Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas shouldn’t change its expectations for 2012 just because the Razorbacks changed coaches.

That was John L. Smith’s message to his players, UA fans and the rest of the SEC when hired earlier this week. Smith left Weber State for a deal that gives him control of a projected national title contender for the next 10 months.

“Our expectations here are the same,” Smith said. “Nothing is going to slow down. … Let’s make it a special year.”

Smith’s optimism isn’t unexpected. That is his nature, and he wants the team still believing it can compete.

But what do outsiders think? More specifically, what do coaches that will face Arkansas this year in the SEC see now that the Razorbacks are without Bobby Petrino and led by Smith?

Smith was a topic of conversation for others in the league during the post-spring coaches teleconference. It was clear from their comments that many in the league respect Smith, a 40-year coaching veteran now entering his 19^th season as a head coach. Smith is 132-86 as a head coach with Michigan State, Louisville, Idaho and Utah State.

“The fact that they’re keeping the staff intact and John L. has a lot of very good experience as a head coach and has been successful, I certainly do feel that they’re going to be one of the most difficult teams in our division to play against and probably one of the best teams we’ll play,” Alabama’s Nick Saban said.

Smith’s experience at Arkansas as an assistant the last three seasons played into his favor when Jeff Long was looking for a replacement. Smith worked as special teams coordinator and inside linebackers coach on teams that were 29-10 the last three seasons.

All but one assistant, Taver Johnson, has worked with Smith before. Smith’s willingness to keep the staff intact was seen as a big plus.

Smith has been well-received by players. Running back Knile Davis called the hiring the best “day of his life.” What players like about Smith is his quirky personality and likeable demeanor. Those are seen as positives, following the scandalous departure of the no-nonsense Petrino.

“I’m certain that John L. Smith will provide the leadership and the direction that Arkansas needs,” LSU Coach Les Miles said. “Certainly they’re a very fine school, a very capable football team. There’s a great future there at Arkansas. I know it’s a difficult situation there. I hope like heck that this gets behind all very quickly.”

Having Smith on hand to handle administrative duties, media appearances and other big-picture tasks should free up the team’s coordinators to gameplan. Not saddling current assistants with those responsibilities should be a benefit some head coaches said.

Long considered existing staff members like offensive coordinator Paul Petrino and defensive coordinator Paul Hanyes. There was also a push for running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Tim Horton.

Ultimately, Long saw the need to bring in somebody else to handle the head coaching position.

“I personally thought it was a wise decision,” Georgia Coach Mark Richt said. “If you’re going to try to keep your staff [intact] and grabbed a coordinator and said, ‘OK, you’re the head coach now,’ you’re really going to hurt his ability to be effective, in my opinion, to be a great coordinator and still try to do all the head coach’s duties.” 

Will Smith’s presence be enough to keep Arkansas in the national title conversation? Arkansas won 21 games the last two seasons with a pair of Top 10 finishes. Arkansas has a pair of Heisman Trophy candidates in quarterback Tyler Wilson and Davis.

Offensively the team seems to have an abundance of playmakers and the defensive staff has been retooled for a run. Keeping momentum built the last two seasons going will be Smith’s task and it’s one that Mississippi State Coach Dan Mullen thinks is doable.

“They appear to be a talented team,” he said. “I don’t know how their spring went, but John L. is obviously a very good coach with a great track record and I think he’ll bring some stability to the program.”