Thursday Hodge Podge
* Carolina on His Mind: After less than three weeks on the job, Razorback defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson has resigned to take the same position at South Carolina. Johnson replaces Brian VanGorder, who left the Gamecocks to become defensive coordinator of Bobby Petrino’s former employer, the Atlanta Falcons. Petrino (or, more likely, the athletic department’s PR person) was gracious in remarks contained in a news release, although, let’s be honest: Is there anyone on the planet who has less of a right to be upset, even if the resignation comes less than two weeks before national signing day?
* Don’t Forget: Help us find this man.
* 799 Down, 1 to Go: Eddie Sutton finally got his first victory as coach of the University of San Francisco last weekend, meaning that he now has to win only one more game to reach 800 career victories. His next chance at reaching the magic number comes this Saturday against St. Mary’s. The San Francisco Chronicle points out that four of Eddie’s wins could be seen as a gift from Oklahoma State administrators. Whatever. If/when Eddie achieves the milestone, no one will be cheering harder than the staffers at RazorbackExpats.
* Coach Hard Ass: Let it never be said that John Pelphrey isn’t trying to toughen up and wake up his slumbering band of Hog hoopsters. After returning from a 13-point drubbing at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Pelphrey put his team through a one-hour practice at Bud Walton Arena that began at 1:30 am. We’d like to think that being put through the wringer like that will result in an inspired performance this weekend in Baton Rouge, but we’re not holding our collective breath. Four years of watching this senior class will do that to you.
* Spot On: Jim Harris of ArkansasSports360.com has an inspired take on this year’s basketball team and the constantly shifting opinions of Razorback fans.
