Tag: sam pittman

Yurachek: Petrino was not hired to replace embattled coach Pittman

Hunter Yurachek said Tuesday that Bobby Petrino was not hired as a replacement for Sam Pittman.

In an interview with Hogs Plus on Tuesday, Hunter Yurachek emphatically denied that former Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino was hired to eventually replace current embattled head coach Sam Pittman.

“He’s not here to take Sam’s job,” Yurachek told Matt Zimmerman. “He’s here to help change the dynamics of our offense. And who better to do that than one of the brightest offensive minds in college football.”

Petrino helped lift the Razorbacks to as high as No. 3 in the country during his four-year stint as the head Hog, from 2008-11, amassing a record of 34-17. Arkansas finished second in the SEC West in 2010, before losing to Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl.

In 2011, Arkansas finished 11-2 by beating Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl, before ending the season No. 5 in the AP Top 25. The Razorbacks were then ranked No. 10 in the 2012 preseason poll, until a well-documented motorcycle crash began to reveal some deceit, which ultimately ignited the program’s implosion.

Now, 12 years later, the program is still feeling the effects of Petrino’s dismissal. But maybe Petrino, himself, is the answer to help turn things back around.

“I think he has paid his dues,” Yurachek said. “When he reached out through back channels, what he said was he wanted to come here and right his wrongs, and really help Coach Pittman get this program back to where he believed it could be, and back to where it was when he was the head coach.

After leaving Arkansas, Petrino took the reins at Western Kentucky for the 2013 season, before making a return to his old stomping grounds of Louisville, where he remained for five years and coached Heisman Trophy winner and current NFL star Lamar Jackson.

He then spent three seasons at Missouri State and gave the Razorbacks all they could handle when he brought his Bears to Fayetteville for a game in 2022. Arkansas needed a 21-point fourth quarter to eventually win the game, 38-27.

After spending this past season as the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M, prior to being let go by the departure of head coach Jimbo Fisher, Petrino was looking for a job and Arkansas was looking for a proven offensive coordinator.

Petrino is now tasked with helping Pittman turn around a program reeling from a 4-8 season, during which they fired former offensive coordinator Dan Enos.

“One of the things I said, in one of my criteria that I wanted, was a man that loved the University of Arkansas,” Pittman said. “It would be hard to find someone that felt stronger toward Arkansas than Coach Petrino. Once I knew his interest back in us, it was really a no-brainer at that point in time. It was just about making the contract and timeline and all that, making those things work.”

 

 

Arkansas offensive linemen Ty’Kieast Crawford and Andrew Chamblee announce plans for 2024

Two Arkansas offensive linemen, Ty’Kieast Crawford and Andrew Chamblee, announced their 2024 plans on Monday afternoon. The news came after the Hogs added transfer QB Taylen Green.

Arkansas received some good news on Monday afternoon as highly-touted quarterback transfer Taylen Green announced his commitment to the Hogs. Given his impressive size, athleticism and passing ability, Green’s addition generated excitement for a large majority of Razorback fans.

However, Hog fans saw firsthand last season that the individual talent of a quarterback can easily be overshadowed and neutralized by the deficiencies of his offensive line. If the offensive linemen can’t block, it doesn’t matter if you have [autotag]KJ Jefferson[/autotag], Lamar Jackson or Tom Brady – your offense is going to struggle.

New offensive line coach [autotag]Eric Mateos[/autotag] has his hands full next year, as the offensive line was easily the worst it has been in a long time. A large part of that was due to inexperience and lack of depth. Luckily, the Hogs got some good news in both of those departments shortly after Green’s announcement.

Senior [autotag]Ty’Kieast Crawford[/autotag], one of Arkansas’ most experienced offensive lineman, and redshirt freshman [autotag]Andrew Chamblee[/autotag], one of Arkansas’ most talented young prospects, both announced that they would be returning to the Razorbacks next season.

The pair each posted to Twitter (X) to confirm their plans. Crawford tweeted a picture (above) with the caption, “let’s run it back” and tagged the official Razorback Twitter (X) account. Chamblee quote tweeted new offensive line coach Eric Mateos (below) saying, “So ready to get the 2024 season started!! Can’t wait to show the world.”

While the news isn’t the biggest needle-mover for Arkansas’ offseason, it gives the Hogs some quality depth up front. Chamblee, in particular, showed some flashes of brilliance in his playing time this season, but his youth and inexperience were both unmistakable as well.

[autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] and Eric Mateos still need to hit on a few high-level portal targets up front before anyone gets too excited for next season.

Kennedy officially out as Arkansas offensive line coach

Count on Sam Pittman, a former o-line coach himself, being thorough in his search for the team’s next. His job may depend on it.

As expected, Arkansas offensive line coach Cody Kennedy is now former Arkansas offensive line coach Cody Kennedy.

Mississippi State, which had been reportedly set to hire him Friday morning, made the announcement official Friday evening. Kennedy is joining first-year head coach Jeff Lebby’s staff with the Bulldogs. Lebby was hired away from Oklahoma.

Kennedy spent three seasons with the Razorbacks. The first two went well as Arkansas was seventh in FBS in yards rushing per game. But 2023 was a disaster. Arkansas ran for its fewest yards per game since 2012 and the Hogs gave up 47 sacks, a school record.

Arkansas coach Sam Pittman was an offensive line coach before he became Arkansas’ head coach in the 2020 season.

Pittman led Arkansas to bowl berths in his first three seasons before the Razorbacks finished with a 4-8, 1-7 record this year.

Report: Arkansas offensive line coach Cody Kennedy expected to take job at Mississippi State

Arkansas was 129th out of 133 in sacks allowed and 91st in yards rushing per game in 2023.

Arkansas offensive line coach Cody Kennedy had been linked with other jobs during the week and Friday morning, FootballScoop reported that Kennedy is expected to be hired to the same job at Mississippi State.

Kennedy just finished his third season with the Razorbacks. It didn’t go well.

Arkansas gave up a school-record 47 sacks to rank 129th in FBS out of 133 teams. The Hogs’ rushing attack averaged just 139 yards per game, barely inside the top 100 and its lowest team total since 2012.

Head coach Sam Pittman said Thursday at the introductory press conference for offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino that he expected additional staff changes. Less than 24 hours later, Kennedy is reportedly out.

The hire does make sense outside of 2023. Arkansas was seventh in the nation in rushing offense in both 2022 and 2021 with sack totals at 31 and 30 those two seasons.

What Bobby Petrino said at his Arkansas introductory press conference

Bobby Petrino understands some may disapprove of his hiring. “I don’t have any ill feelings toward anybody that disagrees.”

Bobby Petrino took questions for almost 30 minutes Thursday. They were different than the ones he took the last time he represented the University of Arkansas.

Petrino was introduced as the Razorbacks’ offensive coordinator for the 2024 season by coach Sam Pittman at a press conference Thursday afternoon. Questions were about his return, what has changed and the kind he probably likes most, football.

And while the game itself is probably top of his and Pittman’s minds, the hire remains controversial, regardless of what Arkansas fans think about it.

Petrino knows that, saying he isn’t the same person he was almost 12 years ago. He wants to get on the field and support the man who gave him a second chance.

Here is some of what he had to say at the presser.

Everything Sam Pittman said at Bobby Petrino’s introductory press conference

Sam Pittman wanted to hire someone who loved the state and university as much as he did. Bobby Petrino fit that bill.

Sam Pittman took the microphone first. His job was to field media questions ahead of his newest hire.

Bobby Petrino was ultimately introduced Thursday, after Pittman was finished, as Arkansas’ newest offensive coordinator. The former head coach, who once disgraced the program with controversy, was back in a place he said he was most fond of all his coaching stops for the first time, really, prolonged, since his firing in 2012.

The hire, of course, was almost as controversial as Petrino’s exit. Thus Pittman went first, to explain.

Mostly, Arkansas’ beleaguered current head coach, said he wanted the best man for the job and a man who loved the state of Arkansas as much as he did.

Petrino fit that bill, according to university decision-makers. Here’s what the two had to say Thursday.

LOOK: Bobby Petrino on campus after being named Arkansas offensive coordinator

Bobby Petrino was spotted on campus Wednesday afternoon, just hours after being named Arkansas offensive coordinator.

Just hours after the school officially announced Bobby Petrino as Arkansas’ next offensive coordinator, he was spotted on campus in Fayetteville.

Twitter (X) user Jack Dawson posted an image posing with the former head coach as the pair stood outside of Donald W. Reynold Razorback Stadium. As was evident from social media the past two days, fans are generally excited to have Petrino back in Fayetteville.

It’s the first time Petrino has been on campus since 2022 when he was head coach at Missouri State. He led the Bears into Razorback Stadium and nearly upset [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag]’s then-10th-ranked Hogs, 38-27. That game marked Petrino’s first official return to Fayetteville since his infamous dismissal as Arkansas head coach in 2012.

Petrino has his work cut out for him as offensive coordinator for next year. Arkansas finished the season 4-8 overall and 1-7 in SEC play, due in large part to awful play on the offensive side of the ball.

The Razorback offense averaged 326.5 yards per game (106th in the FBS) including just 187.5 passing yards per game (104th in the FBS). Those offensive numbers were good enough for just 13th and 12th in the SEC, respectively.

Social media reacts to Bobby Petrino returning as Arkansas offensive coordinator

Razorback fans took to social media to give their opinions on Bobby Petrino becoming Arkansas’ next offensive coordinator. Here’s some of the best reactions.

After days of rampant speculation and fair amount of criticism, [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] has reportedly found his next offensive coordinator. In a move that not many saw coming, [autotag]Bobby Petrino[/autotag] is making a return to Fayetteville.

Petrino is back for a second stint at Arkansas, this time as offensive coordinator. He served as Arkansas’ head coach from 2008-2011, but his tenure ended in 2012 with the infamous motorcycle scandal.

In his four seasons, Petrino led the Hogs to a 34-17 overall record and three straight bowl appearances from 2009-2011. Following the 2011 season, the Razorbacks finished ranked 5th in the final AP Top 25 poll – which is their highest final ranking since 1977 (3rd).

Everyone knows what happened next, what led to his dismissal in April of 2012 and, most notably, the struggles Arkansas football has experienced since he’s been gone.

In the past decade since Petrino’s tenure came to an end, the Hogs have failed to come close to the success they obtained under him. Coincidentally, the closest the program has come was in 2021 under Sam Pittman, who is now responsible for bringing Petrino back to Fayetteville.

Bobby Petrino returning was well-received by most Razorback fans. Here’s some of the best social media reactions to the news.

Reports: Bobby Petrino has agreed to return as Arkansas offensive coordinator

Bobby Petrino’s long-awaited return as Arkansas’ next offensive coordinator could be in the works, according to multiple reports.

In this crazy world of sports, never say never.

According to multiple reports, Arkansas has is looking to hire former head coach [autotag]Bobby Petrino[/autotag] as the school’s next offensive coordinator.

First, ESPN’s Pete Thamel tweeted that the Razorbacks were “vetting hiring” Petrino. This is because Petrino was fired “for cause” back in 2012 and isn’t allowed to be re-hired without authorization from UA System President Dr. Donald Bobbitt. If he is Arkansas pick for offensive coordinator, this is a big hurdle they’ll need to clear first.

Shortly after Thamel’s tweet, 247Sports.com’s Trey Biddy – an extremely reliable Arkansas insider – tweeted that he has “very good reason to believe Bobby Petrino will be the next Arkansas offensive coordinator.”

Following Petrino’s infamous departure from Fayetteville over a decade ago, he’s bounced around coaching quite a bit. He’s had stops at Western Kentucky, a reunion in Louisville and a three-year stint at Missouri State. Fans will quickly remember how Petrino’s Missouri State team came into Razorback Stadium in 2022 and nearly knocked off the Hogs.

The 62-year old spent last season as Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator. That came after he took the UNLV offensive coordinator job for just two weeks, before jumping to College Station.

UPDATE:

At 3:31 p.m. ESPN’s Chris Low reported that Bobby Petrino has agreed to return to Arkansas as offensive coordinator and that a deal was being finalized.

As of 6:50 p.m. there has been no official announcement from the school.

Most likely candidates for Arkansas’ next offensive coordinator

Sam Pittman’s future hinges on a number of offseason moves, the biggest being finding an offensive coordinator. Here’s a list of names to watch.

It has been a little over one month since Dan Enos was fired as Arkansas offensive coordinator.

With Hunter Yurachek confirming that Sam Pittman’s job is safe for at least one more season, he is, once again, tasked with making the most crucial hiring decision of his head coaching career. It’s a familiar position for Pittman to be in after the Hogs needed to fill both coordinator positions last offseason.

Following the dismissal of Enos, Kenny Guiton was promoted to interim offensive coordinator after serving as wide receivers coach the past two seasons. There was a lot of momentum to remove the interim tag and give Guiton the job after Arkansas went into Gainesville and beat Florida for the first time in program history.

However, that momentum has largely evaporated after the Razorback offense put up just 10 and 14 points, respectively, in their final two games against SEC competition. [autotag]Sam Pittman[/autotag] has to make a splash with this hire to rejuvenate the fanbase and get some momentum for the program. Promoting Guiton wouldn’t accomplish that.

With Guiton likely being out of the running, here’s a list of names that fans should keep an eye on going forward. It’s very possible one of these guys could be Arkansas’ next offensive coordinator.