We're Not in Hog Heaven
I am a Razorback fan. I grew up in Batesville, AR watching Ken Hatfields' Razorbacks compete hard in the old Southwest Conference. They won two championships heading to the Cotton Bowl. I don't talk about the Hogs on this site much so that I won't appear biased. Well, tonight I am going to reveal my thoughts.
Now, it seems if the Hogs win 8 games they take a trip across the state line to play in the Cotton Bowl, and that just doesn't seem to be enough for the fans. You see, times have changed and the Cotton Bowl, while it is a good bowl, is not the BCS.
Ten years ago the Hogs were limping to the end of the 90's after the Danny Ford era that ended with one trip to the SEC Championship Game. The Razorbacks hired a brash young coach who played a season in the 70's for Frank Broyles' team before moving on to play somewhere else.
Houston Nutt took the Hogs to two SEC Title games in 10 years. He may have coached the Heisman Trophy winner for 2007. He brought passion back to the sidelines in Fayetteville.
After a tumulteous two years, Coach Nutt took his gear and bolted, to Oxford. Mississippi, that is. Yes, Houston Nutt left to go to the power of Ole Miss. The Hogs have to play him every year until the Ole Miss Athletic Department runs him off for not winning a national title.
Now, the Hogs are trying to make the right hire. First, there were cries for Auburn's Tommy Tubberville, a native Arkansan. He decided to stay. Then Tommy Bowden was interviewed. Both coaches received contract extensions and raises. Next up, Jim Grobe. Nope. He don't want it either. At least he didn't show up for a press conference, pretend to do a Hog Call and then change his mind like Dana Altman did last spring after taking the Men's Basketball job only to return to Creighton.
The Hogs are having trouble attracting somebody. And, right now, fans might like to have somebody, maybe anybody. Fans are calling for Arkansas to hire the next Bob Stoops. Stoops, was hired at OU after being a successful coordinator and assistant coach. I have heard fans call for Razorback Defensive Coordinator and Interim Coach Reggie Herring, Tulsa Head Coach Todd Graham and Tulsa Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn. Down here (Fort Worth, TX) I've even heard Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach's name thrown out there.
When I thought the job would be open, I had two people on my "wish list" from day one. Now, I doubt that Athletic Director Jeff Long or Chancellor White will be looking to me for ideas of who to hire, but at least I can make my case. The first name on my "wish list" is Terry Bowden. Bowden has hinted to the possibility that he might want to coach again. Terry took Auburn to an undefeated season in 1993. He is, in fact, a prominent member of the Bowden football tree. He can coach, he has passion and emotion. If Bowden is going to coach in 2008, he will make a good coach. And, he might as well coach at Arkansas.
However, I don't know if Bowden moves to Fayetteville. He could, but he might be interested in coaching somewhere bigger. My next choice for a Razorback coach, and he is actually 1 b, is TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson. I have lived in Fort Worth for 10 years now. I watched during the first few years as Dennis Francione led the Horned Frogs to successful seasons as the TCU played in the Conference USA. When Fran left, I didn't think that TCU football could get bigger. Boy I was wrong!
TCU immediately asked Gary Patterson to step in and be the new coach. I didn't know anything about Patterson, but let me tell you, he is the best coach you've never heard of. If you don't believe me, then ask Stewart Mandel. Mandel included him in his 10 Best Coaches article. Patterson has everything a Hog coach needs. He has passion. He has motivation, for himself and his players. He instills discipline, on and off the field. His defenses play lights out. Consider this. Last year's TCU defense held Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe to 28 yards rushing in the 2006 Poisettia Bowl. Wolfe was an All American running back and hung 285 all purpose yards (171 rushing) on Ohio State in 2006 which basically had the same defense as the one this year that led the Buckeyes to the title game.
Patterson usually has good special teams. TCU had 4 block kicks (punts/field goals) this year. Patterson is a very likable guy. He recruits well for the disadvantage that TCU has in Texas. He is a defensive minded guy who likes to turn the offense over to a talented offensive coordinator and works hard to put together a disciplined team that excels in all phases of the game. The Frogs knocked off Oklahoma on the road in 2005 and were leading the Longhorns this year at halftime. They shut down Texas Tech's offense last year.
The Hogs and Frogs will have a series in a few years. If Patterson isn't coaching the Hogs, he'll probably be giving them problems on the field as the Frogs coach. Patterson's TCU teams play in front of 42,000 at the most, and they have to be perfect to play in a BCS game. At Arkansas, he would be coaching in front of 80,000 fans who are just a passionate about football as he is. Arkansas doesn't play second fiddle to anyone in the state whereas TCU does in Fort Worth. I think he might consider it. He coaches in a BCS game at Arkansas by winning the SEC Title, or just being in the Top 10. He can't do those things at TCU.
If Arkansas passes on Patterson, then I will continue to be a Frog fan. I am a Hog fan first, but I will always enjoy keeping up with the Frogs. And, when the Frogs play the Hogs in 2012, if Gary Patterson is in purple, expect trouble on the field for the Hogs. TCU's defense will be coming, the offense will use a variety of formations, and the special teams will get after the Hogs.
Now, it seems if the Hogs win 8 games they take a trip across the state line to play in the Cotton Bowl, and that just doesn't seem to be enough for the fans. You see, times have changed and the Cotton Bowl, while it is a good bowl, is not the BCS.
Ten years ago the Hogs were limping to the end of the 90's after the Danny Ford era that ended with one trip to the SEC Championship Game. The Razorbacks hired a brash young coach who played a season in the 70's for Frank Broyles' team before moving on to play somewhere else.
Houston Nutt took the Hogs to two SEC Title games in 10 years. He may have coached the Heisman Trophy winner for 2007. He brought passion back to the sidelines in Fayetteville.
After a tumulteous two years, Coach Nutt took his gear and bolted, to Oxford. Mississippi, that is. Yes, Houston Nutt left to go to the power of Ole Miss. The Hogs have to play him every year until the Ole Miss Athletic Department runs him off for not winning a national title.
Now, the Hogs are trying to make the right hire. First, there were cries for Auburn's Tommy Tubberville, a native Arkansan. He decided to stay. Then Tommy Bowden was interviewed. Both coaches received contract extensions and raises. Next up, Jim Grobe. Nope. He don't want it either. At least he didn't show up for a press conference, pretend to do a Hog Call and then change his mind like Dana Altman did last spring after taking the Men's Basketball job only to return to Creighton.
The Hogs are having trouble attracting somebody. And, right now, fans might like to have somebody, maybe anybody. Fans are calling for Arkansas to hire the next Bob Stoops. Stoops, was hired at OU after being a successful coordinator and assistant coach. I have heard fans call for Razorback Defensive Coordinator and Interim Coach Reggie Herring, Tulsa Head Coach Todd Graham and Tulsa Offensive Coordinator Gus Malzahn. Down here (Fort Worth, TX) I've even heard Texas Tech Head Coach Mike Leach's name thrown out there.
When I thought the job would be open, I had two people on my "wish list" from day one. Now, I doubt that Athletic Director Jeff Long or Chancellor White will be looking to me for ideas of who to hire, but at least I can make my case. The first name on my "wish list" is Terry Bowden. Bowden has hinted to the possibility that he might want to coach again. Terry took Auburn to an undefeated season in 1993. He is, in fact, a prominent member of the Bowden football tree. He can coach, he has passion and emotion. If Bowden is going to coach in 2008, he will make a good coach. And, he might as well coach at Arkansas.
However, I don't know if Bowden moves to Fayetteville. He could, but he might be interested in coaching somewhere bigger. My next choice for a Razorback coach, and he is actually 1 b, is TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson. I have lived in Fort Worth for 10 years now. I watched during the first few years as Dennis Francione led the Horned Frogs to successful seasons as the TCU played in the Conference USA. When Fran left, I didn't think that TCU football could get bigger. Boy I was wrong!
TCU immediately asked Gary Patterson to step in and be the new coach. I didn't know anything about Patterson, but let me tell you, he is the best coach you've never heard of. If you don't believe me, then ask Stewart Mandel. Mandel included him in his 10 Best Coaches article. Patterson has everything a Hog coach needs. He has passion. He has motivation, for himself and his players. He instills discipline, on and off the field. His defenses play lights out. Consider this. Last year's TCU defense held Northern Illinois' Garrett Wolfe to 28 yards rushing in the 2006 Poisettia Bowl. Wolfe was an All American running back and hung 285 all purpose yards (171 rushing) on Ohio State in 2006 which basically had the same defense as the one this year that led the Buckeyes to the title game.
Patterson usually has good special teams. TCU had 4 block kicks (punts/field goals) this year. Patterson is a very likable guy. He recruits well for the disadvantage that TCU has in Texas. He is a defensive minded guy who likes to turn the offense over to a talented offensive coordinator and works hard to put together a disciplined team that excels in all phases of the game. The Frogs knocked off Oklahoma on the road in 2005 and were leading the Longhorns this year at halftime. They shut down Texas Tech's offense last year.
The Hogs and Frogs will have a series in a few years. If Patterson isn't coaching the Hogs, he'll probably be giving them problems on the field as the Frogs coach. Patterson's TCU teams play in front of 42,000 at the most, and they have to be perfect to play in a BCS game. At Arkansas, he would be coaching in front of 80,000 fans who are just a passionate about football as he is. Arkansas doesn't play second fiddle to anyone in the state whereas TCU does in Fort Worth. I think he might consider it. He coaches in a BCS game at Arkansas by winning the SEC Title, or just being in the Top 10. He can't do those things at TCU.
If Arkansas passes on Patterson, then I will continue to be a Frog fan. I am a Hog fan first, but I will always enjoy keeping up with the Frogs. And, when the Frogs play the Hogs in 2012, if Gary Patterson is in purple, expect trouble on the field for the Hogs. TCU's defense will be coming, the offense will use a variety of formations, and the special teams will get after the Hogs.
posted by the toddler at
5:05 PM
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