Settles Invokes Smith's 'Piss Hot' Call Before Auburn
Arkansas running back Cam Settles recalled former coach John L. Smith's rallying phrase while previewing the Razorbacks' road trip to Auburn.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Football
Arkansas running back Cam Settles invoked former coach John L. Smith's "get your piss hot" phrase during a Wednesday press session in Fayetteville ahead of a road game at Auburn. The phrase was first made public at SEC Media Days in 2012.
Why it matters
The comment highlights the team's effort to find a motivational spark after a difficult stretch of losses to Georgia and Missouri. Arkansas faces Auburn with a morning kickoff in an early-season road test.
Arkansas lost 45-17 to Georgia on Sept. 19 and 34-10 to Missouri on Oct. 31, with Missouri scoring a touchdown after recovering a botched direct snap for a 10-0 early lead. The Auburn game kicks off at 11:45 a.m., and Smith's lone 2012 season finished 4-8.
The players
Cam Settles
Cam Settles is an Arkansas running back who invoked the motivational phrase during a press session ahead of the Auburn road game.
John L. Smith
John L. Smith is a former college football head coach who led Arkansas in 2012 and is known for the motivational phrase 'get your piss hot.'
Matt LaFleur
Matt LaFleur is the head coach of the Green Bay Packers who used Smith's phrase before a 2021 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
The details
Settles made the remark on Wednesday while discussing the upcoming trip to Auburn, drawing on a phrase Smith used to fire up players during his lone season in 2012. The comment came as the Razorbacks reflected on a botched direct snap to Settles on fourth and 1 in the first quarter of the Missouri loss, which Missouri recovered for a touchdown.
Timeline
- 2012: Smith's 'get your piss hot' phrase is revealed at SEC Media Days.
- 2021: Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur uses the phrase before a noon game against the Bengals.
- Sept. 19: Arkansas loses 45-17 to No. 2 Georgia in Fayetteville.
- Oct. 31: Arkansas loses 34-10 to Missouri in the Battle Line Rivalry.
- Nov. 6: Settles discusses the phrase and the Auburn trip at a Wednesday press session.
Season Trajectory
The phrase's path from Smith's 2012 Arkansas team to LaFleur's 2021 Packers shows how college motivational language can migrate into the NFL. Arkansas's current 2026 season is built around a road test at Auburn that follows two losses to ranked SEC opponents.
Fans tracking Arkansas's schedule should note the 11:45 a.m. kickoff at Auburn for planning purposes. The matchup follows two losses, so the game's result will shape the team's standing in the SEC race.
The takeaway
Motivational phrases can carry across eras and levels of football, but results still depend on execution. Watch for how Arkansas responds to its recent losses when it takes the field at Auburn.
What happens next
Arkansas plays at Auburn with an 11:45 a.m. kickoff.
Further reading
For more on the Razorbacks' season, see Arkansas Football coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Sports Illustrated.
