.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
.vresize.36.36.medium.0.png){kind=small}
Bobby Petrino has had a busy two weeks since his last public appearance, and the Arkansas coach is finally ready to look ahead to a Cotton Bowl matchup with Kansas State.
Petrino made his first public appearance Saturday since a 41-17 loss at LSU on Nov. 25. Since then, the No. 6 Razorbacks (10-2) have lost three assistant coaches - including both offensive and defensive coordinators - and Petrino has faced mild criticism for a profanity-laced sideline tirade in the final minutes of the loss to the Tigers.
Petrino, taking questions at a news conference for the first time since LSU, said he hopes the hiring of former Ohio State assistant Paul Haynes as defensive coordinator ends the coaching carousel of the last week. Haynes was hired Friday night to replace Willy Robinson, who resigned earlier in the week.
Petrino coached with Haynes for a season while the two were with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He came away impressed with the work ethic of Haynes, who spent the last seven seasons with the Buckeyes.
''He's a guy that is going to push his players extremely hard, and they're going to be disciplined,'' Petrino said. ''But he's also has that relationship where he can put his arm around them and give them a hug when they need that.''
Petrino said Haynes will begin work right away for Arkansas, which will continue to use its current defensive terminology through the Cotton Bowl against the Wildcats (10-2) on Jan. 6.
Haynes won't be the only new look for the Razorbacks when they travel to Dallas. Arkansas hired Paul Petrino, Bobby's brother, as offensive coordinator to replace Garrick McGee, who became the head coach at Alabama-Birmingham.
The Razorbacks went in-house to replace former special teams coordinator John L. Smith, who left to coach Weber State. Kevin Peoples was elevated from a support role to defensive line coach, with assistant coach Steve Caldwell taking over Smith's duties on special teams.
''I hope we're done,'' Bobby Petrino said. ''We had enough.''
Arkansas' only losses this season were to the No. 1 Tigers and No. 2 Alabama. Petrino is counting on the team's 17 seniors to aid in the coaching transition during the month of bowl preparation.
''We've got a mature team, and that helps a lot,'' Petrino said. ''I put more on the players. I put more on the seniors that, `You've got to make sure we're ready in the meetings, make sure we get to practice right.'''
As for the tirade at LSU, which appeared aimed at Tigers coach Les Miles and was caught on television, Petrino said he didn't remember what he was upset about at the time.
''That was a long time ago, and to be honest with you, you don't recall things like that,'' Petrino said. ''I was told about it, and obviously I've got to be more aware of my actions and my language. We'll work on improving that.''
