The NEXT Coach

[bigpig]

What's up with Lashley having three OCs at SMU? One is the OC, and two are co-OCs.

[vegashog]

What's up with Lashley having three OCs at SMU? One is the OC, and two are co-OCs.

looks like he just gave the wr, te, and o-line coaches the title.

he did the same for the safeties, cornerbacks, and lb coaches on the defensive side.

[HTL]

looks like he just gave the wr, te, and o-line coaches the title.

he did the same for the safeties, cornerbacks, and lb coaches on the defensive side.

Perfect coach for the trophy generation

[Thin Red Swine]

For one. there are several better options. Two, support the program. You wanna hold out because we didn't hire your favorite candidate, that's petty HS shit.

It's far from that. It's wise business decision making for those who can move the needle. For Average Joe giving $20/month, blind loyalty is fine.

[DRYANKNPULL]

looks like he just gave the wr, te, and o-line coaches the title.

he did the same for the safeties, cornerbacks, and lb coaches on the defensive side.

Do they play ghey football?

[vegashog]

Do they play ghey football?

don't know the answer to that and damn sure don't want to find out.

[Barton Fink]

There is no guarantee that any of the coaches mentioned will win more games than other candidates. It's not a business decision. It's a crap shoot with zero return regardless of the results.

[TC]

There is no guarantee that any of the coaches mentioned will win more games than other candidates. It's not a business decision. It's a crap shoot with zero return regardless of the results.

Which is why if he even sniffs showing some semblance of getting the defense to play harder and somehow manages to scratch together a win or two, the job should be Petrinos.

[WaywardMemphian]

I'd rather have Silverfield. Memphis has over 70 new players. Tells me he can go get what he needs.

[animal]

Trying this Comet AI Browser out...

What is the likilhood that Bobby Petrino can turn around Arkansas's football team this season given the amount of quit they've previously shown under the prior head coach?

answer

The likelihood that Bobby Petrino can turn around Arkansas's football team this season—given the level of quit previously shown under Sam Pittman—appears limited but not impossible, according to recent analysis from local and national sources.

Pittman's teams lost intensity and accountability: Under Sam Pittman, Arkansas's culture "turned comfortable instead of competitive." Repeated errors went unpunished, and players felt little consequence for mistakes or lack of effort. Practices became less physical, and there was a visible drop in both discipline and motivation, with media and fans noting the team had "basically quit" by the end of his tenure.

Petrino brings blunt accountability and demands performance: Petrino's immediate steps as interim coach included firing several defensive coaches to send a message about standards and consequences. Unlike Pittman, Petrino is not known for pep talks—he expects action and is willing to bench under-performers and call out sloppy play. There is hope among Razorback observers that restoring discipline and urgency may start to reverse some of the apathy in the locker room, but the roster is thin and the schedule difficult.

Realistic expectations: Most analysts do not expect Petrino to produce an instant turnaround or make Arkansas an SEC contender this season. The team's depth and morale challenges run deep, and the strength of schedule is brutal. However, a shift to demanding accountability—reducing unforced errors and quit—could restore some competitiveness and pride, even if results on the scoreboard don't immediately reflect it.[/size][/color][/font][/size][/color][/li][/list]

Fan and player reaction is mixed: While some players and fans support his tough-love approach, others remain skeptical given Petrino's controversial past and the interim nature of his role. There's some concern about buy-in, especially with losing veterans and possible transfer portal exits

]Bottom Line:
Petrino's leadership style and immediate actions suggest he can raise standards and halt the worst of the quit culture, but a dramatic turnaround in wins is unlikely, given the roster he inherited and the circumstances. The season is more about laying groundwork for culture change rather than expecting a rapid conversion of losses to victories.The most realistic outcome:

Fewer embarrassing blowouts or lapses foundation for the next coach, even if Petrino isn't retained full-time

A total turnaround this year is improbable, but a shift in attitude and on-field competitiveness is within reach if players respond to Petrino's demands.


How many current Arkansas razorback football players are eligible to return next season


The current Arkansas Razorback football team has 84 total scholarship players for the 2025 season. Of those:

22 are seniors or super seniors: 2 RS-SSR (sixth-year super seniors), 0 SSR (fifth-year regular super seniors), and 20 RS-SR (redshirt seniors, seniors with a fifth-year option).

All other players (RS-JR, JR, RS-SO, SO, RS-FR, FR) are eligible to return next season, barring transfer, graduation, NFL Draft entry, or other roster changes.

Based on current eligibility, that means 62 players (non-seniors) are eligible to return for the 2026 season, not counting walk-ons or players who may transfer, graduate early, or declare for the draft.

Summary:
Out of 84 scholarship players, about 62 are eligible to return next season, with the rest exhausting their eligibility after 2025.

[DirkPiggler]

For one. there are several better options. Two, support the program. You wanna hold out because we didn't hire youe favorite candidate, that's petty HS shit.

Two I can understand.  One is simply your opinion and, at the moment at least, not backed up by statistics. 

Our athletic department has been dysfunctional since JFB lost his faculties.  While I agree people should support the program consistently, the only leverage people have to effect change that is often obviously needed and being ignored is withholding contributions.   And I'm not in the business of telling other people how to spend their money.

For example , if I ever get enough money to donate enough that would warrant putting my name on a facility, instead I would ask that John White's name be taken off of any existing buildings, or that the new one would be named the "John White is a Piece of Shit" memorial building.   Pretty sure none of that is happening on its own.

[Barton Fink]

You're right. It is 100% opinion, which is my point. No one has a clue which coach would win more here than the others. You're just picking favorites.

That's why I applaud what TT has done. They have a mid level coach that their donors backed. They want to flip the script on TT football. and so far it looks to be working.

[DirkPiggler]

You're right. It is 100% opinion, which is my point. No one has a clue which coach would win more here than the others. You're just picking favorites.

That's why I applaud what TT has done. They have a mid level coach that their donors backed. They want to flip the script on TT football. and so far it looks to be working.

I don't know enough about Tech football to know if their coach is mid level or better.   Would need to see things like his record in one score games, how often they turned the ball over, their conditioning, and overall effort level. 

 But yes it would be nice to have a mega donor who was willing to fund football the way Tech does.  He just started doing that this year. Who's to say he won't withhold funds if he doesn't like the direction of the program or disagrees with personnel decisions. 

EDIT:  McGuire is 13-4 in one score games. None of those are from this year, the first one where he's had the massive NIL war chest.

[jdcatty]

It's far from that. It's wise business decision making for those who can move the needle. For Average Joe giving $20/month, blind loyalty is fine.

And I am sure "those who can move the needle" know a lot about hiring football coaches.

[HogOfWar]

Two I can understand.  One is simply your opinion and, at the moment at least, not backed up by statistics. 

Our athletic department has been dysfunctional since JFB lost his faculties.  While I agree people should support the program consistently, the only leverage people have to effect change that is often obviously needed and being ignored is withholding contributions.  And I'm not in the business of telling other people how to spend their money.

For example , if I ever get enough money to donate enough that would warrant putting my name on a facility, instead I would ask that John White's name be taken off of any existing buildings, or that the new one would be named the "John White is a Piece of Shit" memorial building.  Pretty sure none of that is happening on its own.

Your last paragraph brought me to tears of joy. I won't set foot in Engineering Hall because his name is on it.

[DirkPiggler]

One score records of coaches supposedly on our list:

Lashlee: 7-7
Sumrall: 12-3
Golesh: 2-1
Mullen: 29-23
Silverfield: 18-12
Malzahn: 37-28

Petrino:  31-24

Pittman:7-19

[DirkPiggler]

Your last paragraph brought me to tears of joy. I won't set foot in Engineering Hall because his name is on it.

He doesn't deserve so much as the glory hole in the fine arts bathroom to be named after him. 

I would to this day contribute a years supply of urinal screens with his picture on them if they would put them in every restroom on campus.

[Barton Fink]

One score records of coaches supposedly on our list:

Lashlee: 7-7
Sumrall: 12-3
Golesh: 2-1
Mullen: 29-23
Silverfield: 18-12
Malzahn: 37-28

Petrino:  31-24

Pittman:7-19

Solid efforting.

I honestly don't get the fascination around 1 score games. Sometimes you win or lose by 1 score when you're expected to win/lose by more.

I also think that is more indicative of your players. I had a long chat a few weeks ago with Jerry Wainwright about this.

If it is important to you, do you still feel Lashlee is the best option statistically?

[DirkPiggler]

Solid efforting.

I honestly don't get the fascination around 1 score games. Sometimes you win or lose by 1 score when you're expected to win/lose by more.

I also think that is more indicative of your players. I had a long chat a few weeks ago with Jerry Wainwright about this.

If it is important to you, do you still feel Lashlee is the best option statistically?

It's a piece of the puzzle, a data point. Overall record and difficulty of opponents also matters.  Note that I didn't say Lashlee was the best statistically- just that he wasn't clearly below any of the others. 

My thought is that luck should dictate a .500ish record.  Anything significantly above (with enough sample size) probably means doing a better job and below means subpar performance. 

Being at a talent disadvantage to me would mean fewer one score games overall.  If your talent is good enough to get you close, you should still win roughly half of them. 

Obviously there were some for Pittman where his team did well to get that close, and a couple where officials screwed them out of a chance to win.  There were also some where we had the talent advantage - Liberty, BYU, and 2023 Miss State come to mind - where we just flat out blew them, so that equals out a lot.   Most of the ones against OM, Missouri, Auburn, and even 2022 aTm were against similar talent.  To me it's a big enough sample to be an indictment of Pittman's ability rather than a positive point on his resume. 

[Feral]

One score records of coaches supposedly on our list:

Sumrall: 12-3

Yes please