Ask Mike: Fumble Woes Continue, Sam’s Coming Back & Mizzou Rivalry Questions

Q. Our first question is from JJHog who says: If we made a change we need multiple buyouts, money for a new coach and staff. Unless a donor gets mad enough and writes a massive check we’re Stuck with Sam for a few more years until that ridiculous $12 million buyout decreases . Sigh.

A. I guess there’s a chance that Bobby Petrino might leave to become the head coach at Charlotte. If he goes some of the offensive assistants would probably go with him. So the buyout money would decrease some. But yeah, Pittman is coming back. I hope the sigh helps.

Q. Jimmyhogball says: I thought we outplayed Mizzou most of the game but fumbles killed us once again. What do you think it is? Poor coaching, lack of arm strength, poor technique, or just bad luck?

A. There’s no question that some teams are more turnover prone that others. Why? It’s not because coaches don’t work on how to avoid turning the ball over in practice. Every staff I’ve ever covered do it. Some players are just naturally careless with the football and during games they revert back to what they do naturally. The solution to this is extra work. Put those players through an extra series of ball carrying and ball stripping drills before and after practice. Do it so much that you change a bad habit into a good habit.

However IMO the two turnovers didn’t cost Arkansas the Missouri game. The Hogs had the lead with 4 minutes left. Those two turnovers had already happened. The offense overcame those turnovers. What cost them the game was the neck injury that knocked Landon Jackson out of the game right before the half ended. Thankfully he’s going to be okay. But it’s hard to play and entire second half of football without your best defensive player. The defense was wearing down anyway. Without him the problem got worse. There was also an issue with when Missouri came back and took the lead. If there had been 3:00 on the clock instead of say 1:30 I think Arkansas would have been in a position to score last and they almost did anyway. Green did a great job of taking the offensedown the field and getting the ball to Isaac TeSlaa in the endzone. He got his hands on the ball but it was knocked away.

Finally there are random things that are not controllable that are often big factors on close games. There was a Missouri fumble on the kickoff right after Arkansas had taken a 14-7 lead in the 3rd quarter. The ball was surrounded by three Arkansas players when it hit the ground. But it bounced to the left just beyond their reach and right to a Missouri player. Remember, a fumble is only a turnover if the other team comes up with the ball and most of the time that’s random based on what the ball does when it hits the grass.

This team has caused a lot of its problems with fumbles, interceptions and penalties but it’s also gotten very few breaks. I can think of some Arkansas teams that went through the opposite of that. The 2021 team. The 2015 team. Arkansas is sure due some good karma in football. Think about the so called Henry Heave in the 2015 Ole Miss game. Do you think Henry had eyes in the back of his head, spotted Alex Collins 25 yards away and threw the ball with a perfect over the head backwards pass? No there was an element of luck to that desperation heave and it created a situation where Arkansas won.

Q. John Dews says: Missouri fans legitimately trolling Arkansas has to be nearing the bottom right? Right? Please give us hope.

A. The hope comes from recruiting. The portal class starting in mid December is huge for next season. Sam Pittman said a week ago that the NIL situation is a lot better right now. I’ve been hearing that for about a month. Follow Otis Kirk here and on Hogville. He will keep you updated on how it’s going.

Q. Hawgredneck asks: What is up with Missouri’s players and fans? They act like there’s some sort of long standing feud going on with Arkansas. Trying to start fights. Throwing snowballs at our players. That’s not normal. And…..

Q. …..WVHogfan asks a similar question. He wants to know: What do you attribute to all the scuffles that occurred in several games on Saturday?

A. I guess it’s normal if it’s a true rivalry game but this is part of the issue with Missouri’s players and fans. From day one when this game started back in 2014 they’ve acted like Arkansas was a bitter rival. In the early days I think some of Arkansas players were totally baffled by this because there was no history of bad blood between the two schools. I think as time when on Arkansas’ players started to get it. These people don’t like us. I guess we don’t like them either.
So they do see Missouri as a rival.

But what will it take for large numbers Arkansas fans to accept Missouri is a rival? I think Missouri would have to win the SEC. Go far in the playoffs. Make it where beating those guys is a really big deal.

Q. PigDaddyKane wants to know: On the Thanksgiving weekend games with Texas A&M playing Texas, why can’t we play LSU and let Missouri play Oklahoma? Mizzou and OU played for decades in the big 8/12.

A. That’s a great idea. I think LSU would support it. Not sure about OU. The Sooners may lobby for a return of the Bedlam series with Oklahoma State Thanksgiving weekend. But it would take some lobbying by Hunter Yurachek. Permanent opponents aren’t going to be a thing until 2026. He’ll get asked about that in the offseason. Pretty sure about that.

Q. Lanny says: A lot of fans seem to think that it’s time to hire Rhett Lashlee. Is there any reason to think that he’s interested in coming back to Arkansas?

A. If there was I think the word would be out there. Also Lashlee just signed a big new contact. Most people I talk to about him think he’s in a perfect spot. Who would want to coach in the SEC right now, especially at a school where you have to rebuild with almost every game a tough win? With Dabo Swinney maybe toward the end of his career, SMU may end up as a dominate program in the ACC.

Q Edwardclutch says: Sam is a likeable guy but come on now, it’s time to move on. Bielema got fired for similar results and yet now because Morris was terrible for 2 seasons a lower tier bowl game is now considered good enough?

A. Times have changed from the Bielema days. When Chad Morris and Sam Pittman were hired there weren’t many options. I certainly don’t think that situation has changed. With the SEC the way it is, with athletic departments having to come up with 25 million extra dollars every season because of revenue sharing, the flexibility to fire coaches at will is going to be reduced because of a lack of money to pay buyouts.

Q. Thunderhog Jr asks: Since both Arkansas and Arkansas State are bowl eligible what is the chance that they get matched up in a bowl game?

A. The normal bowl tie ins for SEC teams don’t involve mid major opponents. So it would seem to be highly unlikely.

Q. TOGDS says: In the 11-25 Ask Mike you were asked about bowl games and if there are too many. You said while the fans may think so the players work year round and they deserve the chance to play a post season game.

…..To me that answer no longer applies to today’s college players, given the amount of players who abandon their respective team and sit out the bowl game.

A. How many players are we talking about? Certainly the majority will stick around. Is it fair to tell the remaining players on a football team that they can’t go to a bowl game because a several opted out?

Q. PatBoat wants to know: Why is it we hear about all these guys in spring ball like Gumms, Tevis Metcalf or Dozier but they never see the field in season?

A. This happens all the time. Spring ball is that period of time where coaches are trying to develop depth. So they will compliment new or inexperienced players
who they feel have a chance to contribute in the fall. Sometimes those players develop where they can break into the two deep. Sometimes they don’t.

Q. Boahog68 says: Love our strength coach’s energy on the sidelines however what can he do in offseason workouts to improve number of sacks OL gives up and lack of sacks or QB rushes our DL gets? Last few years this has been bad for Hogs.

A. Arkansas’ issues on the O-line don’t involve a lack of strength or conditioning. The lack of experience of playing together. Adjusting to the SEC in some cases. These things are not solved in the off season and summer conditioning programs. You get better in actual practices and on the playing field in games.

Q. EddyLynn asks: Are you surprised that Texas beat A&M so easily in College Station? It looked like they went into that giant stadium and said we will kick your butts and make you like it.

A. Surprised? Yes. But I always knew there was a chance this would happen. A&M does this. They get close. Their fans are talking conference title. They fill the stadium up. It’s a crazy environment and it blows up in their faces. If you think Hogs fans are frustrated, try being an Aggie fan where every single year this is going to be your year and then it isn’t.

Q. HL McCamish wants to know: Is this talk about the SEC dominating the playoffs a bunch of bluster? Based on what I’ve seen I think the SEC is overrated this season.

A. The SEC overreached IMO. There are too many teams with money, awesome facilities and big fan bases and we’re already seeing how they beat each other up. I can see that happening not only in football but in basketball, baseball and some of the women’s sports. The overall effect is going to be to reducing the seedings in post season tournaments in multiple sports.

Q. RazorAlex88 says: Our 2025 recruiting class has slipped to 15th in the SEC. It is very concerning to be passed by the likes of Miss. State. Hopefully coaching staff hits the transfer portal hard and come away with some grand slam transfers.

A. A lot of it depends on the increased NIL money and what they’re able to do with it in bringing in a portal class. For the last three years Pitman has said that the portal class is a bigger priority than the freshmen recruiting class.

Q. To basketball where Hogdogger asks about the loss to Illinois: What happened? Is Johnell going to get going on shooting soon? Defense was missing in action. That one was a hard one to watch guys.

A. The Illinois game was one of those games where the opponent was on fire. I think some of those three pointers were going in no matter what. Going into that game Illinois was putting up 32 three’s a game and connecting on about 33% of them. Against Arkansas it was 31 threes for 50% shooting. Anytime a team shoots that many threes and makes half of them it’s probably going to win.

Q. Marty Byrde’s proxy wants to know: Would you agree that Davis still isn’t completely 100%? And that combined with Aidoo not being healthy either have limited the basketball team maybe more than we realize?

A. Without talking to Davis or the coaches it’s hard to know if the wrist is still not fully healed or if Davis just needs more time to get more consistent in his shooting. The story is basically the same with Aidoo. Cal said a couple of weeks ago that his ankle is healed but there is still some pain when he plays. To me that suggests that he’s not fully healed. However against Illinois he seemed to be moving normally.