The Hog Pod with Bo Mattingly

Basketball has taken David Patrick all over the world—literally. Born in Bermuda, Patrick grew up in Australia, where he discovered the game that would change his life. A high school move to America helped him catch the eye of coaches, and he would be part of a Final Four team at Syracuse before transferring to Louisiana-Lafayette to finish his college career. Then, it was on to a pro career that would take him to Australia, England and Spain. But along the way, he never had plans on being a coach. So how did a $5,000 job launch the career of one of the top recruiters in the country? He's landed players like Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Ben Simmons. And after leaving his first head coaching job, he has his sights set on helping Eric Musselman build the Razorback basketball program. It's time to get to know Arkansas assistant David Patrick.

Tyler Wilson was always talented. He set records in high school as a quarterback and pitcher at Greenwood High School. Then, he came to Arkansas and rewrote the record books. After playing briefly as a true freshman in 2008, Wilson sat for two years behind Ryan Mallett, but burst onto the scene against Auburn in 2010 after an injury to the starter. And then in 2011, he quarterbacked Arkansas to its first 11-win season since 1977, and entered 2012 as one of the top QBs in the country. And though things went sideways quickly for the Razorbacks in Wilson's senior season, he still left Arkansas as one of the best to ever do it. But it almost didn't happen. How did one of the best quarterbacks in school history almost never suit up for the Hogs? How does he look back on that fateful 2012 season? And does he still have lingering doubts that he picked the right sport?

Under head coach Shauna Taylor, the Arkansas women's golf program has become one of the most successful teams on campus. Two of the biggest reasons why? Gaby Lopez and Maria Fassi. Though both hail from Mexico, Arkansas quickly became a second home. First for Lopez, who would win three times in college and become a two-time All-American, and has since won twice on the LPGA Tour. And then for Fassi, who would help the Razorbacks win their first SEC title in 2018 and then win the NCAA individual title in 2019 in Fayetteville, all while becoming the first two-time winner of the Annika Award—the Heisman Trophy of women's golf. With Taylor's guidance and Lopez and Fassi setting the standard, this is a program that's risen to be one of the best in college golf. How'd it happen? Find out as Taylor chats with Lopez and Fassi in this bonus episode of the podcast.

Travis Swanson holds a rare distinction in Razorback football history: He's one of only a handful of guys who played for three different head coaches in his Arkansas career. Recruited by Bobby Petrino, Swanson was the starting center for the most successful two-year stretch in program history. But by the time Petrino was gone, Swanson still had two years of eligibility, meaning he played for both John L. Smith and Bret Bielema, as well. Despite the Razorbacks going just 7-17 over his final two seasons, Swanson continued to develop. How did he go from being an unheralded prospect out of Houston to one of the top offensive linemen in the country? Swanson would take a strong work ethic all the way to a five-year career in the NFL. And then, all of sudden, he went out on own his terms. How did one major life change have such a profound impact on Travis Swanson that he decided to put his football career in the rearview? It's been a memorable ride for Swanson, who's always ready to outwork everybody else.

For most football players, making it to the NFL is the high point of their careers. Then again, Jake Bequette isn't like most football players. Sure, his football life reads like a movie script: He was a third generation Razorback from Little Rock who ended up playing a vital role on teams that went 21-5 over a two-year stretch. And perhaps the program's biggest win in the SEC era—against LSU to clinch a Sugar Bowl berth—came in his hometown, in the stadium where he played in high school. He topped off his Razorback career by getting drafted by the most successful NFL franchise of the past two decades—the New England Patriots. But his four-year NFL career was marred by injuries, and when he retired in 2015, he knew what he wanted to do: Join the Army. And it's been the culmination of a longtime goal for Bequette, who has completed Ranger School and served a tour in Iraq as a First Lieutenant in the 101st Airborne Division. While many Razorback fans will remember what he did on the field, Bequette hopes to one day be known for serving a greater purpose.

In this special bonus edition of The Hog Pod, we catch up with Razorback baseball coach Dave Van Horn, the active leader among coaches in number of trips to the College World Series. We chat about what makes his teams successful in the postseason, relieve some of his favorite moments and talk about how the Covid-19 pandemic will affect college baseball.

Tony Bua has never lacked passion. That fire and competitiveness—and plenty of big hits—made him an easy fan favorite at Arkansas. So it's hard to imagine that the Razorbacks' all-time leader in tackles almost wasn't a Hog at all—and almost wasn't playing major college football. Bua was undersized and under-recruited in high school. So how did a move to a new state and new school right before his senior year change everything? Once he got a chance, Bua did everything he could to make an impact, and his career with the Razorbacks was nothing short of electric. He was part of Arkansas teams that won seven games against top 25 teams, played in two seven overtime wins and won an SEC West title. Razorback fans won't forget Tony Bua anytime soon.

They're two of the best players to come through the Razorback basketball program. And they just so happen to be father and son. In fact, despite playing decades apart, Ron and Ronnie Brewer right next to each other on Arkansas' all-time scoring list, separated by just 24 points. They're also the first father-son duo to play at the same school and for the same NBA team in basketball history. One of the Triplets, Ron helped lead Eddie Sutton's Razorback teams to new heights, including as the top scorer on the 1978 Final Four team. And 28 years later, it was Ronnie's turn to be the leading scorer on an NCAA Tournament team. What was it like to grow up as a standout basketball player who just so happened to be the son of an Arkansas legend? Their relationship is just as much about life off the court, including a focus on giving back to the community through the Ronnie Brewer Foundation. It's part of what makes the two of them stand out, and what makes their bond as father and son so strong to this day.

Heston Kjerstad was the SEC Freshman of the Year, an All-SEC and All-American performer during his Razorback career, in which he hit .345 with 35 home runs and 124 RBI over 145 games. But as good as he was in his time at Arkansas, did you know Kjerstad wasn't highly touted or recruited as a high schooler? Dave Van Horn and his staff knew they had something special on their hands with the Amarillo, Texas, native. And Kjerstad delivered time and time again for the Razorbacks. He helped lead the Diamond Hogs to back-to-back trips to the College World Series, and became a fan favorite for his mammoth home runs. And while his Arkansas career was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, his future in baseball is brighter than ever.

Chuck Barrett has been a voice fans have known since 1992, when the lifelong Razorback fan began calling Arkansas baseball games, and helped establish a statewide radio network for those broadcasts. In 2008, he added football play-by-play responsibilities, and basketball soon followed in 2010. While he no longer handles Razorback baseball play-by-play, Barrett is responsible for some of the program's most memorable calls. And the same can be said for football and basketball. In this bonus episode of The Hog Pod, we relieve the moments that stand out to Chuck, what makes them great, and what they meant to Razorback nation.