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Sportsview: Barrett, Pelphrey talk up Hog ball
Normally when a college coach pays a visit to speak at a local booster club gathering, like Arkansas coach John Pelphrey did Wednesday evening at Paragould Country Club, his stay at the speaker’s podium is shorter than a TV timeout, then he’s out the door and on his way home.
But that wasn’t the case at Wednesday’s awards reception where Pelphrey addressed Hog fans following the annual Razorback Classic golf tournament. If you missed it ... well, you missed it. Pelphrey spoke for about 45 minutes, recapping his first season as Head Hog and touching on other subjects ranging from next year’s prospects, Steven Hill’s clutch shot against Tennessee that put Arkansas in the SEC tournament finals, former UA Athletic Director Frank Broyles and a visit from the 1994 National Championship team.
The former Kentucky standout didn’t bring up the subject of his alma mater, but I’m sure all the Wildcat fans in attendance didn’t begrudge him for that.
Though Wednesday’s reception focused on hoops, when a bunch of Hog callin’, red-and-white-clad fans get together, the subject of football is bound to come up, especially with a new coach in charge. And it did.
Chuck Barrett, who came along as part of Pelphrey’s entourage that took part in the Classic, spent a few minutes talking Arkansas football.
Barrett, the voice of the Razorbacks, said he hears as many questions about new head coach Bobby Petrino – and his coaching style — as he does about Arkansas’ new recruiting class.
Barrett said that while Petrino’s calling card is offense, his impression of the new Head Hog is he’s a hands-on coach who gets involved in all areas — offense, defense and kicking game.
“He’s the type of guy — and I’ve heard coach (Harold) Horton talk about this — that will call both sides of the football. Now he’s a playcaller and offense is his forte,” Barrett said, “but if you ever have a chance to go watch (the Razorbacks) practice – watch him. At one time or another during practice he will coach every position. I’ve seen him get down in a four-point stance with a defensive lineman. I’ve seen show a holder how to spin the ball on a hold.
“He’s a football coach.”
It’s a surprise to no one that Petrino became a football coach, as he followed in his father’s footsteps. “His dad was a coach, his brother (Paul) is a coach. When his family went on summer vacation, he and his mother went to the fieldhouse to break down film,” Barrett joked. “That doesn’t sound like a pretty good job, but it sounds pretty good for us.”
Barrett thinks Arkansas fans will like the way Petrino runs the UA program. “He’s all business. I’ve been approached by a lot of people who ask me what is he like. If you pay attention to detail and you’re organized, you will be alright. If you don’t, it’s going to be a long haul. And that’s the way it works with him.”
Of course, the bottom line with the Hog Nation is competing and winning on the field. Going into the 2008 season, Arkansas’ biggest concern on offense is the running back spot. With the departure of three NFL-caliber backs in Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis, junior Michael Smith is Arkansas’ only returnee in the backfield with game experience.
“Michael Smith is going to get the bulk of the snaps early on, but De’Anthony Curtis is going to get every opportunity to play, a great young man from Camden Fairview. Khiry Battle is going to get an opportunity to play. People ask who are the skill people, who are the freshmen who are going to get a chance to play. If you are a skill player, you are going to get a chance to play, whether it be at the running back spot or a wideout spot. Those are the positions that have the most need.”
Battle is a freshman running back/safety from Dacula, Ga. Other prospects at running back are Dennis Johnson, a freshman from Texarkana, junior Brandon Barnett and sophomore Chip Gregory.
“If you look at the recruiting class, particularly those kids that came out of Arkansas, there’s where most of the talent was. But Michael Smith is obviously going to get the first shot. Brandon Barnett will play quite a bit,” Barrett said.
Most Arkansas fans expect the Hogs to throw the ball early and often this fall, but the running game is also crucial in Petrino’s system, Barrett said.
“Coach Petrino says this a lot at Razorback Club meetings: ‘In my perfect game, hit them with big shots early on. We’re going to come out and throw right off the bat.’ I’d be willing to bet that the first play next year will be a pass. He’s going to throw the football. His (philosophy) is: we’re going to get a big lead in the first half and run in the second half to win.”
In Petrino’s power spread attack, the running back spot — or power back as it’s called in Petrino’s system — and wide receivers will be essential parts of the offense.
“They tried an assortment of big backs in the tailback spot in the spring and Gregory was one of them. I don’t know if he’s going to be the guy in the fall,” he said. “But you’re going to see (Petrino) develop big backs over time in the tailback spot. If you watched any tape of Louisville games and I’ve watched a good bit of it since (Petrino) took the job. Big receivers ... tall, athletic, lean. Throw the ball and watch him go get it. And big tailbacks.
“Again, his philosophy is: Get the lead in the first half, put pressure on their quarterback in the third quarter because they’re going to have to throw and then run to win.”
Barrett also had kudos for the Hogs’ strength program, now under the direction of Jason Veltkamp
“The weight program they’ve got going up there now ... the strength coach, he is something else. They are really committed. One of the things you hear is: we’re not lifting weights to set records; we’re lifting weights to win football games,” Barrett said. “And it’s been a very interesting approach.”
Hopefully it will all come together this fall and make for a very interesting football season for the Razorbacks and their fans.
But that wasn’t the case at Wednesday’s awards reception where Pelphrey addressed Hog fans following the annual Razorback Classic golf tournament. If you missed it ... well, you missed it. Pelphrey spoke for about 45 minutes, recapping his first season as Head Hog and touching on other subjects ranging from next year’s prospects, Steven Hill’s clutch shot against Tennessee that put Arkansas in the SEC tournament finals, former UA Athletic Director Frank Broyles and a visit from the 1994 National Championship team.
The former Kentucky standout didn’t bring up the subject of his alma mater, but I’m sure all the Wildcat fans in attendance didn’t begrudge him for that.
Though Wednesday’s reception focused on hoops, when a bunch of Hog callin’, red-and-white-clad fans get together, the subject of football is bound to come up, especially with a new coach in charge. And it did.
Chuck Barrett, who came along as part of Pelphrey’s entourage that took part in the Classic, spent a few minutes talking Arkansas football.
Barrett, the voice of the Razorbacks, said he hears as many questions about new head coach Bobby Petrino – and his coaching style — as he does about Arkansas’ new recruiting class.
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“He’s the type of guy — and I’ve heard coach (Harold) Horton talk about this — that will call both sides of the football. Now he’s a playcaller and offense is his forte,” Barrett said, “but if you ever have a chance to go watch (the Razorbacks) practice – watch him. At one time or another during practice he will coach every position. I’ve seen him get down in a four-point stance with a defensive lineman. I’ve seen show a holder how to spin the ball on a hold.
“He’s a football coach.”
It’s a surprise to no one that Petrino became a football coach, as he followed in his father’s footsteps. “His dad was a coach, his brother (Paul) is a coach. When his family went on summer vacation, he and his mother went to the fieldhouse to break down film,” Barrett joked. “That doesn’t sound like a pretty good job, but it sounds pretty good for us.”
Barrett thinks Arkansas fans will like the way Petrino runs the UA program. “He’s all business. I’ve been approached by a lot of people who ask me what is he like. If you pay attention to detail and you’re organized, you will be alright. If you don’t, it’s going to be a long haul. And that’s the way it works with him.”
Of course, the bottom line with the Hog Nation is competing and winning on the field. Going into the 2008 season, Arkansas’ biggest concern on offense is the running back spot. With the departure of three NFL-caliber backs in Darren McFadden, Felix Jones and Peyton Hillis, junior Michael Smith is Arkansas’ only returnee in the backfield with game experience.
“Michael Smith is going to get the bulk of the snaps early on, but De’Anthony Curtis is going to get every opportunity to play, a great young man from Camden Fairview. Khiry Battle is going to get an opportunity to play. People ask who are the skill people, who are the freshmen who are going to get a chance to play. If you are a skill player, you are going to get a chance to play, whether it be at the running back spot or a wideout spot. Those are the positions that have the most need.”
Battle is a freshman running back/safety from Dacula, Ga. Other prospects at running back are Dennis Johnson, a freshman from Texarkana, junior Brandon Barnett and sophomore Chip Gregory.
“If you look at the recruiting class, particularly those kids that came out of Arkansas, there’s where most of the talent was. But Michael Smith is obviously going to get the first shot. Brandon Barnett will play quite a bit,” Barrett said.
Most Arkansas fans expect the Hogs to throw the ball early and often this fall, but the running game is also crucial in Petrino’s system, Barrett said.
“Coach Petrino says this a lot at Razorback Club meetings: ‘In my perfect game, hit them with big shots early on. We’re going to come out and throw right off the bat.’ I’d be willing to bet that the first play next year will be a pass. He’s going to throw the football. His (philosophy) is: we’re going to get a big lead in the first half and run in the second half to win.”
In Petrino’s power spread attack, the running back spot — or power back as it’s called in Petrino’s system — and wide receivers will be essential parts of the offense.
“They tried an assortment of big backs in the tailback spot in the spring and Gregory was one of them. I don’t know if he’s going to be the guy in the fall,” he said. “But you’re going to see (Petrino) develop big backs over time in the tailback spot. If you watched any tape of Louisville games and I’ve watched a good bit of it since (Petrino) took the job. Big receivers ... tall, athletic, lean. Throw the ball and watch him go get it. And big tailbacks.
“Again, his philosophy is: Get the lead in the first half, put pressure on their quarterback in the third quarter because they’re going to have to throw and then run to win.”
Barrett also had kudos for the Hogs’ strength program, now under the direction of Jason Veltkamp
“The weight program they’ve got going up there now ... the strength coach, he is something else. They are really committed. One of the things you hear is: we’re not lifting weights to set records; we’re lifting weights to win football games,” Barrett said. “And it’s been a very interesting approach.”
Hopefully it will all come together this fall and make for a very interesting football season for the Razorbacks and their fans.
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| Trimmer a cut above the competition | Hogs coach enjoys 1st visit to Paragould |
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Wilma Wheelis Jeanne Willcockson wrote on Jun 21, 2008 11:18 AM:
and basketball. The absence of Coach
Pelphrey's comments are really disappointing. When the top hog comes
to town, it seems he should have been given at least an equal number of lines
in the article. We would have enjoyed reading what he said about his players
next year and his hopes for the season. "