Do you know the way to San Jose (State)? No, the question this week: Do you know how to win at Arkansas?
It burns in my soul when I hear fans — or worse, a national pundit — proclaim that it’s almost impossible to win at Arkansas.
The conversation might be about SEC West football. Yes, we all know that it is a loaded deck with the likes of Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Mississippi State. Any given year, all six could field powerhouse football teams.
Or, it might be about the SEC in basketball, with no easy nights on the hard wood. Kentucky is the kingpin, but many other teams are powerful and the coaches are top shelf.
Or, someone might have said 20 years ago that the SEC is the best in baseball, too tough for little Arkansas with lackluster high school baseball.
No, don’t tell me the Hogs have no chance there. Dave Van Horn has proven otherwise and prep baseball in Arkansas is now good.
But, it’s expected — if not demanded — that Arkansas be instantly competitive in the SEC as new coaches Chad Morris in football and Eric Musselman in basketball try to rebuild their programs. Morris is in his second season, Musselman entering his first.
This may be starting out like a pitch for patience; and it is in some degree.
But it’s also a firm reminder that Arkansas can and will win in these sports. There is too much evidence that it can be done. And, it can be done at the national level, not just within the SEC.
The compelling evidence is all around campus. Lance Harter has coached the women’s track and field program to four national titles since 2015. Men’s track and field coach Chris Bucknam has one NCAA title. Men’s golf coach Brad McMakin coached the Hogs to the SEC title last year and there’s been one second-place NCAA finish. Women’s golf coach Shauna Taylor has had her team sitting in the No. 1 spot during several seasons.
Stacy Lewis and Maria Fassi have both won NCAA medalist crowns for the Razorbacks. Fassi’s came last June at The Blessings Golf Club.
That doesn’t include past Arkansas coaches like Frank Broyles, John McDonnell and Nolan Richardson. Broyles won the 1964 football national title. McDonnell has 40 national titles. Richardson won the 1994 NCAA title.
Harter, a Texas Tech grad, is the shiny evidence that you can win at Arkansas. Yes, he had won 14 NCAA Division II titles before taking the call from UA women’s athletic director Bev Lewis in 1990.
And, there was almost immediate success. Harter’s second, third and fourth UA teams all finished second in NCAA meets. Now in his 30th year and almost 70 years old, Harter is in four halls of fame and the undisputed top coach on campus.
So why not ask Harter why you can win at Arkansas? Obviously, he knows.
Interestingly, his answer was exactly the same as what he gave women’s soccer coach Colby Hale nine years ago. Harter, with daughter Alison finishing soccer eligibility, was on the search committee to hire a new coach.
Yes, you could win at Arkansas despite lack of a solid recruiting base for that sport in Arkansas. Harter did not depend on Arkansas athletes to sustain his track program, but there are obvious success stories locally.
“I am most proud that we do have Arkansas kids on our championship teams,” Harter said. “There are three to four scoring points on every one of our four national title teams.
“We have a small state and track is somewhat underdeveloped compared to what is going on both on the West and East Coasts. But we do find diamonds in the rough. Where you combine opportunity and guidance, you never fail.
“It is the ultimate compliment when one of my SEC peers asks: What country is she from? I delight in telling them we found her in Arkansas. They had never heard of her until she ran for us.”
Oh, Harter and assistants Bryan Compton and Chris Johnson turn over the rocks to find both the stars and the diamonds all over the world. The roster that won two NCAA titles last year included athletes from five foreign countries and 16 states. By far, the place recruited the most was Texas with 16.
Harter pays a close eye to where other coaches at the UA go to recruit, but it likely mirrors the places he’s hitting. He nods in approval as Morris floods Texas with his assistants, but also working his home state with heavy pushes in Tulsa and Memphis.
Hale’s recruiting results have been incredible. It should not surprise that his teams have been in the last five NCAA tournaments. They will likely be a high national seed after upsetting No. 1 North Carolina, 2-0, on Sunday. It’s the first time the Tar Heels had ever lost to an SEC team by two goals under legendary coach Anson Dorrance.
Dorrance’s dominance in women’s soccer rivals what McDonnell did in men’s track and field. The Tar Heels have won 21 of the last 31 NCAA soccer crowns under Dorrance.
That victory turned heads around the nation, but in many ways didn’t surprise. Hale is highly respected for what he’s done at Arkansas after spending the previous nine seasons as the primary recruiter at Central Florida. He can flat out recruit.
If you watch his teams, it’s clear he can coach, too. The Razorbacks play with incredible work ethic.
They play a high pressure system that discombobulates a slick passing machine like the Tar Heels.
Hale smiled with obvious pride when he told me this several years ago, “We are the team that no one wants to see in their bracket when the NCAA fields are unveiled.”
I saw how he demands work ethic. I was waiting on an interview three years ago. I arrived when I thought practice would conclude. Hale had restarted practice twice because a drill wasn’t to his liking. I was told it might be awhile. I loved what I saw.
But it’s not just the coaching, but it’s the type athletes Hale recruits. It makes Harter smile, because it’s the SEC style.
“It’s speed,” Harter said. “He loves speed and you saw it in the game against North Carolina.”
Parker Goins and Anna Podojil, the two goal scorers against Carolina, both are fast. Podojil may run for Harter’s track team. Both her parents ran track at Miami (Ohio).
“I was on the committee when Colby was hired and done the research on him,” Harter said. “Alison had played here and I didn’t think the coach then used her speed correctly.
“They played a thoroughly frustrating system that played for a 0-0 tie. You have speed, you attack. That’s how Colby wanted to play.
“They time soccer players with a flying start, so it doesn’t compare to the 40 times you hear for football. But when I tell you she ran 4.47 as a freshman and 4.40 as a senior, that’s still fast. That’s the kind of speed Colby has now. That’s his program, athletic players. I love to watch them.”
What track coach wouldn’t?
“The key is to have a solid staff to go recruit anywhere,” Harter said. “That’s what I have in track and field. I know that Bryan and Chris can go against any coach in the country on equal footing.
“I think Colby has that in soccer with his staff and he’s a great recruiter. It’s the absolute key.”
The breakthroughs don’t always hit at the same time. It didn’t take Harter long to become competitive on a national level at Arkansas, but it wasn’t until 2015 when the first NCAA crown was won. There have been four since then, along with 16 of the last 18 SEC crowns in indoor, outdoor and cross country.
That’s dynasty stuff. It’s almost expected.
Just don’t expect an NCAA crown this season. Harter’s team was depleted by graduation and an early exit to the pro circuit by its star hurdler.
“We lost six senior scorers,” he said. “Plus, this is going to be a hard year. The NCAA — in its infinite wisdom — put the NCAA in Albuquerque, N.M., at altitude. That means the teams that train at altitude will dominate in the distance races and that reduces the chances for a lot of teams like us.
“We know that going in, so we will stack our team (with the redshirt tool) for the following season when we host the NCAA Indoors. We should be good that year.”
There is nothing like a coach with vision and security. Harter also recognizes what altitude means. He has a Masters at Colorado State and doctoral hours at Colorado and CSU.
So he’s lived in lots of places, but none match Arkansas.
“I’ve had four major offers to leave,” he said. “I didn’t because I couldn’t see any reason why I couldn’t win national championships at Arkansas. First, a track coach hired me. Bev left it in good shape and provided resources.”
There’s a funny story about that. Harter does not like to visit the football facilities.
“I am afraid to go see it because I might get mad,” he said. “They have so much, but I understand. We have to get them going. I will say that we didn’t have much as far as a locker room, but that is about to change. (AD) Hunter Yurachek is really helping us with track facilities for our athletes.”
Harter laughs about the early days of the gymnastics program when money was poured into the startup.
“They got everything they wanted,” Harter said. “There was the story about a $5,000 couch. Our locker room didn’t cost $5,000.”
Harter pulls hard for Morris and everyone else. There is no jealousy. If football wins, there might be a lot of $5,000 couches scattered around campus.
Harter has encouraged the new football coach at every turn.
“It just takes awhile because in football you need so many more players than you do in some other sports,” Harter said. “What he had to do first was establish his culture. You don’t do that over night. It takes time and you might hit a lull while you do it.
“There are lulls. You build and build and then suddenly you get momentum and then you don’t hit as many lulls. You see that with Dave Van Horn’s baseball program. They are always a threat to go to Omaha. It’s recruiting. That Omahog stereotype that they market, it’s holds validity. They recruit to it on a national level and they are recognized.”
Recruiting in football is centered in Texas, as it should be, Harter said. And, the Morris emphasis on speed is on target.
“Now, I like to say that the SEC is always evolving,” he said. “It can be a power conference in football one season, and you think that’s what is needed, then the next year it’s changed. The SEC is very chameleon-like. You have to adapt, and it can be rapid. It can change from power to spread to no-huddle rapidly. It’s the same in every sport.
“To do that (in football), you sign 100 athletes. You sign speed. That’s what he’s trying to do.”
How long does it take?
“It takes a longer time in football because you need so many players,” Harter said. “I told him keep stacking classes together and you’ll get there eventually. I think it might take three more classes to be where he goes toe-to-toe every year.
“But it can be done. And, in the mean time, it’s not much fun because everyone will tell you how they feel.”
Harter understands the Arkansas fan.
“The one thing I told (Morris) about Arkansas is that whether someone gives $1 million to our program, $1 or not one penny, they all feel a part of what we do,” Harter said. “You are down because of a result, they are down. You win, they may ask if you will run for governor.
“Just stick to your plan and keep a staff, it works. If it doesn’t and things get rocky, be ready to adjust. Great assistants are the key. I have great ones. Bryan and Chris are as good they come.”
That’s where we jump into this week’s game with San Jose State, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. While you are thinking about where more speed could help this football team, we will cover the keys to victory.
- Speed
It’s coming, as they say. Every week it seems Morris — along with defensive coordinator John Chavis — sprinkles more into the lineup. I see speed with some of the inexperienced offensive line prospects, especially with Myron Cunningham and Ricky Stromberg.
LaDarrius Bishop’s scoop and score is more evidence of speed. He’s a redshirt freshman with great promise. Look for him to play more.
The freshman defensive ends have speed, they just don’t know how to use it all the time. Mataio Soli is the quickest, but can’t get off blocks fast enough because of the club that’s protecting a broken hand. He reminds of the fast Texas A&M defensive ends that were the center piece of the John Chavis defenses two and three years back.
- Nick Starkel’s Sparkle
Is it there for the third straight week? Starkel’s second half against Ole Miss was impressive. He continued to impress last week. I like the trend, but think his completion percentage will improve as he continues to get more snaps. Consider:
Portland State 4-5-1 for 48 yards, 0 TD
Ole Miss 17-24-0 for 201 yards, 1 TD
Colorado State 20-35-0 for 305 yards, 3 TDs
That comes to 64.1 percent, better than his career 61.5 number. I expect that percentage to creep higher perhaps in the 68 percent range before the end of the season. It might make a jump against blitz-happy San Jose State.
- The Blitz
This may be a week where both teams feature heavy blitz packages. That’s San Jose State’s reputation. And, it’s the button Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis likes to push.
“We think they will show us some looks that we haven’t seen, with them coming off an open date,” Morris said on his weekly radio show Wednesday night.
“We have to be prepared for everything. They will give us their best shot. I told our players to be prepared for onside kicks, fake punts and fake field goals.”
And, it goes without say, to be prepared for lots of blitzes from unorthodox fronts.
- O-Line Growth
Clearly, Ricky Stromberg has found a home in this Arkansas offensive line. He played left guard against Ole Miss with Austin Capps nursing a sore ankle. With Capps back last week, Stromberg flipped to his more natural right guard spot and split time with Myron Cunningham.
Stromberg’s play against Colorado State was good enough that Cunningham will move back to tackle. He’ll play in support of both Colton Jackson and Dalton Wagner. The thought is that Cunningham is a more natural tackle. His long arms and quickness is better suited there.
“Stromberg is really physical, really aggressive,” Morris said. “He doesn’t let the moment get too big. He was good in the early part of August going against our best defensive players, our most experienced guys. He never backed down.”
There was clear growth in the offensive line from the first week to the Colorado State game. Look for more this week, but the blitzes can be trouble for young offensive lines. But, they also offer a chance at big plays. If the crisp play continues, this could be a big day for the running game.
- Special Teams
There was a huge emphasis in the offseason on special team improvement. Barry Lunney Jr. was promoted to coordinator in that area. Daniel DePrato, a new quality control assistant, was hired from Colorado where that was a team strength. He’s an asset in special teams.
Connor Limpert, who nailed a 54-yard field goal with room to spare, earned SEC special teams player of the week after a solid performance against CSU.
Obviously, he made both of his field goals, but his kickoffs were consistently deep in the end zone with hang time. That was with or against the wind.
“We talk a lot about our culture,” Morris said. “The culture and buy-in has been there with special teams. That’s how we’ve improved in that area.”
This might be a week when punt return specialist Treylon Burks scoots free for a big play. He’s been close several times through three games.
“Our special teams are an improved unit of our football team,” Morris said.
To borrow a phrase from baseball play-by-play man Phil Elson, put a star on that line.
If San Jose State has tricks up its sleeve, special teams may see some new tests this week.
- Cheyenne O’Grady
I promised last year to switch from C.J. to Cheyenne when he earned it. That happened last week when O’Grady not only blocked well, but turned in the play of the game on a 62-yard touchdown reception.
O’Grady has often been in the doghouse with either Bret Bielema or Morris. Missing workouts or study hall has been part of the problem. Dancing in the end zone was flagged last year just after Morris told O’Grady to watch his step.
O’Grady has top shelf talent. He’s just as good as Hunter Henry and D.J. Williams, but doesn’t always play to that level. He did against Colorado State. It was a joy to behold. I sat near two NFL scouts. They both took lots of positive notes on O’Grady during the game, some about his blocking.
Now, can he repeat the performance? If O’Grady can string together several impressive games, he will get a chance to play in the NFL.
The Hogs are trying to put together their first two-game winning streak under Morris. Just as important, can O’Grady produce his best two weeks in a row.
- Going Deep
There isn’t any doubt that Starkel likes the vertical pass. Did anyone notice that the first play of the CSU game was a vertical route? Morris did.
“It started with play one, didn’t it?” Morris said. “Nick was asking for that roll cut all week long.”
So the play called featured that, but the primary route in the pattern was an out route shorter.
“I saw the out route open,” Morris said. “I am thinking, check it down, check it down. Throw the out. No way was he throwing it deep against that.
“Now, he’s confident in the deep throw. So that’s what he was doing.”
It was one of those coaching moments where when the ball came out of the quarterback’s hand, the coach was saying, “NO!”
Then, Morris admits, “I was yelling, yes. And, he got better as the day went on. Because of his ability to throw (deep), we were able to run it better.”
- Ty’s Hobby
No one cared if Ty Clary had a hobby last year. He needed to spend every moment awake perfecting the center snap. It was so inconsistent last year that it was a worry on every play. Would it roll back to Ty Storey?
But this week on the Morris weekly radio show Clary was the guest, and the show host interviewed Clary on his hobby.
“It’s fly fishing,” Clary said. “As a matter of fact, for the open week, I’ve got a trip planned (to the Norfork River) with my grandmother.
She’s here (at the Catfish Hole) tonight. I’ve been fly fishing seven or eight years. I was taught by my grandfather.”
Clary has blossomed as not only a good snapper, but a solid blocker as the junior starter at center. He provided a massive hole through the middle of the CSU defense for Rakeem Boyd’s 59-yard TD run.
“I went to the left to help the guard with the double team of the tackle,” Clary said. “Then, I climbed back to the right to get the linebacker. At that point, they are out of defenders.”
It was a lightning quick move, too. There was a quick shuffle to the left, then equally quick shuffle back to the right. It was the kind of quickness that Clary used to provide blindside protection as a high school left tackle.
Morris said Clary has been a leader over the last nine months starting with great work ethic in January early workouts. He continued that through spring drills and summer.
“It’s just confidence after that,” Morris said Wednesday night. “He is confident in his ability and confident in what (O-line coach Dustin) Fry is teaching. You get comfortable when you are confident in your abilities and scheme.”
Morris also said on Monday, “Last winter as we visited with players, it was time for him to mature and step up. He’s got a lot of snaps underneath him. He’s grown his knowledge of the game. The way he’s trained, he’s serious about it and is a more mature player. I saw it in the summer in the weight room. He is encouraging guys.”
When you are confident, there may be time for your hobby.
- Psycho Linebacker
Quarterbacks can be in awe of the mental differences in defensive players. Reserve quarterback Jack Lindsey, the holder on kicks, was asked about his friend Hayden Henry this week.
“He’s just a psycho,” Lindsey said. “I see it all the time. He does things that you can only put in a psycho category.”
There was a play in the Ole Miss game that was perfect illustration. It was a little like the hit he made against Colorado State that produced the fumble for a scoop and score, but Lindsey said the Ole Miss play might have been more impressive.
“It started with a blocker giving him a stiff arm and he went down,” Lindsey said. “The guy got him good. But Hayden didn’t even hit the ground before he was back up. And, he went straight to the ball carrier for no gain.
“No one does that. You get decked like that, you don’t pop up like that and then make the play. Only a psycho does that. I asked him about it and he said it just made him really mad and he wanted to explode. He did.”
Henry missed practice early in the week because of injury and was listed as questionable. In fact, Morris said he would likely miss practice Wednesday, the day when starting lineups are set. Five minutes after those Morris comments, Henry trotted onto the field to take first team snaps at outside linebacker. That’s psycho stuff.OK coach, never mind.
Morris enjoys watching that kind of play.
“Hayden Henry plays with a relentless pursuit to the ball,” Morris said. “He knows one speed and it’s wide open. He has no fear of contact. He just wants to go play ball. That’s what you love in a linebacker.”
- Growth at Wide Receiver
A check of the throw chart revealed that freshman wide receivers Trey Knox and Treylon Burks were targeted 15 times in the game last week. Starkel likes their big frames and long arms. They are 6-5 and 6-3 respectively but have wing spans that are massive.
Joe Craddock, the offensive coordinator, said the plan is to continue to go to both, especially when they draw man-to-man coverage.
“It’s good to see our freshman receivers go up and make some plays,” Craddock said. “They had to grow up quickly, and they’re going to be tremendous players for us. Hopefully we can roll their play into the next few games and when SEC play comes.”
Will San Jose State leave them in man-to-man with their heavy blitz packages? There probably isn’t any way to give extra help if the Spartans bring the heat.
The obvious thought is that these long, tall receivers are going to continue to grow and develop. Can they put another solid game together? Trust that Starkel will find them.