It’s not hard to connect the dots between Arkansas and South Carolina. Two former staff members under Razorbacks head coach Bobby Petrino now reside on the defensive side of the football in the Palmetto State, and there’s plenty of respect shared among the trio.

For Lorenzo Ward, who served as Arkansas’ secondary coach last season, is now the defensive coordinator at South Carolina.

Lorenzo Ward, right, coached the secondary during his season at Arkansas in 2008 but is now the defensive coordinator at South Carolina. Ward has plenty of respect for his former boss, Bobby Petrino. (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/FILE)

Seth Emerson of The State has more on Ward and his thoughts on his former boss, Petrino:

“I think he’s a great head coach,” Ward said. “He’s very organized. He’s got his way of doing things, he’s got his system, and it’s going to work. I keep telling guys all the time, when he gets the players that he wants, it’s going to work.”

Gamecocks assistant head coach Ellis Johnson is also a former Razorback coach, even if it was for less than a month. Petrino hired the former Mississippi State defensive coordinator after arriving in Fayetteville in December 2007.

“I knew him for a cup of coffee. That’s about it,” Petrino chuckled Monday. “I wouldn’t say we really have a relationship. He’s a nice guy and a very good football coach. I certainly respect everything that he’s done.”

Petrino says the coach “really had to take the job” at South Carolina to set himself up for retirement in his home state. Just chalk up Petrino’s selection of Johnson as “bad timing.”

“Certainly no ill feelings on my part at all,” Petrino said.

We have plenty of content on WholeHogSports.com today for your reading pleasure. Links to stories and videos are below, including coverage on last night’s All-Arkansas pitching duel between Philadelphia’s Cliff Lee and New York’s A.J. Burnett.

STORIES
— Spurrier seeks steady progress
— EXHIBITION: Arkansas in flux, tops NAIA foe
— World Series: An Arkansas Classic
— Special prosecutor to review Arkansas basketball rape case
— Razorbacks report
— Petrino: Starters Will Earn Roles Through Practice
— Florida Receiver Commits To Hogs

COLUMNS
— LIKE IT IS: ‘They’re OK’ critique disrespectful to Hogs
— THE RECRUITING GUY: Recruit plays for Cavemen, doesn’t dress like one
— Harry King: Bowls Open For SEC

VIDEOS
— Arkansas football: Turning point
— Baseball: All-Arkansas World Series

Keep it here on the Slophouse for regular updates, including our usual daily slop after football practice this evening.

— Brandon Marcello