The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

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.

What do you do when the worst moment of your career is on display for all to see? Carson Shaddy relied on everything he had learned in his baseball career and did what any leader would do: He owned it. And it's that leadership trait—not one moment—that defines Shaddy's Razorback career. He started his career as a non-scholarship player and made appearances at every position except pitcher, shortstop and first base. He wore his emotions on his sleeve, and came through time and time again with big hits in clutch situations. For a Fayetteville kid who grew up wanting to be a Razorback so much that he'd do anything to make it happen, it's been a wild ride—filled with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. But through it all, Carson Shaddy was the same guy every day of his Arkansas career: a relatable leader who endeared himself to Hog fans.

Did you know that, statistically speaking, Jarius Wright is one of the best players in Razorback history? Wright holds the school record for career receiving yards AND the single-season record for touchdown catches. And he did it all despite being one of the smallest guys on the field. Coming out of Warren, Ark., alongside teammates Greg Childs and Chris Gragg, Wright was first recruited by Houston Nutt and decided to stick with Arkansas when Bobby Petrino was hired. It turned out to be the right move. He was a key cog on Arkansas' most successful teams of the Razorbacks' SEC era in 2010 and 2011. Those teams went a combined 21-5, and Wright was front and center. So how'd he do it? How did a small kid from a small town in Arkansas end up making big play after big play for the Razorbacks, and then in the NFL? This is Jarius Wright's story.

Few former Razorbacks have had as fascinating a pro career as Joe Kleine. After all, how did a kid from Slater, Mo., end up playing alongside guys like Larry Bird, Charles Barkley and Michael Jordan over the course of a 15-year NBA career? As it turns out, his journey would intersect with Jordan's multiple times—in the NBA, in the Olympics, and at Arkansas. How he got to Arkansas is a story in and of itself, but once he transferred in, he established himself as one of the best big men in Razorback history. He would go on to win a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics, and was the No. 6 pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. He would play for seven different teams, but most memorably, he had a front-row seat to "The Last Dance" as a member of the 1998 Chicago Bulls. So what was it like to play with Michael Jordan? How was Scottie Pippen? And what about the always-colorful Dennis Rodman? This is the story of one hell of a ride that led Joe Kleine to the last dance.

From a talent standpoint, it's no surprise Frank Ragnow has found success at the highest level. He was a 4-star prospect with offers from some of the best programs in the nation, an All-American and All-SEC performer at Arkansas, and was a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Ragnow is a guy who loves life and is the same person every day. But that doesn't mean his journey to becoming a starting center in the NFL has been easy. During his sophomore year at Arkansas, his mom was diagnosed with cancer. And while she has recovered, the news rocked Ragnow. As a senior, he suffered a season- and college career-ending ankle injury that required surgery. But it was during his junior year when his world shattered: His dad suddenly passed away after a heart attack. And dealing with the grief has understandably been a struggle. Through it all, Ragnow is driven by the desire to compete against the best. Just don't expect him to change who he is.

Often times, they're the unsung heroes of a coaching staff or administration. And they're as important to the heartbeat of a program as anyone. Of course, we're talking about the coaches' wives. They're the unofficial moms for so many student-athletes. They make Arkansas feel like home. But you don't often hear their side of the story. In this bonus episode, Danyelle Musselman leads a wide-ranging conversation featuring Jennifer Yurachek, Karen Van Horn and Jamie Pittman as they talk about what they love most about being at Arkansas to balancing careers and everything in between.

Danyelle Musselman didn't envision herself being where she is today. That's not surprising given her past career as a national sportscaster, working for the likes of ESPN and Fox Sports. But sometimes, life takes you in a different direction, and you end up on an unexpected but rewarding path—in this case, being a mom and a coach's wife. So how did Danyelle and Eric Musselman meet? And how did one big decision—and a career sacrifice—impact the entire Musselman clan, and put them on the path that led to the University of Arkansas? This is her story.

Arkansas men's and women's basketball coaches, Eric Musselman and Mike Neighbors, sit down for an exclusive and authentic conversation, guided by Musselman. The two of them share some crazy ideas, lessons learned along the way, and revealing details of running a program. All with no coach speak.

Former Arkansas Razorbacks guard Dusty Hannahs has made a career of proving the doubters wrong. He's heard the criticisms, and it just makes him work harder. Make no mistake: Hannahs excelled at Arkansas, leading the team in scoring in his two seasons on The Hill after transferring from Texas Tech. Now he's finding success in the G League and has twice made it to the NBA—the pinnacle of the sport—on 10-day contracts. So why is he still fighting negative perceptions about his game, or the idea that he's just a shooter? His story is one of how criticism has fueled his fire to be the best player he can be, and fulfill his dream of being an NBA mainstay.

He's one of the best tight ends in the NFL, but Arkansas Razorback fans will always remember Hunter Henry for the 4th & 25 play at Ole Miss. He gives us inside look at that play, his NFL career & more in this BONUS episode.

Chris Crutchfield knows how to recruit. He helped Oklahoma land eventual top-six NBA Draft picks in Buddy Hield and Trae Young, and he's now aided Eric Musselman in putting together a top-six signing class at Arkansas. So how has he done it? What's the key to being an elite recruiter? We chat with him about those topics and more—including why he decided to join Musselman's staff—in this all-new episode.

Corey Beck was the heart and soul of the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1994 national championship team, and was beloved by fans for his toughness, grit and grind. But he also feels misunderstood. In Part 2 of our two-part story, we talk with him about his post-Arkansas playing days in the CBA (where he would run into Eric Musselman), the struggles he sometimes faced in his life after basketball, and how one terrifying night would lead to him turning his life around.

Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman and his wife, Danyelle, recently sat down for a Q&A session with fans on Instagram Live. In case you missed it, here's your chance to catch up and get to know the Musselmans—from what they love about Arkansas to lifestyle and everything in between.

When you think of the name Corey Beck, what comes to mind? He didn't win a lot of awards, but without him, there probably isn't a national title to celebrate. His toughness and competitive nature made him a fan favorite, but where did that grit and grind come from? It started with him growing up and playing ball in Memphis, and via a trip to the JUCO ranks, would end up with him finding the perfect match for him as a coach in Hall of Famer Nolan Richardson. Hard work would help his game flourish, as he became the unquestioned leader on the best Razorback team in history. In the first episode of a two-part story, it's how Corey Beck's early life helped Arkansas win the 1994 national championship.

In this bonus episode of The Hog Pod, Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman sits down with Razorback soccer coach Colby Hale, two standouts in their profession. Musselman has won at least 20 games in every season as a head coach, and Hale has guided Arkansas to four straight SEC Tournament championship games. The two of them converse on a wide range of topics, from leadership strategies to growing as a coach. What were their first jobs, and what did they learn from them? How are they constantly working to evolve and become better coaches? And what goes into being a good leader?

Being a career assistant coach in major college football gives Razorback head coach Sam Pittman a unique perspective. When you've spent you're career learning from some of the best in the business, you're going to have a great idea of what works and what doesn't. And that extends into recruiting, an area where Pittman has had tremendous success throughout his career. And relationships with current players are just as important. Pittman is going to tell you what's on his mind and how he feels. He's transparent and honest, qualities that resonate in the state. In this conversation, we go inside Pittman's coaching mind to learn what makes him a great recruiter, why honesty is the best policy, and what being a "players' coach" really means.

The offseason came quicker for college basketball than anyone expected. But Arkansas and head coach Eric Musselman got right to work. From posting viral videos on social media and marketing, to statistical breakdowns and helping his guys improve, we go behind the scenes of building a program.

The first thing you notice about Earl Boykins is that he wasn't your average NBA player. Standing at just 5-foot-5, he still ranks as the second-shortest player in NBA history—and has been fighting perception his entire life. Because of his height, Boykins wasn't on the recruiting radar of major college basketball teams, but still managed to find some NCAA Tournament magic. How'd he do it? And how, despite doubts, did he manage to eventually carve out a role in the NBA? We cover it all in this episode, from getting his shot in the NBA to what he's doing now at Arkansas with Eric Musselman—the coach who gave him his big break in the league.

In high school, Kendal Briles was a QB, living the dream that is the Friday Night Lights of Texas HS football. His dad was a Texas coaching legend. You might think that Kendal would follow his dad's footsteps and get into coaching, but that's not what happened...at least not immediately. But he got a chance when his dad moved to the college ranks, and hasn't looked back. We chat with Kendal about his journey to joining Sam Pittman's staff at Arkansas, his offensive philosophy and what he's learned along the way.

Mason Jones is in the thick of the conversation for SEC Player of the Year. But getting to that point hasn't been easy. In this episode, we talk with him about why he was overshadowed by his brother and sister—who would go on to win a national title at Duke and set assist records at Texas A&M, respectively. Mason tells us about why he struggled with weight as a kid, not getting major college offers and going the JUCO route. Now he's setting records and leading Arkansas in scoring … and he's not living in anyone's shadow.

How do you get a player past the point of being scared to fail? Getting his pitchers to believe they have the stuff to succeed is Matt Hobbs' M.O. We chat with Arkansas' pitching coach and learn how he does just that, becoming known as one of the top coaches in the game when it comes to using analytics and technology. Hobbs takes us through his coaching journey, why he loves to learn and why working at Arkansas is the best baseball job in the country.

Alexis Tolefree was told she was too small to play in the SEC. Now, she's one of the best shooters in the league. We get to know the senior standout, and talk about her love for collecting sneakers (3:15), as well as how she developed her work ethic and wouldn't let her size define her (7:57). She tells us about her relationship with her mom and the sacrifices that went into having her basketball career (17:00). We hear the story of how she lost a ping-pong game to Mike Neighbors that helped seal her commitment to the Razorbacks (26:10), and the difficulties of transferring from a JUCO and adjusting to major college life (31:25). Finally, we get into what defines her and who she wants to be (35:17).

It's a special bonus episode of The Hog Pod previewing the 2020 Arkansas baseball season with Dave Van Horn! You heard some of our conversation with DVH earlier this week, but went long and are bringing you the best way to preview the Razorbacks as they look for a third straight trip to Omaha.

Dave Van Horn wants to win a national championship for his alma mater. In this episode, we go inside the mind of the Razorbacks head coach. We talk about building a winning culture (5:00), how he runs practice (18:44) and his relationship with umpires (23:38). DVH tells us about the role of analytics in his program (28:59) and how he game plans for an SEC series (30:44). Finally, we get into how he's changed in his time at Arkansas and his desire to bring home a national title (38:43).

Barry Odom is regarded as one of the best defensive minds in college football. So we sit down with him to tell his story, starting with how he found himself being the new defensive coordinator at Arkansas (2:13). We talk about what makes a good defense in today's game (11:11), and about how he got into coaching and what his time at Missouri was like (17:00). Finally, he tells us what his vision is for building a defense at Arkansas (25:55).

Jimmy Whitt Jr. is not your typical college basketball player. We sit down with him to talk about everything from his play on the court to his journey off it, starting with how he ended up at Arkansas and what led to him transferring (2:13). He tells us how he ended up transferring back to the Razorbacks (7:55), and about his unique play on the court (15:00). We talk about what it's like to play for Eric Musselman (19:14) and how he thinks his teammates would describe him (26:30). Finally, we get some thoughts from him on this year's squad (28:05).

Sidney Moncrief is a Basketball Hall of Famer and a member of the legendary "Triplets" who led Arkansas to the 1978 Final Four. We start our conversation with the five-time NBA All-Star about what he's most proud of in his career (3:25), what growing up in Arkansas was like and how he started playing basketball. We talk about how he ended up at Arkansas with Eddie Sutton (16:06), and how Sutton helped unlock the Triplets' potential (23:40). Moncrief tells us what made him a great defensive player (37:35) and even shares a hilarious Michael Jordan story (40:16). Finally, we talk about what it was like to get the call that he was heading to the Hall of Fame (46:50).

Matt Zimmerman is all-Razorback, no matter what. We sit down with the current radio color analyst for men's basketball games to talk about his life and career, starting with growing up in Arkansas and the difficulty of transitioning to his new role (5:56). We talk about how he became a student manager with the Razorback basketball team (20:09) and his role in the "Strollin' with Nolan" game (28:34). He tells us about his time in the Army and becoming a high school coach, and how he ended up on Mike Anderson's staff at UAB, Missouri and Arkansas (35:35). We get into his transition into his new role as radio analyst (47:38), and finally, he shares a must-listen story about finding a lucky penny (56:14).

Isaiah Joe is one of the best shooters in college basketball, and we sat down with him to help Hog fans get to know one of the Razorbacks' stars. We begin our conversation with him always wanting to be a Razorback (2:04) and putting the work in to continually get better (7:30). He talks about what it's like to play for Eric Musselman (11:52), and why he wants to be known as more than just a shooter (14:21). We get to know Isaiah a little better, talking about everything from favorite TV shows and movies to who he thinks is the best basketball player of all time (19:45). Finally, we get his thoughts on where he sees his future in basketball (26:53).

Mike Neighbors' dream has always been to be the head coach of Arkansas' women's basketball team. We start our conversation with how getting cut from the Razorback baseball team spurred him on to try coaching (2:49). We talk about why he's eliminated "goals" from the program (7:50) and how he started his coaching career at the high school level (13:54). Neighbors tells us about how having his first heart attack changed everything for him (16:45), and how that journey led to him getting his first head coaching job at Washington (26:11). Finally, we get into how playing guitar helps him decompress (42:00), and how he'd describe himself as a coach (43:29).

Sam Pittman was recently introduced as Arkansas' new football coach, and we sat down with the Head Hog to tell his story. We start with how he fell in love with the Razorbacks as a teenager (4:00), and how getting offered the head coaching job is one of the highlights of his life (9:10). We talk about what he looks like as a head coach (21:31), and how he plans to recruit at Arkansas (27:36). Finally, we get into how he wants to build a staff (36:07) and how he plans on making this his final coaching stop (39:29).

Few have been better ambassadors for college football in Arkansas than former Razorback linebacker David Bazzel. We sat down with "the Baz" to hear his story, starting with how he ended up at Arkansas coming out of Florida (3:16). We talk about what it was like to go through a coaching change (9:03), and his memories of playing for the Razorbacks (18:25). He tells us how he got into media (25:25), and how the Broyles Award was founded (36:32). We talk about the creation of the Golden Boot trophy (39:06), and finally, what he wants his legacy to be (47:00).

Corey Williams has coached under Eddie Sutton, been a college head coach and won a world championship with Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. We get to know the Razorback basketball assistant, starting with what he likes about Eric Musselman (4:00) and his relationship with Eddie Sutton (10:45). He tells the story of how he was selected in both the NFL and NBA Drafts (12:55), and we chat about his experience playing with Michael Jordan for the Chicago Bulls (19:06). Finally, we get into the lessons he learned from playing in a championship environment (28:15).

Clay Moser has more than a decade of experience in the NBA, coached LeBron James last season, and is at the forefront of analytics. We sat down with him to tell his story, starting with working with LeBron and the Lakers (4:28), and how he got into coaching at NC State with Jim Valvano (9:08). He tells us an incredible and funny Valvano story (12:53), and how he sees analytics in basketball (21:00). Finally, we get into how he plans on leading the analytics charge at Arkansas (30:00).

Brandon Allen is a lot of things, including an Arkansas school record holder, a two-time bowl winner and an NFL quarterback. But perhaps more than anything, he's as cool a customer as they come. We sit down with the former Hog to talk about getting his first NFL start and win, and what that experience has been like (3:43). We talk about how he started playing football and became a quarterback (15:35), and how he always wanted to play for the Hogs (20:43). Later, we get into the crazy early parts of his Razorback career (23:42), battling through injuries and criticism (30:20). Finally, we discuss how his career has gone so far and how he remembers his time at Arkansas (36:39).

Arkansas women's basketball standout Chelsea Dungee is already a school record holder and is on the Wooden Award watch list. We sat down with her as she told us her powerful and emotional story, starting with what she feels her purpose is and her goal of being a first-round WNBA Draft pick (5:07). Chelsea talks about how her mom inspires her and how she learned from her when their home burned down in high school (9:27). We talk about what kind of teammate she is (19:19), and how she says she doesn't need to get away from the game and recharge (23:23). Finally, we get into why she's a bad loser (28:40) and not letting her emotions get the best of her on the court (30:40).

We sit down with former Razorback Chris Gragg and go behind the scenes of what it was like to be a player during the Bobby Petrino era. We start with Chris getting recruited by Houston Nutt and being a part of one of the best signing classes in program history (2:45). He tells us about growing up in Warren, Ark., (10:17) and then the successes with the Razorbacks and getting to the Sugar Bowl (16:00). We talk about what it was like to play for Bobby Petrino and the impact of the motorcycle wreck on the team (20:25). Chris tells us about playing for John L. Smith, and why things just weren't the same (26:26). Finally, we get into how Chris overcame injuries to make it in the NFL, and what the draft process was like (33:29).

For this episode of the podcast, we go inside the mind of first-year men's basketball coach Eric Musselman. We start by talking about the culture he wants to build at Arkansas (6:52), and how knowledge can help the team and program get better every day (9:47). We discuss what he thinks helps players and leads to success (16:27), and what game and practice prep looks like for he and his staff (28:14). Finally, we get into how he wants to attack recruiting top players to Arkansas (41:13).

In many ways, Jim Lindsey defines what it means to be a Razorback. Using archived audio from Jim and conversations with his sons, Lyndy and John David—as well as his grandson, Jack—we tell his story. We start at the beginning, with Jim's early life and how he developed his passion for the Razorbacks (2:43). You'll hear the story of how he rallied the Hogs vs. Texas in 1965 despite having broken ribs and his success with Arkansas (9:43). We get into the start of his professional career (16:19), his unsuccessful run for governor (24:56), and how his impact on the University of Arkansas continued after his playing days (31:28). Finally, we talk to his grandson, Jack, a third-generation Razorback (39:25), and discuss Jim's legacy (43:09).

Ever wonder what it takes for a college football team to go on the road? We take you behind the scenes with the help of Jake Rosch, the director of football equipment operations at the University of Arkansas. We start with gear distribution, and how it's decided who gets what and what the team wears (4:00). Then, we talk about packing up all the equipment for road games, and everything that goes into it (13:57), as well as player and coach superstitions (24:31). We get the inside scoop on what visiting locker rooms are like (31:06), and finally, we get Jake's take on why he and his crew like doing what they do (36:13).

Colby Hale has done things with the soccer program at Arkansas that no other coach could, so we sat down with him to learn how he's done it. We start with how selling security systems prepared him to become a soccer coach, and how problem solving is a big part of who he is (4:45). We talk about how personal and team growth only comes from being outside your comfort zone, and the impact it has on his program (8:43). Colby tells us about how a family move to England got him into soccer, and having a fighter pilot dad (19:03). We get into the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S. (23:48), and finally, how he's gotten total ownership and buy-in from his players (30:15).

We sit down with former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt for a fascinating and wide-ranging conversation, starting with what it's like for him to be out of coaching (5:00). Nutt talks about his life growing up and getting recruited by Bear Bryant and Frank Broyles (13:10). We get into his playing career at Arkansas and why he transferred to Oklahoma State (19:00), as well how he got his break in coaching (25:08). He tells us how he got the Arkansas job (30:46) and what made that 1998 season so special (37:53). We get his side of the story on his famous postgame interview after upsetting No. 1 LSU in 2007 (47:07), and into the distractions of the 2006-07 seasons and what happened at the end (53:33).

In a span of just 48 hours in 2017, Arkansas athletics made a couple of big hires. For the first time, we give you an inside look at how it all went down with the help of then-interim AD Julie Cromer. We get into her becoming the interim AD (6:00) and how the decision to find a new football coach was made (14:05). She tells us why she thinks Arkansas is a great job (20:20). Then, we discuss what the Razorbacks were looking for in a new coach and how the 48-hour stretch that saw a new AD and coach introduced began (27:40). Finally, we talk about how Hunter Yurachek and Chad Morris met and getting negotiations done (34:00).

Quinn Grovey is the only starting quarterback to record back-to-back 10-win seasons in Arkansas football history. We sit down with the Razorback great to get his story, including how he left the state of Oklahoma to come to Arkansas (6:00). He has a great story about Andre Ware and Houston (16:11), and talks about how he found out Ken Hatfield was leaving (22:35). Later, we get into how his broadcast career started (30:19), and his relationship with Frank Broyles (33:37). Finally, we discuss how his career might have been different if he was playing in today's age of college football (41:16).

T.J. Smith is a Razorback football team captain, and he's having an impact on and off the field. We dive into what life was like for him as a kid, and how he learned about serving others at a young age (7:22). He tells the hilarious story of how he started playing football for the first time in high school (13:00), and how that led to college coaches—including in the Ivy League—noticing him as a prospect (17:00). We get a first-hand account of the impact of a coaching change on the student-athletes (20:51), and finally, we get to know T.J. a little more and what he wants his future to look like (28:02).

Dre Greenlaw has been through more in life than most. We talk about his childhood of growing up in the foster care system and moving all over the state of Arkansas (2:46). Dre tells us how faith played a major role in his life and helped him get through the tough times (7:33), and then we get into how he met now-Houston assistant coach Brian Early and what led to him living with the Earlys (11:19). We get into the tough decision for Dre to come to Arkansas and turn down Coach Early's offer to play at Arkansas State (17:56), and how his journey is going now (23:50). Finally, we get into what the coaching transition was like for him at Arkansas (25:07), and what he wants people to think when they see him (26:38).

Have you ever wondered what goes into getting Arkansas' top-class facilities ready for players, coaches and fans alike? We did. And we sat down with associate AD for facilities Justin Maland to get the inside scoop, starting with the new grass surface that was installed at Razorback Stadium (2:03). We get into the 20,000-foot view of managing facilities on a college campus and the facilities "arms race" (7:11). We talk about everything that went into the north endzone project (15:44) and the upgrades coming to Baum-Walker Stadium (22:35). Justin talks about working for Norm DeBriyn and the baseball program and getting into facilities management (28:10).