Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Red-White game to reveal new look Hogs
FAYETTEVILLE — Today the Arkansas Razorbacks say hello to the new and sadly part with pillars from their past.
The honeymoon with Wednesday’s official hiring of now former Kentucky men’s basketball coach John Calipari blossoms.
Sam Pittman’s practically brand new through the transfer portal Razorbacks conclude spring football practice today with their noon — free to the public — Red-White intrasquad game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Unlike some past spring controlled charades, Pittman promises a true game for a half between the first team Red and the second team White. The second half will put the second-team switched to Red against the rest in White with the clock running.
It is scheduled to conclude around 2 p.m.
Beginning his fifth year at the Hog helm, Pittman said his squad has the depth and the players and coaches want-to waging the most physical spring drills of his tenure.
“We are a physical team, and we’re practicing physical,” Pittman said. “I think Saturday will be the fifth time we’ve tackled to the ground this spring, which is by far more than we’ve done in the past. We’ll find out a little bit more because of it.”
While some returnees still figure prominently in the depth chart, fans welcome new faces after last season’s 4-8 overall/ 1-7 mark in the SEC.
CALIPARI CAUTION
Arkansas basketball fans understandably soar giddily hiring Naismith Hall of Famer Calipari, Kentucky’s coach for 15 years with a national championship and previous success at UMass and Memphis.
While zero scholarship players return from now Southern California Coach Eric Musselman’s 2023-2024 Razorbacks, optimism flows legendary recruiter Calipari can sign a talented roster even starting mid-April.
One caution, Musselman recruited masterfully out of the transfer portal for two Elite Eights and one Sweet Sixteen. Recruiting gurus initially thought he did again last season, but the team seldom jelled struggling 1617 overall/6-12 in the SEC.
Great talent still must click together to be a team.
“We’ve got work to do,” Calipari said. “I’m not that guy that has a magic wand. That’s not who I am. I’m the grinder that comes every day.”
DEAN AND BECK
Today at 4 p.m. at Walton Arena, a memorial service honors Dean Weber, Arkansas’ Hall of Fame trainer from 1973-2008 and then equipment manager and finally Razorback Club representative until his Feb. 13 death after severely lingering illnesses.
The service was scheduled today allowing the huge numbers of players whose lives Dean touched, and with good nature scorched with rapier wit, attending the annual Razorback Reunion that Dean started decades ago.
Funeral services were held Friday for Larry Beightol, or simply Coach Beck to his offensive linemen heeding his advice whether starters or scout-teamers.
In a Razorbacks program decades known for producing great offensive line coaches, Beck, 81, ranks among the greatest.
Lou Holtz’s Razorbacks line coach from 1977-78 and 1980-82 before 22 years coaching NFL linemen, Beck’s blocking scheme befuddled Oklahoma in the epic 1978 31-6 Orange Bowl upset.