Arkansas Razorbacks marked by the mid-October firing of head coach Sam Pittman amid a dismal 2-8 start—interim coach Bobby Petrino’s wife, Becky, delivered a poignant plea to fans and the university community just hours after the team’s 52-37 defeat to the Texas Longhorns on November 22, 2025. The loss at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin capped a frustrating Week 13 for the Razorbacks (now 2-9, 0-7 in the SEC), where quarterback Arch Manning threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns in a dominant Longhorns performance (8-3 overall).
Becky Petrino’s statement, shared via a heartfelt social media post and quickly amplified by Razorbacks supporters, humanized the 64-year-old Petrino, a coaching veteran with a controversial history at Arkansas (2008-2012) now thrust back into the interim role. It revealed weeks of undisclosed health challenges that have sapped his energy, forcing him to coach through visible exhaustion. The message resonated deeply in a fanbase grappling with back-to-back losing seasons, shifting some blame from on-field miscues to the unseen toll on their leader.
Full Text of Becky Petrino’s Statement
Posted on her personal X account (@BeckyPetrino, with over 5,000 followers) shortly after midnight on November 23, the message read (lightly edited for clarity):
“Please understand my husband… he’s been dealing with health issues.
For weeks now, Bobby has been pushing through something serious—nights without sleep, pain that won’t quit, and a body that’s betraying him just when he needs it most. He stepped up for this team when no one else could, taking on the interim role with everything he had left. But watching him on the sidelines in Texas, barely able to stand for the full game, broke my heart. He’s given Arkansas his all, just like always, but this fight is wearing him down in ways you can’t see from the stands.
To the players: He loves you like sons. To the fans: Your support means the world, even in the tough times. And to the Wooo Pig faithful—give him grace. This isn’t about excuses; it’s about a man who’s carried more than his share. Pray for us as we navigate this. One more game for the seniors. Let’s honor that. WPS. 💔🐗”
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