Hogs follow Maverick into the danger zone as Petrino's audition begins

Bobby Petrino was born a maverick. Those who’ve seen behind the cool public veneer always knew. They knew the ice man’s desire to once again man the cock pit of a flagship athletic program and compete against the best in a top gun academy like the Southeastern Conference hadn’t cooled since his infamous fall from grace in 2011.

Per Webster, mavericks are original, free spirited, disruptive, non-conformist, unconventional, trend-setting bad boys. Anyone following Bobby Petrino’s career knows he was born for the role. 

It all starts with his origin story. The son of a NAIA Hall of Fame coach out of Helena, Montana — Petrino came up as a rising star where a river runs through it. Petrino garnered All-American honors as a quarterback in football and (probably) point guard in basketball at both the high school and NAIA college levels. 

Along the way, Petrino won a prep state championship and multiple conference titles in college while breaking the kind of scoring records beta males can only dream of. In hindsight, no one should be surprised at the top-gun trajectory Petrino’s coaching career has taken as he’s managed to excel beyond a legacy left by Bobby Petrino, Sr.

Bobby Petrino path to the top

Say what you want to about Bobby Petrino Jr. If there are two things he learned how to do, it’s win and score while he’s doing it. Only now, Petrino's obstacle to winning maybe on the defensive side.

Like in the movie Top Gun, an underdog Maverick — bent surpassing his father’s legacy — fights his way through the elite competition to prove he’s the best of the best. At some point, he crashes out and has to find the confidence to come back and prove himself when duty calls one final time. 

Welp Mav, you’re up. Final auditions for SEC Top Gun academy 2025 starts at 3 p.m. Saturday at Neyand Stadium in Knoxville, Tennessee. 

Keeping it Real

Haters or those rooting for Petrino — even if it’s for their own selfish reasons — may find it impossible to ignore the wreckage left in Petrino's wake in getting to this opportunity. Some still spin the narrative that they never thought this moment was possible, but let’s be honest. 

When Bobby Petrino was invited back to the Arkansas Razorback football program as offensive coordinator two years ago, everyone knew it was to serve as de facto head coach. Media types surrounding the program had to do their version of coach speak of course, but for honest observers, it wasn’t hard to see. 

We could go into the why’s and what for’s but those are stories for other days. For the present, the maverick has a mission to complete. That mission is to take down the No. 12 Volunteers at Tennessee. 

Mission Impossible

The mission seems impossible. Ascend Old Rocky Top — one of the most impregnable venues in all of college sports — where 100,000 Volunteers await bent on revenge.

Sure. Tennessee coach Josh Huepel is a former Heisman trophy and national championship runner up with top gun ambitions of his own. Last year he led the Volunteers to an appearance in the first-ever college football playoffs, but suffered an embarrassing defeat at Arkansas. 

They remember Petrino’s handpicked ace quarterback, Taylen Green picked their vaunted defense apart by completing 70 percent of his passes before leaving late in the game with an injury. They remember then freshman running back Braylen Russell wearing down that defense in the fourth quarter and spearheading a game-winning drive. 

They may not remember Quincy Rhodes’ spin move on the final play that chased Nico Iamleava from the pocket to seal the win, but they may be in for a reminder on Saturday. Razorback fans seem to need a reminder as well. 

Highway to the Danger Zone

This Razorback team went on the road and could have very well taken down the now Top 5 ranked Ole Miss Rebels in their only SEC contest so far this season. Yes. They fumbled away another golden opportunity against a ranked team in their last trip across the Mississippi River against Memphis. 

And yes, they didn’t show up in any capacity in their return to Fayetteville two weeks ago against defending national runner up Notre Dame. That got our man Sam Pittman fired midway through a sixth underwhelming season, and reopened the doors of Arkansas’ finest piece of multi-million dollar machinery for Petrino. 

Razorback Nation should also remember that this time a year ago, few gave us a chance at beating the Volunteers. Few people inside Arkansas or out give Arkansas much of a chance on Saturday. But sometimes a chance is all you need to take someone’s breath away. 

Tennessee’s Joey Aguilar has replaced Green in the darkhorse conversations for this year’s Heisman trophy — although their statistics are neck and neck. Aguilar traded places with former Volunteers quarterback Iamleava, who is now at UCLA. 

Most thought UCLA got the better of that exchange, but so far it seems Aguilar is a better fit for Huepel’s high-octane offensive attack. Meanwhile, Green has faced three ranked opponents in three losses while the only ranked opponent Aguilar has faced is Georgia in the Vols’ only loss. 

Neither team’s defense has set the world on fire with Tennessee ranking just below Arkansas for worst in pass defense in the conference. Petrino is counting on a revamped defensive staff under Chris Wilson to light a fire in the hearts and minds of his defense. Meanwhile Huepel is hoping the return of five injured starters can do to Petrino’s offense what Notre Dame did two weeks ago. 

Most observers are predicting a wild shoot out. What else would anyone expect in a top gun battle in the SEC? With his back against the wall, expect the ice man maverick to come out firing on all cylinders. 

National Defense Matters

Ironically however, the key for Petrino going forward is reconciling his maverick and iceman personas. Petrino has a reputation for throttling his defense so his high-flying offense can soar to ever- increasing heights. After firing former defensive coordinator Travis Williams, who played for Petrino professionally in Atlanta, Petrino seems to finally see the value of a fundamentally solid defense. 

Make no mistake. Just like two weeks ago versus the Fighting Irish, which ever defense shows up and puts on the best performance will decide who wins this SEC contest. 

This is your final audition cowboy. Razorbackers want to know if you’ve still got it. Otherwise, it may be time to turn in your badge and join Pittman in retirement. No more sob stories. No more excuses. No one believes them anyway in this cynical age.

What Razorback Nation does believe in is your ability to win and this is your last shot.