Petrino just fired most of the defensive staff

They will have a different energy when we go to Fayetteville.

I'm curious how it plays out when they go to UT.

Well they needed to go

I guess they have a little time since they're on a bye this week.

barseven7 said:

I guess they have a little time since they're on a bye this week.

Yeah, just saw that too. First game back will be at Tennessee before the Ags go to Fayetteville.

Those guys weren't adding value. But yeah, who does he get now? I guess promote a bunch of GAs? I'm not concerned about them having a bunch of energy when we play them. They'd still need to play sounds defense and have good coaching that puts them all in a position to make plays. Cutting your teeth in the SEC isn't a great way to gain experience on the job. Just ask Spavital.

With the Interim tag, Petrino had to have the buy in from the AD to let some defensive coaches go. As far as to who he can get, mid season, probably some old buddies that are on the couch. No one that i can imagine would come mid season, especially for an interim HC.

barseven7 said:

With the Interim tag, Petrino had to have the buy in from the AD to let some defensive coaches go. As far as to who he can get, mid season, probably some old buddies that are on the couch. No one that i can imagine would come mid season, especially for an interim HC.

Bingo. He's in a prime position to get the HC gig long term, but if you're an up and comer, why make a move and take the risk of being out of a job in a few months. Also, you can't just install an entirely new defensive system mid-season with success. So whoever takes over the DC and position jobs will have to work within a system the players already know.

Strange move for an interim HC. It’s almost as if the coaching search has…

Arkansas seems to be tier 2 or 3 when it comes to financial support for the program. Is Jerry Jones not a big contributor? No Walton money?

Colt_Seavers said:

Arkansas seems to be tier 2 or 3 when it comes to financial support for the program. Is Jerry Jones not a big contributor? No Walton money?

They’re saying they have plenty of money. If they’re telling the truth, their use of that money is confusing at best.

Colt_Seavers said:

Arkansas seems to be tier 2 or 3 when it comes to financial support for the program. Is Jerry Jones not a big contributor? No Walton money?

Jerry's cheap and the Waltons are Missouri fans

i bet their defense improves substantially. I’ve seen it happen in these mid-season changes. They simplify the system and the players buy in.

barseven7 said:

Jerry's cheap and the Waltons are Missouri fans

There's a WalMart logo on the Arkansas field.

Gary Arnell is an Arkansas native.

Stan2001 said:

Bingo. He's in a prime position to get the HC gig long term, but if you're an up and comer, why make a move and take the risk of being out of a job in a few months. Also, you can't just install an entirely new defensive system mid-season with success. So whoever takes over the DC and position jobs will have to work within a system the players already know.

Funny or odd thing is, I do not see Petrino's name on any prospective HC search postings or articles........He got run out of there for his issues. Have to wonder if someone will blackball Petrino being considered for HC......

My understanding is the Walton family has very little to do with running WalMart these days, instead they just sit around collecting checks. Walmart corporate likes their home state.

Mark Passwaters said:

They’re saying they have plenty of money. If they’re telling the truth, their use of that money is confusing at best.

I’m telling you watch the lagway transfer

I've spent a little time in NW Arkansas and the word in the area, including among some Walmart execs, is that the family is more connected to Mizzou thank Arkansas. So the comments about the company supporting the home team (though probably not much for NIL) while the family uses its fortunes for other pursuits is in line with what I've heard for several years now.

rustyo said:

i bet their defense improves substantially. I’ve seen it happen in these mid-season changes. They simplify the system and the players buy in.

I can’t think of one example of almost all of the coaching staff on one side of the ball being let go in the middle of the season. I’m sure it’s happened, but I don’t know when that was. I’m not sure this is going to go over too well. For one, Petrino was the OC so he focused solely on that side of the ball and wouldn’t really interact with defensive players. He’s not the most personable guy, so it’s not like he would be yucking it up with the LB’s in his free time. Now he just fired the defensive staff (which tells me he’s been planning this for a while, the sneaky SOB). Players have their closest relationships with their position coaches, then it would go up to the coordinator and then they might interact with the head coach from time to time. Now you’ve just taken away every coach most defensive players would have any connection to. I guess they stick around since they’re five games in and they have NIL obligations, but I would bet a lot of them are like “F this”.

Stan2001 said:

I've spent a little time in NW Arkansas and the word in the area, including among some Walmart execs, is that the family is more connected to Mizzou thank Arkansas. So the comments about the company supporting the home team (though probably not much for NIL) while the family uses its fortunes for other pursuits is in line with what I've heard for several years now.

What is the connection to Missouri?

TP97 said:

I can’t think of one example of almost all of the coaching staff on one side of the ball being let go in the middle of the season. I’m sure it’s happened, but I don’t know when that was. I’m not sure this is going to go over too well. For one, Petrino was the OC so he focused solely on that side of the ball and wouldn’t really interact with defensive players. He’s not the most personable guy, so it’s not like he would be yucking it up with the LB’s in his free time. Now he just fired the defensive staff (which tells me he’s been planning this for a while, the sneaky SOB). Players have their closest relationships with their position coaches, then it would go up to the coordinator and then they might interact with the head coach from time to time. Now you’ve just taken away every coach most defensive players would have any connection to. I guess they stick around since they’re five games in and they have NIL obligations, but I would bet a lot of them are like “F this”.

I think it's a disaster in the making, trying to reclaim what they had 15 years ago with petrino is wishful thinking. The game has passed him up and the entire college football landscape has changed. Firing a bunch of assistants in mid season when you are trying to salvage a season as interim is just asking to lose the players. Regardless of win/loss record, players establish relationships with these coaches, and you can bet a lot of them are pissed their position coaches got let go....especially if he doesn't win right away, I bet the players quit trying.

TP97 said:

I can’t think of one example of almost all of the coaching staff on one side of the ball being let go in the middle of the season. I’m sure it’s happened, but I don’t know when that was. I’m not sure this is going to go over too well. For one, Petrino was the OC so he focused solely on that side of the ball and wouldn’t really interact with defensive players. He’s not the most personable guy, so it’s not like he would be yucking it up with the LB’s in his free time. Now he just fired the defensive staff (which tells me he’s been planning this for a while, the sneaky SOB). Players have their closest relationships with their position coaches, then it would go up to the coordinator and then they might interact with the head coach from time to time. Now you’ve just taken away every coach most defensive players would have any connection to. I guess they stick around since they’re five games in and they have NIL obligations, but I would bet a lot of them are like “F this”.

It doesn’t happen often in college but I remember tech firing their DC after a few games and the defense improved substantially. They were a disaster, much like Arkansas. The players were likely thinking fuck this with the old staff and welcome something different.

rustyo said:

It doesn’t happen often in college but I remember tech firing their DC after a few games and the defense improved substantially. They were a disaster, much like Arkansas. The players were likely thinking **** this with the old staff and welcome something different.

I think their is a massive difference between firing one coordinator mid season(which actually happens often) and firing the head coach and having the interim fire a coordinator and multiple assistants. I would imagine that is unprecedented. I can't even think of any interim who didn't just ride out the season with the staff he had.