Sports Talk With Bo Mattingly's Podcast

In the last few decades Arkansas baseball has risen from practicing on the old fair grounds in North Fayetteville into a national powerhouse, winning regionals and making frequent trips to Omaha. But what does it take to get there? Great coaches, players, winning and facilities all play a part. The Hogs weren’t always postseason regulars. That changed with the Brady Toops grand slam in 2004 that helped Arkansas to its first trip to Omaha under Van Horn. That College World Series appearance increased statewide exposure and popularity, but what took it to the next level was investing in stadium expansions and state of the art facilities to bring in top recruits. Of course, no program can rise without the right person at the helm. We talked to head coach Dave Van Horn, legendary Razorback coach Norm DeBriyn, voice of the Razorbacks Chuck Barrett, former radio analyst Rick Schaeffer, and a fan who’s been there through it all—Hognoxious. This is the rise of a program. This is baseball.

Christy Smith is the first name that comes to mind when most Razorback fans think of Arkansas women's basketball. In 1998, the ninth-seeded Hogs, led by Smith, played Cinderella and made it to their first and only Final Four. This is Smith’s story: One of how a little girl growing up in the cornfields of Indiana—who picked basketball over cheerleading in first grade and was recruited to Arkansas with an ear of corn—became the first-ever Razorback freshman to start at point guard, and, eventually, the most storied player in Arkansas program history.

Jeremiah Bonsu, a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas, isn't your typical story of the great player who decided to go into coaching once their illustrious career was complete - it is quite the opposite. Bonsu barely made his high school team his senior season. He only had one point to his name his entire career. How did a player that barely saw the floor in high school end up on a D1 basketball team, and is now looking at a promising coaching career? Bonsu's story is a whirlwind tale full of failure, chance and perseverance - finding out a little about himself along the way.

Amber Shirey has been the glue for Arkansas women's basketball for over 30 years. From her small-town roots in Newark, AR, to writing her name in the Razorback record books, to recruiting some of the program's most notable players as an assistant coach, to serving as director of operations; there isn't a part of the women's program that Amber Shirey hasn't touched. For a pinnacle of a program, she is the last person who would boast about her success. Her humility has guided her to become a quiet but strong leader who everyone looks up to. 

Student coach, Khalil Garland always wanted to play for the Razorbacks and was one of the top prospects in the state when he arrived at Arkansas in 2017. After undergoing his first routine physical with the team he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition -- ending his playing career forever. Garland had to change his plans and find a new dream. This is the story of how he turned a career ending medical diagnosis into a new dream and purpose - while gaining a new perspective on life.

Four years ago, Arkansas was picked 14th in the SEC. Now, they've started the season ranked 14th in the country, their highest ranking since 2003. How has Mike Neighbors turned the Razorback women's basketball program around and taken it from being one of the worst programs in the league to one of the best? And what does he have in store for the future?

He’s a legit four-star prospect, had offers from some of the best programs in college basketball, and is playing like one of the best freshmen in the country. But there’s something bigger at play here than just basketball for Moses Moody. He wants to have an impact—both on and off the court. Moody “gets it,” and understands that there is power in the path he chooses to follow. How’d he get this wise-beyond-his-years perspective? It’s rooted in his family life, but also in having to deal with big expectations from a young age. Those expectations took him from state champion at North Little Rock High School to prep school star at Montverde Academy. And even though Moody spent some time away from his home state, he’s motivated to make sure people know exactly what Arkansas is all about. With his talents—both on and off the court—Moody will be putting on a show for years to come.

The first thing you notice about Connor Vanover is the first thing everyone notices about Connor Vanover: He’s tall. Really tall. But there’s more to Vanover than just his height—he’s got serious game, too. It’s unusual, but it works: He’s a 7’3” big man who shoots it like a guard, at a career rate of nearly 40 percent from deep. And that’s not the only usual thing about Vanover’s journey, which took a roundabout path to Arkansas. After a stop at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, Vanover ended up at Cal. And just as things were starting to come together late in his freshman season, his coach got fired. Enter Eric Musselman and his staff, who convinced him to play for his home-state team, and follow in the footsteps of his mom—who holds the single-game blocks record for the Razorback women’s basketball team. Vanover has his sights set high. And at 7-foot-3, he might be close enough to reach them.

He’s only been a full-time starter for a year, but Jalen Catalon has already become a fan favorite for his big plays—and even bigger hits. The redshirt freshman is already invoking memories of some of the safeties to ever play for the Razorbacks: Names like Atwater, Kennedy, Hamlin and Bua. And it’s with good reason. Catalon is the first SEC freshman since Eric Berry in 2007 to record at least 86 tackles and three interceptions in a season. And if 2020 was a full, 12-game season, there’d be several freshman records in jeopardy. But, like the season, Catalon’s journey has been anything but normal. Just like at Arkansas, Catalon got off to a fast start at the high school level, setting a school record for tackles in just his third game. He would play both safety and quarterback as a junior, earn Texas defensive player of the year honors, and earn a 4-star ranking. But then, just one game into his senior season, a torn ACL ended his high school career, one which some said could have been among the best in the st

When you’re as multitalented as Eddie Jackson, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you want to do. Or, you can just be like Eddie and do it all. Jackson excelled at multiple sports as a kid—in addition to being one of the top track athletes in Texas, he was a standout in football and basketball. And after deciding to focus on football and track, he landed at Arkansas. Jackson had to overcome some adversity and a couple position changes as a freshman, but then made an instant impact—both on the field and on the track, where he would help the Razorbacks win four national titles. But always in the background? His love of food. And when his football career was over after more than four seasons in the NFL, Jackson lit a fire under his new passion. If there’s one thing Jackson can’t stand, it’s standing still. He’s always full of energy and on the move. Eddie Jackson always has something cookin’.

2020 has presented a unique set of challenges for college coaches everywhere. As the coronavirus pandemic continues to be a part of everyday life, Eric Musselman enters his second season at Arkansas with a lot of unknowns. What we do know is this: The pandemic has made getting an idea of where Musselman is in the program-building process more difficult than usual. And with so many new faces on the roster, what challenges does that present? And why is coaching basketball in a pandemic so different than football? What will this season look like? This is Basketball in a Pandemic with Eric Musselman.

Creating a nonconference basketball schedule is a game in and of itself. Few have learned to play that game better than Eric Musselman and his staff. Everything in his program is about finding competitive advantages—whether it’s through using advanced analytics, marketing or, in this case, scheduling. And the guy making it all happen is director of basketball operations Anthony Ruta, who is tasked with crafting a schedule that will help the Razorbacks reach the NCAA Tournament. The amount of work that goes into putting that puzzle together is fascinating. And, make no mistake, it is a puzzle. So how does Arkansas use scheduling to build a competitive advantage? From building depth charts for every team in the country to projecting where teams will finish in their conference…this is how it works.

No player is referred to as Arkansas' G.O.A.T.—greatest of all time—more than Darren McFadden. And rightfully so: He’s one of the best running backs in college football history. But for the Little Rock native, the path to greatness wasn’t always apparent. For one, he had to overcome obstacles in his childhood. And that’s where football came in, serving as an escape of sorts for McFadden and keeping him out of trouble. On the field, McFadden quickly proved to be an elite talent, but only had eyes for the Razorbacks. And after starting his Arkansas career down on the depth chart, McFadden quickly made a name for himself, setting a school freshman rushing record and earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. As a sophomore, he would lead Arkansas to the SEC championship game and become the school’s first Heisman Trophy finalist. He repeated that feat a year later, and wrapped up a three-year career having provided some of the most iconic moments in Razorback history. Is Darren McFadden the greatest of all time? Th

There's no question that Sam Pittman has captured the college football world's attention. Pittman has already doubled Arkansas' SEC win total of the past three seasons. So what has he done that has the Razorbacks looking like an entirely different program? Pittman has earned the trust of his players, and is honest and up front. Making no secret that he's at Arkansas to stay, we go inside Pittman's first year on the job to find out what he's done and how he's doing it.

There's a certain respect earned from hard work and determination. For Arkansans, it's often referred to as the fighting Razorback spirit. It's grit, toughness, and most of all, the underdog mentality—when others doubt you, you get better. It's the DNA of Razorback linebacker Grant Morgan, who's been out to prove himself since Day 1. When tempted by doubt, Morgan just works harder and never quits believing in himself. After beginning his career as a walk-on, now, Morgan is a starter and captain who's earned everything. He's Arkansas built and Razorback tough. The kid from Greenwood is no longer being overlooked.

For some, football is a way of life. For others, it’s just what they do, not who they are. And for Joe Dean Davenport, he’s always been a rancher at heart. He didn’t really get into football until junior high, and didn’t even really know the rules until high school. For Davenport, it was more something to do than anything else. As it turned out, though, he was pretty good. He started getting recruiting letters and invited on visits. But Davenport only had eyes for the Razorbacks and a campus he grew up less than 30 minutes away from. In his time at Arkansas, he would turn into an NFL-caliber player. And even though there’s one game he still hasn’t watched, his time with the Hogs was a success. So why, when presented with an opportunity to play at the next level, would he simply walk away, only to come back to the NFL a year later? And how has his life taken him full circle, from the farm to the NFL and back?

There’s something to be said for the “pull” of the Razorbacks. You come to the University of Arkansas from outside the state, and you end up never wanting to leave. And in Marvin Caston’s case, that’s exactly what happened, even though he didn’t know it at the time. Caston is the product of hard work growing up in northern Louisiana. He worked from a young age to help provide for his family, and football provided a way to have some fun. And though his Razorback career wouldn’t get off to the best of starts, he ended up being a part of Houston Nutt’s 1998 and ’99 teams that went 17-7 over a two-year stretch. And when the opportunities arose to keep helping the university and its community—first in the compliance department and now with the Razorback Foundation—he jumped at the chance. Marvin Caston may not have originally planned on being a Razorback, but Arkansas is lucky to have him.

In many ways, Madre Hill helped save Arkansas football. It’s no secret the Razorbacks struggled in their last years in the Southwest Conference and the SEC had proven to be a challenge. Enter Hill. Considered the top running back prospect in the nation after a record-setting career at Malvern High, he had offers from all the big-time programs. But he chose Arkansas because he wanted to help rescue the program. And when Hill got his chance as a sophomore, he was as good as advertised. He ran for what was then a school-record 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns, leading the Razorbacks to the SEC West title. But then…disaster. Hill tore his ACL in the SEC Championship Game and missed the 1996 season. Then, in the spring of ’97, he injured his OTHER knee. But he kept fighting, came back for the ’98 season and remarkably still made it to the NFL. It’s worth wondering what might have been had Hill not suffered those injuries. Perhaps he’d be alongside Darren McFadden as the best to ever wear a Razorback uniform. But Hill

Ryan Mallett is one of the best players in Razorback history. But his college career didn’t start with the Razorbacks and from his perspective, there was a good reason why. Mallett’s talent was evident at a young age. Michigan was the first to take notice and eventually earned Mallett’s commitment, but after the legendary Lloyd Carr retired, Mallett’s boyhood dream of becoming a Hog began to look like more of a reality. After sitting out a year because of transfer rules, it became clear that Ryan Mallett was a perfect fit for head coach Bobby Petrino. And in 2010, Arkansas made its first-ever BCS bowl appearance. Though there were ups and downs, missteps and misunderstandings. Ryan Mallett gave Arkansas some of its best SEC memories, culminating as an NFL starter and eight year league veteran. Now, he’s doing what he grew up around: coaching ball.

To say it was a long and winding road that brought Feleipe Franks to Arkansas might be an understatement. Born into a military family and raised on farm tending to horses, values matter to Franks…even though past perception might be different. After originally committing to LSU, Franks ended up at Florida. He spilt time starting as a redshirt freshman, and then found success in 2018—leading the Gators to a Peach Bowl win. But questions about his maturity lingered. Then…heartbreak. In the third game of the 2019 season, Franks suffered a devastating leg injury that cost him the season. Following the injury, Franks realized his future lay elsewhere. After the decision to transfer, he’s ready to start fresh at Arkansas AND leave the doubters in his rearview. How has he grown from mistakes to become a better leader—so much so that he’s now an Arkansas team captain? Feleipe Franks is ready to make a lasting impression on the Razorbacks.