Hogs suspend two starters for Missouri game
FAYETTEVILLE - Livid last Saturday after the Arkansas Razorbacks lost 52-6 to Mississippi State in Starkville, Miss., Arkansas coach Chad Morris remains just as livid, starting junior cornerback Ryan Pulley and starting sophomore safety Kamren Curl can attest.
Morris announced Monday that he’s suspended Pulley and Curl from all Razorbacks activities this week, including not omitting them from the 70-man travel roster as the Razorbacks (2-9 overall/0-7 in the SEC West) conclude their season in Friday’s 1:30 pm. CBS televised SEC game in Columbia, Mo., against the Missouri Tigers (7-4, 3-4 in the
SEC East).
Pulley and Curl, Morris learned during Saturday’s postgame in Starkville from media reports, were seen with their cell phones chatting with Mississippi State cheerleaders
during pregame warmups.
“Starting yesterday, I suspended Ryan Pulley and Kam Curl,” Morris volunteered at Monday’s press conference. “They will not be here today or any part of this week for unacceptable behavior, actions that are completely unacceptable with what we’re about. ”
Will they return for 2019?
“We’ll discuss that next week,” Morris replied.
Pulley, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., and Arkansas’ most heralded defensive back at the season’s outset, this season has played in all games, started nine and intercepted three passes, broken up six and made 30 tackles with 3 1/2 behind the line totaling minus 13 yards.
Curl of Muskogee, Okla., moved from cornerback to safety by new coach Morris, has made 53 tackles, broken up five passes, forced one fumble and been credited with one quarterback hurry on a safety blitz.
So who starts in their place? “Well we’ve got other guys,” Morris said. “That’s why they give us other guys, to step up. I mean, you know, I thought (junior college transfer) Britto Tutt did some good things when he got in there. He’s going to have to step up. Jarques McClellion (the redshirting freshman other starting cornerback) he’s going to have to continue to step up. (Freshman reserve safeties) Joe Foucha, Myles Mason. I mean these guys have got to step up, so.”
Morris briefly softened his anger from Saturday on Monday disclose that redshirt freshman defensive back Jordon Curts of Jenks, Okla., was struck by an automobile upon leaving Sunday night’s team meetings.
“He was transported to the hospital,” Morris said. “He was treated and released. He was there with his family. We’re very fortunate. Our thoughts and prayers will be with him in his recovery. He will not be around this week. But he’s doing good and we’re very, very fortunate. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and Jordon.”
During Saturday’s postgame, Morris repeatedly said the Razorbacks’ performance in Starkville was “unacceptable” in all areas, playing and coaching and on his postgame radio show added that he was “disgusted.”
The disgust obviously hadn’t abated going into Monday’s practice after apparently giving his team an earful in their Sunday meetings.
“As I shared on Saturday, losing will never be accepted in this program,” Morris told media Monday. “It was completely unacceptable Saturday and it’s still completely unacceptable today. We ask everybody that’s associated with this program to be at a standard every day and that standard is best. Whatever their best is. And we didn’t do that. We’re not doing what it takes to play winning football.”
In 2015, Morris inherited a 1-11 SMU from 2014, and after a 2-10 season, he improved the Mustangs to 5-7 and a Frisco Bowl bound 7-5 in 2017 before inheriting the Razorbacks that had gone 4-8, 1-7 in the SEC in 2017 under Bret Bielema.
“I know what it looks like and I know what it looks like moving forward,” Morris said. “The love of the Hogs across our great state and across the country and the passion that our fans and alumni have for our great university needs to be shown a competitive effort by everybody every day. We’ve got a lot of people, a lot of people, pouring their hearts and souls into this program, but we need more. And we’re going to get more.”
Barely over half a game, the Hogs trailed 17-3 at half, isn’t close to enough, Morris asserted.
Veteran defensive coordinator John Chavis understands Morris’ outrage.
“If you accept losing then you’re in the wrong place in the wrong sport,” Chavis said. “Even though we played a good football team, we didn’t play well enough to win. You can’t just go on and say, ‘OK, OK. We lost. Let’s go get ready for the next one.’ It’s not that easy. Hell, I didn’t sleep any Saturday night.”
Offensive coordinator Joe Craddock has been with Morris since Morris was the offensive coordinator and Craddock a graduate assistant at Clemson, and became Craddock’s offensive coordinator those 2015-2017 seasons at SMU. Has he ever seen Morris this angry? “I can’t remember every game, but I know coach is upset,” Craddock said. “He’s told us that everybody in the state deserves more. Our university deserves more and that’s why were working tirelessly to get this thing the right way. We’re going to get this thing on the right track.”