Sports Talk With Bo Mattingly's Podcast

Dave Van Horn leads by example. His quiet confidence comes from being one of the best at what he does. His work ethic is second to none. And he has a burning desire to bring Arkansas baseball its first national championship—something he promised Razorback fans in his introductory press conference. That level of passion has been there in every team he's coached, but something changed at the end of this season and it's a big reason why Arkansas was able to punch their ticket for a return to Omaha. In this exclusive conversation with Dave Van Horn, Phil Elson—the Voice of Razorback Baseball—sits down with the skipper and talks about the team's growth over the course of the season, how players and coaches feed off of one of the most passionate fan bases in the country, and what he sees in this squad that makes him believe this is the year he can fulfill that press conference promise he made nearly two decades ago.

When you think about the fact that Evan Taylor grew up in Florence, Alabama, as a big Crimson Tide football fan, you wonder how he ended up a Razorback. But that’s the national pull this program has under Dave Van Horn. When you’re consistently one of the top programs in the country, that’s what happens. And Taylor became enamored with the Razorbacks during their 2018 College World Series run. But it’s not easy to join a top program. Taylor struggled early, pitching fewer than 15 innings in his first three seasons combined. That led to a conversation with DVH that helped turn his career around. This season, Taylor has turned into one of the most reliable arms in the Razorback bullpen, posting a 3.38 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 37 1/3 innings. The struggles—and the worries that came with them—are a thing of the past.

If it wasn’t for today’s transfer market, Michael Turner would likely have never been a Razorback. After four years at Kent State, where he earned All-MAC honors, the Ohio native decided to put his name in the transfer portal. There were other options closer to home … then he heard from the No. 1 team in the country. And Turner has been blown away by his experience at Arkansas, likening the fan support and atmosphere to what he’s only experienced at college football games up north. Turner has emerged as one of the best hitters on the team, with a .298 batting average and a career-high seven home runs. And even though the regular season didn’t end the way these Razorbacks had hoped, they’re ready for the challenge of the postseason.

Linnie Malkin loves hitting bombs. That approach worked for Malkin, who led the SEC and was top-10 nationally in homers in her senior season. At Arkansas, she found happiness on and off the field. It was a journey to get here, featuring a complicated relationship with her dad, and a trip from Colorado to get noticed. But head coach Courtney Deifel and the Razorbacks have Malkin living her best life. And there was plenty of good this season for Malkin and Arkansas, including a first-ever SEC Tournament title.

KB Sides is a lot of things. Kendall Beth. Razorback. SEC Player of the Year. And, most importantly: Herself. But her journey to figure that out hasn’t been a straight line. After her career at Alabama came to an unexpected end, Sides debating giving up the sport before deciding to seek a new home. And a phone call with Arkansas coach Courtney Defiel changed everything. Sides and Arkansas have been a perfect match. Her 28 steals this season were 24 more than the Razorbacks had all last year. And she’s the latest example of the Razorbacks becoming a destination for the nation’s best. KB Sides took a chance on Arkansas and rediscovered her love for the game—and herself—in the process. And as the SEC Player of the Year, she’s going out on top.

When Courtney Deifel arrived at Arkansas ahead of the 2016 season, the Razorbacks were one of the cellar dwellers of the SEC. The program had won just 18 total SEC games in the three previous seasons, and Deifel’s first team won just a single conference game. But she saw the potential for a turnaround. Since that first season, Deifel and her team have been setting records, including winning the program’s first SEC titles in 2021 and 2022. But winning isn’t everything. Deifel’s program is making an impact on softball, especially in the Natural State. Winning the SEC—while a remarkable achievement considering where the program was—isn’t the end game. This program, under Courtney Deifel, is ready for new heights.

Kendal Briles has found a home at Arkansas. Entering his third year with the Razorbacks, Briles has served as the offensive coordinator at Arkansas longer than at any of his previous stops. And it’s paid dividends. Razorback fans have a lot to be excited about on offense with Briles at the helm, and it starts with quarterback KJ Jefferson as the returning starter. In this conversation, Quinn Grovey sits down with Kendal Briles to talk about why Arkansas is a great fit for him, working with a quarterback like KJ Jefferson, and why he thinks this program is ready for big things.

Ayden Owens may be the best athlete on campus at the University of Arkansas. And it’s something he’s been training for his entire life. Owens developed a love for multiple sports as a kid, and had dreams of playing for his home state Pittsburgh Steelers. But Owens found a different outlet for his competitive nature…on the track AND in the field. His hard work paid off, and he’s now the collegiate record holder in the decathlon. But along with his success came a difficult choice: Who to represent on the international stage…the United States, or his family’s homeland of Puerto Rico. The decision has paid off for Owens, who has lofty Olympic aspirations. And after stops at USC and Michigan, he’s found a home at Arkansas, a place that knows a thing or two about producing Olympians.

Pride in the Razorbacks is a big part of life in the Natural State. When the Hogs are winning, it affects everybody in a positive way. And thanks to Sam Pittman, that pride in Arkansas football is back. The Head Hog has the program on an upward trajectory after a nine-win season, and fans are getting to experience some great moments once again. In this conversation, Quinn Grovey sits down with Sam Pittman to talk about revitalizing a program, bringing the pride back to Razorback football, and what it’s been like to be the coach at Arkansas.

The guy they call Zeb might be the most interesting man in the world. Besides a unique name, the fifth-year senior pitcher speaks parts of multiple languages, will compete with you in ping pong or bowling, and played basketball with multiple guys who made it to the NBA. Don’t expect to see Vermillion on the basketball court, though. He has emerged as a standout reliever for the nationally competitive Razorbacks. It’s a role that’s been built through hard work and an incredible culture that permeates every aspect of the program. And while Vermillion’s Razorback career didn’t get off to the best of starts, he’s turned into one of the most consistent—and confident—performers for Dave Van Horn’s team. With that kind of confidence, it’s easy to see why Vermillion has found success this season and is destined to leave an impact on Razorback baseball.

Danielle Gibson is an RBI machine. She’s the Arkansas school record holder for career RBI, and isn’t slowing down in her last season on campus. The fact that she even ended up with the Razorbacks is a bit of a surprise, considering she’s from California and started her collegiate career at Arizona State. But ever since she set foot in Fayetteville, she’s been dynamite. In this conversation, Quinn Grovey and Matt Zimmerman sit down with this Razorback standout to talk about her life, being a married student-athlete, and her aspirations to be a coach and help change lives in the process.

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.