Coach John L. Smith of Arkansas...
(Coach Smith takes the stage, noticing a sign that says, 'Do not move mic.' He raises his voice, "Mike? Where are you?! Get up here." Off to an excellent start.)
On being motivated by a challenge:
"In coaching, that's what you need to get used to. Every year is a new challenge. To find a challenge is exciting. It's an opportunity for me to bring a little leadership and stability to a program that I love. Although, my wife recently made the statement, 'You've never taken over a football team this good.'"
On the Razorback team:
"We're a good football team. We have the opportunity to be a great football team."
On making the head coaching transition:
"This football team has worked through some adversity. By bringing me back, the program can run the way it's always run. It's been as easy as it could've been [when it comes to the transition]."
On the offensive strategy:
"Paul Petrino will be a great play caller. He is a great play caller. Paul has just needed the opportunity to get out there and do it on his own. That guy is a special coach and is going to be a special head coach one day."
On game one v. Jacksonville State and game three v. Alabama:
"Thank goodness we have a couple of home openers. We'll have to play our tail off from the beginning. The way college football is today, the game is so much more level. The first game is a barometer to find out where we are and what we have to do to get better. We're not overlooking anybody."
On receiving a standing ovation at his first practice at Arkansas:
"I made them do that," he chuckled. "I told them if they didn't stand up, they were running."
On telling his players they need to 'get their piss hot':
"We don't want to get into that," he laughed. "What it means is this: start revving it up, baby! Start getting hot! Where did you hear that?!
"Why did my guys tell you that?! That is beautiful."