A word from Michigan
Experience shows that it takes a lot for a reader to sit down at a keyboard and take the time to draft a letter to the editor of his local newspaper. For someone to write to a newspaper that’s not his local paper is quite unusual. But in Monday’s Northwest Arkansas Times, an Ann Arbor, Mich., resident took some time to offer a bit of encouragement for Razorback football fans. Here’s his letter:
A rocket for an arm
As a University of Michigan alum and lifelong Wolverine fan, I was brokenhearted to hear of Ryan Mallett’s transfer out of our football program. Coach Carr’s retirement had been expected, but I did not see this coming. That I have taken the trouble to Google a newspaper in the Fayetteville area, one covering Razorback football, in order to send this letter ought to stand as evidence of how much we thought of Ryan here in Michigan, and of how much I hope Razorback fans understand just how good of a quarterback they are getting. The guy is phenomenal and has it all: size, smarts, a good attitude and an arm like a cannon. I mean he can rope it 60 yards downfield and knock the wide receiver’s helmet off. We all hate the word “potential,” but it is not at all hyperbole to suggest that Mallett has the skills to compete for the Heisman Trophy by his senior year at Arkansas. So, here’s a great big congratulations to Hog fans everywhere over the new coaching staff and QB transfer Ryan Mallett. I’m serious - wait till you see this guy throw the ball in spring practice. A rocket for an arm. I’ll leave you with the favorite words of football fans everywhere: Wait till next season !
Rob Martin
Ann Arbor, Mich.
We (the Razorbacks) have a very big, talented young man coming to Arkansas that has already shown that he can play at a high level. You can’t help but be optimistic about the qb position for the Fall of 09.
Kodi, Mitch and Ryan would never have all been at Arkansas. Kodi and Ryan probably didn’t come to Arkansas because Mitch was there and when he decided to transfer they were committed else where. Sometimes things have a way of working out for the best and hopefully this will be one of those times. I would love to see all three of these young men be hugely successful at their respective schools - I just hope that Ryan is a little more successful than the other two.
GO HOGS!!!!!!!
Mr. Martin is a class act and it sounds as though the Hog nation will be smiling come 2009! Thank you sir for the insight.
Jake,
Who is Kodi?
crittco: I was referring to Kodi Burns ( spelling isn’t my long suit,) QB from Fort Smith - now at Auburn. As I remember, he wasn’t interested in Arkansas because of Mustang being there. He looks like the starter at Auburn next year and Mustang looks like a contender at USC. Arkansas (high school) is gaining a reputation for both D1 quarterbacks and running backs. I live on the east coast and the knowledgeable (and I use that term loosely) college football fans think the Hogs backed into the best freshman qb in the nation (Ryan), it’s a shame he has to sit out a year.
I might add: a friend that is a big Tennessee booster was really hoping that Tenn. would hire the ex Michigan offensive cord. so they would have a shot at Ryan. The Tenn. blogs were hot on that story.
Honestly, out of the three, I would much rather have Ryan Mallett. Kodi Burns is much more of a “pull it down and run” kind of QB. He would have been perfect for our offense this past season, but he’s not a pocket-passer.
And this may upset the Springdale faithful, but I’m still not convinced that Mustain wasn’t just a “system” QB. His numbers were unbelievable, but how much of it was the offense that Malzahn ran and the fact that Damian Williams was on the other end of a lot of those passes? Gus has a way of making QBs look good. Just look at the Tulsa QB, Paul Smith. He came out of nowhere to become one of the leading passers this year. In 2006, he threw for 2700 yds and 15 TDs; in 2007 he threw for over 5000 yds and 47 TDs. I hope Mitch does well at USC and goes on to have a long NFL career, but I wouldn’t be surprised if he never sees the field again. I know he was 8-0 as a starter, but most of those wins had more to do with DMAC and Felix Jones than the QB.
I think that Ryan Mallett’s talent is indisputable. He has the prototypical body, he’s already gotten his freshman mistakes out of the way, and the sky is the limit once he suits up for Bobby Petrino. I’m looking forward to 2009, but let’s not forget about the QBs we will have next year. One of them may pop up and challenge the heir apparent.
Next year may be Nutt’s one and only chance to beat the Hogs. Once Mallett is taking snaps, it will be nice to see Nutt scratching his head from the other side of the field, revealing once again that he’s way above his head coaching in Division 1. When we’re done with him that day, he’ll wish he was still strolling the sidelines at Murray State.