The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

In the last few decades Arkansas baseball has risen from practicing on the old fair grounds in North Fayetteville into a national powerhouse, winning regionals and making frequent trips to Omaha. But what does it take to get there? Great coaches, players, winning and facilities all play a part. The Hogs weren't always postseason regulars. That changed with the Brady Toops grand slam in 2004 that helped Arkansas to its first trip to Omaha under Van Horn. That College World Series appearance increased statewide exposure and popularity, but what took it to the next level was investing in stadium expansions and state of the art facilities to bring in top recruits. Of course, no program can rise without the right person at the helm. We talked to head coach Dave Van Horn, legendary Razorback coach Norm DeBriyn, voice of the Razorbacks Chuck Barrett, former radio analyst Rick Schaeffer, and a fan who's been there through it all—Hognoxious. This is the rise of a program. This is baseball.

Christy Smith is the first name that comes to mind when most Razorback fans think of Arkansas women's basketball. In 1998, the ninth-seeded Hogs, led by Smith, played Cinderella and made it to their first and only Final Four. This is Smith's story: One of how a little girl growing up in the cornfields of Indiana—who picked basketball over cheerleading in first grade and was recruited to Arkansas with an ear of corn—became the first-ever Razorback freshman to start at point guard, and, eventually, the most storied player in Arkansas program history.

Jeremiah Bonsu, a graduate assistant coach at Arkansas, isn't your typical story of the great player who decided to go into coaching once their illustrious career was complete - it is quite the opposite. Bonsu barely made his high school team his senior season. He only had one point to his name his entire career. How did a player that barely saw the floor in high school end up on a D1 basketball team, and is now looking at a promising coaching career? Bonsu's story is a whirlwind tale full of failure, chance and perseverance - finding out a little about himself along the way.

Amber Shirey has been the glue for Arkansas women's basketball for over 30 years. From her small-town roots in Newark, AR, to writing her name in the Razorback record books, to recruiting some of the program's most notable players as an assistant coach, to serving as director of operations; there isn't a part of the women's program that Amber Shirey hasn't touched. For a pinnacle of a program, she is the last person who would boast about her success. Her humility has guided her to become a quiet but strong leader who everyone looks up to.

Student coach, Khalil Garland always wanted to play for the Razorbacks and was one of the top prospects in the state when he arrived at Arkansas in 2017. After undergoing his first routine physical with the team he was diagnosed with a rare heart condition -- ending his playing career forever. Garland had to change his plans and find a new dream. This is the story of how he turned a career ending medical diagnosis into a new dream and purpose - while gaining a new perspective on life.

Four years ago, Arkansas was picked 14th in the SEC. Now, they've started the season ranked 14th in the country, their highest ranking since 2003. How has Mike Neighbors turned the Razorback women's basketball program around and taken it from being one of the worst programs in the league to one of the best? And what does he have in store for the future?

He's a legit four-star prospect, had offers from some of the best programs in college basketball, and is playing like one of the best freshmen in the country. But there's something bigger at play here than just basketball for Moses Moody. He wants to have an impact—both on and off the court. Moody "gets it," and understands that there is power in the path he chooses to follow. How'd he get this wise-beyond-his-years perspective? It's rooted in his family life, but also in having to deal with big expectations from a young age. Those expectations took him from state champion at North Little Rock High School to prep school star at Montverde Academy. And even though Moody spent some time away from his home state, he's motivated to make sure people know exactly what Arkansas is all about. With his talents—both on and off the court—Moody will be putting on a show for years to come.

The first thing you notice about Connor Vanover is the first thing everyone notices about Connor Vanover: He's tall. Really tall. But there's more to Vanover than just his height—he's got serious game, too. It's unusual, but it works: He's a 7'3" big man who shoots it like a guard, at a career rate of nearly 40 percent from deep. And that's not the only usual thing about Vanover's journey, which took a roundabout path to Arkansas. After a stop at Findlay Prep in Las Vegas, Vanover ended up at Cal. And just as things were starting to come together late in his freshman season, his coach got fired. Enter Eric Musselman and his staff, who convinced him to play for his home-state team, and follow in the footsteps of his mom—who holds the single-game blocks record for the Razorback women's basketball team. Vanover has his sights set high. And at 7-foot-3, he might be close enough to reach them.

He's only been a full-time starter for a year, but Jalen Catalon has already become a fan favorite for his big plays—and even bigger hits. The redshirt freshman is already invoking memories of some of the safeties to ever play for the Razorbacks: Names like Atwater, Kennedy, Hamlin and Bua. And it's with good reason. Catalon is the first SEC freshman since Eric Berry in 2007 to record at least 86 tackles and three interceptions in a season. And if 2020 was a full, 12-game season, there'd be several freshman records in jeopardy. But, like the season, Catalon's journey has been anything but normal. Just like at Arkansas, Catalon got off to a fast start at the high school level, setting a school record for tackles in just his third game. He would play both safety and quarterback as a junior, earn Texas defensive player of the year honors, and earn a 4-star ranking. But then, just one game into his senior season, a torn ACL ended his high school career, one which some said could have been among the best in the state's storied history. It was devastating. Catalon's 'why' is to be one of the best. And if he has his way, this is a story that's just getting started.

When you're as multitalented as Eddie Jackson, it can be hard to figure out exactly what you want to do. Or, you can just be like Eddie and do it all. Jackson excelled at multiple sports as a kid—in addition to being one of the top track athletes in Texas, he was a standout in football and basketball. And after deciding to focus on football and track, he landed at Arkansas. Jackson had to overcome some adversity and a couple position changes as a freshman, but then made an instant impact—both on the field and on the track, where he would help the Razorbacks win four national titles. But always in the background? His love of food. And when his football career was over after more than four seasons in the NFL, Jackson lit a fire under his new passion. If there's one thing Jackson can't stand, it's standing still. He's always full of energy and on the move. Eddie Jackson always has something cookin'.