The latest announcement of suspensions handed out to members of the Arkansas men’s basketball team comes as no surprise. I’ll freely admit that, like many fans, I’ve gotten used to negativity when it comes to news surrounding the Razorback basketball team under John Pelphrey.
The hiring of Pelphrey in April, 2007 was supposed to be the start of the return to a brand and style of basketball that Razorback fans had grown to love: “Hawg Ball.” Or, as it became better known nationally: “40 Minutes of Hell.”
Razorback fans ready to put the Stan Heath years behind them looked forward to the return of the success of the early 90′s and even wanted to brand Pelphrey’s style as “40 Minutes of Pel.”
During his first season, Coach Pelphrey said and did a lot of things right. He set the school record for wins by a first-year coach, going 23-12. The Hogs were ranked as high as #18 in the polls, going 6-2 against ranked teams. Arkansas finished 2nd in the SEC West, made the NCAA tournament and won their opening round game for the first time since 1999.
However, the decisions and actions that followed are where the train jumped the tracks. And it’s led to a situation where the Razorbacks open season play tonight with eight players available. Of those eight, one is a walk-on and another is a football player who joined the team last week.
So how did we get to this point? Two reasons: not recruiting character guys and not running a disciplined program.
Pelphrey and his coaching staff had the opportunity to quickly turnover the roster after the 2007-2008 season with the graduation of six seniors. They could have begun recruiting the pieces needed to get Razorback basketball back to prominence.
Instead, this staff chose a riskier path by signing players of questionable character and desire. The problems in and out of the locker room, on and off the court last year are well-documented. Suffice to say, recruiting individuals of good character and strong desire are half the battle — a battle of attrition that now puts this staff behind the APR eight-ball.
Granted…it’s not uncommon for coaches to bring in a player or two that need some ‘extra attention.’ Most of the time, those situations have happy endings. However, a key ingredient in those success stories is discipline that is predictable and consistent. Discipline that does not differentiate or vary between key starters and walk-ons.
This lack of predictability and consistency was also a frequently discussed problem last season. Running a disciplined program is not for the faint of heart, and requires a commitment to principle over wins in order to set the right foundation.
So here we are in year three of John Pelphrey’s tenure and one has to wonder if any lessons were learned from last season. I must admit…watching his press conference announcing the player suspensions was very persuasive. Yet, I find myself wondering if any of the tough talk will last.
I hope I’m wrong, but only time will tell. Until then, Pelphrey has become nothing more to me than “Big Hat, No Cattle” — he talks a good game, but needs to start backing it up. Soon.
Nice post HogBaller. I like Pelphrey…I root for him. He has showed me he has the passion. He has the pedigree. Despite what some fans think, I believe he wants to be here and make this program his own.
He’s in a mess no doubt…some of it is his own doing, some not. I still think he can make it. Pulling us out of the ditch will not happen soon. My guess is average attendance figures for the season will be at a low not seen since the early 1970’s.
Will the fans have patience? Will Jeff Long have the patience?
I agree with some of the points above, but I do think that Pelphrey is running a good system. When you suspend players and don't allow them to play, that tells them something. If they choose to keep screwing up and not adhering to rules, then they'll be ushered out.
I think Pel was in a very sticky situation from the get go. To come in with 6 seniors and little time to get his system in place — let alone go recruit a class that would replace said seniors — that's just plain tough.
Did he recruit some questionable kids? Yes. Did they all have talent and upside? Of course they did. All coaches recruit on upside. Mistakes were made, misreads were made, etc., and now he's righting the ship.
I think Pel has the program moving in the right direction, it just sucks that we lost a year in the process.
Unfortunately, the APR is keeping it from being as simple as Andy Katz suggested to just "cleanse the roster of troublemakers."
It would've certainly helped Pel if more (any?) of those six seniors had graduated. Then the APR would not be making us hesitate before "ushering out" those that need to be sent packing.
Good point. The APR, and the way its structured, isn't helping any right now — especially with players leaving.
Great report Hogballer. You feel our pain.
Our second year in a row to play with half a bench??? Are you kidding me?
I have no facts, no details, very little appreciation for who these kids really are, but I know what is right in front of me. It is a train wreck. Someone please remind me the last team to just completely self destruct over multiple seasons. Dana Altman looks like a genius. Someone needs to do a behind the scenes interview with him, off the record of course. I mean really, this doesn't just happen in bigtime college basketball. There are structures and whole staffs in place to keep these trains on the tracks.
I don't know why we care anything about the APR and losing a scholarship. We have 4 or 5 we are not using.
Pel's speech reminded me of the high language he used in the first few months after he was hired with one very large exception. It was a much more confused, anxious delivery. When he thought this was his stepping stone back to Kentucky, I think he really meant it. It sounds more like he is just trying to save his job this time around. He knows if he can show improvement that he will be allowed to stay for several years. Offering this job to anyone else anytime soon is also a losing proposition.
At this point you have to wonder if Pel is capable of even giving them that choice. It seems 50-50 right now.
If we just self-impose the death penalty will they let us start fresh in 2012?
I think it is pretty obvious at this point Pelphrey was a bad hire. He had people on suspension often at South Alabama and has continued that trend with the Hogs. I'm thinking this tells us just as much about the coach as the players.
I've heard a lot of things from inside the program. Not a single thing has been good.
The next coach needs to be one that can bring a solid recruiting class with him. If we go back to the bush leagues again you can kiss the program goodbye for 5 more years.
The program hasn't hit rock bottom yet, but it's definitely bracing for the impact. Coach Broyles and John White were more interested in their egos and lawsuits than they were on taking proper care of the program. This really is a shame.
How did we get here?
Tough times indeed but I think that in reality Pel has had only one year to get the ship righted. He'd have been better off to come in without that group of seniors. That was a lost year of just waiting to start over. I'm not sure what could be done to avoid where we are right now. Perhaps being patient and staying away from JC players. Are suspensions really Pel's fault? Only in that it goes back to the players we are bringing in. Recruiting and retention have got to get better and I think we have little choice but to ride this thing out a little further. Nobody would dare touch this program right now.
Pelphrey gives the impression he demands discipline and character of his players and that he himself is a man of integrity. But his record does not indicate that he succeeds as a coach. He was 80-63 in five years at South Alabama, in the Sunbelt Conference. Since he was only a middle-tier coach in a mid-major league, why did anyone think he could be a top-tier coach in an upper-level conference such as the SEC? That is a quantum leap in competition and would require a similar increase in knowledge and ability.
I could be wrong about Pelphrey (fat chance), but he doesn't strike me as the brightest light in the sky. He seems to have a strong work ethic, but I wonder whether he has the "vision-thing" to raise the Hogs back into national prominence. He appears to be recruiting a strong class of newcomers, but how many of them will make it through his system? A big question I have is whether he has the pseudo-morality of a religious bigot, the kind of guy who condemns any player who doesn't conform to his views and values, right or wrong. I believe that was the downfall of our football program, and our basketball team seems headed in a similar direction.
Athletes are used to hard work and discipline, and they will endure a lot. But they will not perform at optimum level for a coach they do not like and respect, especially if they are not winning.
BTW: Hogballer: Love the photoshop of the new sherriff.
well he is looking good so far. A 130-68 win over Alcorn State is a nice start
I agree…. Can we at least play some games before we write the season off!
And perform yet another character assassination while 'we' publicly hang the coach up by nuts?
Man, you guys are tough on Pelphrey. Think about what he has had to work with….Arkansas has had such bad press for FB and BB the past few years that had to play a role in what recruits Pelphrey had to choose from. How easy was it for other schools on the recruiting trail pointing out the Hogs blemishes? I do think Petrino and all the negativity from ESPN has hurt the BBall program from a recruiting perspective. Only time builds that confidence.
I think Pelphrey took some semi calculated risks on some kids and they didn't work out. I give him credit for trying to clean house and establish some form of discipline rather than let things go. I care about winning, but not at the expense of letting a bunch of thugs run rampant and digging a deeper ditch in the program.
Hogblogger, I'd like to hear some examples of the not so good things you are hearing inside the program and how they negatively impact the program. Or is it just that the discipline Pelphrey is trying to establish is not popular?
Given the sh*t hole Pelphrey stepped in that was the U of A 2 years ago, you've got to give the guy some time. It takes time to dig out of the place we have been. I think it will take at least 3 more years. We just have to be patient.
A little research tonight on John Pelphrey: JP was born in Paintsville, KY (1968) where another John Pelphrey is pastor of United Baptist Church. Was the Hogs coach raised by a Baptist preacher? Sure looks like it. That says a lot about his views on player behavior and discipline. You can never be good enough or play well enough for an evangelical like that unless you accept his religion. If you do accept, you can do no wrong. If you resist it, you're benched, suspended, dismissed. Sound familiar?
I heard him say during the Alcorn postgame interview: "when we broke after we prayed. . .." Is he pushing his religion on the players? I would like to hear from the suspended players and the dismissed players how Pelphrey included his religion in his coaching. His religion is obviously a factor.
Also Rotnei Clark referenced religion in his postgame comments: "Give glory to God. . ." for his record-setting game. With a billion hungry people in the world, I would hope God has more important things to do than help some hot dog score a lot of points. It's now "Rotten" Clark, as far as I'm concerned.
I am not trying to start an argument or a dialog about religion itself. That would be counterproductive, not the intention of those who manage this site. I am just curious to know how pervasive it is in Razorback athletics, at my alma mater, in my favorite town.
It has long been known that only strong Christians have been picked to coach the big Razorback sports. This openly religious atmosphere would deter a lot of recruits as well as good coaches. I know I wouldn't want to play for some conservative religious zealot, wouldn't want to coach for one. I am not an atheist; I just resent that people in positions of power use their status to impose their views on those beneath them. It's OK to have religious views, but at state-funded institutions, such as the UofA, you're not legally allowed to proselytize.
I am openly declaring myself in the anti-Pelphrey camp, I don't care how many games he wins. He's just another Houston Nutt in my book, and he deserves the same treatment. I predict he will leave Fayetteville in disgrace.
I'm not sure I care if Clark thanks God after the game…. All I know is when a kid has worked as hard as he has he deserves respect…. You views are as closed-minded as those you hate…. I don't think God cares about who wins and loses a game but he does care about those who play and that's what's important
Yeah, HogBlogger: copy Soupd: What have you heard?
You sure are stretching some thin assumptions pretty far, swine:
"Was the Hogs coach raised by a Baptist preacher?"
"You can never be good enough or play well enough for an evangelical like that unless you accept his religion."
"Is he pushing his religion on the players?"
"His religion is obviously a factor."
"It has long been known that only strong Christians have been picked to coach the big Razorback sports."
"This openly religious atmosphere…"
"…I just resent that people in positions of power use their status to impose their views on those beneath them."
"I know I wouldn’t want to play for some conservative religious zealot, wouldn’t want to coach for one."
You list these, wonder if they are true, then proceed to make judgments as though they are. You're worse than the people you rail against because you profess to know better.
I don't know anything about Pel's religious proclivities and don't care (Clarke is a religious person and that's just fine too). I seriously doubt if any of your assumptions are valid; if you truly think they are, provide proof, not unsubstantiated fantasies masquerading as such. Your comments concerning Clarke are simply disgusting and you should be ashamed. Rotnei Clarke played his heart out for the Hogs (and supposedly even for 'fans' like you…) and in the process set not only UA records but an SEC record as well. On top of that, he's humble enough not try to take all the credit. Man, give me more 'rotten hot dogs' like that.
I also seriously doubt that Pel leaves in disgrace. The only disgraceful thing is having to read vitriolic bs like your post after a great win.
And btw, before I get tarred with an inaccurate brush, I AM an atheist. I'm no more fond of the type of religious person you describe than you are, however, you're more difficult to put up with than they are, again because you should know better. Now act like it.
Anyone here that doesn't believe Pelphrey will right the ship, is in for a very rude awakening.
When the man has done nothing but do everything he's supposed to, and fans keep coming up with all this "he's not a top-tier coach… his record was so and so at South Alabama… He suspended players… He's the son of a preacher… Blah, blah, blah!"
Everyone is so damn busy looking for a reason for him to suck, they won't even let themselves see the best reasons to keep him as a coach.
Arkansas will be the most improved basketball team in the SEC this season. Mark that down.
Mississippi St. lost to Rider last night. Arkansas's coaches and players are very hungry. We're going to be just fine.
i agree gonzo. and doesn’t most every ball team pray in college and pros? ridiculous….
John Pelphrey’s parents are/were both teachers. Paintsville, Kentucky is full of Pelphreys – has been for over 150 years. If you are going to research people, don’t just grab the first similar name you see and ass-u -me you have the right one.
If you reread my comments you will see that they are phrased as questions. I do know that in the mid-80s a religious atmosphere developed when Rick Shaeffer was SDI and he refused to provide bio on Ravin Caldwell to Playboy magazine, who had chosen Caldwell as an all-American. Following that dustup in Fayetteville a lot of sports writers wrote about the Razorback Foundation and their proselytizing efforts of players. Have you already forgotten about Houston Nutt and the names bloggers had for him, referencing his religion?
Re Rotnei Clark and his religion: Rotnei might want to give a look at Tim Tebow, St. Tebow some call him, and the comments about him on these blogs. He is the most despised player in the SEC, and not because he's a good player. Claiming that God is on your side is not a sign of humility, it is a sign of arrogance. What could be more arrogant? If Rotnei persists in his public displays and he gains the attention of the conference press, he will be regarded with the same disdain as Tebow. Does he want that? I am trying to do him a favor, now, before he gains that kind of reputation.
Something is wrong with the basketball program. Hogblogger raised the question and others commented with questions of their own. I am delivering myself on a subject that i know something about, a problem that existed when I lived in Fayetteville. I don't live there now or I would go looking for answers. i would try to interview all those players who are on the outs with Pelphrey as well as those who are in. Is Pelphrey a tyrant? I don't know; I'm just askin'. Something is wrong, and he is the one responsible for fixing it. Perhaps he is the cause of it.
I played basketball in high school, and we didn't pray. What kind of God would choose sides in an athletic event between a bunch of testosterone intoxicated young men? In my view the public displays of piety are disgusting. Here's what Jesus had to say about it:
Matt. 6:5-6–And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret. . ..
I think that states clearly that all this public praying is outward hypocrisy, an attempt by people to bring attention to themselves. It is the opposite of humility. When Jesus says, "They have their reward": what does he mean by that? I don't know; he remains obscure on that point. But the implication is that it is not good. Razorbacks basketball has been in disarray for over a dozen years; football for longer than that. Frank Broyles religiosity is well documented, the public variety, the kind Jesus called hypocrisy, and he was the guy who brought all these losers in.
Playboy has no business in college sports to begin with. Anyone who says different is a hypocrite himself, since you brought up the subject.
Tyring to do him a favor eh? Why don't you try and get his Address/E-mail address/cell phone#/etc…? Take your own advice, do this in private, rather than bring attention to yourself.
Tyrant? Did you really ask that question? Saddam Hussein was a Tyrant. Are you really so confused about the definition of that name, your debating weather or not Pelphrey fits that description?
Mr., you are the very last person on the face of this planet that should be quoting the bible publicly.
Lastly, that's absolutely the most comically and dumbest comment i've ever read on this blog. Great job!
"Re Rotnei Clark and his religion:…Claiming that God is on your side is not a sign of humility, it is a sign of arrogance."
I'd have to say he's giving credit to God for his performance and that's certainly his prerogative.
"…he will be regarded with the same disdain as Tebow."
He won't be held in any more 'disdain' than scores of others who give credit to a 'higher power' in such a fashion.
"I don’t live there now…I don’t know;…"
Exactly; and if you have some preferred or unique source, we've yet to hear of it. You're arguments are much less convincing without it.
"What kind of God would choose sides in an athletic event between a bunch of testosterone intoxicated young men?"
Whew…are you messed up or what? Even I know that any sort of appeal to God made before, during, or after a contest is to either ask for support ("Help these boys play their best")/protection (as from injury) or to give thanks. I've never seen or heard of any such prayers used to curry favor for one's particular side.
All public prayer is disgusting, eh? Hypocritical too? Would that include benedictions? Prayers at a graveside? You need to re-think your position; it's untenable.
"Frank Broyles religiosity is well documented, the public variety, the kind Jesus called hypocrisy, and he was the guy who brought all these losers in."
You also need to seriously consider renouncing your allegiance to the Hog Nation. You obviously don't like or appreciate major parts of it; time to move on and spare us further 'insights'.
swineherd, you're points are interesting, if not misguided.
Don't think Tebow is the most despised player in the league. He is actually one of the most respected by players and coaches alike – forget about the media.
If you don't agree with his beliefs nor his right to comment on his beliefs, just look at what he's done – stayed in school 4 years, good sportsman, helps his community. The kid's a good example, and wish we had more of those kids in sports.
Just wondering, does praying in a locker room count as a closet?
I don't know whether praying in a locker room counts as a closet. Jesus even condemned praying "standing in the synagogues . . .that they be seen of men." I think he meant that it was hyprocrisy to bring attention to yourself, to present yourself as a righteous man, because you pray in public. Jesus goes on to say, "your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." And then he instructs how to pray, giving the passage we know as "The Lord's Prayer."
The issue of bringing attention to yourself came up during "ref gate" when a Georgia player, against Florida, was flagged for celebration following a touchdown. The SEC issued an, "oops, sorry" on that one. Similar for Arkansas. Fans brought the issue that Tebow's antics, looking up at the sky and crossing himself, called attention to himself more than anything anyone else had done, yet he was given a pass either because he was Tebow or because it was a religious act and nobody had the courage to stand up to the religious fanatics. My understanding of the rule is that it is an infraction "to bring attention to yourself." Just the issue under discussion, or one of them. I'm afraid the discussion has metastisized.
I'm sure Tebow is respected by the players and coaches, for he is a player, but I was amazed at the animosity toward him on the blogs by the fans this semester. He may be respected, but I don't think he is well-liked.
I began my comments by questioning whether Pelphrey was applying a religious standard to the behavior of athletes, as a litmus test to determine their fitness to play on his team. I was hoping that someone who comments on this site would know something about it. My attention was piqued because of Pelphrey's comments about prayer following the Alcorn State game. I was just asking questions, relevant questions. I knew about the situation with Ravin Caldwell, Rick Shaeffer and Playboy magazine because I lived in Fayetteville at the time it happened. Something caused Shaeffer to lose his job as Sports Information Director.
A lot of players have come and gone through the basketball program, and few have graduated. How long must that situation continue before someone takes a serious look at the coach and administration? These players get reprimanded, suspended and dismissed and we never hear from them again. I'd like to hear their side of the story for once, rather than the wall of silence that always ensues. Do ex-players have to sign waivers saying they will not discuss the terms of their dismissal? It seems they vanish into a black hole or a witness protection program.
Also I question whether athletes are held to a higher standard of conduct than faculty and staff and other students? I would say the team has a right to insist the player not bring negative attention to the team or university or he could be dismissed from the team, but not from the university unless it was an infraction that would get any other student expelled.
As to whether I should renounce my loyalty to the "Hog Nation": Yes, there are parts of UA athletics that I don't like. Do you like what has happened to the basketball program? Don't you want to see things fixed so that the Hogs are national contenders again? I am a graduate of the UofA, an alumnus, and a Razorbacks fan for fifty years: I'm not about to let some religious apologists chase me away just because I don't hew to the party line.
I comment on this website by the grace and generosity of those who operate it. If they tell me my comments are inappropriate or out of line, and they invite me to leave, I will do so without grumbling. That's their call and nobody else's.
I am also an ordained minister, since 1972. My credentials are registered in Book E, Washington County courthouse, Fayetteville, where I lived for 15 years. I think that qualifies me to quote the Bible.
Closing this one out, guys. Good discussion. Time to move on.