Sports Talk With Bo Mattingly's Podcast

The Razorback Daily is a one-stop shop for everything fans need to know about the Hogs: the biggest stories, exclusive interviews and opinions on the most important news of the day. This new podcast is a game-changer for Arkansas fans, giving them the latest news and insights about the Hogs. Hosted by Chuck Barrett, every episode will be ready and waiting for fans first thing each morning. Coming Sept. 21.

She’s one of the best players for a nationally ranked Arkansas women’s soccer program. She’s been named to an All-SEC First Team, and is a constant scoring threat. But Parker Goins almost didn’t end up at Arkansas. Recruited by soccer powerhouse North Carolina—a program that’s won 21 of 31 national titles—why did Goins choose the on-the-rise Razorbacks? Friendship played a key role there, as it does throughout her story. Goins only started playing soccer because she wanted to spend time with her friends. And since then, those friends have been by her side for all the big moments, both good and bad. Now a senior, Goins is ready to take the SEC by storm once again. And as always, her friends will be right there with her.

He’s regarded as a special teams savant, and one of the hardest workers in the business. And he just so happens to be Sam Pittman’s assistant head coach and special teams coordinator. Scott Fountain has been a part of four teams that have played for national titles, and has played a key role as a special teams coordinator for some unforgettable moments, including the "Kick Six." Along the way, he’s coached alongside some of game’s best coaches, including Bobby Bowden, Mark Richt, Gene Chizik and Kirby Smart. Fountain’s career—one that began coaching high schoolers in his native Alabama—has led to him becoming one of the preeminent special teams coaches in the game. Now, it’s worth asking: What does that mean for Arkansas? If it’s true that “special teams wins championships,” then hiring a guru is a good place to start.

Dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic has become part of everyday life. And its impact on sports has been undeniable, with cancellations and postponements of major events and leagues dominating the headlines. And just like any other college or university with an eye on playing football—and other sports—this fall, the University of Arkansas has taken steps to make its student-athletes, coaches and staff members as safe as possible. In this bonus episode of the podcast, we catch up with Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek to find out what the Razorbacks are doing, and how he’s handling the pandemic as a leader. And to get better insight into what steps the athletic department is taking, you’ll also hear from team doctors Chris Arnold and Kent Hagan.

Arkansas has a long history of producing great running backs. And Rakeem Boyd is no exception. His career average of 6.17 yards per carry would rank second in school history among running backs, behind only Felix Jones. And only three running backs in Arkansas history rushed for more yards through their first two seasons than Boyd: Dickey Morton, Alex Collins and Darren McFadden. The McFadden comparisons come naturally: Boyd wears his No. 5, and has made no secret of the fact that he wants to be like one of the all-time greats. So how did Boyd end up trying to chase down Arkansas’ rushing records? When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, he and his family were evacuated and relocated to Houston. And it was only then when he started to play football. He would head to Texas A&M, but had to leave after a redshirt year because of poor grades. That led him to Independence Community College and Last Chance U. And after a starring turn at the JUCO, Boyd is making a name for himself at the top level of college foo

Anthony Lucas was ahead of his time. The talented receiver made big play after big play and rewrote the Arkansas record books in the late ‘90s. Those records would stand until the age of wide-open offense came to college football. And yet he still holds the career record for most 100-yard receiving games. He’s one of the greats. But how much did he have to overcome to get there? Lucas didn’t have a good enough ACT score to qualify out of high school. But instead of going the JUCO route, he went ahead and enrolled at Arkansas, focusing on his grades. When he got on the field a year later, he made an impact. But the good times wouldn’t last: Lucas suffered a season-ending knee injury in the first game of his sophomore season. And to top it off, his coach got fired. But Anthony Lucas isn’t the type who wants pity. Instead, he got to work. And he became one of the best receivers in school history, responsible for countless fan-favorite moments.

Ken “The Hammer” Hamlin definitely earned his nickname. Hamlin was a nightmare for opposing wide receivers, who knew that if they ventured into Hamlin’s part of the field, they better brace for impact. He was an incredible athlete who found success at Arkansas, where he left as the school’s all-time tackles leader and was beloved by fans for his hard hits and energy. After leaving the Razorbacks following his junior season, he would become a second-round draft pick by the Seahawks, and would go on to make the 2007 Pro Bowl. But just because you’re known as “The Hammer” doesn’t mean you’re invincible. And that’s something Hamlin knows all too well. How did he almost lose everything one night outside a Seattle nightclub? And how did that one night help him change his life forever?

1998 was an exciting year for Razorback fans. Led by first-year coach Houston Nutt, the Hogs put a much-needed jolt of excitement into the fan base. A big part of that was Arkansas’ Code Red defense, led by first-year coordinator Keith Burns. But Code Red was more than a scheme—it was a way of life. And Burns was the perfect guy to lead it. For Burns, his passion for the Razorbacks began during his playing career under Lou Holtz in the early ‘80s. That passion is what led him to leave USC and join Nutt’s staff at Arkansas. And for two seasons, Burns and the Razorback defense didn’t back down from anyone. So how did it all come together and form a perfect storm that terrorized SEC offenses? It was the right coach in the right place at the right time.

Junior college football is the place where urban legends are born. Some of the best—past and present—went to a JUCO, including  guys like Aaron Rodgers, Warren Moon and Cam Newton. And while JUCO football was brought more into the mainstream by the Netflix series “Last Chance U,” it isn’t exactly glamorous. Just ask new Arkansas linebackers coach Rion Rhoades. Rhoades spent the past 14 seasons as a JUCO head coach, including 13 years at Hutchinson Community College. He’s seen it all. But how does a lifelong JUCO coach fit in at Arkansas, where he’s getting his first taste of the Power 5 level? And how have the fires he’s dealt with at the JUCO level prepared him for what he calls a dream job?

Thirty years ago, something happened that would change the course of Arkansas athletics forever—the Razorbacks left the Southwest Conference for the SEC. It’s a move that has been a boon for the Razorbacks—not only did they join what’s become the best conference in collegiate athletics, but the financial benefits have allowed Arkansas to be nationally competitive with some of the best facilities in the country. But the move didn’t happen overnight. It took thought, planning and vision from legendary Razorback athletic director Frank Broyles. Without him, who knows where Arkansas might’ve ended up? So how did everything come together? What were those meetings between Arkansas and the SEC like? And what made the Razorbacks attractive to a league looking to expand? In this episode, former SEC commissioner Roy Kramer takes us back to how it all happened… with the help of archived audio from the late Frank Broyles.

Basketball has taken David Patrick all over the world—literally. Born in Bermuda, Patrick grew up in Australia, where he discovered the game that would change his life. A high school move to America helped him catch the eye of coaches, and he would be part of a Final Four team at Syracuse before transferring to Louisiana-Lafayette to finish his college career. Then, it was on to a pro career that would take him to Australia, England and Spain. But along the way, he never had plans on being a coach. So how did a $5,000 job launch the career of one of the top recruiters in the country? He’s landed players like Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Ben Simmons. And after leaving his first head coaching job, he has his sights set on helping Eric Musselman build the Razorback basketball program. It’s time to get to know Arkansas assistant David Patrick.

Tyler Wilson was always talented. He set records in high school as a quarterback and pitcher at Greenwood High School. Then, he came to Arkansas and rewrote the record books. After playing briefly as a true freshman in 2008, Wilson sat for two years behind Ryan Mallett, but burst onto the scene against Auburn in 2010 after an injury to the starter. And then in 2011, he quarterbacked Arkansas to its first 11-win season since 1977, and entered 2012 as one of the top QBs in the country. And though things went sideways quickly for the Razorbacks in Wilson’s senior season, he still left Arkansas as one of the best to ever do it. But it almost didn’t happen. How did one of the best quarterbacks in school history almost never suit up for the Hogs? How does he look back on that fateful 2012 season? And does he still have lingering doubts that he picked the right sport?

Under head coach Shauna Taylor, the Arkansas women's golf program has become one of the most successful teams on campus. Two of the biggest reasons why? Gaby Lopez and Maria Fassi. Though both hail from Mexico, Arkansas quickly became a second home. First for Lopez, who would win three times in college and become a two-time All-American, and has since won twice on the LPGA Tour. And then for Fassi, who would help the Razorbacks win their first SEC title in 2018 and then win the NCAA individual title in 2019 in Fayetteville, all while becoming the first two-time winner of the Annika Award—the Heisman Trophy of women’s golf. With Taylor’s guidance and Lopez and Fassi setting the standard, this is a program that’s risen to be one of the best in college golf. How’d it happen? Find out as Taylor chats with Lopez and Fassi in this bonus episode of the podcast.

Travis Swanson holds a rare distinction in Razorback football history: He’s one of only a handful of guys who played for three different head coaches in his Arkansas career. Recruited by Bobby Petrino, Swanson was the starting center for the most successful two-year stretch in program history. But by the time Petrino was gone, Swanson still had two years of eligibility, meaning he played for both John L. Smith and Bret Bielema, as well. Despite the Razorbacks going just 7-17 over his final two seasons, Swanson continued to develop. How did he go from being an unheralded prospect out of Houston to one of the top offensive linemen in the country? Swanson would take a strong work ethic all the way to a five-year career in the NFL. And then, all of sudden, he went out on own his terms. How did one major life change have such a profound impact on Travis Swanson that he decided to put his football career in the rearview? It’s been a memorable ride for Swanson, who’s always ready to outwork everybody else.

For most football players, making it to the NFL is the high point of their careers. Then again, Jake Bequette isn’t like most football players. Sure, his football life reads like a movie script: He was a third generation Razorback from Little Rock who ended up playing a vital role on teams that went 21-5 over a two-year stretch. And perhaps the program’s biggest win in the SEC era—against LSU to clinch a Sugar Bowl berth—came in his hometown, in the stadium where he played in high school. He topped off his Razorback career by getting drafted by the most successful NFL franchise of the past two decades—the New England Patriots. But his four-year NFL career was marred by injuries, and when he retired in 2015, he knew what he wanted to do: Join the Army. And it’s been the culmination of a longtime goal for Bequette, who has completed Ranger School and served a tour in Iraq as a First Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division. While many Razorback fans will remember what he did on the field, Bequette hopes to one

In this special bonus edition of The Hog Pod, we catch up with Razorback baseball coach Dave Van Horn, the active leader among coaches in number of trips to the College World Series. We chat about what makes his teams successful in the postseason, relieve some of his favorite moments and talk about how the Covid-19 pandemic will affect college baseball.

Tony Bua has never lacked passion. That fire and competitiveness—and plenty of big hits—made him an easy fan favorite at Arkansas. So it’s hard to imagine that the Razorbacks’ all-time leader in tackles almost wasn’t a Hog at all—and almost wasn’t playing major college football. Bua was undersized and under-recruited in high school. So how did a move to a new state and new school right before his senior year change everything? Once he got a chance, Bua did everything he could to make an impact, and his career with the Razorbacks was nothing short of electric. He was part of Arkansas teams that won seven games against top 25 teams, played in two seven overtime wins and won an SEC West title. Razorback fans won’t forget Tony Bua anytime soon.

They’re two of the best players to come through the Razorback basketball program. And they just so happen to be father and son. In fact, despite playing decades apart, Ron and Ronnie Brewer right next to each other on Arkansas’ all-time scoring list, separated by just 24 points. They’re also the first father-son duo to play at the same school and for the same NBA team in basketball history. One of the Triplets, Ron helped lead Eddie Sutton’s Razorback teams to new heights, including as the top scorer on the 1978 Final Four team. And 28 years later, it was Ronnie’s turn to be the leading scorer on an NCAA Tournament team. What was it like to grow up as a standout basketball player who just so happened to be the son of an Arkansas legend? Their relationship is just as much about life off the court, including a focus on giving back to the community through the Ronnie Brewer Foundation. It’s part of what makes the two of them stand out, and what makes their bond as father and son so strong to this day.

Heston Kjerstad was the SEC Freshman of the Year, an All-SEC and All-American performer during his Razorback career, in which he hit .345 with 35 home runs and 124 RBI over 145 games. But as good as he was in his time at Arkansas, did you know Kjerstad wasn’t highly touted or recruited as a high schooler? Dave Van Horn and his staff knew they had something special on their hands with the Amarillo, Texas, native. And Kjerstad delivered time and time again for the Razorbacks. He helped lead the Diamond Hogs to back-to-back trips to the College World Series, and became a fan favorite for his mammoth home runs. And while his Arkansas career was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his future in baseball is brighter than ever.

Chuck Barrett has been a voice fans have known since 1992, when the lifelong Razorback fan began calling Arkansas baseball games, and helped establish a statewide radio network for those broadcasts. In 2008, he added football play-by-play responsibilities, and basketball soon followed in 2010. While he no longer handles Razorback baseball play-by-play, Barrett is responsible for some of the program’s most memorable calls. And the same can be said for football and basketball. In this bonus episode of The Hog Pod, we relieve the moments that stand out to Chuck, what makes them great, and what they meant to Razorback nation.