Man some terrible news people. Steve McNair, former QB of the Titans and Alcorn St. was shot and killed. I don’t know the details, but this is a terrible tragedy. Please keep his family and loved ones in our prayers as they go through this ordeal.

By SOUTHARKHOGFAN on Jul 4, 2009 @ 5:30pm

I have heard that Jason Henry may be off the team. He apparently has improved academics but not attending all the study sessions required. Is there any official word from Coach Pelphrey?

By Ima Hawg on Jul 4, 2009 @ 10:14pm

The Sporting News reported on 2 July that Austin Woods had given his verbal commitment to Oklahoma.

By 1973 Hog on Jul 5, 2009 @ 1:50pm

am i correct in thinking that the wayne brent that coached renardo sidney, and the one who apparantly oversaw some less than ethical situation and now coaches at callaway, MS. Is that not where we got nobles from?

By PK on Jul 5, 2009 @ 11:02pm

It’s Official Ima Hawg, Henry is off the team according to Pelphrey. Good Call !

http://wholehogsports.com/story_breakingnews.php?id=428

By Ron in Jordan on Jul 5, 2009 @ 11:33pm

Thats gonna bring that APR down even more

By Ron in Jordan on Jul 5, 2009 @ 11:34pm

I’m with you, Ron.
I think that’s a call that has to be made.
After everything that’s happened with recruits /players since Pelphery’s arrival, it seems like our HC has had to learn a few valuable lessons himself.
I’ve noticed with the recent recruits Pelphrey’s brought in, (with the exception of Bordan) the academics aren’t quite as much in question as they were with last years class.
Jeff Peterson (transfer from Iowa) is also outstanding in his academics.

By GonzoHog on Jul 6, 2009 @ 10:56am

i have no problem with giving pel time to get it ironed out. he’s still a young coach himself

By Razorback56 on Jul 6, 2009 @ 12:01pm

People are going to tend to be impatient. Especially when you are going 2-15 in SEC play. This will not be a quick or easy fix, but I believe Pelphrey needs and deserves at least 5 years to turn the program around because he was hired with that expectation. That gives him 3 more. A lot of it depends on how much this team can show improvement and how recruiting goes over the next 2 years. We’ll see if he is up to it. You also see what is happening in Football with a proven head coach versus and up and comer…just sayin!

By Ima Hawg on Jul 6, 2009 @ 1:03pm

good point imahog.

By Razorback56 on Jul 6, 2009 @ 1:12pm

They both had losing seasons and are kicking off bad influences. What’s the difference?

By MRPRFCT on Jul 6, 2009 @ 2:02pm

BP is coming off his FIRST season with a Top 15 recruiting class and lots of momentum. Pel is coming off his SECOND season with lots of question marks. Are you paying attention MRP?

By Ima Hawg on Jul 6, 2009 @ 2:44pm

Yes. Pel’s first season was a success and his first class was highly rated. I’m really paying attention.

By MRPRFCT on Jul 6, 2009 @ 2:55pm

Tough to compare the 2 sports and coaches. BP has his players for at least 3 years, so if gets #1 player at a position you can build on that. If Pel gets a #1 there’s a good chance that player could be a 1 and done… Basketball is a lot tougher…. That said… MRP…Where’s that class now? Cuz there’s not much left on the hill!?!?!

By Scott of Hot Springs on Jul 6, 2009 @ 3:49pm

What’s that have to do with similarities?

By MRPRFCT on Jul 6, 2009 @ 4:10pm

it doesn’t… one’s football the other basketball… I won’t get into what make the sports different… after all you’re the one with the 132 IQ

By Scott of Hot Springs on Jul 6, 2009 @ 4:49pm

131

By MRPRFCT on Jul 6, 2009 @ 5:10pm

We weren’t comparing sports. We were comparing coaches.

By MRPRFCT on Jul 6, 2009 @ 5:11pm

The comparison between Petrino and Pelphrey is very simple. One is proven, while the other is not.
Not only does that make recruiting easier for Petrino, but coaching as well.
If your an “up and comer” type coach, trying to not only prove your worth, but to also turn around a once outstanding program, your at a major disadvantage when trying to excell at the exact same pace as a proven HC in the same position.
If Petrino says/yells/demands something to a player, they probably almost always listen.
If Pelphrey does the exact same thing, I’m a little more inclined to say that kid may scratch his head and second guess what he’s hearing.
It has nothing to do with the coaching, just the rep.

By GonzoHog on Jul 6, 2009 @ 5:38pm

Not all of it’s Pel’s fault. Kids come in being the top player on their team or conference and when you throw several together, sometimes the team can’t gel 100%. You will get a few that can and will and then the rest can’t adjust to playing as a team…

By fb71 on Jul 6, 2009 @ 7:58pm

MRP, you love to argue so you’ve got us all suckered. All the valid points have been made here. I hope Pel is very successful and I believe he has a chance to be. But if he is not and fans lose faith, I hope the powers that be will select a PROVEN head coach like they did in Football.

By Ima Hawg on Jul 6, 2009 @ 9:13pm

I actually don’t like to argue. Half the time I agree with the opinions on here. Well, maybe not half, but I do agree that it appears our programs are headed in the right direction and we have good coaches leading them.

By MRPRFCT on Jul 6, 2009 @ 9:31pm

We were very, very lucky to get Bobby Petrino.
The fact that he was miserable in Atlanta, combined with realizing he wanted terribly to coach the college game again, along with seeing a golden opportunity to coach in the best football conference in America again, was just way too tempting for Petrino to pass up.
There’s no doubt AD Jeff Long worked very hard and put himself in a position to land Petrino, but if things don’t happen to work out in basketball with John Pelphrey, I wouldn’t exactly rely on the same thing happening twice.
I honestly do hope we’re willing to give Pelphrey a few more years to build the basketball program. I believe he’s going to need them.

By GonzoHog on Jul 6, 2009 @ 9:33pm

GonzoHog, according all the newspaper article I read yesterday and today that probably will not happen and as one sport writer stated in his article today if Coach Pelphrey doesn’t get the job done next year Coach Pelphrey will be gone as the coach of Razorback Basketball team. I don’t necessary agree with this sport writer’s opinion, but after all this is America and he has the right to his opinion.

By basketball fan since '78 on Jul 7, 2009 @ 11:26am

Brandon Moore’s comments:

Did anyone else hear the Brandon Moore interview on Channel 4 last night? From the few things I could actualy understand, he said that so may players are leaving because they’re expecting something different when they arrive. I guess that’s what he said anyway. It almost insinuated that Pelphrey isn’t being upfront with the recruits. I personally think its certain players being lazy. How is it that over half of the players are never suspended or in trouble, yet a couple are suspended multiple times? Andre Clark realized he was never going to play. Jason Henry seemed to have an aversion to sufficient academic progress. Moore was arrested. Montrell McDonald was a headcase. I don’t think Moore was trying to put down Pelphrey or the University, it came across as him taking responsibility off the players who left.

What do you think?

By Daniel M. on Jul 8, 2009 @ 10:23am

I still think this staff has had trouble when it comes to evaluating/recruiting the right players. And, I’m not sure this most recent class is in any better shape in that regard. I believe mistakes have been made and part of it has to be laid at the feet of a staff that has not had a successful background at best, and very naive at worst. Of course, players are responsible for their own actions. There is a reason why top schools shied away from Henry and McDonald despite their talent. And why they steered away from Clark and Moore because of a lack of talent. I really hope they can turn this thing around get headed in the right direction. But no doubt, he has an uphill challenge. With the six (seven counting Beverly) leaving, the next recruiting class should’ve been a home run. Instead 2 are left. And, the APR is in a downward spiral. Whether anyone cares to admit it, we are still paying the price for the ugly circumstances surrounding Nolan’s departure. The next two seasons are critical on the court, in the classroom and in recruiting.

By Ima Hawg on Jul 8, 2009 @ 1:06pm

Ima, very well put. The silver lining I see is that this is setting the tone very early as far as discipline and expectations. It almost seems as if the team lacks off-the-court leadership. We need a vocal player setting the tone for character and responsibility of going to class, making academic progress, being a successful student, and either not getting arrested or proper techniques of evading the law. I would prefer the former but beggers can’t be choosers.

By Daniel M. on Jul 8, 2009 @ 1:23pm

Whew! That was a wild 4th of July weekend. I am just ending my. Whew!

So I missed a lot it appears. But what I want to talk about is Pel.

He is getting things figured out I believe. The first year was Heath’s recruits and he got more out of them than they had in their careers but them all leaving without graduating was terrible and Heath’s fault.

Pels first two recruiting classes have not panned out like he would have liked, and I truly believe that they are working to recruit a different athlete now and that this incoming class is full of hard workers that will do what it takes to play hard and also do well in the classroom. They all seem proud to be Hogs and loyal.

The next part is about his time frame to turn things around. I think at the the minimum he should be allowed 4 years. That gives him two more and that in my eyes is at the minimum. And things are looking up. We have top recruits with very high interest for 2010. We have 3 top 100 players in AR for the 2011 class with one committed already. These next two classes paired with the players on campus are what WILL bring AR basketball back to prominence. I believe that… I really do. And Pel will be the man that got it done. I believe in him and these players and will do nothing but support them.

Side note: I am a bit confused by some of the things the players that have “left” the team are saying. If anyone has links to these comments by the ex players please share because I would like to read them.

Thanks

By blake on Jul 8, 2009 @ 1:25pm

Blake- I certainly share and appreciate your enthusiasm. I concur with you 100%.

I was able to find a link to the news transcript. The bit is pasted below. I couldn’t understand over half of what Brandon was saying. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was once I read this. What does everyone think?

PD – IT WASN’T REALLY A SURPRISE WHEN JASON HENRY WAS DISMISSED FROM THE RAZORBACK BASKETBALL TEAM LAST WEEK…

BOB HOLT – SOMEBODY ASKED JOHN IF JASON WAS MAKING PROGRESS, AND JOHN SAID, “FOR HIM, YEA, BUT NOT FOR A NORMAL PERSON.” THAT SOUNDS HARSH, BUT I THINK JOHN WAS JUST BEING HONEST.

PD – BUT HENRY’S DEPARTURE LEAVES THE HOGS WITH AN HONEST ISSUE…. COACH JOHN PELPHREY IS NOW DOWN TO JUST 4 OF THE 9 PLAYERS HE’S SIGNED SINCE COMING TO ARKANSAS… AND TRANSFERRING FORWARD BRANDON MOORE THINKS IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH INCOMING HOGS NOT UNDERSTANDING WHAT THEY’VE SIGNED UP FOR…

BRANDON MOORE – IT’S REALLY A MENTAL THING, YOU JUST HAVE TO BE READY. I GUESS IT WASN’T WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. THE COACHES, IT’S THEIR JOB, IT’S WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO. EVERYBODY’S TRYING TO KEEP THEIR JOB.

PD – SO IT’S NOW THE JOB OF THE COACHES TO CONVINCE RECRUITS THAT THIS ISN’T A TURN-STYLE PROGRAM…

MOORE – A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE LEAVING, AND A LOT OF PLAYERS SUCH AS MYSELF ARE GOING TO LOOK AT THAT BEFORE THEY PUT A SCHOOL LIKE ARKANSAS INTO CONSIDERATION. BUT THEY HAVE A LOT OF GOOD PLAYERS COMING IN, SO I THINK IT’S GOING TO CHANGE.

PD – AND IT NEEDS TO CHANGE QUICKLY. WITH A GIANT RECRUITING CLASS COMING IN, AND A LOSING SEASON IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR…

HOLT – I THINK THE BIG KEY IS YOU BROUGHT IN THESE GUYS AND FOUR OF THEM ARE GONE. IF YOU’VE UPGRADED PEOPLE WISE THEN THAT’S GOOD BUT IF NOT THEN IT COULD BE ANOTHER TOUGH YEAR

By Daniel M. on Jul 8, 2009 @ 1:49pm

Some people on this site may not agree with my opinions on the situation of the Arkansas basketball team, but that is okay. First,I know that it was not Coach Pelphrey fought because Arkansas had a low APR score this year. Next year will be a different story, but it is done and there nothing anybody can do about it now, but move on.
Everybody said that Coach Pelphrey and his staff did not evaluated last year recruits in depth and that was one of the problems with the players this year and he didn’t know how well they would do as athlete or in the classroom,and this is probably true. So hopefully Coach Pelphrey and his staff learned from this mistake.It seem Coach Pelphrey and his staff have gotten better student-athletes in this recruiting class. Hopefully the current players have done some growing up over the past summer and this season can be leaders on and off the court to the new players.But everything I read about the new players they seem to be mature young men and if this is the case then maybe some of current players could learn a thing or two from this younger bunch of guys.
I wanted Jason Henry to make it and continue being a Hog, but to be honest I didn’t think he would make it, I can’t explain , but I just had a feeling he wouldn’t make it. He didn’t.
Hopefully, Coach Pelphrey and his team will start a new beginning in Razorback Basketball that all can be proud of.
This is where I might offend some people on this site and I don’t mend to do it. But every since Monday I have read several newspapers articles about Arkansas’ basketball program and all of these article were written to say that it was Coach Pelphrey fought that these players were dismiss from the Razorback team and didn’t not lay any blame on the shoulder of these players. Also, I think some of these newspapers wrote these negative articles about Coach Pelphrey to get some razorbacks fans on the bandwagon again to voice their displeasure with Coach Pelphrey and that he should have never been hire. One sport writer in a NW newspaper stated yesterday if Coach Pelphrey doesn’t have a winning season next year he would be shown the door, because the fans wouldn’t stand for another losing season.Doesn’t this statement sound like sport media and fans from another SEC school at the end of basketball season this year?

By basketball fan since '78 on Jul 8, 2009 @ 3:28pm

I agree. While it is startling the amount of players vacating the program, most of the media seems to put all blame on Pelphrey, his staff, and their recruiting. Most of the responsibility falls on the players who aren’t progressing as student athletes or getting into some form of trouble.

It is so strange that Rotnei Clarke, Courtney Fortson, Michael Sanchez, and Michael Washington are relatively blemish-free. Britt made his mistake, took responsibility, and seems to be making amends with the University and his coach as far as I know.

I think the vast majority of the fan base is still 100% behind Coach. As tumultuos as our recent basketball history has been, we need someone of his character and discipline to establish consistency and steady the program.

By Daniel M. on Jul 8, 2009 @ 4:12pm

It’s tough when you have somebody that appears to be learning on the job. Not what you expect from a Nationally respected program in the SEC. While I respect his character and discipline, I need to see the proof that he is the big time coach needed for this program. It only took Kentucky 2 years to figure it out. He gets two more years in my book and I wish him well. Otherwise better get out the checkbook and talk to a big time PROVEN winner.

By Ima Hawg on Jul 8, 2009 @ 6:15pm

I have always been a supporter of Pelphrey. That being said, I must say this.
I know when a kid goes away to college he has certain expectations. And so do the coaches. I have always believed it to be a good thing to have a dissaplined team. However with all the turnover going on I am beginning to have some doubts. It’s always expected to have a few things come up after the players and coaches start their relationship.
However, There have been to many kids leaving the program for me to feel comfortable. I am beginning to wonder what’s really going on. Is Pelphrey becoming a Tyrant? Just asking. We here the stories coming from Fayetteville and it is always the story being told by the people in charge. Very seldom do you hear the kids POV.
Phelphrey has made some big mistakes since coming to Arkansas. We just chalk it up to. “Give him time because he is on the right track” But I’m just not following blindly anymore. If things dont line up this year Pelphrey will find himself in the fans “Doghouse” IMHO

By Ron in Jordan on Jul 9, 2009 @ 11:18pm

I just learned last night that Stephan Welsh has been indefinately suspended.
I remember last year Stephan spent the entire summer on Campus getting ready for the upcoming season. He and Washington were expected by Pelphrey to be leaders on a very young squad.
It was stated in the aticle I read that Stephan was not on campus, but was still currently listed as being on the team.

By GonzoHog on Jul 10, 2009 @ 7:26am