The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

If you ask people in the know, Maria Fassi might just be the LPGA’s next superstar. We get her thoughts on those impressions and whether or not it adds pressure (2:36). She takes us through why winning the NCAA title at home was so important to her (9:40), and then rewind to how she got into golf in the first place (18:00). We walk through how she decided to go to college and chose Arkansas (24:00), and playing in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur (28:10). Maria tells us where her confidence comes from (33:00) and we get into why people love her swing (42:19). Finally, we learn how hard work is paying off for Maria and what she hopes the future holds (45:35).

Paul Finebaum is known as a lot of things. He’s the “Mouth of the South,” the face of the SEC Network, and someone who always has something to say. We caught up with Finebaum and chat about how he grew up paying close attention to the Razorbacks (2:22) and meeting Bill Clinton (4:54). We talk about his dad passing away when Finebaum was just a teenager and the effect it had on him (8:17). He takes us through how he got into radio (14:00), and how he landed on the SEC Network (22:45). We go through some controversial moments he’s been a part of (30:23) and what’s next for him (36:00). Finally, we end with some encouraging words he has for Razorback fans (41:20).

Fresh off winning indoor and outdoor national titles in 2019, Arkansas women’s track coach Lance Harter is riding a massive wave of success. We begin our conversation with his early days as a surfer and how he got into track (3:40), as well as his start in coaching track at the D2 level (9:00). Then, we cover how he got to Arkansas, and what it was like being there when John McDonnell had the men’s program rolling (14:00), as well as what the job is like away from the track (20:50). We get into the success he’s having and how he manages it (33:33), and he shares a great story from the 1992 Olympics involving Charles Barkley (39:18).

We sit down with Razorback baseball coach and Arkansas Sports Hall of Famer Dave Van Horn for a wide-ranging interview. DVH takes us through how he’s gotten the program to the point it’s at now and where he thinks it stands in college baseball (6:45). We chat about the number of big leaguers he’s produced and how his players are well prepared for pro baseball (16:20), as well as his leadership style (26:20). DVH tells us what going into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame meant (35:15) and what the fan support and appreciation means to the program (42:56). Finally, we learn how this season has helped him deal with the way the 2018 College World Series ended (48:34).

For this episode, The Hog Pod goes on the road to Destin, Fla., for the SEC’s spring meetings. We catch up with Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman, and he updates us on filling out his coaching staff and transfers (3:21), talks about how his NBA background helps with roster management (9:02), and gives us some insight into what he already knows about his team (11:05). Next, we chat with football coach Chad Morris, who explains the addition of Turner Gill to his staff for off-the-field development (18:29), the importance of recruiting Texas (21:24), and where they are in the building process (31:37).

Isaiah Campbell is Arkansas’ ace, and one of the best pitchers in the SEC. But after an up-and-down career, how did he get to this point? We chat with the Friday night starter about when he realized baseball could be a thing for him (8:15) and understanding the idea of sacrifice (9:15). We talk about dealing with injuries (12:50) and deciding to come back for one more season (25:07). Finally, he takes us through bouncing back from last year’s disappointing runner-up finish and how this year’s team is having success (27:41).

Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek has been through a whirlwind first 18 months on the job. It’s been so fast paced that we decided to sit down with him to help Razorback fans get to know him better. We discuss his college basketball playing career and taking charges in church leagues (4:50), as well as missing games to watch his sons play and the culture he’s trying to create (9:08). We talk about how he got into college athletics as a career (17:34), and the success levels of Arkansas’ programs (28:00). He tells a story about how he was once thrown out of a game (37:13) and the process behind making Nolan Richardson Court a reality (39:42).

Arkansas softball was in a bad place when Courtney Deifel arrived as the head coach prior to the 2016 season. Now, they’re headed back to the postseason for the third straight year. How did Deifel do it? We sit down with Coach Deifel to talk about her journey, beginning with a career in Japan (4:09), going back to school and beginning her coaching career (9:25). She gives insight into why, despite the program’s struggles, she never saw Arkansas as a bad job (15:10) and how she built a competitive roster (18:38). Finally, we learn what kind of coach she is and why she doesn’t get ejected (25:06), and what it’s like balancing being a mom and a coach (31:11).

Hunter Woodhall doesn’t just run track for Arkansas. He runs track for Arkansas without his legs. We sit down with the silver medal-winning Paralympian and let him tell his inspiring story. We start at the beginning with how Hunter lost his legs at such an early age (2:19) and how he wasn’t allowed to use that as an excuse in life (9:03). Hunter tells us about how he got good at track (14:00), and we get into how he became a YouTube star of sorts (19:26). Hunter discusses what it’s like to wear prosthetic legs (28:12), and what he wants people to think when they see him run (30:32). Finally, we get into the struggles he deals with—whether it’s school-related or about parking on campus (32:00).

Jordyn Wieber doesn’t need an introduction to most—she’s an Olympic champion, a decorated star, and a bona fide celebrity. Now, at just 23 years old, she’s the new coach of the Arkansas gymnastics program. We chat with Jordyn about her start in gymnastics at a young age (6:45), what her journey to the Olympics was like (11:00), and what life after the Olympics is like for a gymnast (12:30). We get her thoughts on what it was like to not qualify for the 2012 Olympic all-around title and having to bounce back for the team competition (16:37), when she decided she wanted to be a coach (22:34), and becoming a team manager at UCLA (25:35). Finally, we talk to Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek about what he was thinking in hiring a 23-year-old first time head coach (29:30) and more.

Arkansas’ Hjalte Froholdt has a story unlike any other, and a chance to make history at the NFL Draft. We start with all the trouble people have had with pronouncing his name and growing up in Denmark (2:00), and we cover his journey to America and his start playing football (8:00). Next, we chat with his high school coach from Warren, Ohio, Steve Arnold, who tells us some great stories about Froholdt’s first year in the states (13:00). Froholdt tells us about his early struggles at Arkansas and move to the offensive line (25:09). Finally, we talk about his hopes for the NFL Draft and what it would mean to be the first Danish position player ever drafted (33:34). Stay tuned for some bonus content at the end of the podcast.

Arkansas basketball reached the pinnacle of the sport on April 4, 1994. We dive into what that night was like, what’s happened since, and the future of the program under new head coach Eric Musselman. We get a feel for the game and that night from former Razorbacks Clint McDaniel (4:26) and Dwight Stewart (8:30), and Hawgs Illustrated publisher Clay Henry (11:09). Clay answers the question of whether or not Arkansas can get back to the level it was at in the 1990s (18:25), and tells a great Andre Iguodala story (25:17). Finally we get ESPN’s Jimmy Dykes thoughts on the toughness of the SEC (33:11) and what Musselman can do with the Razorbacks (35:40).

We sit down for an exclusive conversation with new Arkansas basketball coach Eric Musselman. We start at the beginning, with the story of how he became a head coach for the first time (5:00), how he used salt shakers to land an NBA job with Chuck Daly (11:25), and why he decided to get into the college game (17:00). Then he tells the story of how the Oakland Raiders gave him an office to study film (33:30), before we bring in former Razorback Corey Beck—who played against Musselman’s teams in the CBA—for his thoughts on the new coach (44:30). Finally, the new Razorback coach tells us what fans can expect from his teams at Arkansas (1:00:30).

What’s it take to play quarterback in a Chad Morris offense, and what makes that offense successful? We sit down with the Arkansas head coach, his offensive coordinator Joe Craddock, and transfer quarterback Ben Hicks to get some insight. We start with what happened last year on offense at Arkansas (2:27) and how Morris got interested in offense (8:40). Then, we hear the story of how Craddock ended up working with Morris at Clemson and SMU (14:45). Morris tells us why it all starts and ends with quarterback for him (23:00), and then we chat with Hicks to get the QB’s perspective (27:05).

This is the story of three Final Four-caliber coaches—Gary Blair, Vic Schaefer and Mike Neighbors—all on one staff at Arkansas. It’s the story of how things fell apart for Razorback women’s basketball, and how Neighbors—who once was responsible for getting Diet Cokes for Blair—is working to bring it back. We begin where it all started, with Blair and why he decided to leave Arkansas (3:00) and why he thinks Neighbors will be successful (8:37). Then, we visit with Schafer about not wanting to leave (19:20) and why Neighbors is ahead of schedule (20:40). Finally, we go full circle with Neighbors himself about what it was like working for Blair (26:30), what he learned from him (30:00) and how he’s working to restore the program to its former heights (35:10).