COLLEGE STATION, Texas — To put it in the simplest terms possible, this was never going to be a great season.
You can debate it, hate it or accept it as twisted fate, but too much leadership and experience were lost from last year’s defense and those players have not been replaced.
Bobby Petrino didn’t build personal relationships with his players, so when a recruit came to campus and heard from the players that all the head coach cares about is how they perform on the field and that they were going to catch verbal hell every day, it hurt recruiting, especially with the top-ranked players.
Coaching has always been about building relationships through trust, respect and admiration. Most successful coaches will tell you that you can knock a player down but you have to help him up too.
What seemed to interest Petrino most in recruiting was getting more offensive players.
Yes, for 60 minutes, Petrino was as brilliant an offensive mind as there was in college football. He could get blood out of a turnip, but after that he was his own worst enemy.
Once he lied to his bosses and his players, not to mention the fans, there was no choice. Trust had been destroyed.
No doubt if he were on the sideline this season the Razorbacks would be better, but they would not have won Saturday against Texas A&M.
The Aggies were the better team. They were better prepared and better coached, but not 48 points better.
Late in the first half Bobby Petrino might have gone for it at his 48 on fourth-and-3. Paul Petrino didn’t. The Hogs punted, and the Aggies immediately scored on an 80-yard pass play. If the Hogs had at least tried for a first down, the worst thing that could have happened was that A&M could have scored on a 50-yard pass. If Arkansas had picked up the first down, it could possibly have scored and gone into intermission trailing just 20-17.
This is not to blame the loss on Paul Petrino. The Hogs had a season’s worth of fumbles in one afternoon - again - and that is why 515 yards of total offense and 25 first downs weren’t enough for the Razorbacks. Plus, Aggies quarterback Johnny Manziel was phenomenal.
Obviously, the Hogs have struggled with holding on to the ball, especially in SEC play, and at some point the coaches have to take some responsibility for that. Arkansas’ fumbles had a lot to do with the Aggies scoring 51 consecutive points.
Injuries also have taken a toll, especially in the secondary, and the inexperience at linebacker has been obvious. Two fullbacks were lost for the season, too.
The thing is, making a change now and pulling the plug on the John L. Smith experiment is not going to salvage this season. It just isn’t fair to these kids who have been through enough to last them a lifetime.
It is going to be hard enough to keep them from shutting down.
The Razorbacks Nation may face the biggest test. The program that gave them two years of the highest highs is almost starting over, but it isn’t bankrupt. Jumping off the bandwagon would not help.
There are good players out there, and some good players returning, but not enough.
Athletic Director Jeff Long has to find a coach who can get some immediate help. The offer to play immediately could get some highly regarded players, and getting some experienced players out of junior colleges is essential.
The program may not be in the penthouse, but it is not in the outhouse.
Of course, Long is not talking about coaching candidates, but you can bet he’s talking to agents, lawyers and other third parties.
He cannot hurry. He knows the importance of this hire.
This season was never going to be great, but it shouldn’t have been one in which the Hogs lose to Louisiana-Monroe and are dominated by Texas A&M.
It is a season loyal fans are just going to have to endure, especially if Smith and his staff don’t get this team up and more prepared for Auburn.
Sports, Pages 24 on 09/30/2012