Tear Off the Rearview Mirror’: Bobby Petrino’s Message to Arkansas Ahead of Tennessee Showdown

‘Tear Off the Rearview Mirror’: Bobby Petrino’s Message to Arkansas Ahead of Tennessee Showdown
FAYETTEVILLE, AR — As the Arkansas Razorbacks prepare to face No. 12 Tennessee, new interim head coach Bobby Petrino delivered a clear and firm message that many believe the program needed to hear following a tumultuous week: focus on the future, not the past.
When asked about the Volunteers seeking “revenge” for last season’s upset loss to the Razorbacks, Petrino’s response during his press availability cut through the external noise and zeroed in on the program’s immediate needs.
“We’ve just tried to put it behind us and say, tear off the rearview mirror and look forward,” Petrino said. “It’s not about what we haven’t done, but what we need to do. I like the way that we’ve worked… We need to really learn that and understand that as the game goes on, we have no time to put your head down.”
The veteran coach, who took over as interim head coach last week, emphasized that a single, defining loss or win has no bearing on the next play, series, or game. The statement signals a renewed focus on execution and mental toughness, particularly after a season that saw the Razorbacks struggle to maintain consistency.
Petrino also offered subtle gamesmanship, hinting at new strategies to combat the fast-paced Vols offense. “We’ve had a week of preparation… we’re not going to talk a lot about what we’re going to do with individuals and where they might line up in this first game, just to see if maybe we can get a little bit of an advantage there,” Petrino added.
The Razorbacks travel to Knoxville on Saturday to face a Tennessee team eager to avenge last year’s defeat, but Petrino’s words aim to ensure that Arkansas’s focus remains strictly on the present challenge.