Tusk to Tail: Keep Coach Morris and bring back Coca-Cola

THE QUESTION
After last week’s embarrassing loss to San Jose State, many fans wanted Coach Chad Morris fired. If you were the Athletic Director, what would you do?

Craig May
I would be doing the same thing Hunter Yurachek is doing: publicly supporting the coach and letting fans know he’s the right guy for the job. What else are you going to say about a coach who’s 16 games into his tenure? It’s not the time to talk about changing coaches, but fan apathy will be at an all-time high if the Hogs only win 3 games this season.

Todd Rudisill
I was in the student section in 1992 for the Citadel and woke up the next day to the news of Jack Crowe’s firing. I thought after San Jose State, I would wake up to the news of the SEC putting the Hogs in the conference transfer portal to see if anyone would claim us. Morris needs time, but he is going to have to make changes with assistants at end of the year

Jeb Joyce
If were AD, I would reinstate Coke products at Razorback sporting events. As far as football is concerned, if the AD fired a coach every time the fanbase got their feelings hurt after a loss, we would be the University of Tennessee, and check out how they are doing these days. Seriously though, with a team this young, and Morris having brought in only one recruiting class to date, you have to give him at least two more years.

THE GAMES
• #23 Texas A&M vs. Arkansas
Sean Casey
Arkansas is now a 23-point underdog to Texas A&M this Saturday, which seems rather optimistic after San Jose State. The Hogs need to find some pride and show up with a much better effort from the players and coaches. Starkel is facing his former team and I expect an improved performance over last week’s 5 interceptions. The Hogs are young, inexperienced, and they’re not very good. The Aggies have had a couple tough losses to Clemson and Auburn, but they are the better coached team and have a ton of talent. The Aggies win and make it eight in a row over Arkansas. I think Arkansas covers the spread, losing 42-28, giving us a moral victory that no one wants.

Sam Atkinson
As bad as the Hogs have been these last seven years, this game has usually been within a TD with four games decided in overtime. Both teams are 2-2, but the Aggies have played much higher-level teams. I think the Hogs will surprise them, but too much talent in Maroon and White will provide a win 34-10 for the Aggies.

Forrest Acuff
Texas A&M and it won’t be close. Arkansas has struggled with Portland State and San Jose State while the Aggies have struggled with Clemson and Auburn. Look for A&M to have a field day with the young and injured Arkansas defense and for our offense to struggle against a stout Aggie defense. There’s always next year, right?

Todd Rudisill
It’s Aggie week in Dallas again. This is a game that has been attended by 52,000 the past two years. Both schools would draw more fans if the games were played at home, which we could see after 2024. My hope is we see the Hogs come out with some fire and play like fighting Razorbacks after that embarrassment. The Aggie’s have 2 losses to the #1 and #8 teams but haven’t looked good in either. They are much better than San Jose State, though. Starkel threw his Justin Bieber t-shirt away after 5 interceptions, so expect only 3 this game. The Hogs will cover, but the streak of not beating A&M since they joined the conference will continue. Aggies 37-17.

• #21 USC @ #17 Washington
Forrest Acuff
I would say bet on Washington at home, but with this wildcard USC team, you never know what can happen. USC used their third string quarterback to pull off the upset of #10 Utah at home, which was more mind boggling than losing to BYU in overtime on the road with their second-string quarterback. Washington’s only blemish of the year came at home against undefeated Cal in a game that kicked off at 10:30 p.m. in a monsoon. Other than that, the Huskies have looked like a solid contender for the PAC12 title. I like Chris Peterson and the Huskies to outlast USC in this one.

• #18 Virginia @ #10 Notre Dame
Jeb Joyce
Virginia is the 18th best team in college football? No, they are not. Notre Dame wins in a rout at home.

• Mississippi State @ #7 Auburn
Craig May
Give Gus credit, Auburn is playing well this season. The offensive and defensive lines have been fantastic. JaTarvious Whitlow is running well and Bo Nix is making plays behind center. Can the Mississippi State defense keep the Auburn offense off the Field? I don’t think so. Auburn 28, MSU 17.

Todd Rudisill
Auburn has beaten Oregon and is coming off a big win over A&M in College Station last Saturday. Their lines have both been great in those two games and will continue to be great in this one. Nix will make the plays when he needs to and the Tigers roll to 5-0 with a 34-20 win.

• #5 Ohio State @ Nebraska
Sam Atkinson
The Buckeyes travel to Lincoln to take on Nebraska having a 17.5-point advantage. The pride of Nebraska’s defense is their secondary but they will have a tough time trying the cover the speed and precise route running of Ohio State. I don’t see the Cornhuskers being able to handle the Buckeyes in the second half. Ohio State wins 42-17 over Nebraska.

• Ole Miss @ #2 Alabama
Sean Casey
Ole Miss is playing Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on CBS. The obvious question is, “Who at CBS hates Ole Miss and why?” Is this some form of televised ritualistic sacrifice? Granted Ole Miss beat the Hogs, but so could Bryant High School. Tua and Bama manhandles the Landsharks, winning 48-12.

Todd Rudisill
After Alabama whined about getting an 11 a.m. kickoff game for their non-con yawner game last week, the SEC office awarded them with a 2:30 p.m. kickoff against Ole Miss. The Crimson Tide are favored by 37. This is Bama privilege in full effect. Auburn and State would have been a much better game. The Tide rolls 58-9.

Editor’s note: Now in its eighth year, Tusk to Tail is the sport of tailgating as organized, performed and perfected by a group of Hog fans who have been tailgating together sober and otherwise for more than a decade. The primary focus of Tusk to Tail will be to follow the Hogs through the fans’ perspective with their insightful, irreverent, smart-alecky and sometimes practical style. Tusk to Tail sponsors are the Arkansas Lottery Scholarship program and Turn Key Construction Management. The diehards may also be followed on their Facebook page. Or follow the crew on Twitter and Instagram, all @TuskToTail.