Arkansas football's 'difficult year' mercifully comes to an end | Fuller

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas football coach Bobby Petrino walked out of his final press conference as the interim coach to a round of applause.

A handful of fans outside the media room waited for his departure and gave the two-time leader of the Razorbacks' program a gracious goodbye.

It was a kind way for those fans to put a bow on a disastrous season in Northwest Arkansas.

The Hogs lost their 10th straight game on Saturday, Nov. 29. Missouri came to town and only attempted seven passes. Instead, the Tigers ran for 322 yards and handed Arkansas a 31-17 defeat. It finished off a fourth winless campaign in the SEC and tied the longest losing streak in school history.

Throughout the season, the players and coaches expressed optimism and resolve. They spoke about sticking together and fighting for each other, desperate for one win that would provide a lone bright spot to the three months that felt like never-ending darkness.

And after the final game, the three representatives who spoke to the press continued that narrative of togetherness, but they were also honest with their assessments of the campaign.

"It was very hard. It was a difficult year, especially with a sudden change in the middle of the season," Arkansas defensive tackle Cam Ball said.

"But, man, not even about the outcome, I'm just proud of my teammates and I'm proud of how we stayed together. No one started pointing fingers and no one started throwing tantrums. We just all came together. Maybe the score never was what we wanted it to be, but I know we gained a lot of brothers for a lifetime."

Petrino echoed that sentiment, calling the season "a hard deal". He finished 0-7 as the interim coach and refused to answer a question about his candidacy to become the full-time head coach, but all signs point to Arkansas going in a new direction. Petrino sent a letter to the fans earlier this week, expressing his gratitude for their support.

But Arkansas desperately needs a new jolt.

The Hogs finished alone at the very bottom of the SEC standings. With Signing Day around the corner, their recruiting class also sits dead last in the conference. Former coach Sam Pittman and athletic director Hunter Yurachek have bemoaned Arkansas' place in the NIL landscape for years. Thirty-three seniors are graduating. More players will enter the transfer portal.

It's hard to find much optimism.

Even a rival coach is feeling some sympathy for the program.

"I think the SEC is better when Arkansas is good, " Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz said. "As a guy who's from Arkansas, I hope they can find the right coach and get this thing going again, because this is a special stadium when it's sold out and the fans are rocking. I know Arkansas fans believe in the Hogs, and so I wish them the best.”

In a matter of days, Arkansas will have a new head coach. Whoever it is has a mountain to climb.

Jackson Fuller covers Arkansas football, basketball and baseball for the Southwest Times Record, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at [email protected] or follow him @jacksonfuller16 on X, formerly known as Twitter. 

This article originally appeared on Fort Smith Times Record: Arkansas football's 'difficult year' mercifully comes to an end