Sports Talk With Bo Mattingly's Podcast

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).

It’s the story of how Arkansas baseball went from playing at the fairgrounds to becoming one of the top programs in the country. We visit with legendary Razorback baseball coach Norm DeBriyn, and talk about how he ended up in Arkansas (4:20), how he eventually got the head coaching job (8:30), teaching Driver’s Ed (11:40), and how he helped get Baum-Walker Stadium built (29:30). We’ll also chat with him and current coach Dave Van Horn about when Norm decided the time was right to pass the baton to his former player (39:00), and coming so close to winning a national championship (50:30).

In our debut episode, we head to Nolan Richardson’s ranch for a great conversation with the Hall of Fame coach. We talk about his early coaching days and style (7:13), and how his daughter convinced him to take the Arkansas job (24:00). Then we spend time talking about the 1994 championship (30:40), how he celebrated, and calling President Clinton “Prez” (39:00) Finally, we get his thoughts on the court at Bud Walton Arena being named in his honor (51:10), and he tells a funny story of how Rick Pitino tried to get him out of the SEC.