Razorback Football

[Zoso]

So...who's running the D in Knoxville? Bobby?

[Borenutz]

So...who's running the D in Knoxville? Bobby?

Chris Wilson, I heard, unless something changes between now and then.

[jdcatty]

Chris Wilson, I heard, unless something changes between now and then.

Bobby through Chris Wilson, most likely.

[TC]

So...who's running the D in Knoxville? Bobby?

Wouldn't you call the D if you were him? You've spent the better part of 15 years getting back to this very spot. No sense in now leaving your fate in the hands of someone else when you know your defense better than anyone still employed.

[TC]

Bobby through Chris Wilson, most likely.

My guess as well.

[Doc Hogaday]

Wouldn't you call the D if you were him? You've spent the better part of 15 years getting back to this very spot. No sense in now leaving your fate in the hands of someone else when you know your defense better than anyone still employed.

That ain't no shit, neither. Let him do everything, because you know good and damn well he knows more about anything than anyone on this staff. And he will work harder than anyone to find out what he doesn't know. Hell, that motherfucker may not sleep for the rest of the season prepping for this shit.

[FNG]

So...who's running the D in Knoxville? Bobby?

It's always seemed logical to me that the best person on a football team to scheme (not to be confused with coach) up a defense against a particular offense would be the Offensive Coordinator. Their minds are built to exploit defensive vulnerabilities so, conversely, they should also know what particular schemes and fits would give an offense the most trouble.

[The Whyte Boar]

It's always seemed logical to me that the best person on a football team to scheme (not to be confused with coach) up a defense against a particular offense would be the Offensive Coordinator. Their minds are built to exploit defensive vulnerabilities so, conversely, they should also know what particular schemes and fits would give an offense the most trouble.

I wonder how much of that give and take was completely broken on this team?  There were reports of BP and TW nearly coming to blows before the season.  Probably safe to assume that they did not like each other.

Last year they would have cooperated to an extent because they were professionals and it was their job.  This year once it became clear that Sam wasn't going to make it and TW figured out he had no chance at interim, it looks like his GAF walked out the door.  It doesn't look like there was any cooperation at all and the defense was so bad, deliberate sabotage cannot be entirely ruled out.

I don't think there can help but be improvement based on scheme, effort, and most of all, unity of purpose.

[piglosopher]

https://www.bestofarkansassports.com/arkansas-football-houston-nutt-sam-pittman-admission-weird-disconnect/

Blah blah, blah blah blah

This is what caught my eye and why HY needs to go

In the fiscal year 2024, the Razorbacks ranked dead last out of 15 SEC public schools in donor contributions.

[Feral]

I wonder how much of that give and take was completely broken on this team?  There were reports of BP and TW nearly coming to blows before the season.  Probably safe to assume that they did not like each other.

Last year they would have cooperated to an extent because they were professionals and it was their job.  This year once it became clear that Sam wasn't going to make it and TW figured out he had no chance at interim, it looks like his GAF walked out the door.  It doesn't look like there was any cooperation at all and the defense was so bad, deliberate sabotage cannot be entirely ruled out.

I don't think there can help but be improvement based on scheme, effort, and most of all, unity of purpose.

The more I see and hear of Sam's tenure, the more I'm convinced he's the epitome of a front runner leader type.

When everything's working and all systems are go, he's fully engaged. Conversely, when things go to shit and there's dissension among the ranks (when real leadership is needed), he disengages and becomes remote and aloof instead of jumping in to get everyone aligned and on the same page.

You could feel it starting in 2022 and then it most apparent in 2023 when we bottomed out.

Likely goes to why we saw a shitload of portal attrition every year — often tops in the conference.

[piglosopher]

The more I see and hear of Sam's tenure, the more I'm convinced he's the epitome of a front runner leader type.

When everything's working and all systems are go, he's fully engaged. Conversely, when things go to shit and there's dissension among the ranks (when real leadership is needed), he disengages and becomes remote and aloof instead of jumping in to get everyone aligned and on the same page.

You could feel it starting in 2022 and then it most apparent in 2023 when we bottomed out.

Likely goes to why we saw a shitload of portal attrition every year — often tops in the conference.

When Odom left, there was a noticeable difference in attitude and feel of the team IMO.

His last year here, his defense wasn't good, but they
seemed to play hard.

[Cornhogio]

The more I see and hear of Sam's tenure, the more I'm convinced he's the epitome of a front runner leader type.

When everything's working and all systems are go, he's fully engaged. Conversely, when things go to shit and there's dissension among the ranks (when real leadership is needed), he disengages and becomes remote and aloof instead of jumping in to get everyone aligned and on the same page.

You could feel it starting in 2022 and then it most apparent in 2023 when we bottomed out.

Likely goes to why we saw a shitload of portal attrition every year — often tops in the conference.

Do you think he might have been jealous of the credit Briles was getting?  When Briles left, it all started to fall apart.

[FNG]

I think Sam was a classic example of "imposter syndrome". He spent his entire tenure as HC in fear that he was going to be exposed as a fraud and his management of the team was a manifestation of that fear.

The self-deprecating language and shrugging "whadda ya gonna do?" behavior during press conferences, the obvious deference to more experienced subordinates like Odom, Briles and Petrino, the reticence to remain aggressive when holding leads and the seemingly random manner of making critical in-game decisions along with his need to be the cherished father-figure to his players at the cost of losing discipline were all tell-tale signs.

[HTL]

I don't really understand the Sam hate. We never should've had to fall down the pecking order that far to someone like him. Our salaries budget was bottom of the barrel and NIL budget for defense was nonexistent in this brutal conference.

[BleedinRed]

https://www.bestofarkansassports.com/arkansas-football-houston-nutt-sam-pittman-admission-weird-disconnect/

Blah blah, blah blah blah

This is what caught my eye and why HY needs to go

In the fiscal year 2024, the Razorbacks ranked dead last out of 15 SEC public schools in donor contributions.

"Time heals all wounds, though – most of them, anyway – and Nutt's magnetic personality and unrivaled passion for the Hogs has made him a beloved figure in the state of Arkansas. The school's near-constant mediocrity in the last 13 seasons has also made fans much more appreciative of his success in hindsight.  The 67-year-old's word carries a lot of sway within the fanbase, with many even floating him as a candidate for whenever Arkansas ends up needing a new athletics director."

Andy Hodges is clealy not a Woopigger.

He goes on to write more retardation..

"I never really met Sam Pittman," Nutt said on 103.7 The Buzz's Morning Mayhem on Monday. "He always seemed like a class guy, a nice guy."

A minor detail, sure, but also one that nearly caused me to chip a tooth while trying to digest it. Pittman's five years and change in charge made him the longest-tenured Arkansas coach since Nutt. Add in that they're two of the most recognizable faces and charismatic personalities in the state, and the fact they never so much as chatted together is a head-scratcher."

Does Nutt have any access to the athletic program?  Does he meet with HY?  Does he roam the halls of the department?  I know Bazile has him show up for Touchdown club things but does anyone really consider Nutt to be a key Arkansas guy?

If not, is it no surprise an Arkansas coach wouldn't give him the time of day?

[vegashog]

I don't really understand the Sam hate. We never should've had to fall down the pecking order that far to someone like him. Our salaries budget was bottom of the barrel and NIL budget for defense was nonexistent in this brutal conference.

bert's buyout ($12 million) hadn't gone to court and morris's was $10 million. while arkansas might not be as poor as some think, that's a chunk of change.

sam was who he was, he just should have been let go 2 years ago.

[animal]

In some respects I think Sam did a good job initially assembling a staff and like many coaches the ascending staffs are not as good and things crumble away. 

Also the game and recruiting changed so dramatically it made little or no sense to continue with him. 

[bigpig]

Sam's tenure proves that there's an intangible quality that a head coach brings. Doesn't matter how good the assistants are, or how talented the team is, the head coach creatures the culture and the dozen little decisions that have to be made in a game, that only a HC can make, can make or break a close game. Sam's abysmal record in close games shows that he never figured it out, and probably never would.

As for Nutt, if Sam ignored him or avoided him, that was smart. If Bobby somehow turns the season around and gets the full time gig back, I expect Nutt will slink off into the slimpit again. I doubt Bobby has forgotten what it was like being Nutt's successor, especially in his first two years (2008-2009).

[Doc Hogaday]

One thing that always seems to be forgotten about Sam, or at least not mentioned near enough, is that he was brought here under the guise of "best OL coach in the nation." Whether you were for the hire or not, at least you thought we would have a solid line. And it was consistently the worst unit on our team for 5 years. He could not even be mediocre at the one thing he was supposed to be good at. He is a dipshit loser pussy that should have been fired at midcourt at halftime of that Duke game the day after Petrino was hired.

[Loma]

Bobby through Chris Wilson, most likely.

I can only imagine what Petrino was thinking when we were on defense or when he was watching film on our defense.