Sports Talk With Bo Mattingly's Podcast

Connor Noland’s talent has never been up for debate. A two-sport star at Greenwood High School, he excelled both on the football field and the mound. Noland wanted to continue playing both sports in college, which made Arkansas—his dream school—a perfect fit. Noland won his only start at quarterback for the Razorbacks. But after a year of trying both sports, he realized he needed to make a choice. The decision to focus on baseball has paid off, but not without some injury-induced struggles. But Noland persevered through any doubts to become the Razorbacks’ Friday night starter. And now wants to set an example for Arkansas, just like former Hog Kevin Kopps. Noland is well on his way to realizing his potential. And his mission is clear.

After a second-straight appearance in the Elite Eight, the Razorbacks are a program on the rise. And Matt Zimmerman is joined by legendary Razorback Joe Kleine to talk about the season, the program, and what the future holds.

Arkansas is heading back to the Sweet 16, and we're bringing you a special edition of the Hog Pod to celebrate. Join Matt Zimmerman and former Razorback Pat Bradley reminisce on Razorback past and analyze Razorback present, breaking down this year's team and what awaits in the Sweet 16.

Nolan Richardson is many things. Hall of Famer. Champion. Coaching icon. And while it all started for him in El Paso, Texas, it was at Arkansas where he became a legend. After consistent improvement in his first four seasons with the Razorbacks, Richardson broke through in 1990, with the help of some memorable wins over rival Texas. If that was the turning point, the move to the SEC proved to be what launched Richardson and Arkansas to the top of the college basketball world. Arkansas beat their new rivals, Kentucky, in the first four regular-season meetings between the teams, establishing the Hogs as the top dog of the SEC. And that status would be further cemented in 1994 with a national championship. It was the crowning achievement in an outstanding career for Richardson, a man who thrived on being an underdog and people counting him out. And for this, the 150th episode of The Hog Pod, we’re going back to where we started it all, with the man who delivered the Razorbacks their only basketball national cham

Stanley Umude has had a long journey to Arkansas. Literally. The son of Nigerian immigrants, he’s the only member of his family—which includes two older siblings—who was born in America. And that led to a unique upbringing. That life would take Umude from Oregon to San Antonio, where he discovered basketball. But an injury in high school left him underrecruited, and he ended up enrolling at South Dakota. A long way from home and struggling to find playing time early, Umude thought about transferring. But he stuck around and become one of the best players in the league. His play caught the eye of Eric Musselman, who brought Umude to Fayetteville as a grad transfer, and he’s come up big when the lights are brightest for the Razorbacks. Umude is driven by incredible self-belief that fueled him at times when his life could’ve gone in other directions. And he knows the best is yet to come.

Amber Ramirez has never met a 3-pointer she didn’t like. The super-senior and McDonald’s All-American from San Antonio returned to the Razorbacks for a third season after transferring in from TCU following her sophomore year. A big reason why? Coach Mike Neighbors, and his willingness to let his players be themselves. Ramirez was interested in playing for Neighbors at Washington, but it was too far from home. So when Ramirez decided to transfer from TCU, she only had eyes for the Razorbacks. That decision has worked out for everyone: Ramirez has scored more than 1,000 points in her Razorback career, and has left an impact on a program on the rise in the SEC.

Jordyn Wieber is used to winning. From taking home Olympic gold to being part of a championship-winning program at UCLA, Wieber knows what it takes to find success at the highest levels. And so when she became the first Olympic champion to become the head coach of a collegiate program, Wieber knew what she wanted to do.   The Arkansas gymnastics program isn’t even 20 years old, but has seen its fair share of successes. With Wieber, there’s more buzz than ever—the team has already posted records for attendance and high scores. And it all starts with building a culture and a program with a winning mentality. With an Olympian at the helm—and two others on the coaching staff—Razorback gymnastics is on an upward trajectory. And it all starts with Jordyn Wieber.

Dave Van Horn’s tenure at Arkansas has been defined by success. Moments fueled by some of the all-time greats, including two Golden Spikes Award winners. And those successes—and the players involved in them—continue to elevate the Razorback baseball program. The wins, accolades and trophies have raised the bar for Razorback baseball, now seen as one of the very best programs in the country. In Part 2 of this exclusive conversation with Dave Van Horn, Phil Elson and the skipper talk successes, standards and wanting to win that national championship for his alma mater.

Dave Van Horn has never been one to lack confidence. And it's served him well in his time at Arkansas. Van Horn is the active coaching leader in College World Series appearances, and has come painstakingly close to delivering a national title to Fayetteville. He's turned Arkansas into one of the best programs in the country, AND one of the most intimidating places to play. In Part 1 of this exclusive conversation with Dave Van Horn, Phil Elson—the Voice of Razorback Baseball—sits down with the already legendary coach to talk about everything…from his career to how the program became what it is today.

Sometimes, it’s all about being in the right place at the right time. For Sasha Goforth, the place is Arkansas. But the timing? Well, that’s where her story is a little different. Goforth has been a basketball standout from an early age. Her high school career included McDonald’s All-American honors, two state titles at Fayetteville High School, and becoming the first freshman in Arkansas high school history to earn MVP honors at the state tournament. She was one of the state’s greatest players. But she craved a different setting and experience, something Razorback head coach Mike Neighbors respected. After an All-Pac 12 Freshman season at Oregon State amid a global pandemic, Sasha decided it was best to come back home and be a Razorback. Arkansas was always the place for Sasha Goforth, but it took the right time for her to call the Hogs home. And now that she’s here, Sasha is ready to leave a lasting impact.

The Razorback basketball program made history last season, advancing to the second weekend of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 25 years. But the run to the Elite 8 wouldn’t have been possible without Davonte “Devo” Davis hitting one of the biggest shots in program history. It was the culmination of not just Davis’ freshman year, but his journey to becoming a Razorback. Because if history plays out differently, he may never have played for Arkansas. Originally committed to Oklahoma State, things changed when Eric Musselman was hired. Davis quickly built a strong bond with Musselman, who offered Devo a scholarship in person following a practice on a cafeteria tile floor that doubled as a gym. And just like that, the four-star Jacksonville, Arkansas, native was a Razorback. And after a slow start to his freshman year, he came on strong down the stretch, scoring in double figures in seven of the final nine games, including all four of the Hogs’ NCAA Tournament matchups. He’ll already go down in Arkansas

Jaylin Williams is all Arkansas. The Fort Smith native grew up watching and rooting for the Razorbacks. Guys like Bobby Portis and Daniel Gafford. That upbringing fueled Williams’ dream to represent the Razorbacks and prove to kids growing up across Arkansas that you can stay home and accomplish great things. But Williams wouldn’t have gotten to this point without hard work, something he learned from his former high school teammate and Razorback Isaiah Joe. The work paid off, and the offers started rolling in, but Williams only had eyes for Arkansas. And after a slow start to his freshman season, Williams came on strong down the stretch for the Razorbacks and made his way into the starting lineup for the Hogs’ NCAA Tournament run. Off the court, Williams’ personality is just as infectious as it is during a game. He brings the energy, has fun…and will do whatever it takes to help his home-state team win.

JD Notae can flat-out score. The reigning SEC Sixth Man of the Year has moved into a starting role for Eric Musselman’s Razorback basketball team, and is a threat to lead the league in scoring. Notae looks like he’s been playing basketball his whole life, and, considering he only started playing in eighth grade, it’s amazing how much he’s developed in such a short amount of time. Notae overcame a difficult upbringing, which included moving from place to place and watching his mom serve four years in prison. Sports were an escape, and eventually, he found basketball. And while he started playing too late to get major attention, he’s found the spotlight at Arkansas. With his mom—having turned her life around—by his side as his biggest fan, Notae is ready to prove he can top last year’s performance and lead the Razorbacks.

Darren McFadden and Houston Nutt were responsible for some of the greatest moments for Razorback football in Arkansas’ SEC era. In the first two parts of our exclusive conversation with Nutt and McFadden, we’ve taken you through the incredible 2006 season, the 2007 upset win over LSU, and McFadden getting snubbed for the Heisman. Now, in this final part of the conversation, the two reflect on what they accomplished and their relationship, which remains strong to this day. ------------ If you’d like to watch this series, it’s streaming now on Hogs+, the official streaming home of the Razorbacks. Haven’t signed up yet? Get your free seven-day trial right now at HogsPlus-dot-com. It’s where you’ll find tons of behind-the-scenes content with exclusive access, designed for you, the Razorback fan.

Darren McFadden burst on to the national scene in 2006, winning the Doak Walker Award and finishing second in the Heisman Trophy voting, behind winner Troy Smith. It was a contentious decision at the time, but it set the stage for a big 2007 season. Despite some off-field drama, the 2007 team found its footing and won five of its last six games, including a season-ending, triple-overtime win against No. 1 LSU in Baton Rouge. And Houston Nutt’s postgame interview became instantly iconic. But the Heisman eluded McFadden once again. And it still bothers Arkansans to this day. In Part 2 of our exclusive conversation with Nutt and McFadden, we take you through the 2007 season—from a record-breaking performance against South Carolina to the shock of not winning the Heisman. ------------------- If you’d like to watch this exclusive series, it’s streaming now on Hogs+, the official streaming home of the Razorbacks. Haven’t signed up yet? Get your free seven-day trial right now at HogsPlus-dot-com. It’s where you’ll f

For the first time, Darren McFadden and Houston Nutt sit down and relive the 2006 and 2007 football seasons. In Part 1 of this bonus Hog Pod series, the two cover the 2006 season, winning 10 straight games and clinching an SEC West title.

Larger than life is a great way to describe Oliver Miller’s Razorback career. An all-time fan favorite, Miller was always the showman. His on-court play fired up crowds in Barnhill Arena, too. Miller still holds the school records for career blocks and field goal percentage, and was part of a new era of Triplets—alongside Todd Day and Lee Mayberry—that won three Southwest Conference titles and made it to the 1990 Final Four. But he also helped lead the Razorbacks into the SEC, winning the league title over LSU and Shaquille O’Neal in 1992. Miller finished his Razorback career ranked inside the top 10 on the all-time scoring list, and was a first-round draft pick by the Phoenix Suns in 1992. Alongside Charles Barkley, Miller made it to the NBA Finals against Michael Jordan and the Bulls as a rookie. But it wasn’t all fun and games for the entertaining big man. He battled weight issues throughout his career. First a bad perception in college, then reality in the NBA. But Miller was able to overcome it, and play

Imagine a basketball player with the size to work in the paint, but the skills, creativity and shooting to be an elite guard. Thinking of Kevin Durant? Well, we’re talking about someone who’s already drawing KD comparisons: Arkansas’ Jersey Wolfenbarger.  In some ways, Jersey was made for this. At 6-foot-5 as a freshman, she’s already the tallest player on the Razorback women’s basketball team. And the accolades are there—she was a McDonald’s All-American and the seventh-ranked player in the nation coming out of high school. But she didn’t get there without work and motivation from an unusual source. For Jersey, it’s about  wanting to be the best. That work ethic is what can take a great athlete to the next level. And for Jersey, it can help her realize every basketball player’s dream—becoming the No. 1 overall draft pick.

Chris Lykes wants to do two things: play basketball and win. He rose to basketball prominence in the same hotbed that produced Kevin Durant, and spent the first four seasons of his college career at the University of Miami. So how did Lykes end up here? A season-ending injury renewed his desire to achieve more. After testing the NBA waters, Lykes decided it was in his best interests to return for another year in college. And it was obvious what the perfect fit would be. Lykes is ready to learn what it takes to make it to the next level from Eric Musselman, and help the Hogs reach their full potential. And as Arkansas basketball analyst Matt Zimmerman sits down with Chris Lykes, it’s time to get to know one of the newest Razorbacks.

Anna Podojil is a scorer. How else would you describe someone who’s scored 34 goals in three seasons for a Razorback soccer team that has become a top-25 mainstay? What separates her is a desire to be the best. That drive helped Podojil become one of the most sought-after high school talents, attracting interest from the best programs in the nation. But she had her heart set on the Razorbacks, and helping the Arkansas program reach new heights. And Podojil has been at the forefront of the Razorbacks’ rise to the top of the SEC. She’s been an SEC Freshman of the Year and Forward of the Year, and a two-time All-American. But more importantly than any individual accolades, Podojil and her teammates have accomplished the goal of raising the bar at Arkansas, which earned its first ever No. 2 seed at that NCAA Tournament in 2021. No matter how many goals Podojil scores in her Arkansas career, she’ll have accomplished her mission of elevating the Razorback program.