I haven't felt this positive since..?

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

 The day before Petrino's accident. You?

[traffordhog]

Sure has a positive vibe to it now!  I am really looking forward to seeing these guys actually be coached by someone who knows what they're doing. 

[jgphillips3]

Yep.  Same for me.

[VirginiaHog]

We beat Texas in the Texas bowl. I thought we were moving up. Didn't happen obviously.

[EconHawg]

November 22, 2014.

I sat in the rain all day watching the beat down of Ole Miss and was on the field after the LSU game the week before. I really thought we were going places.

Little did we know we were living out the song "Green Green Grass of Home" and the last verse was about to start.

[bphi11ips]

The day before Petrino's accident. You?

Come to think of it that's about right.

[Snout team]

Woah!  I really like this hire.  I am very hopefully he will win quickly and often.  But just before April 1 of the infamous Harley ride, my hopes were at their highest in 45+ years of being a hog fan.  Of course I didn't know everything going on behind the scenes back then or I wouldn't have been as optimistic.

Now, I would run through a wall for CCM but I am realistic enough to believe this is going to be a process.  It may be a slow process. 

His quote about "You either have speed or you are chasing speed" said the most.  That is not something he can walk in and change other than a few years of recruiting.

[DeltaBoy]

The day before Petrino's accident. You?

I feel the same way.

[JONAS]

Sure has a positive vibe to it now!  I am really looking forward to seeing these guys actually be coached by someone who knows what they're doing.

Me too.

[Hawginj]

November 22, 2014.

I sat in the rain all day watching the beat down of Ole Miss and was on the field after the LSU game the week before. I really thought we were going places.

Little did we know we were living out the song "Green Green Grass of Home" and the last verse was about to start.

Im with you there wet and cold and thought alright we are gonna do this and next thing you know

[Wildhog]

I have this strange feeling of... hope?  Is that what's it called?

[Irontusk]

... bielema's first presser

[AHorseWithNoName]

The day before Petrino's accident. You?

+1

[rhog1]

Woah!  I really like this hire.  I am very hopefully he will win quickly and often.  But just before April 1 of the infamous Harley ride, my hopes were at their highest in 45+ years of being a hog fan.  Of course I didn't know everything going on behind the scenes back then or I wouldn't have been as optimistic.

Now, I would run through a wall for CCM but I am realistic enough to believe this is going to be a process.  It may be a slow process. 

His quote about "You either have speed or you are chasing speed" said the most.  That is not something he can walk in and change other than a few years of recruiting.

I actually feel like we have a lot of talent especially in the skill positions that just wasn't being used properly. Now both lines are probably going to take a year or two to improve through recruiting.

[311Hog]

we shut out LSU for Beliema's first SEC win.

[rhog1]

I really thought we were going in the right direction after the Texas bowl.

[phadedhawg]

I had about zero optimism going into the season and saw nothing this year to rethink  that.  I'm glad we are getting a fresh start but my enthusiasm won't kick in until September.  I'm not going to buy into the spring ball hype.  Even though there's a new sheriff in town, it's still the same ole media covering the hogs.  Every year they have half the fanbase thinking playoffs during spring ball.  When we see them in action we find out the truth. 

Again, if that seems negative, it's more to do with the way our beat writers cover the hogs, especially when they get a bit excited.  I expect good things from Morris.

Also, to clarify, there are some writers who are much worse at doing this than others.  People like Mike Irwin give it to you straighter than most, so my comment isn't meant to cast him in any negative light.

[bphi11ips]

Woah!  I really like this hire.  I am very hopefully he will win quickly and often.  But just before April 1 of the infamous Harley ride, my hopes were at their highest in 45+ years of being a hog fan.  Of course I didn't know everything going on behind the scenes back then or I wouldn't have been as optimistic.

Now, I would run through a wall for CCM but I am realistic enough to believe this is going to be a process.  It may be a slow process. 

His quote about "You either have speed or you are chasing speed" said the most.  That is not something he can walk in and change other than a few years of recruiting.

I don't think it will be nearly as slow a process as some think.  Arkansas returns a solid core of experience and talent.  It will be easier to go uptempo from here than it was to convert Petrino's 20 skinny receivers to ground and pound.  There is more talent and depth  at QB than Bielema found when he arrived.  The schedule may be the friendliest we have seen since the turn of the century.  Arkansas is a good candidate for one of the better turnarounds in 2018.

[AHorseWithNoName]

My colonoscopy results came back negative. 

[JONAS]

Hope was lost right after we beat LSU in Baton Rouge in 2015.  The next week we had a chance to beat MSU.  Instead of playing to win and scoring a TD, BB decided to run clock and kick a FG to win.   It was blocked, and hope died that night.

[Calling All Hogs]

Since the day Nutt was let go.

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

Woah!  I really like this hire.  I am very hopefully he will win quickly and often.  But just before April 1 of the infamous Harley ride, my hopes were at their highest in 45+ years of being a hog fan.  Of course I didn't know everything going on behind the scenes back then or I wouldn't have been as optimistic.

Now, I would run through a wall for CCM but I am realistic enough to believe this is going to be a process.  It may be a slow process. 

His quote about "You either have speed or you are chasing speed" said the most.  That is not something he can walk in and change other than a few years of recruiting.

Oh I agree it's going to be a process, but I haven't had this much faith in what someone else is telling me as I do in this guy. I trust that his method is going to work. I truly believe we will see daily improvement from day 1 to day 1000... I just cannot see him failing.

[kp72204]

We were up 14-0 to LSU. Damn Honey Badger!!!!!!

[masbas3]

The day before Petrino's accident. You?

I wish it was the start of the 2018 Football season for the Hogs instead of getting ready to go into the dark days without football, it sucks.

[Donny2665]

The day before Petrino's accident. You?

I agree!

[Al Boarland]

Strong case of newhireitus

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

Strong case of newhireitus

No... I didn't buy into CBB this way. I was positive, don't get me wrong, I'm always positive. I just didn't have the same internal confidence that this is the perfect guy for the job. I hope he see's that this is the perfect job to retire as well. He can make as much money here as anywhere, besides there isn't an area of the country that's as affordable with the amenities and scenery as NWA... I hope he likes being King of The Hill...

[12247]

Someone just mentioned Nutt.  It was about 2 years ago that the rumor mill started that there was a huge push by the powers to bring back Nutt as the AD.  Well, that time appears to have just passed and it seems there was never a serious thought toward that.

I am feeling better as things like I just posted about Nutt passed by and no stupid action was taken.  I thought we would never get rid of Bret.  I never wanted him and could see that what I believed to begin with was correct only actually worse than I could ever imagine. 

We had an AD that I believed was a loser and still do believe that.  We may never know just how bad he was or I may be entirely wrong and he may have been decent, but what i witnessed along the way prevents me from believing in him.

It takes a Village to build a child or a football team.  I feel like we may have the starting foundation for a future in this program, a future that includes winning at a reasonable pace and turning out some decent citizens along the way. 

The inflection was that Mutt and Jeff, err, I mean Jeff and Bret had finally come along and turned out something besides outlaws and con men from the football program when that is just not the truth.  We will learn you can run fast, hit hard, avoid getting hit and still be a decent citizen.

I feel more positive daily when I see the current regime appearing to do what hasn't been done in years here and that is put a little thought into the process because its the process that builds the team and the individuals.

[HogPharmer]

My colonoscopy results came back negative.

I bet that was the last time you ever went to that dentist.

[GoldCoastHog]

Bobby Petrino was starting to make me feel a cockiness I hadn't felt since Holtz.

[TNarch]

The first play of the first game this season....pretty much went downhill from there.

[SouthFloridaHog]

I am looking forward to 2018 season more than I have since  CBP

[SooieGeneris]

I heard Mike Irwin on the radio today trying to tamp down optimism with a "we're just poor lil' ol' Arkansas" diatribe. He kept repeating our SEC record is 90-116-2 and "let that sink in."

"I don't know why anyone is optimistic about that" he intoned. 

I had to turn it off, because I knew if I called in and told facts, I wouldn't get far with Lil' Bo Peep before getting cut off.

LBP is fact challenged, just wants to spout off barstool philosophy off the top of his bald head, but here is what I came up with in my research:

In UA's first 20 years in the SEC, from 1992-2011 the SEC football record was 77-81-2, a winning percentage of .488 if you count ties as half a win and half a loss, .481 if you count the pct. of actual wins.

Why the first 20 years? For one thing, the start of the 2012 season was when Texas A&M and Missouri first competed in the SEC.

Mainly though, the 20 first seasons in the SEC dove-tailed with an event the likes of which this football program may have never seen.

April Fool's Day, April 1, 2012 was the UA football program's version of Pearl Harbor, the day Petrino wrecked that Harley.

There's no need to go into all the details again of the subsequent firing and the hiring of John L. Smith as Interim HC.

But here are the facts: from 1992-2011, we were just under .500 in SEC play, the 7th best record in the conference during that time.

Not great, but considering the Crowe firing right before SEC play began in '92,

having a lame duck coach the rest of the season, and bringing in a burned out Danny Ford as he and Broyles fought over his staff most of his time here,

two players committed suicide during the Ford era,

the underachieving Nutt era with the constant drama and politicking behind the scenes, the Mustain mess and infamous email, Gus being forced on Nutt,

Gus leaving after one year to go to Tulsa for less pay as he was about to be demoted,

planes flying banners over the stadium and the media furor that followed,

then in comes Petrino with a nuclear reaction from the national media over the way he left Atlanta with 3 games remaining in the season,

then his messy firing and Smiley appointed to take over the reins of the preseason #5 team in the polls,

Two serious injuries on the field in that ULM fiasco, the subsequent loss after leading big early in the 2nd half as a prohibitive favorite,

yet, still with all that, 4 games under .500 before the start of the 2012 season.

77 wins vs last place Vandy's record of 26-134.

Care to know what the won loss record in SEC play is since? 13-35. Winning pct. .271.

Meaning that of that 26 games below .500 overall in SEC play, 22 of the losses happened since the start of the 2012 season and the start of the JLS era.

Long made a hire in Bielema that the national hailed as a stroke of genius. We know how that turned out. 11-29 in 5 years of SEC play or 18 of the 26 games under .500 in SEC action.

I don't know who CM will be able to get to be DC or on the defensive side of the ball. I don't know if he can get Bohannon on the Hill or who he will fill out the class with.

I do know this: this guy may be the first coach we've had in the SEC era who fit and didn't have major baggage.

Time will tell whether he's the "right" guy or not. But for the first time in what seems like decades, there is hope.

Here are the SEC records of everyone since 2012:

1. 'Bama 43-5
2. UGA 34-14
3. LSU 31-17
4. UF 30-18
5T. Aub. 25-23
5.T A&M 25-23
7T. MSU 24-24
7T. USCE 24-24
9. MO 23-25
10. OM 22-26
11T. TN 15-33
11T. Vand. 15-33
13 UA 13-35
14. UK 12-36

Some may hand-wring over the record of the last 6 years and say "it can't be done here" or  whatever.

I say if a total mediocrity like Nutt can go 42-38 in SEC play it not only can be done, winning more than 50% of SEC games that is, it will be done with the right coach who can coach and recruit.

I'm not expecting an SECW championship any time soon, nor winning 8 or 9 next year. 6-6 with hope of better things to come is fine for now, anything more than that is a bonus.

The see where we are in years 3-4.

[GoldCoastHog]

Yeah, and the guy we just replaced accounted for 29 of those 116 conference losses in five seasons; including 0-8 and 1-7, our two worst records since joining the SEC in 1992. Let that sink in.
HE ACCOUNTED FOR 25% OF OUR LOSSES SINGLEHANDEDLY!!

[farmhawg]

I don't think it will be nearly as slow a process as some think.  Arkansas returns a solid core of experience and talent.  It will be easier to go uptempo from here than it was to convert Petrino's 20 skinny receivers to ground and pound.  There is more talent and depth  at QB than Bielema found when he arrived.  The schedule may be the friendliest we have seen since the turn of the century.  Arkansas is a good candidate for one of the better turnarounds in 2018.

I agree, much faster fix on the offensive side. Defense not so sure.

[checkraiser88]

I'll be honest, BB actually had a shot at one point. We had back to back shutouts of top 15 teams, and I was all BB at that point in time. Then there didn't seem to spark after that and all it came crashing down over the next few seasons. I'm back as excited as I ever was. I feel like we got the Art Briles without the baggage. We finally pulled in somebody that will bring this program back to a point that honestly makes me want to jizz in my pants thinking about it! TOO MUCH INFO I  KNOW!! lol but anyway we about to boogie!

[Razorback Pastor]

I bet that was the last time you ever went to that dentist.

Ha! That made me laugh out loud!

[PORKULATOR]

31-0 over Ole Miss after 17-0 over LSU. I FELT like we were on our way.

[checkraiser88]

31-0 over Ole Miss after 17-0 over LSU. I FELT like we were on our way.

Me to man...me to....and then BAM! reality hit after that

[WarEagleSharkFalconHawg]

...Thurman hit the go ahead three pointer with 50 seconds left in the game.

[Albert Einswine]

Since Nutt got ran and we lucked into Petrino. Except I actually feel better about this than I did with Petrino because we as a fan base aren't having to make a defense against scathing national sports media criticism for hiring a pariah.

[Hogindasticks]

I think that the difference in the offense is going to showcase our speed (which we have much more of) than our strength.  This difference in coaching philosophy should show up pretty quickly on the field since we do have speed.  The ball won't stay in the pocket long from what I am seeing, so our lack of OL will show up less I think.  They won't be on the hook to protect a pocket passer for the most part.  There is a huge difference in protecting a quarterback and attacking a defense.

[jbigs77]

Coach Morris has character, class act. BP was a AH who just knew how to coach, less talent and make things exciting. But couldn't win against smarter coaches. Saban, Miles had his number. 

[Swestwill66]

I heard Mike Irwin on the radio today trying to tamp down optimism with a "we're just poor lil' ol' Arkansas" diatribe. He kept repeating our SEC record is 90-116-2 and "let that sink in."

"I don't know why anyone is optimistic about that" he intoned. 

I had to turn it off, because I knew if I called in and told facts, I wouldn't get far with Lil' Bo Peep before getting cut off.

LBP is fact challenged, just wants to spout off barstool philosophy off the top of his bald head, but here is what I came up with in my research:

In UA's first 20 years in the SEC, from 1992-2011 the SEC football record was 77-81-2, a winning percentage of .488 if you count ties as half a win and half a loss, .481 if you count the pct. of actual wins.

Why the first 20 years? For one thing, the start of the 2012 season was when Texas A&M and Missouri first competed in the SEC.

Mainly though, the 20 first seasons in the SEC dove-tailed with an event the likes of which this football program may have never seen.

April Fool's Day, April 1, 2012 was the UA football program's version of Pearl Harbor, the day Petrino wrecked that Harley.

There's no need to go into all the details again of the subsequent firing and the hiring of John L. Smith as Interim HC.

But here are the facts: from 1992-2011, we were just under .500 in SEC play, the 7th best record in the conference during that time.

Not great, but considering the Crowe firing right before SEC play began in '92,

having a lame duck coach the rest of the season, and bringing in a burned out Danny Ford as he and Broyles fought over his staff most of his time here,

two players committed suicide during the Ford era,

the underachieving Nutt era with the constant drama and politicking behind the scenes, the Mustain mess and infamous email, Gus being forced on Nutt,

Gus leaving after one year to go to Tulsa for less pay as he was about to be demoted,

planes flying banners over the stadium and the media furor that followed,

then in comes Petrino with a nuclear reaction from the national media over the way he left Atlanta with 3 games remaining in the season,

then his messy firing and Smiley appointed to take over the reins of the preseason #5 team in the polls,

Two serious injuries on the field in that ULM fiasco, the subsequent loss after leading big early in the 2nd half as a prohibitive favorite,

yet, still with all that, 4 games under .500 before the start of the 2012 season.

77 wins vs last place Vandy's record of 26-134.

Care to know what the won loss record in SEC play is since? 13-35. Winning pct. .271.

Meaning that of that 26 games below .500 overall in SEC play, 22 of the losses happened since the start of the 2012 season and the start of the JLS era.

Long made a hire in Bielema that the national hailed as a stroke of genius. We know how that turned out. 11-29 in 5 years of SEC play or 18 of the 26 games under .500 in SEC action.

I don't know who CM will be able to get to be DC or on the defensive side of the ball. I don't know if he can get Bohannon on the Hill or who he will fill out the class with.

I do know this: this guy may be the first coach we've had in the SEC era who fit and didn't have major baggage.

Time will tell whether he's the "right" guy or not. But for the first time in what seems like decades, there is hope.

Here are the SEC records of everyone since 2012:

1. 'Bama 43-5
2. UGA 34-14
3. LSU 31-17
4. UF 30-18
5T. Aub. 25-23
5.T A&M 25-23
7T. MSU 24-24
7T. USCE 24-24
9. MO 23-25
10. OM 22-26
11T. TN 15-33
11T. Vand. 15-33
13 UA 13-35
14. UK 12-36

Some may hand-wring over the record of the last 6 years and say "it can't be done here" or  whatever.

I say if a total mediocrity like Nutt can go 42-38 in SEC play it not only can be done, winning more than 50% of SEC games that is, it will be done with the right coach who can coach and recruit.

I'm not expecting an SECW championship any time soon, nor winning 8 or 9 next year. 6-6 with hope of better things to come is fine for now, anything more than that is a bonus.

The see where we are in years 3-4.

Mother of all posts! ( today )

[HawgWyld]

The day before Petrino's accident. You?

That sums up this hire perfectly. My first thought after Petrino got canned was the very Waterboy-esque "Oh, no! We suck again!"

[The hog meister]

One second before he kicked started that motorcycle and pulled that girl on board. Glad to have an exciting offense once again!     wps

[hawginbigd1]

Back to Back SEC shutouts!

[JONAS]

I heard Mike Irwin on the radio today trying to tamp down optimism with a "we're just poor lil' ol' Arkansas" diatribe. He kept repeating our SEC record is 90-116-2 and "let that sink in."

"I don't know why anyone is optimistic about that" he intoned. 

I had to turn it off, because I knew if I called in and told facts, I wouldn't get far with Lil' Bo Peep before getting cut off.

LBP is fact challenged, just wants to spout off barstool philosophy off the top of his bald head, but here is what I came up with in my research:

In UA's first 20 years in the SEC, from 1992-2011 the SEC football record was 77-81-2, a winning percentage of .488 if you count ties as half a win and half a loss, .481 if you count the pct. of actual wins.

Why the first 20 years? For one thing, the start of the 2012 season was when Texas A&M and Missouri first competed in the SEC.

Mainly though, the 20 first seasons in the SEC dove-tailed with an event the likes of which this football program may have never seen.

April Fool's Day, April 1, 2012 was the UA football program's version of Pearl Harbor, the day Petrino wrecked that Harley.

There's no need to go into all the details again of the subsequent firing and the hiring of John L. Smith as Interim HC.

But here are the facts: from 1992-2011, we were just under .500 in SEC play, the 7th best record in the conference during that time.

Not great, but considering the Crowe firing right before SEC play began in '92,

having a lame duck coach the rest of the season, and bringing in a burned out Danny Ford as he and Broyles fought over his staff most of his time here,

two players committed suicide during the Ford era,

the underachieving Nutt era with the constant drama and politicking behind the scenes, the Mustain mess and infamous email, Gus being forced on Nutt,

Gus leaving after one year to go to Tulsa for less pay as he was about to be demoted,

planes flying banners over the stadium and the media furor that followed,

then in comes Petrino with a nuclear reaction from the national media over the way he left Atlanta with 3 games remaining in the season,

then his messy firing and Smiley appointed to take over the reins of the preseason #5 team in the polls,

Two serious injuries on the field in that ULM fiasco, the subsequent loss after leading big early in the 2nd half as a prohibitive favorite,

yet, still with all that, 4 games under .500 before the start of the 2012 season.

77 wins vs last place Vandy's record of 26-134.

Care to know what the won loss record in SEC play is since? 13-35. Winning pct. .271.

Meaning that of that 26 games below .500 overall in SEC play, 22 of the losses happened since the start of the 2012 season and the start of the JLS era.

Long made a hire in Bielema that the national hailed as a stroke of genius. We know how that turned out. 11-29 in 5 years of SEC play or 18 of the 26 games under .500 in SEC action.

I don't know who CM will be able to get to be DC or on the defensive side of the ball. I don't know if he can get Bohannon on the Hill or who he will fill out the class with.

I do know this: this guy may be the first coach we've had in the SEC era who fit and didn't have major baggage.

Time will tell whether he's the "right" guy or not. But for the first time in what seems like decades, there is hope.

Here are the SEC records of everyone since 2012:

1. 'Bama 43-5
2. UGA 34-14
3. LSU 31-17
4. UF 30-18
5T. Aub. 25-23
5.T A&M 25-23
7T. MSU 24-24
7T. USCE 24-24
9. MO 23-25
10. OM 22-26
11T. TN 15-33
11T. Vand. 15-33
13 UA 13-35
14. UK 12-36

Some may hand-wring over the record of the last 6 years and say "it can't be done here" or  whatever.

I say if a total mediocrity like Nutt can go 42-38 in SEC play it not only can be done, winning more than 50% of SEC games that is, it will be done with the right coach who can coach and recruit.

I'm not expecting an SECW championship any time soon, nor winning 8 or 9 next year. 6-6 with hope of better things to come is fine for now, anything more than that is a bonus.

The see where we are in years 3-4.

+1

[Aunt_Razorback]

November 22, 2014.

I sat in the rain all day watching the beat down of Ole Miss and was on the field after the LSU game the week before. I really thought we were going places.

Little did we know we were living out the song "Green Green Grass of Home" and the last verse was about to start.

The ability to retain dry humor and appreciation of irony even in times of woe is an Arkansas gift  👊🏼  I actually had to google the song. Perfect.

[Oklahawg]

November 22, 2014.

I sat in the rain all day watching the beat down of Ole Miss and was on the field after the LSU game the week before. I really thought we were going places.

Little did we know we were living out the song "Green Green Grass of Home" and the last verse was about to start.

That sounds about right.