Does Petrino have a septre and throne like Saban? Does he have a Hootie over him, or does he have free reign?
Hogwally, what's with all of the venom towards the coach at Shiloh? Why are there still Nutters in the Arky fold?
He is proving to be a tonic salesman without that badassed backfield. Why is Ole Miss to Arkansas as Georgia is to Auburn? Please don't say Ken Hatfield.
I don't really understand the question, so I will answer with some thoughts that I think are relevant:
1. An arguable percentage of Hog fans are delusional. I like to think it is a small percentage, but sometimes the internet makes it seem much larger. That percentage thinks if a kid grows up in Arkansas and he is good at football, he should automatically want to play at Arkansas. Somehow they fail to realize we produce about 10 high level D1 prospects a year and need to sign 25. So obviously, we expect kids from other states to leave there to come to Arkansas, but don't understand why a kid would leave here and go somewhere else.
2. From the vocal minority (I hope), I've already seen calls to boo the kid at HS games this year. I don't understand this, the kid hasn't even signed yet. He could still change his mind (probably won't, but it's happened before), but I can't imagine he will if Ark fans show up and act like jerks. IMO, Hog fans should show some class and support the kid. If the kid is all that and things go well, maybe GM will move on to a HC job in a couple years and we can get the kid to transfer home.
3. Some Hog fans see a higher percentage than normal of kids from Springdale going to Auburn, and it pisses them off. They think the coach is having some influence on the kids, and they don't like it. Personally, I don't see anything wrong with it, Petrino just needs to suck it up and get in there and sell his program to those kids and that coach. Pinnacle Prep, on the other hand, is the football equivalent of a street agent in basketball, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the future with these types of businesses. As hard as this cat J. Walt Williams pimps for GM and Auburn, it seems to me he should be listed as a booster and have to follow the same rules as other boosters.
I think Petrino has proven he is a good coach. He was an excellent OC (including at Auburn), He was an excellent HC at a smaller college, and now he's getting his shot in the SEC. It was just a few years ago Auburn tried to hire him. Things didn't work out in ATL, but other than that pit-stop his career has been on a steady rise.
This will be his 3rd year at Ark, and we have improved each year. It will be interesting to see what happens this year. I generally don't bitch about officiating, but we got flat robbed at Florida last year, and the LSU game wasn't much better. I am an admitted homer, but I am more excited about Ark football than I have been in quite a while.
Both Arkansas and Auburn are expecting improvement this year, and Alabama is not going to give any ground it they can help it. LSU is looking to improve as well. I think it is going to be a very entertaining season, and I can't wait for them to start. Personally, I think the Hogs are going to have a big year, but like I said I am an admitted homer.
Please excuse the rambling, we had a BBQ this afternoon with Margaritas.
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