Ask Mike: Coaching Advice From Fans, No More Jerry World & Rat Poison in the ‘Sip

Our first question is not a question but an observation.

Q. RazorAlex88 says: Yet another finish in the ‘Heartbreak Hotel.” Different year, same story. Death and Taxes. Losing in heartbreak fashion in Jerry’s World. At least this is the final game in that cursed building.

A. I’m not a big believer in curses but I’m glad the SWC Classic is dead. When the Hogs took the lead on a field goal early in the fourth quarter, after all the troubles with field goal kicking this season, I thought Arkansas had the game won. Why? Because Arkansas’ defense had dominated the Aggies offense for almost the entire game. All they had to do was finish it out but they didn’t.

Q. AlabamaHog asks: Why was the 2nd DL unit in the game during the TAMU winning drive? Why wouldn’t you do individual players subs during the game to avoid the entire 2nd unit playing when the game is on the line?

A. Sam Pittman says he and Travis Williams decided that they needed fresh players on the field. When that decision backfired they had trouble substituting the starters back in as the drive continued.

Q. Pig Worshipper says: Bobby Petrino’s biggest problem has always been his ego. He thought he could turn Taylen Green into a quarterback and that project has failed miserably so far.

Now we’re hearing whispers that 5 wins this season will save Sam’s job. I love Sam but if he can’t get us to 6 wins and a bowl, he should be long gone. What do you think?

A. Since I’m not in Hunter Yurachek’s head I have no idea who many wins Arkansas needs for Pittman to return. I do like this coaching staff, not just the coordinators but the various assistants as well. This team is better than the 2023 bunch. They just need to keep working to get better and not worry about the fire-the-coach fans.

Q. The_Bionic_Pig asks: Why can’t Taylen take 7-10 yards and slide? He has become absolutely infatuated with the home run pass. The moment he escapes containment and there’s no one within 10 yards he’s obsessed with receivers 20 + yards downfield.

A. I don’t want him to stop going deep if he thinks he can. The problem is Green often over looks open receivers. In the second quarter he had a receiver open to his right on a crossing route. An easy eight yard throw would have led to a first down. Instead he passed on that receiver and threw wide to Ja’ Quinden Jackson who was covered up and he almost threw pick six. Why does he do stuff like that? I think it’s nerves. I said last week and I’ll say now. This season is all about how much Green adjusts to playing SEC football. A&M is not a great team but their D-Line is about as good as it gets. They got in his head and he had an up and down game. Do they bench him? No Way. I think he’s obviously their best option.

Q. Garrett Brown says: Our Hogs Will Be Fine!!!!! Under The Lights Vs. Tennessee! Go Hogs Beat Volunteers! WPS

A. Arkansas needs fans like this. The players need them. The coaches need them. Garrett Brown I hope you are right.

Q. KYHog says: This got asked last week. It’s still happening. Why aren’t we throwing to Hasz more? He’s a weapon that’s getting ignored.

A. It finally was revealed by Pittman that Hasz has been hurt. He’s had a back injury since the Oklahoma State game. Not having him 100% against A&M was a huge break for the Aggies. Their defense has been vulnerable to tight ends who can run good routes and catch the ball.
Ty Washington is also banged up. He’s almost as good a receiver as Hasz and his status for the Tennessee game is uncertain.

Q. that’ll due pig wants to know: Do you think what we saw in the A&M game was the difference between college that has a lot of NIL money and a college that barely has any NIL money?

A. No. A lot of those 5 stars that Jimbo Fisher brought in with big NIL money are gone. A comparison was done on the star system between Arkansas and the Aggies. A&M had a slight advantage. Also it is incorrect to state that Arkansas barely has any NIL money. They’re behind the big name SEC schools but Arkansas is not a UNLV. Pittman and his staff continue to bring in solid 4 stars out of the portal. Progress is being made but not fast enough for some.

Q. Redjay97 says: If the leaders and coaches can keep this team together through this year regardless of W/L record I want Pittman and the rest of this staff back for another year.

A. I do think this team has to make progress with regard to wins and losses. Six wins and a bowl bid would sure help. But I do understand your point. Last year’s team fell apart because of divisions within the team. If this team can continue to play hard with no sign of the give up we saw at the end of last season that’s a big plus. But they can’t afford to get embarrassed at home. The Tennessee game this week is big. I’m not saying Arkansas has to win. But there cannot be a give up.

Q. Greg Squirrell says: Maybe during the off weeks, the coaching staff needs to re evaluate the players and get some guys in there that can play.

A. Sam Pittman said on Monday that he has the right starting lineup. Those starters need to continue to develop This team needs better leadership. Pittman knows what happened in 2021. A few key players stepped up and refused to allow their teammates to slack off in practice, in the weight room, in conditioning drills and in games. He needs to make it happen with this team.

Q. Dr. Strangepork says: I get tired of hearing about the lack of recruiting and NIL. When Arkansas gets blue chippers they never pan out. (success) Has always been (with) a 3 or 4 star player that they developed.

A. I agree 100%. I think Arkansas can improve it’s NIL situation but it’s never gonna be at the top. The answer has always been and will continue to be, bringing in good players who get better and that happens a lot. It’s what I like most about the current staff. They have done a good job of recruiting and are continuing to develop what they have. I like this roster. These are guys who are sticking together and working to get where the fans want this team to be. It’s just a shame that so many fans are dumping on this staff and this team. This team is not last year’s team. It’s not last year’s staff. Big changes have been made on the offense with new players and new assistant coaches. Give them time to develop. It will pay off.

Q. ms_hog says: I saw the Hugh Freeze clip where he said that if Auburn played the Arkansas game nine more times Auburn would win all nine times. How much longer to do think the Auburn fans will put up with him?

A. He toned his post game remarks down a lot this week but he’s in real trouble. Auburn got handed a gift when Oklahoma went into Auburn missing its 5 top receivers, its number two running back, two D-Backs and a linebacker. OU’s QB was a freshman making his first career start in a place like Auburn? Come on. The Tigers did have the lead at halftime but OU came back to win it. Who does Auburn beat from here on out? Georgia? Give me a break. Missouri in Columbia? I don’t think so. Certainly not Kentucky. The ‘Cats just upset Ole Miss. Vanderbilt? Maybe but Vandy is tougher this season. The Aggies? Nope. Alabama? No way.

Q. whippersnapper says: Rat poison for Widdle Wayne Kiffin and the Rebs against Kentucky. 17 points on offense.

A. Make no mistake about it Ole Miss is still really good but maybe Kiffin got a lesson in what happens when a school hypes its football program non stop for months. It was rat poison. I wasn’t sure they were going to pay the price for that but I’m certainly not surprised.

Q. sglies says: Some of the fake injuries Ole Miss pulled off against Kentucky was shameful. At one point you can see their QB point at a running back beside him and out of nowhere the kid drops to the ground like he was shot. Kiffin has zero class.

A. It was obvious what was going on. It’s not hard to see a real case of the cramps as opposed to the real thing. But how can you prove it? I’d like to see a player out for the rest of the game for staging a fake case of the cramps but how you prove it? Maybe a rule could be put in that any player cramping up has to sit out a minimum of say 10 minutes while taking fluids, for his own safety. But I doubt it will happen.

Q. Hawgredneck wants to know: What’s going on with Georgia? They almost lost to Kentucky. Alabama had them blown out. They came all the way back to take the lead and then lost the game. Crazy.

A. Kirby Smart clearly is not Nick Saban. Saban got his five- star players to practice like they were three-stars. Smart has a discipline issue on his team. If he doesn’t resolve it this won’t be the last game Georgia loses.

Q. EddyLynn says: In the 2nd quarter of the Colorado-UCF game KJ Jefferso1n scored a touchdown by ramming his helmet into the helmet of a defender at the goal line. Should that not be targeting? Why it only called on defensive players?

A. I’m not sure but it’s a pet peeve of mine. Targeting is called to help limit head or neck injuries. A defensive player is just as likely to get injured as an offensive player. Whichever one initiates is should be flagged. That touchdown should have been wiped out and a 15 yard penalty assessed.

Q. Pigsfeat says: The #2 Lady Razorback soccer team is on fire! The attendance record of 4,000 shows that the fans will come out if you build winner!

A. Actually they’re # 1 in one poll. 4,000 fans for the match against #24 South Carolina which they won 2-0. My guess is we’ll see that record fall again before the season is over. Also woman’s athletics overall at the University is tearing it up.

Q. WVHogfan asks: What will be the end result if a player (UNLV QB) quits a team in the middle of a season because he wants more money and another team is willing to sign him?

A. It’s still not clear if the QB, Matthew Sluka, was promised $100,000 and only got $3,000 which is what is family is claiming or if after a 3-0 start he went to his coaches and asked for a better deal. Regardless, he walked out on his teammates and UNLV’s fans. If he didn’t get what he was promised he could have waited until the season was over and taken them to court.

He’s going to hear about this for a long time. Plus look what happened. Barry Odom went with his backup QB, Hajj-Malik Williams and Vegas destroyed Fresno State 59-14. Sluka was completing less than 50% of his passes. Williams completed 81 % of his passes and ended up with a QB rating of just under 90. One of his teammates interviewed after the game said he should have been the starter in the first place.

Q. Marty Byrde’s proxy wants to know: Judging from the last 3-4 years of NIL/Portal, where do you see it leading in the next 3-4? Does it go in places we haven’t yet imagined yet?

A. No. I think this is going to get resolved. It looks like the courts and the NCAA have come to an agreement about making direct payments to athletes out of the athletic department budget. If so we’re going to see a more equal distribution of money. NIL will not go away but I can see the courts allowing athletes to be held to a contract on NIL payments. If they try to transfer for more money they would have to pay back any money they received and sit out an entire season. This would put and end to poaching players.