Following a crushing 56-13 loss to Notre Dame, the Arkansas Razorbacks made a decisive move by firing head coach Sam Pittman. With an overall record of 32-34, Pittman could not lift the program into the top tier of the SEC, leaving the Razorbacks in a state of mediocrity.
In his place, offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino was named interim head coach. This decision has stirred up a complicated past and forced the university to confront a difficult question about its future.
Is Bobby Petrino’s Past Too Much for Arkansas to Overlook?
Since taking over, Petrino has not made a strong case to remain in the position permanently. According to PFN’s College Football Playoff Meter, the Razorbacks are currently 2-6 and projected to finish the season at 3-8 after a recent loss to the Auburn Tigers. During the latest episode of the “Paul Finebaum show,” the conversation around the SEC’s coaching carousel highlighted the uncertainty at Arkansas, a position now open alongside jobs at LSU, Florida, Penn State, and Virginia Tech.
SEC Mike weighed in on the show, stating, “We need someone fun. We need someone who’s gonna have offense, and I know that sounds like Bobby Petrino. But that’s just rewinding the clock to another debacle if you ask me.” This is Petrino’s second stint with the Razorbacks, and his first ended in scandal.
In his 2012 campaign, when Arkansas was predicted to be a top SEC contender, the head coach was involved in a motorcycle accident. The incident revealed that Petrino was riding with Jessica Dorrell, a former Arkansas volleyball player he had hired as the team’s player development coordinator. It was later revealed that the 25-year-old coordinator had been in an inappropriate relationship with the head coach.
This time around, Petrino’s on-field results have also been disappointing. Under his leadership, the offense has gone downhill. After ranking in the top ten nationally during the early weeks under Pittman, the offense ranked 64th against Auburn. According to PFSN’s Offense Impact Meter, it registered just a 76.5 impact score.
A new name has entered the conversation as Arkansas considers its next move. “I think Alex Golesh from South Florida, he’s got that program on the rise,” the analyst suggested. “He comes from the Josh Heupel tree, runs a similar offense to Tennessee, Ole Miss. I think he would do very well at Arkansas.” Under Golesh, South Florida has improved to a 6-2 record this season.
MORE: Insider Reveals Dan Mullen’s True Intentions on Arkansas After Clearing Bobby Petrino’s Fate
Golesh has a history of turning programs around. He took a USF team that struggled to win more than one game a season and led them to consecutive bowl games. His track record of offensive success is well-documented. Before joining USF, he served as the offensive coordinator at Tennessee under Heupel, where they built one of the best offenses in the country.
According to his official Tennessee bio, “Golesh and the Vols improved a scoring offense that skyrocketed 99 spots, going from 108th in the country in 2020 to seventh in 2021 and averaging 39.3 points per game, which finished second in modern school history.”
As Petrino’s second stint as head coach appears to be winding down, Arkansas may be ready to move on from its past. However, hiring a coach as inexperienced as Golesh, who has only one stint as a head coach, could present its own significant risks in the highly competitive SEC.
But he’s has demonstrated HE IS NOT GOOD AT IT ANYMORE!! STOP LIVING IN THE OAST. and actually use your eyes and LOOK👀 At what he’s done the past 15 years since!
Yes go get a middle of the road coach..that is what’s wrong now..leave Bobby alone and let him coach..he will turn this around just shut your mouths and let the man do what is good at