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PETER’S PICKS: No game for Hogs this weeks, but picking losers goes on

Pete Morgan
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Arkansas has a bye this week, and, honestly, if Chad Morris were still the coach I would pick the Hogs to lose.

What’s that? You have not heard Morris has been relieved of his responsibilities from the University of Arkansas? Oh, then, well, uh, what’s your favorite Justin Bieber song?

Here is another newsflash: Barry Lunney, Jr., is the interim coach, and, believe it or not, there is a gradual increase in enthusiasm. Yes, THAT Barry Lunney, Jr. The southpaw who threw “the catch too close to deny” to JJ Meadors with six-seconds left to beat No. 13 Alabama in Tuscaloosa, 20–19, on Saturday, Sept. 16, 1995.

So while many are pondering what the future holds for Razorbacks football and its coaching search, the players get to enjoy an extra week of preparation for a trip to Baton Rouge to face current No. 1 LSU.

Prior to Morris’ firing I would have said the only chance Arkansas has to upend the Tigers would be if after the Ole Miss game Katy Perry offers to allow all of the players to be in a “Teenage Dream” revival video, the team bus gets repossessed, and Ed Orgeron allows his old buddy Hugh borrow his cell phone for a few minutes.

Granted, none of these things will happen, and Arkansas will still not have a chance, but maybe … JUUUUUUST MAYBE we can make a game of it. Get them pumped up, head coach Lunney. We are rooting for you.

Speaking of Orgeron, am I the only Hogs fan that absolutely loves this guy? What’s not to like? He sounds like your arrogating drunk Uncle Jimmy halfway through every family reunion.

I have never been pro-LSU, but I sincerely want this guy to win a national championship.

While we are on the topics of awards, congratulations to Ty Story who was voted the Manning Award Quarterback of the Week, beating out the likes of LSU’s Joe Burrows and Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts. Congratulations, #4.

Listen, I didn’t write a piece last week simply because of the turmoil going on ‘The Hill’ alongside the return of Ty Storey.

To all of you crediting Tyson Helton for making Storey a great quarterback I would respectfully disagree. Ty was already an AMAZING quarterback, and my personal belief is Helton would still be starting a lesser Steven Duncan because Duncan is Helton’s guy.

Not only is Ty by far the best quarterback in Bowling Green, it is beyond safe to also state he would have been the best quarterback on the Arkansas roster this season, he just never had enough time to allow a play to develop, and Morris just could not grasp it. Perhaps too much Red Bull clouds one’s judgment.

Just because the Hogs are off this weekend does not mean the weekly picks cease. It’s close, but not as close as I would like.

Andy Hodges has informed me I need to prepare a concession speech. Well, Mr. Saturday Night Special, they don’t call me Al Gore, Jr. for nothing.

(Editor’s note: As the Hogs aren’t playing this week and editor Andy Hodges’ picks are the same as Peter, he will continue to drag behind as the season winds down.)

(5) Alabama at Mississippi State: The weirdest thing I have done all week is put a “5” in front of Alabama. I imagine it’s as awkward as getting caught on a date with oyur sister. Unless you’re from Bama, then it’s as awkward as getting caught on a date without your sister. The Crimson Tide will have had an entire week to stew over the loss to LSU. Even at home Mississippi State is not ready. Alabama by 35.

(11) Florida at Missouri [UPSET WATCH]: The absolute temptation to predict this as a full-on upset is unbearable. I do not know why, however, there was simply a feeling deep inside I could not seem to ignore. It turns out it was a bad parmesan chicken sandwich. Gators squeak out of Columbia with a win. Florida by 4.

(4) Georgia at (12) Auburn [GAME OF THE WEEK]: Georgia is playing for an SEC East Championship and for a spot in the BCS. Is Auburn playing to keep Gus Malzahn’s job? No. Granted, Tiger fans will be upset, but the Arkansas native is in no danger of Auburn paying his buyout even if they drop this one and another one against in-state rival Alabama. The Bulldogs are on a mission. Georgia by 10.

Kentucky at Vanderbilt [SLOPFEST OF THE WEEK]: This one will be either very ugly or very interesting due to the evenly matched teams. I am willing to bet not even Andy has a strong feeling one way or another on this one. I had my Girls pick a number. Vandy by 10.

(1) LSU at Ole Miss: LSU beat Alabama last week for the National Championship. This week the Tigers must focus to prevent a let-down. Ole Miss has an upset on their mind at home as the season begins its conclusion. One last hoorah for the Rebels? No, ma’am, Ms. Perry. Tigers by 28.

South Carolina at Texas A&M: Ah, the late game for the SEC. The ONLY reason anyone has a solid edge in this game is because A&M is at home… plus they’re better than the Gamecocks. For all of my fans in Myrtle Beach, I apologize, those are simply the facts. Aggies by 18.

Enjoy the weekend off, Razorbacks fans. We get to relax and enjoy the anticipation of Barry Lunney, Jr.’s debut for at least another week.

Oh, and to the LSU bus driver, might I recommend I-10 West for your trip home. There’s a 30-mile stretch near the Pascagoula River Bridge you guys are going to love.

Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS

Go HOGS!!!

Razorbacks blank North Texas, 3-0, in first round of NCAA Tournament

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks blank North Texas, 3-0, in first round of NCAA Tournament

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 3-seed Arkansas (17-3-2, 8-1-1) shut out North Texas (15-6-1, 7-2-1) on Friday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at Razorback Field, 3-0.

The Razorbacks outshot the Mean Green by a 26-1 margin, with 10 of those shots finding the frame. Coming into tonight, North Texas was averaging 19.5 shots a game.

In the last three matches the Razorbacks have hosted in postseason play, they have outscored opponents 10-2 and are 18-1-2 at home the past two seasons.

This will be Arkansas’ second-straight season advancing to the second round and fifth all-time.

How it happened

• Marissa Kinsey put a corner to the far post in the 55th-minute as Tori Cannata was able to get her head on the end of it for the 1-0 Hog lead.

• In the 82nd-minute, Parker Goins put away a rebound after Mean Green ‘keeper Kelsey Brann couldn’t handle a long-range shot from Anna Podojil.

• Just two minutes later Kaelee Van Gundy netted her first goal of the season as she knocked in a bouncing ball from a Kinsey shot that deflected off the post.

Hear it from coach Hale

“Proud of our effort. We stayed with it. The press was excellent, and I thought our composure was good.”

Next up

The Razorbacks head to Provo, Utah, to face North Carolina State in a second-round matchup.

First kick is slated for 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 21.

The Wolf Pack blanked Navy earlier in the night, 3-0. NC State made the semifinals of the ACC Tournament on Nov. 8, but eventually fell to North Carolina, 3-0.

Musselman previewing Saturday matchup with Montana State

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Eric Musselman met with the media Friday afternoon to look ahead to the game Saturday at 4 p.m. against Montana State at Bud Walton Arena.

???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Aaron Torres on Muss

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — Aaron Torres on Muss

Phil & Tye on Butch Jones to Arkansas, Aaron Torres on Muss, plus Chris Moore to Arkansas???

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Pittman gaining support among some, but will Yurachek go that way?

Andy Hodges
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Pittman gaining support among some, but will Yurachek go that way?

One sitting offensive position coach is gaining a cult momentum among some fans to try and dodge the rotating glass of the revolving door to the Arkansas football program.

The only queston is if athletics director Hunter Yurachek would consider that … or does the candidate have to be a sitting coach at a Power 5 program?

Only two people in the state will know that for sure and both are pretty good at limiting leaks. As we found out during the basketball coaching search, by the time we find out anything the narrative has moved one or two spots ahead.

But current Georgia offensive line coach Sam Pittman has developed a following from his three frustrating seasons dealing with the Bret Bielema five-year kegger that went sour almost as soon as Sam sailed out of town.

One thing Pittman has seen is a couple of seriously messed up football programs.

He was John Blake’s offensive line coach at Oklahoma in 1997-98, which was the worst (and most dysfunctional) in that program’s history in about three decades.

Pittman was the offensive line coach and associate head coach during the Butch Davis time at North Carolina that ended in a quagmire of academic misconduct and improper benefits paid to players.

Then he was the offensive line coach for Derek Dooley’s last year at Tennessee, which was a 5-7 train wreck.

Pittman came to Fayetteville from that and did a credible job helping Bielema turn things around in three years to an seven-win regular season and an offensive line that was getting more publicity than the rest of the offense combined.

Finally, he got fed up with trying to find Bielema, who spent as much time in his private office behind a bar on Dickson Street as he did in the Smith Center.

Pittman was left making excuses for Bielema no-showing two straight weekends on a recruit he wanted to offer while the boss man simply partied away one of the weekends in Vegas and who knows what on another one. That player, who came to Fayetteville with his family on unofficial visits both weekends, is now a starter in the SEC.

After all that, he’s at Georgia now and that’s going to be a gig hard to leave.

The Bulldogs have played in SEC Championship games and national championship games. It’s an environment where going to the Sugar Bowl is a disappointment.

Exactly why he would leave that is a question only Pittman can answer, but stranger things have happened.

In Yurachek’s background as the athletics director at a Power 5 school, he inherited Tom Herman, who was hired from Ohio State by Houston athletics director Mack Rhoads. Yurachek hired Major Applewhite to replace him in December 2016.

Applewhite was Herman’s offensive coordinator.

The only clues we have into what Yurachek is going to do is that he promoted the offensve coordinator the head job at Houston and hired Eric Musselman as Arkansas’ basketball coach.

That’s not being negative because Applewhite went 15-11 over two seasons before being fired by Yurachek’s replacement in Houston. Yes, he was fired and never had a losing season, but that’s somebody else’s issue to sort out.

The question hanging out there that nobody will know for a few weeks is if Yurachek is going to go for a sitting Power 5 coach or will he take a chance at a position coach with no head coaching experience.

Clemson did it with Dabo Swinney and, well, the results have been spectacular.

And it’s the exception.

Most folks won’t hire a coach that hasn’t been a head coach … or at least a coordinator. Pittman hasn’t been either one.

Don’t get carried away. Yurachek isn’t going to take a straw pool of fans or even boosters to see who he should hire. Those days are long gone and the guess is everybody is guessing because I don’t get the idea Yurachek is going to hint at things to anyone outside of Jon Fagg.

While Pittman may have a cult group who are enthusiastically pushing him as a viable candidate, it’s a gamble. Those same fans will be screaming bloody murder if he wins four games over two seasons.

If you doubt it, just look at the current situation.

Two years ago, a lot of us thought Morris was the answer and we were wrong.

Yurachek can’t afford to be wrong on this decision.

Neighbors on all-around performance by Hogs in big win over ORU

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Razorbacks coach Mike Neighbors talked on the overall performance of the team in the big win over Oral Roberts on Thursday night.

Tolefree, Daniels recapping Hogs’ 32-point win over Oral Roberts

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Alexis Tolefree (18 points, 4, rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks) and Makayla Daniels (27 points, 3 assists) talking about the big night as the Razorbacks dominated the Golden Eagles.

Lunney before Razorbacks’ practice Thursday, his second

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkanas interim coach Barry Lunney, Jr., talked with the media before his second practice Thursday and said he’s got a plan at quarterback, but he’s not telling anybody.

???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — LaneTrain to Faytown???

Tye Richardson
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???? Halftime Pod presented by Jeff’s Clubhouse — LaneTrain to Faytown???

Phil & Tye if Lane Kiffin would be a good fit, Hunter Yurachek’s previous hires and more!

Lunney deserves interim job, expanded role of some type with new coach

Nate Olson
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Lunney deserves interim job, expanded role of some type with new coach

It’s anyone’s guess who Arkansas will hire as its next football coach, but Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek has already made one smart move.

After announcing Chad Morris’ firing Sunday, he named Arkansas assistant Barry Lunney, Jr., the interim head coach.

It’s interesting that Yurachek, who has only been on the job about two years, figured out Lunney is the one guy on the staff who is capable of leading an embattled team the final three weeks of the season.

On the surface, it appeared to be an easy decision because the two coordinators, normally a choice to serve as interim, have been so lackluster that it wasn’t even an option.

Defensive coordinator John Chavis is ready to go fishing after a long, illustrious career as an SEC defensive coordinator, but it was easy to see he has lost his touch.

At 34, Joe Craddock showed his inexperience running the offense. He and Morris couldn’t figure out how to jumpstart a unit with the quarterback talent available. None of those signal callers got better.

So, Yurachek turned to Lunney.

Many remember him as a standout quarterback for the Hogs, and the pass he threw to J.J. Meadors to beat Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1995.

Lunney also played baseball at Arkansas and one year of minor league baseball. He has been a coach since then, serving as a graduate assistant under former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt and then working for former Hogs assistants Keith Burns at Tulsa and Fitz Hill at San Jose State.

After Hil was fired at SJSU, Lunney joined his dad Barry Lunney, Sr., who he played for at Fort Smith Southside, on the staff at Bentonville High School.

The younger Lunney served as offensive coordinator for a juggernaut of a Bentonville program from 2005-12. His experience as an offensive coordinator in the college ranks showed through and the Tigers were run more like a college program because of his influence.

In 2012, Bret Bielema hired Lunney to serve as tight ends coach and help with in-state recruiting.

He and Bielema re-evaluated several in-state recruits that former coach Bobby Petrino and interim coach John L. Smith had not offered.

One of the finds was Greenwood’s Drew Morgan, who had committed to Arkansas State. Morgan became a standout receiver for the Hogs.

When Morris replaced Bielema, he retained Lunney. All Lunney has done as the tight ends coach is make it the best position on the team landing and coaching up players such as Hunter Henry and now his brother Hudson Henry along with now-former player C.J. O’Grady, who is an NFL talent with a lackluster attitude.

Lunney has done everything asked of him.

However, he’s been underutilized. Bielema seemed more attentive to in-state recruiting that than Morris, but I’m not sure either coach gave him enough say-so in which players to offer.

I know they didn’t give him enough say so in regards to the scheme. There is only so much a tight ends coach can offer.

I’m certain if the experienced Lunney was running the offense and coaching the quarterbacks, this season would have been much different.

Now, Lunney has his dream position, at least for two games. I expect Arkansas to be more organized and unified against LSU.

The No. 1 Tigers are as good as they’ve been in a while, and to say beating them in Baton Rouge would take a miracle is an understatement.

But, the Lunney-led Hogs will play with heart and conviction, and you won’t see the division that has been apparent over the past few weeks.

It seems apparent no matter that the new coach is, Lunney will be on the staff. Yurachek, though, needs to make sure Lunney isn’t marginalized.

It may be too much to ask to have the new coach name him as the offensive coordinator, but that is what he deserves, especially if Arkansas plays well against LSU and Missouri.

Yurachek has recognized his potential naming him the interim coach, and that may be the first step.

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