All Hogs

Drinkwitz Shouldn't Draw Ire of Razorback Fans

Missouri coach out-worked, out-prepared, out-performed Arkansas at every turn

Kent Smith

Drinkwitz Shouldn't Draw Ire of Razorback Fans
Drinkwitz Shouldn't Draw Ire of Razorback Fans /
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A lot of fans were a little grumpy Wednesday after a few calling cards left behind by Missouri head coach Eli Drinkwitz.

There was the video of him celebrating a win over Arkansas to close out the season that accompanied the announcement of Pine Bluff wide receiver Courtney Crutchfield. Then there were the billboards that flew high over Pine Bluff Wednesday morning as the Tigers coach marked his territory.

Now keep in mind this is all about Drinkwitz and nothing about Missouri. Despite all the bluster from Tigers' fans, there's nothing that can be done to make Arkansas fans care about Mizzou any more than they would get all bothered about Iowa or South Dakota. 

But, even when it comes to Drinkwitz, there's no need to get mad. So, he posted a clip of him celebrating his team offering up a Class A tail kicking to an uninspired Razorback team. That man did that. 

He had his players ready to play. Arkansas was well scouted. The game plan was flawless. Drinkwitz did his job. Why be mad at him for showing up to work ready to do his job at a high level?

As for what happened in Pine Bluff in recruiting, he has been hustling down there for over two years. He didn't just show up in the middle of the night with a giant check and buy the state's top player out of there. That would be a reason to get mad.

Instead, this all started when he made sure Mizzou had a strong enough presence in Pine Bluff last year to land Jordan Harris, a 6-foot-6, 234 pound 4-star who was the No. 14 athlete in the country and the No. 3 player in Arkansas. He built relationships and it carried into this year with fellow Zebras Crutchfield and Austyn Denby. 

Arkansas fans are always talking about how the Razorback way is to out-prepare, out-hustle and exceed expectations as a result. Well, if that's the case, Drinkwitz has been our-Razorbacking the Razorbacks. 

When "Drive-Time Sports" host Randy Rainwater addressed the situation on 103.7 "The Buzz" in Little Rock, he talked about how a coach at Pine Bluff said when Pittman and Petrino showed up at the school, it was the first time he'd seen an Arkansas coach in forever. He also detailed how after Crutchfield committed to the Hogs, the radio out of Fayetteville essentially went silent. There was no continued pursuit.

If that's the case, and Rainwater has never been one to go on the air and say something about the Razorbacks regarding a topic as sensitive as this that he didn't know for certain, then the choice shouldn't have even been hard.

Those billboards are over Pine Bluff because that's Missouri territory. They own it, and there's no reason to believe Drinkwitz won't land the next Top 5 recruit who comes along on the Zebras roster because he's earned it. 

He's earned the billboards. He's earned the over-excited awkward sideline celebrations. He's essentially earned the right to claim the entire state from Mountain View to the Mississippi River and down to Lake Village as Tiger territory. From Jonesboro to Pine Bluff, if he's wanted them the past two years, they've gone to Missouri.

Razorback fans act like they're mad at Drinkwitz, but at best they're just annoyed. What they're truly mad at is the Hogs' staff getting outworked in every phase when it comes to Arkansas recruits. 

Of course, there's a flip side to that coin as well. There are towns in Georgia and Alabama that the Razorbacks work as hard as Drinkwitz has Pine Bluff. As a result, they manage to steal quality talent out of there. In fact, should a top recruit filter through those schools, Arkansas would have a legitimate chance.

The real problem isn't players leaving the state. More than half the Power Five talent in Arkansas left this year and no one is really complaining. It only matters that Drinkwitz took three of them. He annoys Razorback fans like no coach has in a while and it wouldn't matter what school he's out because, once again, Missouri has nothing to do with it.

He just gets under their skin. However, he has to be respected for what he's managed to do lately. Especially, since he did it the Razorback way.

Arkansas divider

HOGS FEED:

TIME FOR RAZORBACKS TO RETHINK APPROACH TO GAMES OVER HOLIDAYS

SAM PITTMAN ROBS DAVE VAN HORN'S PITCHING STAFF FOR LATEST ADDITION OF QUARTERBACK ROOM

SECONDARY COMPLETELY FLIPS FROM WEAKNESS TO STRENGTH OVER COURSE OF SINGLE YEAR

Arkansas divider

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Kent Smith
KENT SMITH

Kent Smith has been in the world of media and film for nearly 30 years. From Nolan Richardson's final seasons, former Razorback quarterback Clint Stoerner trying to throw to anyone and anything in the blazing heat of Cowboys training camp in Wichita Falls, the first high school and college games after 9/11, to Troy Aikman's retirement and Alex Rodriguez's signing of his quarter billion dollar contract, Smith has been there to report on some of the region's biggest moments.