New football staff announced
Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino announced his staff Friday, three days after the Razorbacks ended the season with a loss to Missouri in the Cotton Bowl. The university announced the assistants through a press release. Here’s how it shakes out:
2008 Arkansas Football Coaching Staff
Offense
Paul Petrino – Offensive Coordinator
Tim Horton – Running Backs, Tight Ends and Recruiting Coordinator
Garrick McGee – Quarterbacks
Mike Summers – Offensive Line
Chip Long – Graduate AssistantDefense
Ellis Johnson – Defensive Coordinator
Bobby Allen – Defensive Line (Tackles)
Reggie Johnson - Linebackers
Lorenzo Ward – Secondary
Kirk Botkin – Defensive Line (Ends) and Special Teams Coordinator
Courtney Sanders – Graduate AssistantAdministration
Dean Campbell – Director of High School Relations
Mark Robinson – Director of Football Operations
Jason Veltkamp – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
“I’m excited about the staff we have assembled for the University of Arkansas,” Petrino said in the release. “These coaches and administrators have a wealth of experience at the highest levels of collegiate athletics and in the professional ranks. I’m confident that they work tirelessly as we mold our program and that they will represent the Razorbacks in a first-class fashion.”
24 Responses to “New football staff announced”
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What style of Defense is Coach Johnson going to run?
I think it is a variation of the 4-3
Will it be hyper aggressive with press man coverage?
Didn’t pay to much attention to Miss St. this year. were they good on defense?
Johnson has a wealth of experience in the SEC and MSU pulled off some huge upsets this year, mostly due to the defense, as I recall.
There seems to be a strong southern flavor to this group, which should help a great deal with recruiting. Next year’s schedule appears to be brutal, but these guys will eventually get it done under Petrino.
GO HOGS!
Hey Bobby and staff! I like the staff and I have read about each member (as much as I could find on the internet). I look forward to some team effort at the staff and player level. Do something special, Staff! Don’t be average! Get the recruits and whip the south end of a north bound donkey in the next few years.
I am new to this blog thing, and I just want to tell you guys that I have been a Razorback fan for the past 45 years–Yes, I am an old man at 50 years.
Now for my 2cts worth. I would really be a coup, in my opinion, if Coach Petrino and his staff can convince DMAC and Jones that money is not every thing; that we need them even more this next year. Of course, I am a die-hard student athlete fan who thinks every athlete should stay and finish at least their eligiblity. Payton did it at Tennessee; I think Darren said at one point that he was born to be a Razorback. But there again, 30 million dollars is very tempting. I know that realistically, this is a pipedream, but everybody, outside being an Arkansas fan, said that same thing when the Razorbacks thought they could beat LSU; and look what happened. I’m selfish: Please, DMAC and Fleix, stay at Arkansas for one more year–I am begging you.
But, again, I am just an old man.
docsharp….i think everyone who follows the razorbacks is on the same page with you as far as d-mac and felix staying. it is definitely a long shot for d-mac to stay, but hopefully the mizzou loss will leave a bad enough taste in his mouth to want to come back next year and kick some SEC butts!
I am a HUGE Hog fan….have been since birth some 37 years ago. But you people who say “D-Mac should stay…..money isn’t everything” are insane and not being fair to the kid. He doesn’t have much and he has a huge family. He is going to be a Top 5 pick and get millions of dollars. If he comes back and gets injured, what is going to get? WHY would he come back? Because he has a “bad taste in his mouth” about the bowl game? He can wash that taste out with all the money he is going to make….and give his family things they have never had. Those asking him to stay are being selfish. Thank you DMAC for 3 great years…..go pro…..get what is coming to you…..and take care of those you love. You’ve earned it!
Yes, you are hit the nail on the head snorman
Thanks for the great football Darren!
Take the money and run. You can always come back later and get the rest of your degree.
RB’s have a shorter life in the NFL . There bodies start to break down at around 28 years of age if they are lucky!
I think Felix could justify staying for his Senior Season to maybe enhance his Draft position.
It would be very nice if they both stayed from our stand point.
With that much money on the line, it doesn’t make much sense to stay.
Just being Realistic I hope I didn’t **** off my Razorback family by saying what is true!
HEY DWP - WHERE DID YOU FIND THE SCHEDULE FOR ‘08? HOW BRUTAL IS IT???
HAS ANYONE WONDERED WHY REGGIE DIDN’T GO WITH NUTT?????
In my opinion, both DMAC and Felix should give it up and “follow the yellow brick road” - lined with green paperbacks to the NFL.
If the offense is diverse and balanced next year, as advertised, regardless of what DMAC and the Cat decide to do, the UA will be just fine at running back.
Michael Smith is the second coming of Fred Tally and there are some very gifted high school kids who may get some serious PT and contribute next year, as well.
Keep the faith hog fans. This Petrino dude will eventually take them higher. In three years, or sooner, the Razorbacks will be making noise and knocking on the BCS door.
Ps. UA65, I would agree with you. Frank Broyles is a living legend in these parts - and I live in south Texas.
mhp56,
The schedule is tough. They open with two cupcakes and then hit murderers row….Texas, Alabama, Florida, Auburn. They get another cupcake later, and should handle Miss and Miss State, but then close with LSU as always. With all they’re losing, it would be a success to go 7 - 5 or even 6 - 6. I hope the fans give Petrino a pass for next year and let him get his guys in there, to run his system…..include a decent QB. In 3 - 4 years, I believe he can build a national power.
Well westcoasthog, I can see that we are pretty much the minority here, so all I will say is that my how the times have changed. The younger generation just have another idea of what constitutes life; like I said in my previous statement–the money is very tempting, and yes, the average life in the NFL is a short decade, if that. But i will say it again, it did not hurt Payton Manning or perhaps a “Young” guy who graduated from Tennessee and BYU; I think they’re pretty successful in the NFL.
However, wouldn’t it be also great if DMAC and Felix were a part of a National Championship Team that the new coach “Petrino” took under his tutlege? A National Championship with a final Hesiman Trophy would be good enough to surely propell DMAC and even Felix to perhaps 1 and 2 in the overall draft?
Just a thoght and my last thought.
docsharp
Is is nice to shoot for the stars and wish that a NC is in the cards next year. But to be totally honest and realistic. Coach Petrino still has to install his new offense to a team that is primarly run oriented. It takes time to get up to speed, get the kind of players that suit your system. We do not have a QB yet. Receivers? Monk is gone! Fans need to Give Coach some time to get this team playing as one on offense (Look at Mizzoz, Talk about team offensive chemistry) Remember what recently happened to Nebraska. Years of option ground attack, no pass, 3 yards and a cloud of dust!
Next years schedule is brutal to say the least!!!
7-5 or better is a successful season. and that may be asking to much, even with Darren McFaddin or Felix Jones.
Just being realistic.
My Fellow Razorback fans
I don’t want ya’ll to think that I am being pessimistic. I think the future is very bright for us. Sometimes our passion gets in the way of clear thinking. I want us to talk about a National Championship. That should be a major goal for the Hogs. This is going to take major support from the whole State, The fans need to get 100% behind the University and the Football team. Our team needs to have the fans at 100% Not divided
The Football team needs NO MORE DISTRACTIONS FROM ANYONE FROM ARKANSAS MEDIA OUTLETS MOST OF ALL. Outsiders - who cares what they (ESPiN) think.
GO HOGS GO
WOOO PIG SOOIE
RAZORBACKS
it was just wishful thinking….trust me, i am not oblivious to the fact D-mac will be a top 5 pick and making millions….it would just be nice to see him back for one more year. when i said long shot…i was thinking it would be about a 1-2% chance he would be back.
Get the 4-year degree and graduate. It is more important than an NFL career in the long run. If you complete that degree you will have more job opportunities is the long run. A 4-year degree opens doors D-Mac and Felix, trust me! Whip some back-side and get through your college degree. You will be happy and proud you did it when you are older. The first graduate in the family breaks the chain. How about your kids looking up to a college graduate? Darren you know the truth. I saw your heisman interview about how a 13 old boy learned the value of an education. Get your 4-year degree while your young!!!
Give these guys some time to recruit and the Razorbacks will eventually be playing for a national title.
I still think DMAC and the Cat should chase the green backs and head for the NFL. They can always get their degree and running backs typically have a short term career.
Regardless, with the balanced style of offense that Petrino will bring, the next kid running the ball will do just fine. Michael Smith is a player, folks. The incoming class has a couple of gifted RBs as well.
In 3 to 4 years the UA will be playing some very serious football. GO HOGS!
Kirk Botkin? Talk about making me feel old. Wonder if he is going to take Bobby to go play water volleyball over at College Park. Maybe there will even be a
Veral Mitchell sighting.
Its important to note that when we discuss the future of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, we must remember that they live in a distinctly different life path versus ours. Yes, a degree is a blessed tool to have. But, consider the differences (and more specifically risks) involved between staying and leaving.
If they stay, yes, they will most assuredly bolster the Razorbacks chances for a good season next year. The big “if” though comes in possibly getting hurt, seriously hurt.
I think few would disagree that at least for D-Mac, a signing bonus of at least $10 mil., is forthcoming this spring when he is drafted. Invested wisely, its irrelevant if D-Mac is hurt in his first season in the NFL versus the SEC. His future would be set and could pursue the remainder of his degree anytime he wants to.
We must be careful what we wish for.
well said ua87,
as someone with a job that puts college on hold for awhile, trust me college can wait. i would love for d-mac and felix to both come back, but it would really suck if they got hurt and did not get what they have rightly earned. thanks for the memories d-mac and felix! DO WHATEVER YALL FEEL IS THE BEST THE DECISION FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILIES. thanks again for the memories!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GO HOGS
I concur with those who understand the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity choice Arkansas’ talented backs McFadden and Jones must make, for their own financial security. It would not be a wise economic decision to do otherwise, given both their likely position in the NFL draft (I’ll go on record with a guess at #1 and #15 overall in the first round). They are pros we can cheer for, and on to bigger and better things now.
McGee is a prominent upcomer in the field of quarterback coaches, and Lorenzo Ward is an exciting addition, given Arkansas’ ability to produce a number of good secondary players in recent years. It looks to be a solid staff with a solid head coach to support, which it is the job of fans to do. But perhaps never more so than now.
Anyone on this or any other message board saying that DMAC should not go pro is being completely selfish and short-sighted. If we were talking a few hundred thousand dollars, then yes, the degree would be comparable to that. But a degree versus tens of millions of dollars? No contest. Give me a 10 million dollar signing bonus and I’ll invest it and live the rest of my life on the interest alone (over a million dollars a year on average). Darren doesn’t need a degree. If he wants a degree, he can get it after the NFL. If he doesn’t blow all his money (which too many athletes do), he won’t even need a job.
I know this isn’t the “high road”, but the truth is that the student-athletes are the non-NFL talents who are using football as a means to go to school when they otherwise couldn’t — and that’s great! But for the most talented players, college football is just the NFL minor leagues (without the pay).
Felix needs to make a business decision. Once he knows generally where he would go in the draft, he has to weigh his options and decide. The decision is simply this: in the long-run, will I make more money by being a second rounder (or wherever he would go) this year or a first rounder next year (assuming he does well next year)? Then, is the difference worth the risk of injury next year?
Marcus Monk would have been about a second to third rounder last year. Depending on his knee, he could go lower than that this year. Coming back was a good decision at the time, but in retrospect, it cost him money.
If I were a betting man, I would wager that Felix will come back. I think the scouts want to know if he can be the main man or if he was just the beneficiary of everyone keying on McFadden. But he has the talent, so I wouldn’t be surprised he goes in the 1st round or early 2nd round.
Either way, I’m excited about Coach Petrino and the Razorback future. GO HOGS!!
allentxhog; what you are saying is true, ONLY if you wanted to have a JOB or job mentality. Dmac is going to be Millionaire with great advisors work for him. He can always comes back to school to finished if he wants. Wait for another year without million of dollars start to go to work for you… I just cannot see how it would be better to stay for one more year… do you know how money works?
OK First, yes it would be great for Felix and D-Mac to come back, is it possible yes. Why because if they were smart, they have gone out and acquired some type of injury insurance policy, that way if any thing happened their Senior year they still rack in the green backs the doe or what ever you want to call it. TIME HAVE CHANGED. no one takes any calculated risk’s any more. Monk may have lost some draft positions but he didn’t lose out on any money i promise.
No matter what Darren and Felix do, no matter where they go they will always be recognized as Razorbacks, And always have a place in my heart./
GO HOGS GO