Opinion: Morris out as Razorback coach, who’s next?

November 10, 2019

Who do you want to see become the next University of Arkansas coach?

  • Mike Norvell, Memphis (33%, 44 Votes)
  • Lane Kiffin, Florida Atlantic (23%, 31 Votes)
  • Hugh Freeze, Liberty (8%, 10 Votes)
  • Other (8%, 10 Votes)
  • P.J. Fleck, Minnesota (6%, 8 Votes)
  • Matt Campbell, Iowa State (6%, 8 Votes)
  • Mike Leach, Washington State (5%, 7 Votes)
  • Matt Rhule, Baylor (4%, 5 Votes)
  • Eliah Drinkwitz, Appalachian State (3%, 4 Votes)
  • Dave Clawson, Wake Forest (2%, 3 Votes)
  • Luke Feckell, Cincinnati (2%, 2 Votes)
  • Chris Klieman, Kansas State (1%, 1 Votes)

Total Voters: 133

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Chad Morris was fired as head coach of the University of Arkansas football program one day after a disastrous 45-19 home loss to Western Kentucky.

The loss dropped the Razorbacks to 2-8 on the season and 4-18 under Morris in just under two seasons. Long-time Arkansas assistant and former player Barry Lunney Jr. has been named interim coach for the two remaining games on the schedule, a Nov. 23 date at No. 1 LSU and a game in Little Rock against Missouri on Nov. 29.

The news began circulating last night after the loss but was made official by the university this morning in an official release. No details of the buyout were included in the release.

For Razorback fans, this will be the second coaching search in as many years and the third since 2012. Arkansas is 1-21 against Southeastern Conference opponents since 2017 and with the program floundering, going 4-4 against non-Power 5 schools under Morris’ watch, the next hire will come at a pivotal time in Razorback football history.

With all of that said, many local and national pundits have already released lists of who they think Arkansas should hire, many are the same names that were bantered about two years ago when Morris was hired. The difference between that hire and this one is the man now in charge of the athletics department at the University of Arkansas — Hunter Yurachek.

So to be perfectly honest, many of these people don’t know what they are talking about, just like me. They can only make guesses and assumptions, like me.

It should noted, that one should not expect a hire until after the completion of the regular season and that many names are going to appear and disappear. Agents will use the Arkansas job to get their clients raises (and will intentionally float their client’s names), boosters will float and leak names in an effort to get momentum for someone of interest to them or to gauge the interest of the fans and out of work coaches will express interest publicly because they have nothing to lose.

With that said, the only tangible evidence that we have to go by into what Yurachek might be thinking is the two hires he has made since taking over the department – Eric Musselman for men’s basketball and Jordyn Wieber for gymnastics.

Musselman came to Arkansas from Nevada where he lead a mid-major program to success. He had previously been an assistant at LSU after years in the professional ranks where he followed his father’s footsteps into coaching at the professional level. Musselman is a high-energy guy that is detail oriented and consistently studies the game.

Wieber is young and without head coaching experience, but was hired after helping guide UCLA to a 2018 national title as a volunteer assistant. She has competed and excelled at the highest levels of her sport, winning a Gold Medal at the 2012 Olympics as well as being the U.S. all-around champion in 2011 and 2012. Her name is well-known and well-respected in the gymnastics community instantly creating a buzz for the Razorback program when she was hired.

So what can we take from these hires? Obviously the basketball hire was well-followed by the fans and the media. Musselman was not near the top, nor was he on many of the lists, when the news broke that Mike Anderson had been fired last spring.

Though football is the “cash cow” for the athletic department so the parameters may vary to some degree, but with a mindset along Yurachek’s previous hires, here are a list of candidates, keeping in mind with my analysis that is nothing more than an educated (insert jokes here) guess going on the assumptions that fit that bill of previous Yurachek hires at Arkansas (high energy, competed or coached at highest levels, well-respected in profession, attention to detail).

SILLY NAMES, CROSS THEM OFF NOW

ANAYSIS: I am not going to their backgrounds, Razorback fans should already know them, so I am going to give you a list of names to scratch off now because they are not going to happen, Houston Nutt and Bobby Petrino. Sure many long for the good times with those coaches, but not going to happen with either one. And just like last time, I am sure Jon Gruden will be seen in Fayetteville, but not going to happen.

SAME NAMES, PART DEUX

MIKE NORVELL, MEMPHIS

Seemingly the leader out of the gate this time around, Norvell has Arkansas connections having played under Clint Conque at the University of Central Arkansas and starting his coaching career at UCA. His wife is also from the state. After serving as an assistant at Tulsa, Pittsburgh and Arizona State, Norvell has led Memphis to a 34-15 and two American Athletic Conference Championships. BACKGROUND: Offensive: PROS: Young and energetic. Has Arkansas connections. Continued the success of his predecessor, Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente. Reportedly has a low buyout. CONS: Hasn’t built a program from the bottom nor does he have any professional experience. There were rumors floating when his name was bantered about when Morris was hired. Could they still be out there? ANALYSIS: He could wind up in Fayetteville.

MIKE LEACH, WASHINGTON STATE

Leach was a hot name the last time around with many pundits linking him to the Arkansas job. The same this time around. Leach has a career record of 137-88, with a current record of 53-45 in Pullman. He was successful at Texas Tech becoming the school’s all-time wins leader there before controversy ended his tenure in Lubbock. BACKGROUND: Offensive. PROS: Leach has only had two losing seasons as a head coach. His first and third seasons at Washington State. Led the Cougars to 11 wins in 2018. CONS: A sub-par 2019 campaign has the Cougars in danger of not reaching a bowl game (only one win in conference). Controversy has also followed him at both stops. ANALYSIS: Too much controversy, to make him the right fit for Arkansas.

GUS MALZAHN, AUBURN

An Arkansas high school coaching legend, was linked to the job the last time around. BACKGROUND: Offensive. PROS: SEC experience. Very well-known in Arkansas. CONS: Used the Arkansas job the last time to get a raise from Auburn. ANALYSIS: Not going to happen. His name is thrown out there because pundits need names to fill copy.

LANE KIFFIN, FLORIDA ATLANTIC

Currently the head coach at Florida Atlantic where his teams have won 11 games in 2017, 5 games in 2018 and set at 7-3 this season. BACKGROUND: Offensive. PROS: SEC experience at a head coach at Tennessee. Head-coaching experience in the NFL. Has some experience in the state having lived in Fayetteville before the age of 5 while has dad, Monte Kiffin, was serving as defensive coordinator under Lou Holtz. CONS: Kiffin is another controversial figure. Hasn’t coach anywhere longer than four seasons. ANALYSIS: Kiffin definitely fits the criteria with NFL experience. He could end up as coach at Arkansas, but much like Leach, will the controversy will cost him a chance in the end?

MIKE GUNDY, OKLAHOMA STATE

It seems that Gundy’s names has been mentioned in every coach in the past decade, probably because it has. ANALYSIS: If hasn’t happened yet, don’t see that changing now.

HIRE HIM IF YOU CAN GET HIM CANDIDATE

BOB STOOPS, DALLAS RENEGADES

The former Oklahoma coach, and current XFL Dallas Renegades coach. BACKGROUND: Defensive. PROS: Won a National Title at Oklahoma. Experience. CONS: Retired from Oklahoma stating he was tired of recruiting. Was linked to Florida State job earlier this week and turned it down. ANALYSIS: Stoops is mentioned because you at least make a call to see if he is interested. If he wants the job, throw the bank at him. Not going to happen though.

LOOKING FOR SECOND-CHANCE CANDIDATES

HUGH FREEZE, LIBERTY

Former Arkansas State and Ole Miss head coach, currently at FBS Liberty University, 5-3 record up to this point. BACKGROUND: Offensive. PROS: Did well at Ole Miss including beating Alabama. Coached in the state. CONS: Controversy surrounded his tenure at Ole Miss. ANALYSIS: Freeze would jump at the opportunity to take the job. As with Leach and Kiffin, will the controversial past be what the program needs? He could end up on the Hill, but I don’t see it though Yuracheck was part of the committee that brought Kelvin Sampson to Houston.

RICH RODRIGUEZ, OLE MISS ASSISTANT

Former Arizona and Michigan coach is only mentioned because he was in a national pundit’s top 5 candidates. BACKGROUND: Offensive. ANALYSIS: Going to save the space, he is only being mentioned because he would jump at the opportunity. Name floated and bait taken by pundit. Not going to happen.

GREG SCHIANO, UNEMPLOYED

The former Rutgers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach appears primed to return to Rutgers. ANALYSIS: Not going to happen.

SONNY DYKES, SMU

The former Louisiana Tech and California coach took over for Chad Morris at SMU. BACKGROUND: Offensive. ANALYSIS: SMU gave Dykes a second chance and he has rewarded the program nicely, I just can’t see Arkansas going back to SMU for this coaching hire.

THE PROVEN UP-AND-COMERS (SUCCEEDED A MORE THAN PROGRAM)

P.J. FLECK, MINNESOTA

The current University of Minnesota and former Western Michigan coach is a hot name everywhere. BACKGROUND: Offensive. PROS: Led Western Michigan to the Cotton Bowl and 12-win season before taking over Minnesota where he has led the Gophers to an undefeated mark this season. High energy guy. Former NFL assistant coach. Checks all of the Yurachek boxes. Built programs up. Young. CONS: Just signed a contract extension with a $10 million dollar buyout. ANALYSIS: Just signed a contract extension, so if he name gets mentioned, then you would know he was a serious candidate. He should top every AD’s wish list and with that he could end up in Fayetteville if wants to end up in Fayetteville.

MATT RHULE, BAYLOR

The current Baylor coach has remarkable turnarounds at both Baylor and Temple. BACKGROUND: Multiple. PROS: Turned a once dormant Temple program into a conference champion before taking over a Baylor program that was rocked by scandal. NFL experience. CONS: Could be waiting to take over at Penn State, which could be happening soon if rumors connecting current Penn State coach James Franklin are true. ANALYSIS: Proven to rebuild programs quickly, just what Arkansas needs. Another candidate that if he wants the job, you give it to him. I don’t think it happens because I think the dominoes will fall and ends up in Happy Valley.

MATT CAMPBELL, IOWA STATE

Razorback fans may remember Campbell when his Toledo team came into Little Rock and downed the Razorbacks in 2015. He used that season to get the Iowa State job. BACKGROUND: Offensive. PROS: Turned around Toledo and has made Iowa State respectable. Definitely a high energy guy, runs the student section before home games. CONS: Hasn’t pushed Iowa State past the eight-win mark, but not many have. ANALYSIS: Campbell played at Division III powerhouse Mount Union, so there isn’t the lure of coaching at his alma mater. Turned down a chance to interview for the New York Jets in 2018 so seems content in the college game. If he wants the Arkansas job, would be his.

DAVE CLAWSON, WAKE FOREST

Clawson has worked his way through the college ranks and currently has Wake Forest at 7-2 and ranked this season. BACKGROUND: Offensive. PROS: Has won conference titles at Fordham, Richmond and Bowling Green. Coached one season as OC at Tennessee. Has taken Wake Forest to three consecutive bowl games. CONS: Never coached west of the Mississippi so his recruiting ties would be on the east coast. ANALYSIS: Not the splashiest as some of the other proven up-and-comers, but would be a solid hire if Arkansas were to gauge his interest.

BRYAN HARSIN, BOISE STATE

Harsin’s name appears because he coached one season at Arkansas State before landing at Boise State, and by default gets mentioned. ANALYSIS: Harsin is from Boise, played quarterback at Boise State and seems to be at home. Yuracheck would surely listen if Harsin was interested, but just can’t see him leaving home.

CHRIS KLIEMAN, KANSAS STATE

Going 69-6, including four FCS National Titles, at North Dakota State got Klieman the job at Kansas State, where he has the Wildcats at 6-3. ANALYSIS: Paid his dues in the lower levels of college coaching before finally getting the opportunity at Kansas State. It would be hard to see Klieman leave after one season at the helm.

LUKE FICKELL, CINCINNATI

Fickell is an intriguing candidate having served as head coach at his alma mater, Ohio State, on interim basis (replacing Jim Tressell). After his one season in which the Buckeyes went 6-7, Fickell stayed on the staff at Ohio State before landing the Cincinnati job in 2017. His Bearcats went 4-8 his first season before going 11-2 in 2018 and 8-1 this season. ANALYSIS: Would be a very intriguing hire to say the least, could he be waiting for Ohio State again if Ryan Day decided to turn his attention back to the professional ranks or would he like an opportunity to prove that Buckeyes wrong? Cincinnati is a future nonconference opponent for Arkansas.

THE UNPROVEN UP-AND-COMERS

TOM ALLEN, INDIANA

Spent one season as assistant head coach at Arkansas State before heading to Ole Miss. ANALYSIS: Has Indiana at 7-2 on the year and that is enough to garner attention, but that is coming back-to-back 5-7 campaigns. He would be reach at this point.

ELIAH DRINKWITZ, APPALACHIAN STATE

Drinkwitz’ name will get a lot of attention just because of his ties to the state. The former Alma Airedale played at Arkansas Tech and was a coach at Alma and Springdale before assistant coaching stops at Auburn, Arkansas State, Boise State and North Carolina State. ANALYSIS: Took over a program that was on very solid ground when Scott Satterfield left for Louisville. In his first season as head coach, he has Mountaineers at 8-1 overall, including a win over South Carolina on Saturday. With only one season for a body of work, this probably not the right time for Drinkwitz.

BILL CLARK, ALABAMA-BIRMINGHAM

Clark rebuilt the UAB program from scratch and has went 31-17 at the school, including 6-3 season. The long time high school coach has been in college coaching since 2008. ANALYSIS: Though Clark has done wonders at UAB, his extensive high school background might be a tough sell with Razorback fans after the Morris saga.

BILLY NAPIER, LOUISIANA

The Furman graduate has his Rajin’ Cajuns at 7-2 in his second season as head coach, after a 7-7 campaign last year. ANALYSIS: Spent time as an assistant at both Clemson and Alabama, but his limited experience will turn off many fans.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

This list above is just that, a list. It is like many that you see and read over the coming weeks. Names will be dropped, airplanes will be tracked and the craziness is about to ensue. Could the next coach at Arkansas not be on the list? Absolutely. A fired NFL coach could garner attention. Though I don’t think Arkansas can afford to go with an unproven assistant coach, it could be a hot shot college or pro assistant. One thing is certain, Yurachek will keep things close to his chest and odds are he is been putting together a list already. Other coaching changes will also effect things. One thing is certain, the next coach is going to have to hire a more complete staff, win the press conference with plain talk and not just Twitter hastags, and he is going to have to show a complete commitment to the program and the state. So just hang on the for the ride.

10 Things to know About Portland State

August 31, 2019

By MICHAEL MINSHEW/ARKANSAS SPORTS INFORMATION

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas opens the 2019 campaign and year two under head coach Chad Morris against Portland State on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 3 p.m., at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network, as well as the ESPN app. Here are 10 things to know about the game before kick off.

  1. Saturday will be the first meeting between Arkansas and Portland State on the football field. It will also be the first of three “first-time” games for the Razorbacks this season. Arkansas will also host San Jose State (Sept. 21) and Western Kentucky (Nov. 9) later this year.
  2. The Razorbacks return 68 players from last year’s squad, welcoming in 53 newcomers. Arkansas has 53 freshmen on this year’s roster, including 36 true freshmen. Arkansas brings back its leading rusher (Rakeem Boyd), receiver (Cheyenne O’Grady), tackler (De’Jon Harris), tackler for loss (McTelvin Agim) and kicker (Connor Limpert) from the 2018 season. Forty-six student-athletes on the 2019 roster are from inside the state’s borders, with four from Fayetteville – Ty Clary, Elias Hale, Ty Clary and Cheyenne O’Grady.
  3. On Monday, Aug. 26, coach Morris named Ben Hicks the starting quarterback for the Razorbacks. A native of Waco, Texas, and graduate of SMU, Hicks made the decision to finish his collegiate career with a few familiar faces on the Hill. Hicks was with head coach Chad Morris & offensive coordinator Joe Craddock from the beginning of their tenure in Dallas, as Hicks redshirted in 2015, then became the starting quarterback after his first game as a Mustang in 2016. During their time together, Hicks became an Honorable Mention Freshman All-American (Campus Insiders), an Athlon Sports All-AAC fourth team member, earned various weekly awards and set the school’s single-season & career touchdowns records. Hicks left SMU as the all-time leader in passing yards (9,081), total offense (8,977), touchdown passes (71), touchdowns responsible for (74), completions (718) and 300-yard passing games (12).
  4. Senior linebacker De’Jon “Scoota” Harris returns for his senior season to help lead the Arkansas defense. Harris has led the team in tackles in each of the last two years, with 115 in 2017 & 118 in 2018, the first since Jerry Franklin (2010-11) to do so in consecutive seasons. He has also recorded seven double-digit tackle games in each of the last two years, the first since Ken Hamlin (2001-02). Harris takes over as the conference active leader in career tackles with 270 heading into his senior year. He finished 2018 fifth behind senior teammate Dre Greenlaw & three others, playing between five & 17 fewer games than those in front of him.
  5. Another senior who came back for his senior year is defensive tackle McTelvin “Sosa” Agim, who will anchor the defensive front for the Razorbacks in 2019. Last season, Agim started all 12 games and posted 45 tackles, 19 solo and a team-high 10 for loss (44 yards), along with 4.5 sacks (25 yards). He also forced a team-best three fumbles and recovered another, while getting credit for 11 quarterback hurries. Agim is the only Razorback on the roster to have forced multiple fumbles in two different games, doing so at Colorado State last year and Mississippi State in 2017.
  6. The Razorbacks return 82 percent of their yards on the ground from a year ago, including the top three rushers in Rakeem Boyd (734), Devwah Whaley (368) and Chase Hayden (251). All three have recorded at least one 100-yard rushing game in their collegiate careers, as Boyd led the team with three last year while Whaley has four over his time at Arkansas. The trio has also been effective catching passes out of the backfield, combining for 42 receptions and 313 yards. Boyd finished the 2018 campaign ranked third in receiving with 23 receptions for 165 yards.
  7. Senior kicker Connor Limpert had an unforgettable 2018 season, writing his name in the Arkansas record books and positioning himself to land among the preseason favorites for the Lou Groza Award in 2019. A seminfinalist for the award last year and a watch list member heading into this season, Limpert put together a 19-for-24 line in field goal attempts, hitting multiple 50-yard kicks, including the seventh-longest in school history at 55 yards against Vanderbilt on Oct. 27. He enters the 2019 campaign with a career 81.8 field goal percentage, which currently leads all Arkansas kickers. His clip was aided last year by a streak of 10-straight over a five-week stretch, which ended on a 60-yard attempt against Vanderbilt that would’ve been the third-longest in Arkansas history.
  8. At a recent team meeting, head coach Chad Morris unveiled a new honor to be given to a senior every year on the third Saturday of fall camp. The award is named after legendary Arkansas coach & athletic director Frank Broyles and is presented to the player who best exemplifies what Coach Broyles stood for. It was a no-brainer for the first recipient of the award, as T.J. Smith was recognized on Aug. 17 to be this year’s honoree. Smith will wear a decal on the back of his helmet during the 2019 season that represents Coach Broyles.
  9. When the Razorbacks take the field this season, they’ll be sporting a new look that gives a nod back to a special era of Arkansas football. Back in July, the Razorback Football Twitter account posted photos of the “throwback” uniforms the team will wear this season as a call-back to an era of one of its greatest players in school history, Darren McFadden. With the word “ARKANSAS” emblazoned across the front of the jerseys and the two solid red stripes that will run down both sides of the pants, the Razorbacks will be donning a look that dates back to 2006 and 2007, McFadden’s final two years as a Hog.
  10. The 2019 season also marks the return to natural grass at DWRRS. The Tahoma 31 derives its name from the Native American word, Tahoma, which means frozen water. In test after test, Tahoma 31 shows its exceptional winter hardiness, tested up to 75 percent more cold tolerant than other bermuda grass varieties. With the additional characteristics of both improved wear tolerance and drought resistance, Tahoma 31 is ideal for sports turf, golf courses and high-quality lawns in the Mid-Atlantic & Transition Zone. The approximately 1800-pound rolls of Matrix turf feature an interwoven mesh support layer that provides strength and stability to the sod without compromise to drainage. The game lines seen on the field were painted by a self-propelled robot. New to Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium for the first time in program history will be the introduction of painted-red endzones on the new natural grass. The north endzone will feaure the “Arkansas” wordmark, while the south endzone will brandish the “Razorbacks” across its borders.

Tusk V to make Debut against Portland State

By RAZORBACK COMMUNICATIONS

FAYTTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas, home to one of the nation’s longest tenured and most recognizable live mascot programs, will celebrate the debut of Tusk V, the official live mascot of the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Born Saturday, April 19, 2018, at the Stokes Family Farm in Dardanelle, Arkansas, Tusk V is the son of recently retired, Tusk IV, a Russian boar which closely resembles the type of “wild band of razorback hogs,” first described by then Arkansas head football coach Hugo Bezdek in 1909. The following year, in 1910, University of Arkansas students voted to officially adopt the new nickname changing the mascot from the Cardinals to the Razorbacks.

Tusk V officially takes over official mascot duties after his father, Tusk IV, who retired at the end of the 2019 Razorback Baseball season.

Tusk V lives on the Stokes Family Farm near Dardanelle, Arkansas. The work of caring for V is shared between Keith and his wife Julie, their daughter Abbey, their son Chip and his wife Lori, five-year-old son (Keith and Julie’s grandson), Colt and two-year-old daughter(Keith and Julie’s grandson), Caroline.

Tusk V will make a two-hour trek up to Northwest Arkansas for every Razorback football game as well as select other Razorback athletics events throughout the year. Beloved by Razorback and opposing team fans of all ages, Tusk is always the center of attention when he makes an appearance at games or other special events. Through the years, he has traveled the state and throughout the region to appear at various locations including at bowl games, Razorback Clubs and even the Arkansas State Capitol.

Arkansas’ first live mascot, Tusk I was selected in 1997 and served as the Razorback mascot for eight years.

After spending four football seasons at the Little Rock Zoo, Tusk I was moved to the Tyson Foods Farm in Springdale in 2001. In 2002, Tusk I became the father to Tusk II. Tusk I passed away in 2004 and his son, Tusk II, was moved from the Tyson Farm to the Stokes Family Farm and served as the live mascot from 2005 until 2010.

Tusk III was the brother of Tusk II and both were second-generation Russian boars. Tusk III served for only one football season in 2010. Tusk IV is the son of Tusk II and took over as the official live mascot during the 2011 football season. He recently completed his seventh season.

In 2008, Razorback Athletics created the Tusk Fund to help provide financial assistance for the maintenance and upkeep of the live mascot program. Donations to the fund provide Tusk with improvements to his facilities and most of all, create a legacy program for guaranteeing the longevity of the Razorback live mascot program. Fans interested in supporting the Tusk Fund, can do so by clicking here.

The tradition of a live mascot predates the Tusk lineage, dating back to the 1960s with a series of hogs that have proudly represented Arkansas.

Razorback fans of all ages will have the opportunity to interact with Tusk V in HogTown beginning four hours prior to kickoff of each home game. Additionally, Tusk V will lead Coach Chad Morris and members of the Razorback Football team through the official Hog Walk which will take place two hours and forty minutes prior to kick through HogTown.

For more information on Tusk V, click here or follow @Tusk_UA on Twitter.