Arkansas Football: What Razorbacks Said at SEC Media Day About Bobby Petrino

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Usually, former Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino would be preparing for another college football season right now, but instead he is participating as a golf caddie for his daughter. We all know the horrible offseason incident that resulted in the firing of Petrino, and led to the hire of John L. Smith.

But with SEC Media Day underway, the questions about how this will affect the team are certainly going to be asked. Will Smith be able to lead this team to a possible SEC title? Will the off-the-field distractions hold this team back? Has anybody spoken to Petrino since the incident?

Those questions and more will be answered today.

Here are some of the things said by the Arkansas players about former head coach Petrino.

Knile Davis

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Knile Davis told Petrino that he should not be so hard on himself once the news broke (via ESPN's National College Football Reporter, Joe Schad):

Bobby Petrino told Knile Davis he was sorry for what happened. "I told him don't be so hard on yourself. You taught me everything I know."
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 18, 2012

He also went on to say that it is not really a big deal on who the head coach of Arkansas is:

Win w/o Bobby Petrino? "End of the day it's (who's) in the huddle," Knile Davis said.

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 18, 2012

Davis is also extremely high on this offense heading into 2012:

Davis told Petrino to watch the team closely this season. "I told him, 'We're going to put on a show."
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 18, 2012

Should make for an interesting season.

Knile Davis Gets Deeper into Conversation

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Knile Davis recently visited with the former Razorbacks coach and had a very emotional conversation. Here is a little bit more of what took place when they met up (via ArkansasSports360.com):

It was cool. He called me. He said, ‘Man I hope you have a very good year.’ He apologized. He said, ‘I’m sorry for everything that happened.’ I let him know, he was very humble, he was very hurt on the phone. I told him not to be so hard on himself. I told him, ‘You made a mistake. You’ll get back from it.’ He said, ‘Thank you man, I love you.’ That was pretty much it.

The running back then quickly wanted to change subjects and focus on the 2012 football season.

"It was good to talk to him, to hear from him. He’s doing OK. Now it’s time to go to work," Davis said.

Tyler Wilson

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Quarterback Tyler Wilson admitted that he has had conversations with Petrino since the incident (via ArkansasSports360.com editor, Chris Bahn):

He also said that this year's team will have a chip on its shoulder (via ESPN's National College Football Reporter, Joe Schad):

Harder to win w/o Bobby Petrino? "There is a chip on our shoulder about that line of thinking," Tyler Wilson said

— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) July 18, 2012

How will that chip play into the success of the 2012 season? Only time will tell.

Tenarius Wright Says Smith Is a Motivator

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Linebacker Tenarius Wright says the players really enjoy Smith being the head coach, and he has a saying that really motivates the ball club (via ESPN's, Edward Aschoff):

#Razorbacks LB Tenarius Wright says John L. Smith's moto for the team? "Get your piss hot." Says it pumped players up this summer
— Edward Aschoff (@AschoffESPN) July 18, 2012

A little strange, but hey, whatever works, right?