13 Comments

• 1. Defense Wins Championships  |  April 9th, 2007 at 5:18 pm

  I like the hire—unexpected, but hire is a solid pick. I like everything about the hire. He should do an excellent job and sounds like he will be a student advocate. We needed that type person…people first. Time will of course tell how great a pick it is. I am willing to support him.

  Actually, he is more than about 20% of our whiner-fan base deserves!

  Sunbelt is a decent conference, as many smaller participants across the nation are. People under estimate bigness.

• 2. Walking on Sunshine  |  April 9th, 2007 at 9:56 pm

  He made some great comments in the press conference around his style of play, and getting back to playing “Razorback Basketball”. He had done his homework, knew the history, actually knew the players and their names by the time he got here.

  I was very impressed, and think this is the guy we’ve been looking for. He, better than anyone, understands that Arkansas and Kentucky (and recently Florida) are the cornerstones of this league in basketball. It’s time we stood again with the elite.

• 3. GONZOHOG  |  April 10th, 2007 at 5:00 am

  It looked as if most of the players were excited to see the new coach. Towns looked like he had been waiting for the bus for about an hour though. I’m not sure what makes this kid tick. I just don’t see any enthusiasm. Washington looked about the same. Maybe it’s just me and their saving their excitement for the basketball court. I think John Pelphrey has what it takes to be a good coach here.These kids play better when they get up and down the court. But I also like the fact that Pelphrey will stress taking care of the ball. That improvement will go along ways by itself.

• 4. HJHog  |  April 10th, 2007 at 8:06 am

  I liked everything I heard him say. So for now, I’m back on the basketball bandwagon. He showed a lot of energy and based on what I heard, we are heading in the right direction. It sounds like his style of play will be quite entertaining.

  My only problem with the press conference was with Frank. He needs to learn when to give a brief answer. Pelphrey sold himself just fine. Frank didn’t need to tell us that he was always at the top of the “A” list. We all know that is not true. Frank needs to stay clear of the microphone for a while in my opinion.

• 5. 10KHog  |  April 10th, 2007 at 8:56 am

  I just hope people don’t expect him to come in here an win an NC next year. I see a huge lovefest going on right now with Mr. Pelphrey. The same people that were bashing the hire are now “sold” on him. I’m glad people are warming up to him, but let’s not put the cart before the horse. He still could end up being a bust.

  Who knows if he can run a halfcourt offense?

  What’s going to happen when we play a team that actually takes care of the ball and we can’t get many turnovers?

  Are we going to be able to inbound the ball underneath the basket without just throwing it to the other team?

  Are we going to actually play defense or offense out of a timeout ? Haven’t seen that in a while.

  Will we be able to execute at the end of the shot clock and at the end of a game?

  Will our guys play 110% for 40 minutes and not be asking for a breather 3 minutes into the game.?

  These are all questions yet to be answered and for me they won’t truly be answered until we play a BCS conference team and maybe not even until SEC play. I have no doubt we’ll see good things against the Sisters of the Poor, but I want to see it against good competition before I’m sold. Don’t get me wrong. He said all the right things and I’m glad he knows how to cuss because goodness knows that’s what makes a good coach is if he can cuss or not (sarcasm) - See Tony Dungy for the exact opposite. Arkansas fans are notorious for getting too low and also getting too high. I just hope not everyone gets too high and set themselves up for disappointment when we lose the first game.

• 6. BlindHog  |  April 10th, 2007 at 9:27 am

  Ditto on Frank. Now that the shine is off you can see that he is showing his age. He had a great run and made a lot of people happy. His legacy is not Royal, or Bowden, or Paterno but he had a great run.

• 7. GONZOHOG  |  April 10th, 2007 at 5:44 pm

  I think Pelphrey will have problems with some attitudes in the beginning. If he can keep one or two from quiting,transferring, or becoming academically ineligeble, I believe he’ll be sucsessful his first year.

• 8. 10KHog  |  April 10th, 2007 at 9:08 pm

  But, will he be successful in year 2 when he has at least 5 freshmen?

• 9. gahog  |  April 10th, 2007 at 10:02 pm

  I think he will be successful if he gets rid of the bad attitudes. I mean come on what’s there to have a bad attitude about? I say have a couple talks with them and if nothing develops let them go with the thinking that not only are they poison to your team but you are helping them move on to something that obviously makes them happy. If I have learned anything in my life about team sports, it’s that a player with a bad attitude can spread and create more problems and can ruin a team chemistry. Talking to a college player/student/kid about right from wrong and good from bad is the right thing but begging him to want to play for your team is sissy stuff. I love Mustain and it hurt to take his picture down in my office but HE is the one that doesn’t want to be a HOG. He didn’t get run off. Pelphrey bleeds razorback red more than MM.

• 10. Steve  |  April 10th, 2007 at 10:16 pm

  You guys make some good, interesting comments on here! Maybe come post from time to time with us at http://www.myspace.com/hogsgonewild

  :o~Woooooooooooo Pig Soooooooie!!!

• 11. Mike in Magnolia  |  April 11th, 2007 at 2:49 pm

  I sure hope Pelphrey can win I really do. If I was a betting man next season will not go as well as many thinks it will. Why? Because we have great talent that has learned to be underachievers. All you have to do is watch Townes and as much as I hate to admit it Hill as well. I swear there were times that they had a I don’t give a crap attitude. I went to watch one game (the Central Michigan game) and just watching Hill warm up let me know he could care less. So what I’m saying is that the first time Pelphrey jumps up in there face and gives them a what for (Richrdson style) these guys are going to start the pouting and crying and end up quiting. Just watch what I tell you. We will not start or finish with the same team we ended with last year. I sure pray I’m wrong though.

• 12. gahog  |  April 11th, 2007 at 3:45 pm

  Mike in Magnolia I agree that there may be some guys that won’t respond to an intense style of coaching BUT I think we clearly are on our way to better things. I sort of think there will be some guys that can’t cut it. If the current roster has gotten soft like the former coach than as soon as Pelphrey get some of his own studs that will accept intense, in your face coaching we may be in business. Hill and a few others have a chance to make some doe if they listen and learn to play hard. But when I see those guys acting like Cheech and Chong it makes me crazy. What a waste. This team is like a M5 in 3rd gear. Shift baby shift.

• 13. Mike in Magnolia  |  April 11th, 2007 at 10:17 pm

  Great blog gahog I agree.