This Arkansas team has inside Tennessee information, ex-Vols Addison Nichols at center and Doneiko Slaughter as a defensive back. They transferred in the winter.
“They’ve been great additions,” said coach Sam Pittman. “They’re both starters.”
For public consumption, Nichols says Josh Heupel “is a great guy, a great coach and has a great program. Couldn’t say a bad thing about him. Definitely learned a lot in my time there, but at the end of the day, I just didn’t see myself hitting my full potential.”
Nichols didn’t say anything about line coach Glen Elarbee. Maybe he wasn’t asked.
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This Tennessee defense is preparing for a new experience, a genuine dual-threat quarterback, Taylen Green, 6-6 and 230, 1,236 yards and five touchdowns passing, 331 and four scores running.
“Dynamic playmaker, designed quarterback runs,” said Heupel. “When plays break down, he’s got the ability to escape, outrun people, get outside the pocket and make plays. Anytime you’re facing a quarterback that’s that dynamic, that is where the game starts for you defensively.
“On pass plays, you’ve got to push the pocket, but you can’t let him escape…he’s got the ability to just outrun defenders.”
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Heupel, eternal optimist, says he anticipates offensive tackles Lance Heard and John Campbell being in the lineup at Arkansas. Nico certainly hopes it happens.
Heard has missed two games with an ankle injury. It was a mild surprise that he wasn’t available against Oklahoma. Campbell left that game in the second quarter, returned briefly in the third and missed remaining action. He has been limited with nagging injuries all season.
Saturday kickoff, 7:30, ABC and Vol Network.
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The real Arkansas story is the sideshow. Some have labeled it “Just win, baby.”
Others see the new theme as “Everybody deserves a second or third chance.”
Bobby Petrino
Pittman, assigned a very hot seat after the 2023 season, took a deep breath, said he had no ego problems and hired (or accepted) Bobby Petrino, once disgraced, now beloved again, as offensive coordinator.
In bringing back the former head coach and infamous motorcycle rider, Pittman acknowledged he needed help. Arkansas was 107th in passing offense and 107 in total offense last season. A former captain, David Bazzel, said Petrino blindfolded could do better than that.
Even though the Petrino scandal was 12 years ago, Sam knew football fans never forget. Sam took the risk even though Petrino might be the head coach-in-waiting.
“Bobby could be a good head coach,” Pittman said. “He could be a great one.”
The legendary Bobby Petrino was and may still be a lightning rod. He was fired for an inappropriate relationship with a 25-year-old former volleyball player he had added to the athletic staff. That he gave her $20,000 as a Christmas present may have been incidental.
The final straw was not telling the truth when details started trickling out, when then-athletics director Jeff Long asked what the heck was going on.
Evidence made headlines. The young woman was riding behind the coach when he wrecked his motorcycle near the town of Crosses on April Fools’ Day 2012. There was a cover-up attempt but police had to be involved. There was bloodshed.
University administrators expressed outrage. Petrino expressed remorse and deep admiration for the Razorbacks. That he had gone 34 -17 with two bowl victories in his four years wasn’t enough to save his job. What he had accomplished and what he did later was enough to bring him back.
Petrino coached at Western Kentucky, Louisville, for the Atlanta Falcons and Missouri State. He was offensive coordinator at Texas A&M last season. In 14 seasons as a head coach, his record is 119-56.
Petrino has another plus point. His wife, Becky, never gave up on him.
Do you think Bobby Petrino ever imagined he would make it back to Arkansas? Only in his dreams …
“It’s something I hoped would happen. Wasn’t sure if it ever would, but it is a dream come true to be back and do anything I possibly can to make it right this time. I’m grateful to Coach Pittman and Hunter Yurachek (current athletics director) for making it happen.”
Marvin West welcomes comments or questions from readers. His address is marvinwest75@gmail.com
