FAYETTEVILLE -- Whether the Arkansas Razorbacks won or lost last Saturday afternoon at Ole Miss, it wasn't going to change offensive coordinator Dan Enos' plan for that night and the following day.
Enos was going to fly out of Memphis to Detroit on Saturday, then drive to the family home in Dearborn, Mich., and attend the funeral of his father, Robert, the following day.
Robert Enos died the previous Sunday at age 76.
Quarterback Cole Kelley said Robert Enos had to be watching his son play a key role in leading the Razorbacks from a 24-point deficit in their 38-37 victory over Ole Miss.
Enos, speaking publicly for the first time since his father's death , was briefly emotional Tuesday evening at the Fred Smith Center.
The same could be said for his emotions while receiving a game ball, along with kicker Connor Limpert, in the jubilant Arkansas locker room as coaches and players celebrated with and consoled Enos.
"I wasn't good. I just ... it was a tough week," Enos said, his eyes filling with tears when asked about the locker room scene.
Enos said he had a big release of emotions after a trying week.
"It was very difficult. It remains very difficult," he said. "But I've got a great family, got great co-workers and I'm very strong in my faith. Through that, I was able to make it through."
Enos announced his father's death to the Arkansas fan base via his Twitter account last Tuesday.
"It's amazing, just the amount of people that reached out," Enos said. "Not only here, but in this community. It was overwhelming really. It's a blessing being around such good people.
"I don't take it for granted. It really helped me get through a tough time."
Without mentioning his father to members of the media, Enos conducted his normal Monday news conference last week, dissecting the comings and goings of an Arkansas offense that has been slowly ravaged of top playmakers during a trying season.
"Just a tough guy. I just saw a guy persevering through a difficult time," Arkansas receivers coach Michael Smith said. "But you've got to take your hat off to his family because I think they were a great support system for him during this time.
"He was great on the sideline Saturday. He's been great at practice. And the thing I think our kids, especially after the game, were very emotional with Coach Enos because we all knew it was a difficult time for him. His dad meant a lot to him."
Last week, it was time for Enos to put together another offensive plan without star center Frank Ragnow and freshman tailback Chase Hayden, who were both injured during Arkansas' 52-20 home loss to Auburn the previous Saturday.
Enos, already working with the freshman quarterback Kelley due to senior Austin Allen's shoulder injury, just kept plugging away.
"Honestly, it's astonishing, because most people on our team didn't even know," Kelley said.
"I don't know if you can give it words," defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads said of Enos' concentration. "He was so composed all week long, great with the kids, great with the staff, great with himself in handling his preparation in such a professional manner."
"He had a heavy heart, but his mind was on us trying to win a ballgame," running backs coach Reggie Mitchell said. "I was really impressed by the way he handled that."
In the early going Saturday at Oxford, Miss., Kelley and the Razorbacks' offense had their struggles and fell behind 31-7 as Ole Miss scored on its first five possessions.
"We put him in a horrible spot," Rhoads said.
Rather than checking out mentally, Enos bore down. The Razorbacks stuck with a heady game plan of pounding the weak Ole Miss run defense on the ground and giving Kelley a blend of screen passes, short crossing routes and longer passes.
"Preparing the game plan and trying to get a first-year quarterback ready and to have all those things that you guys know are going on, all the noise around you and just stay focused on the sidelines ... and persevere," Coach Bret Bielema said of Enos. "When that rough stretch hit, I know he was frustrated at times ... but to see the reaction from him and our players in the locker room, to be able to let him get home and be around all the family, that reminds us what it is all about."
Bielema said things had been particularly difficult for Enos since Arkansas' bye week from Sept. 10-16.
"It seemed like wham, bam and everything was coming against us," Bielema said. "I think it was the bye week when he came in and it was tough because he was putting his pops in hospice and knew it was going to come at some point."
On Thursday before the Auburn game, Robert Enos took a bad turn and Bielema arranged for a plane to take Dan on a quick trip to Michigan that night to tell his father goodbye in person.
"So he got to see his dad before he passed, because Sunday he was gone," Bielema said.
Enos was stoic during his Monday news conference last week.
"Nothing that Dan does surprises me," Bielema said. "He is a relentless, selfless person.
"I know he was looking for an opportunity that might help him professionally and grow for him and his family, and he has been a tremendous asset here for us. I know it hasn't always gone as well as he wanted, but no one can ever second guess his dedication, his selflessness, and ... our players, the way they have gravitated to him since day one has truly been special."
Saturday’s game
COASTAL CAROLINA AT ARKANSAS WHEN 3 p.m. WHERE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville RECORDS Coastal Carolina 1-7; Arkansas 3-5 TV SEC Network Alternate
Sports on 11/01/2017