THE NEW HEAD HOG: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Posted Friday, August 17, 2012, at 9:14 AM

Photo credit: Associated Press

T-minus 15 days and counting until the Arkansas Razorbacks take the football field for the 2012 season. But will it be all splash or flash for a team and program that could be decimated by the dismissal of its head coach Bobby Petrino?

40-year football veteran John L. Smith won the job vacated by Petrino, but did Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long make the best possible choice to lead the Hogs?

John L. Smith's Head Coaching Credentials :

By the Numbers:

John L. Smith's overall record 132-86 with a win percent of .606

Smith's record in home games: 77-35 with a win percent of .688

Smith's record in away games 55-51 with a win percent of .519

Year-By-Year:

MICHIGAN STATE: 22-26 overall record with a win percent of . 458

2003: 8-5 -- Lost to Louisiana Tech at home 20-19; Bowl Game (loss)

2004: 5-7 -- No bowl

2005: 5-6 -- No bowl

2006: 4-8 -- No bowl

*Smith was a combined 0-8 against Ohio State and Michigan during his tenure at Michigan State.

LOUISVILLE: 41-21 overall record with a win percent of .661

1998: 7-5 -- No bowl

1999: 7-5 -- Lost at Army; No bowl

2000: 9-3 -- Bowl game (loss)

2001: 11-2 -- Bowl game (win)

2002: 7-6 -- Bowl game (loss)

UTAH STATE: 1995-97 -- 16-18 overall record with a win percent of .471

IDAHO: 1989-94 -- 53-21 overall record with a win percent of .716

Did Long consider Smith only a temporary fix, reflected by a short contract, and how will that affect the head coach search at season's end? Smith signed a 10-month contract to be the head Hog, so this begs the question what happens if John L. Smith wins at Arkansas?

What if he reaches a BCS bowl game? Do you reward him with the head coaching job and a long-term contract? Do you let him go and begin the search for a high-profile/elite head coach?

The outcome of the Hogs' upcoming season will help answer all these questions, but the most glaring remains: Can Arkansas win with John L. Smith?

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Steven graduated Cum Laude from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications, focusing on film studies, journalism and theatre arts. Dubbed a "prolific" writer by Hollywood icon Kenneth Johnson (The Incredible Hulk, V, The Bionic Woman, Alien Nation), Steven has been honored by the Arkansas College Media Association for his story writing prowess. He has also received recognition for his dramatic writing from the Eerie, Shriekfest and Screamfest horror film festivals. Publications include: Carroll County News, Saline Courier, Forum, Echo and Moroch.

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