Razorback Nation: Patience is a Virtue

Listening to Sports Talk radio in Arkansas right now is very tough. A lot of fans like to listen for the inputs from the hosts and former players that are on the radio. Some fans even call in to interact with the hosts and ask questions or answer questions.With every loss the negativity grows worse and worse. Its ok to be upset at losing. Some folks though are taking things way too far by calling for the coaches head after just 9 games. Most coaches don't walk into a new program and win right away. It didn't matter what coach walked into Arkansas, they would not have won that many games this year with this team as it has been assembled. Coach Bielema has been partially handicapped due to two straight up in the air recruiting classes. When Jeff Long was forced yes forced to fire Bobby Petrino and then brought back John L Smith on a 10 month contract there was uncertainty on the hill. Recruits that weren't sold on being a Hog no matter what didn't want to have anything with Arkansas because they had no idea who would be coach or what system they would run. Then during the season the team quit and the bottom fell out. John L Smith was fired as expected and finally in mid December of last year Bielema was named Head Coach. His staff only had about a month to put together some time of recruiting class to run the style they want to run at Arkansas. He did a pretty good job of gathering a few good players. Alex Collins, Dan Skipper, and Denver Kirkland were some highlights so far of the class and were last minute pick ups. With a full season of recruiting there is no doubt that the Hogs will get the players they need to be successful in the near future. Fans need to forget what has happened and focus on where this team is going. Petrino hurt the Hogs pretty bad on defense. John L Smith hurt the Hogs in general. Bielema will get this team to where its competitive and hunting for championships. It may not be next year but very soon. Fans need to also forget about Gus. No matter how you feel about him he would not be doing any better at Arkansas. He is doing well at Auburn right now because he recruited most of those players and was only gone from the program for one year. Fans will have to do something that is pretty much non existent in society these days. That is to be patient. Patience is a virtue and good things come to those that wait.

Bobby Petrino No Longer Head Hog

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ImagesRumors were flying today as they have been the last few days. Around 6pm this evening it was announced that Jeff Long the Athletic Director for the University of Arkansas was going to hold a press conference at 715pm. Rumors got even wilder upon this news. It wasn't long after this that news of Petrino's firing was coming out. Joe Schad of ESPN was one of the first that I saw breaking the news on Twitter. Shortly before 7pm the AP and other credible news sources had confirmed the firing. Jeff Long didn't start the presser till closer to 730pm. He then stated that Coach Petrino would not be returning to the team. He also reveled some new details like the relationship has gone on for "some" time. There is also this new detail of a $20,000 gift to Jessica Dorrell the mistress/co-worker. My feelings have changed some on Coach. With the right provisions I would still like to have seen Petrino remain the Coach but I respect Jeff's decision. With the new details I lost a little respect for Petrino, but with the way Jeff Long handled the press conference I gained a lot for him. Long gave me the encouragement that he will get the program back on track to accomplishing the goals of winning the SEC and National Championship titles. Long said he will start the coaching search immediately following the press conference. He also named Taver Johnson as the acting head coach till Spring Football is over in late April and then will make a decision going forward after that.

 Not long after the press confrence Bobby Petrino released a statement through his agent. You can read the statement here. He basically says he is sorry and hopes the school has success. The big question now is who will be the new Head Hog. There is a short list already started by fans and national pundits alike. That list includes: Former Assistants Garrick McGee(Current Head Coach at UAB) and Gus Malzahn(Current Head Coach at A-State), Former UNC Coach Butch Davis, Current USF Coach Skip Holtz, Current Baylor Coach Art Briles, and others. I for one want a coach that has already proven what he can do. I feel like the team the Hogs have now is primed and ready for greatness. Why mess that up with a brand new system. I would be fine with Coach Johnson or any current coach on staff continuing being the interim coach through the upcoming season. After the season then make a choice to either keep the current coach or get a guy that will get the Hogs to the promised land. There are just a few guys that could be brought in now that could change my thinking. These guys are major long shots but Bill Cowher and John Gurden are just two off the top of my head that I would be ok with coming in and seeing what they could do with the talent up on the hill right now. How do you feel about Petrino, Long and the University now?