wishing the hogs or Sam to lose so we can be done with him. I'd rather us win 6 vs 4. And if we feel 6 is underperforming, fire him. But I don't wish fewer wins to save a few bucks. At this point it's a difference of a couple million saved if he were to just tank.  But if he wins 8+, there's still no reason to overreact and extend. I think this is Sam's last job as a coach, no matter what. Nobody in power 5 is going to call calling if he were fired or contract ran out.

Well, there is an automatic extension if we win 7 and the buyout is cut pretty drastically if he is fired at under .500 for his time here. 

I mean if he wins 9 games, so be it.  I won't be mad.  But if he somehow gets to 7, we're fucked once again.  We have reached the point where it is best for the program for him to tank so that we can get on with the process of moving on. 

[The Whyte Boar]

I'd trust Little making that kick over just about every other option we had. KJ didn't give me any confidence he could make a play to win in that stadium.

I'm with you there. I just want to win. I honestly don't care who is coaching. You can win with better coaching and you can win with better players. Whatever works....

At Arkansas it has always been and always will be "better coaching".  That is the ONLY way.

[DirkPiggler]

At Arkansas it has always been and always will be "better coaching".  That is the ONLY way.

This is how I see it.  The talent (raw ability, not performance) we have has been consistent over my entire lifetime.  When we won 9-10 games per year we were getting the same caliber of recruit as we did when dipshit was going 2-10, plus or minus 1-2 guys per year.  When the state has a banner crop we might do marginally better.  Short of finding the DVH for football we'll never be what UGA or Alabama have been, or what we were under JFB/Holtz/Hatfield in a lesser league.  Changing the coach is the only variable we can realistically control.

[Barton Fink]

My issue with that is you're likely not  going to get a great coach to take this job. It isn't attractive. Especially if a boost in NIL money doesn't come with it.

In other news. Mike is optimistic...
https://x.com/MichaelWBratton/status/1957827465583239233?t=ejGLf2DIlmyXFnSskEZD1g&s=19

[SwahiliSteve]

My issue with that is you're likely not  going to get a great coach to take this job. It isn't attractive. Especially if a boost in NIL money doesn't come with it.

In other news. Mike is optimistic...
https://x.com/MichaelWBratton/status/1957827465583239233?t=ejGLf2DIlmyXFnSskEZD1g&s=19

this. I feel like we will never be a top tier program in the sec. We will always be mediocre and no big name coach wants to come here

[DirkPiggler]

My issue with that is you're likely not  going to get a great coach to take this job. It isn't attractive. Especially if a boost in NIL money doesn't come with it.

In other news. Mike is optimistic...
https://x.com/MichaelWBratton/status/1957827465583239233?t=ejGLf2DIlmyXFnSskEZD1g&s=19

Not all great coaches started out as known commodities.  The only ones we've ever hired who weren't up and comers were Holtz, Ford, Petrino, and Bielema.  And a guy with personality and reason for optimism would draw an NIL boost, at least initially.  It would be on him to sustain it, and on us to retain him.

[vegashog]

Well, there is an automatic extension if we win 7 and the buyout is cut pretty drastically if he is fired at under .500 for his time here. 

I mean if he wins 9 games, so be it.  I won't be mad.  But if he somehow gets to 7, we're fucked once again.  We have reached the point where it is best for the program for him to tank so that we can get on with the process of moving on. 

no, there isn't an another automatic extension. the contract stipulated an extension if he won seven in any one season during the contract (thru 2026). he did that with the bowl win against kansas and it's why he didn't get one for winning 7 last year.

his gig is up after the 2027 season.

[The Whyte Boar]

no, there isn't an another automatic extension. the contract stipulated an extension if he won seven in any one season during the contract (thru 2026). he did that with the bowl win against kansas and it's why he didn't get one for winning 7 last year.

his contract is up after the 2027 season.

Okay, still rather be looking for a coach in October than squeaking out 6 wins to go the Liberty Bowl.

[SwahiliSteve]

Not all great coaches started out as known commodities.  The only ones we've ever hired who weren't up and comers were Holtz, Ford, Petrino, and Bielema.  And a guy with personality and reason for optimism would draw an NIL boost, at least initially.  It would be on him to sustain it, and on us to retain him.

Orgeron is expressing interest in coaching again maybe we will get him lol

[Barton Fink]

Not all great coaches started out as known commodities.  The only ones we've ever hired who weren't up and comers were Holtz, Ford, Petrino, and Bielema.  And a guy with personality and reason for optimism would draw an NIL boost, at least initially.  It would be on him to sustain it, and on us to retain him.

You have far more confidence in our ability to hire a (potentially) really good football coach than I. History is not on our side.

[Borenutz]

Well, there is an automatic extension if we win 7 and the buyout is cut pretty drastically if he is fired at under .500 for his time here. 

I mean if he wins 9 games, so be it.  I won't be mad.  But if he somehow gets to 7, we're fucked once again.  We have reached the point where it is best for the program for him to tank so that we can get on with the process of moving on. 

Extending for 7 wins at this point in a contract, is ludicrous. I realize that's just the dumbass contract but that Hunters dumbassery to take on. I had forgot about that.

But anyhow, I thought the buyout was reduced to 50% from 75% if he falls under. .500? I guess my idiot math was thinking maybe he's owed around 10 mil or so after this year, and payment either owed 5 mil or 7.5 mil. Not that 2.5 mil isn't a lot of money, but in perspective of cfb it's not really.

[DirkPiggler]

You have far more confidence in our ability to hire a (potentially) really good football coach than I. History is not on our side.

Not really.  I just don't like doing the same thing with the same guy over and over thinking it's magically going to get better.  When the coach you have proves over a decent sample size he's not getting the results you want, I'm the type that would rather risk the next guy being the same or worse on the off chance that he also might be better. 

Hopefully Sam proves me wrong. 

[vegashog]

Okay, still rather be looking for a coach in October than squeaking out 6 wins to go the Liberty Bowl.

i think almost everyone here would agree.

[buff2.0]

We also have proven ourselves to not be so friendly to great coaches here.

[HogOfWar]

no, there isn't an another automatic extension. the contract stipulated an extension if he won seven in any one season during the contract (thru 2026). he did that with the bowl win against kansas and it's why he didn't get one for winning 7 last year.

his gig is up after the 2027 season.

This is why I don't think he is gone even with a 4-8 or even a 3-9 record. The volatility of college sports especially football right now is keeping the PTB from pulling the trigger on Yurachek or Pittman.

They are waiting for a more clear picture of what will come with NIL, the transfer portal, and league add/sub. No point in getting rid of them now, if the landscape is ever changing.

My bet is that in the next 5 to 10 years we will see college football go to a premier league with the possibility of teams dissociating with colleges except in name only.

[DirkPiggler]

This is why I don't think he is gone even with a 4-8 or even a 3-9 record. The volatility of college sports especially football right now is keeping the PTB from pulling the trigger on Yurachek or Pittman.

They are waiting for a more clear picture of what will come with NIL, the transfer portal, and league add/sub. No point in getting rid of them now, if the landscape is ever changing.

My bet is that in the next 5 to 10 years we will see college football go to a premier league with the possibility of teams dissociating with colleges except in name only.

I think as soon as Sam's record falls below .500 post-Covid they will get rid of him.  The possibility of saving even a little bit on the buyout would be too much for Hunter (or his benefactors) to resist. 

[woodhog14]

Here is the rub, and where I might agree with Tex and others; I don't think Sam is a 9-10 win a year coach.   He is probably a 7-8 win a year guy with the occasional 9 win season.  That isn't good enough to keep a coach.  Same reason I wanted Nutt replaced.  I don't want anyone to think I'm anything other than okay with replacing Sam. 

But we ain't losing or having a close game with either A-State or Memphis. 

This.

[BleedinRed]

memphis lost all 11 starters on defense plus a lot of backups. only 3 returning on offense and will start a qb from the portal.

who knows how the game will go but they won't be the team that went 11-2 last season.

No, no.  Woopig has spoked.  Memphis is the new Georgia.  Arkansas haz no chance.  

[woodhog14]

Memphis has been one of the better mid-majors since Justin Fuente's time there.  It wouldn't surprise me if they are slight betting favorites. 

That said, a loss is completely unacceptable and should elevate Sam's seat to about the same temp as most of us use to sear steaks. 

Heard a Memphis reporter on the radio this morning. Memphis is going to have 20 new starters out of 22. He said if he were handicapping the game he would put Arkansas at a 7 to 8 point favorite.

He said Memphis lost their 4 year starting QB and their defense is not going to be very good.

Our offense should roll in this game.