Razorbacks' coach reflects on disappointing debut season

FAYETTEVILLE - Obviously Chad Morris expected his Arkansas Razorbacks football coaching debut season would fare better than 2-10.

And he hadn’t banked on an 0-8 SEC campaign either, though he did acknowledge he knew his SEC debut would be tough sledding.

“I knew this was the toughest league in college football,” Morris said. “And I think it did exactly what I thought was going to happen. You’ve got to have depth and you better have some speed. That’s been the area of emphasis for us and has been since the day I walked in here. You’ve got to recruit to that. You’ve got to develop the players you have.”

Without previous SEC experience having spent his collegiate coaching as offensive coordinator at Tulsa and Clemson and 2015-2017 head coach at SMU, Morris and his staff have worked avidly on commitments for the Dec. 19 early signing period they believe literally will speed Arkansas’ football recovery.

They also must sort those don’t want to return and the ones they especially want returning and then, as he noted, intensely develop what becomes their returning core.

One plus even while following losing a 52-6 rout at Mississippi State on Nov. 17 to close with losing Friday’s 38-0 rout at Missouri, Morris said the Hogs played 15 freshmen in the finale at Columbia, Mo.

Some like quarterbacks Connor Noland and John Stephen Jones and offensive tackle Noah Gatlin return as freshmen next year. Under a NCAA rule invoked this year, a player can play four games or less and not have it count towards his eligibility just like a redshirt which in fact they become.

“We played 15 freshmen,” Morris said. “And any time you can put them in a game situation and watch them develop, they’re going to make some mistakes. They made mistakes today but those guys continue to battle and fight. I was proud of those guys. They had to step in in some difficult times, some difficult situations. We’ve got to continue to develop these young men. That’s our focus right now.”

Greenwood native Noland, recruited as a 2-sport athlete, will be focused on improving in football and embarking on his baseball career pitching for Dave Van Horn’s Razorbacks coming off their national runner-up at the College World Series.

“I don't think it will be too tough,” Noland said of playing both football and baseball which he so successfully did at Greenwood. “We have great coaches and I think the staffs are gonna work together do their time and figure that out. I’ll get my time over at baseball and football.”

Noland was recruited as a 2-sport athlete and a 2-sport athlete he will be, Morris said.

“Absolutely, you bet,” Morris said. “He will play baseball. We love guys that want to compete.”

BEST WITH AND WITHOUT GAFFORD

What Mike Anderson’s Razorbacks did with and without Daniel Gafford in their 78-60 victory last Friday night over the University of TexasArlington could bode well for their basketball future which for games starts Saturday night at Walton Arena against Florida International.

Gafford, who did everything (20 points and 12 rebounds) but hit free throws, a critical 4 for 9 but when the now 4-1 Hogs opened their season losing 73-71 in overtime to Texas, sank a career best 9 for 10 freebies against UTA. Most importantly his 6 for 6 free throws before intermission kept Arkansas afloat in its 31-26 first half when Arkansas hit but 8 of 25 from the field and only 1 of 9 treys.

What the Razorbacks did without Gafford proved equally significant. UTA was down but certainly not out trailing 54-45 when Gafford was benched with his fourth foul and 9:26 remaining.

Anderson never brought him back. Relying on reserve forwards Reggie Chaney, a freshman, and sophomore Gabe Osabuohien interspersed with starting forward Adrio Bailey, Anderson could rest their sophomore Preseason All-SEC center from El Dorado because the Razorbacks increased their lead without him.

“I think that shows the growth in this basketball team,” Anderson said. “There are going to be times that he (Gafford) may get in foul trouble, and the guys off the bench gave us some good minutes.”