Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Arkansas Coach John L. Smith isn't paying attention to the criticism.

Smith, signed to a 10-month contract in April, has been the target of backlash on message boards, talk radio shows and social media. Unhappiness stems from how the Razorbacks, no longer viewed as SEC or BCS title contenders, have performed in the first three games of the season.

Following consecutive losses, there’s even a Facebook page calling for Smith to be reassigned. Smith said he is focused only on the team and Arkansas' nine remaining games, including a 6 p.m. kickoff against Rutgers on Saturday.

“I don’t listen to that crap,” Smith said Monday when asked about the criticism. “I focus on these guys and the things we have to control.

“It’s not going to be the first time and not going to be the last time. They can say what they want.”

Arkansas (1-2) lost 52-0 to No. 1 Alabama on Saturday. A week earlier the Razorbacks led 28-7 before losing 34-31 in overtime to Louisiana-Monroe. Prior to the ULM game the Razorbacks were ranked No. 8 in the Top 25.

Alabama handed the Razorbacks their worst shutout home loss ever, eclipsing a game from 1914 in which the Razorbacks lost to Missouri School of Mines 44-0. Baylor’s 7-0 victory in 1966 was the last time the Razorbacks had been shutout at home.

Quarterback Tyler Wilson has been unavailable to play since halftime of the ULM game. He said the team needs to pull together for not just the sake of the coach, but for the program and state.

“A lot of people play for different reasons,” Wilson said. “For me, I respect every one of the coaches that are on this staff tremendously. I think they work extremely hard. But it’s for a number of reasons. I’m not naming one in particular. It’s for a lot of reasons. It’s for the state. It’s for the fans. It’s for myself. It’s for my teammates.”

Defensive end Chris Smith said some of the heat on the head coach and staff is unwarranted. Players have not executed up to their full potential in losses. Particularly disappointing is being outscored 79-10 without Wilson in the lineup.

“There is only so much the coaches can do,” Chris Smith said. “They can go out there and call the plays, but it is all up to us to go out there and things of that nature. That is what we are going to try and do defensively and offensively.”

John L. Smith was the player’s choice when hired in April for $850,000. He was brought in to oversee a staff and schemes that were left untouched after Bobby Petrino was fired.

Asked if he regretted leaving a job at Weber State to take over at Arkansas, Smith said he did not.

“No. No,” Smith said.