Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

January brought talk of competing for a national championship. Optimism remained high as spring practice began.

Then, out of nowhere, an April head coaching change.

With that transition in leadership came a season of instability and struggles that nobody wanted to believe would happen.

Sounds familiar, right?

Except this isn’t about John L. Smith’s current team. This isn’t about Arkansas (3-5) as it tries to salvage the pieces of the season and potential bowl eligibility with four games remaining.

Let’s instead take a look at John L. Smith’s former team. This hasn’t been the easiest year for Weber State (1-7), either, you know.

By now we all know the backstory: Smith left his alma matter after less than six months on the job to return to Arkansas.

Living in Razorback Nation we are all very aware of the impact the April change from Bobby Petrino to Smith has had locally.

What about the change from Smith to Jody Sears, the veteran assistant coach now getting his first crack at a head coaching job because of odd circumstances and unusual timing? How is that going?

Not great, though Sears is channeling his mentor Smith and doing his best to see the positive in the situation.

“When this thing happened, it was an opportunity,” Sears said. “I wanted to make the most of it. I still am. I am working as hard as I can.”

All the hard work hasn’t yet shown up in the team’s win-loss record. Weber State began the season 0-7, facing a schedule that is ranked Top 5 among the most difficult at the Football Championship Subdivision level.