Live Game Blog: Western Illinois vs. Arkansas
Arkansas 28, WIU 24 (FINAL)
UPDATE (10:09 p.m.): Back in the press box after the long, long, long press conferences after the game. Went down to the field with 5 minutes remaining, so there’s the reason for the lack of a final update until now. If you don’t already know, Casey Dick and the Arkansas offense rumbled down the field 83 yards on 12 plays to win the game with 1:49 remaining.
“They played us a lot closer than we anticipated,” UA head coach Bobby Petrino said. “Hats off to their players and coaches for coming in and fighting.”
Dick ran in for his second rushing touchdown of the night after 20-plus-yard throws to Lucas Miller and Greg Childs.
Dick completed a fourth down play at the WIU 33-yard-line for an 11-yard pass to Carlton Salters to keep hope alive for a Razorback win. Dick’s touchdown run was the Razorbacks’ lone, second-half lead, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
“[Dick] used his legs some tonight,” Petrino said. “We’ve been preaching the run to him, especially with the look Western Illinois was giving us — rushing three and dropping eight guys back.”
FOURTH QUARTER
WIU 24, Arkansas 21
UPDATE (8:41 p.m.): Bobby Petrino always believes in going back to players who may have made a mistake. And he just did that. Freshman receiver Greg Childs dropped a pass, and the Petrinos went back to him twice more, good for a first down then a 26-yard touchdown catch with 7:58 remaining.
The true freshmen have made big drops and big plays in this game.
Arkansas’ touchdown drive went 73 yards on nine plays. The Razorbacks are crawling back.
WIU 24, Arkansas 14
UPDATE (8:28 p.m.): That’s gotta sting. Arkansas just gave up a touchdown on fourth-and-1 on the goal line. Fullback Javid Milton just crashed through for a touchdown and 23-14 lead. The extra point is up and good.
That drive was classic, brutal football. A little bit of running back Herb Donaldson mixed in is giving Arkansas a LOT of hurt. WIU went 35 yards on 13 plays, including conversions on three of four third downs.
And, get this, WIU took 8:05 off the clock.
THIRD QUARTER
WIU 17, Arkansas 14
Nearly 16 years ago, Arkansas was shocked by The Citadel, 10-3. Well, a repeat of such an upset is close to coming true, it seems.
With momentum on their side, the UA defense forced a punt but then Casey Dick tossed a pass to receiver Carlton Salters, who fumbled the ball on the 27-yard line. WIU’s Robert Hodges recovered to give the Leathernecks the ball at the 35-yard-line with 31 seconds remaining in the third.
——
WIU 17, Arkansas 14
UPDATE (8 p.m.): Casey Dick just did his best Matt Jones impression and ran into the end zone from 23 yards out for a touchdown with 6:11 remaining in the third. Dick ran up the middle, juked a defender, juked two more, stumbled, regained his footing and ran into the east end of end zone.
The touchdown made the score 17-14 in favor of WIU. The run was Dick’s longest of his career and first career touchdown rush. The Hogs drove 80 yards on 8 plays.
WIU 17, Arkansas 7
UPDATE (7:47 pm.) Herb Donaldson owns this Arkansas defense. After running all over the defense for more than 110 yards and a touchdown, he just caught a 12-yard touchdown pass with 9:42 remaining in the third quarter. The Leathernecks… ahem… are leading the Hogs, 17-7.
WIU took 10 plays, 57 yards and 5:18 off the clock.
Petrino’s opener is not looking good for the Hog faithful.
HALFTIME
WIU 10, Arkansas 7
Well, ESPN isn’t here, but if they were, that big ol’ UPSET ALERT graphic would be all over the screen right now. The Hogs are looking inept at times on offense and OK on defense. Here are some stats to tide you over until the second half.
Arkansas total offense: 31 plays for 144 yards.
Casey Dick: 10 of 18 for 110 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. He’s also been sacked four times in the first half.
De’Anthony Curtis and Joe Adams have shown some nifty moves. Curtis has a long run of 18 yards and is averaging 8.3 yards per carry. He’s carried the ball three times for 25 yards. Adams, meanwhile, has run the ball once for 11 yards and caught a 10-yard touchdown pass. D.J. Williams is leading all receivers with four grabs for 36 yards.
——
SECOND QUARTER
UPDATE (7:18 p.m.): The Hogs came out in their 2-minute offense to end the second quarter with 1:31 remaining. After getting up field a bit, Casey Dick threw down the field for an open London Crawford, but Crawford was out of bounds and then Dick ran up the field as time ran out. The Hogs are in a hole at halftime, 10-7.
WIU 10, Arkansas 7
UPDATE (7:12 p.m.): Herb Donaldson loves Arkansas’ defensive line, because he’s rumbling all over them right now. The running back just cruised in from three yards out for a touchdown with 1:31 remaining. The Leathernecks drove down the field 76 yards in 11 plays. Donaldson’s powerful running was the catalyst, as was a 15-yard face mask penalty by the Hogs.
It’s not looking too good for the Hogs right now. The Razorbacks looked sturdy on defense and questionable on offense in the first quarter and early half of the second, but it seems the tables have turned for the Hogs’ squad.
——
Arkansas 7, WIU 3
UPDATE (7:02 p.m.): The Hogs’ first touchdown came with 6:10 remaining in the second quarter, about 7 minutes after I heard the first boo raining down from the stands.
Casey Dick threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to a crossing Joe Adams, a true freshman, in the middle of the end zone. It’s now 7-3 Hogs. The play was set up with consistent gains in the running game and intermediate gains with the passing game.
De’Anthony Curtis, another true freshman, came in and peeled off an 18-yard run to start the 10-play, 81-yard drive that lasted 4 minutes, 22 seconds. By the way, up to then, the draw play to Curtis was probably the most exciting play of the game for the Hogs.
Freshman Greg Childs also got in on the scoring drive with a 19-yard gain from Dick for a first down to the 26 yard line.
——
FIRST QUARTER
WIU 3, Arkansas 0
UPDATE (6:35 p.m.): Well, Petrino’s first, first quarter is a goose egg on the scoreboard. The Hogs have 9 yards of total offense.
Elton Ford made up for a fumbled kick return and hit a 32-yard return to the 34-yard-line, but the Hogs went three-and-out, ending with a dropped pass by London Crawford.
After an WIU possession, the Hogs returned to the field but struggled again on offense. Wade Grayson gave up a sack thanks to a fast-moving Jason Williams at linebacker, and then Lucas Miller tipped a pass over the middle of the field for an interception by WIU’s free safety, Tim Jackson.
It’s now third down as we are about to enter the second quarter. WIU is facking third-and-11 at its own 49-yard-line.
——
UPDATE (6:19 p.m.): The Leathernecks are making good work of the Razorbacks defense, especially after a short punt gave the visitors good field position at the Hogs’ 49-yard line. Running back Herb Donaldson had a 9-yard run to start things as the Leathernecks went on a nine-play, 24-yard drive to set up kicker Taylor Rowan.
Rowan just booted a 42-yard field goal with 6:12 remaining in the first quarter. Petrino’s down in his Razorbacks debut, 3-0.
The Hogs will get the ball back, looking to cut down on mistakes and help out the offense. The Razorbacks have just 2 yards of offense, and -10 yards in the rushing game.
——
UPDATE (6:09 p.m.): Seven seconds into the game, Arkansas has their first freshman mistake. Freshman kick returner Elton Ford hesitated on a deep kick in the end zone, came out and was hit, fumbling the ball at the 15-yard line.
Western Illinois has the ball, but luckily for the Hogs, an incomplete pass, a short run by Herb Donaldson and a hit and fumble sets up a field goal attempt, which is botched on the snap and hold. The Razorbacks now have the ball at their own 13-yard-line.
The first offensive play of the Bobby Petrino era is a pass from Casey Dick to sophomore tight end D.J. Williams, a 12-yard gain. The Hogs then took a step back, and Dick was sacked for a loss of 12 yards back to the 14-yard line on third down. The Leatherneck defense looks up to the task so far.
There’s 10:39 left in the first quarter and the Leathernecks have the ball on the Hogs’ 49-yard-line.
46 Responses to “Live Game Blog: Western Illinois vs. Arkansas”
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Hey Brandon,
That’s a little over the top comparing today with the game against the Citadel don’t you think? Really, Jack Crowe and Bobby Petrino are no where near alike.
I guess a little struggle on the part of the Hogs and you’re quick to put the daggar in Caesar’s chest.
This almost was the Citadel Part 2, no matter what you want to think about it. If Houston Nutt was still here and struggled like this everyone would be all over him. I know Petrino will get the team to play better, but this was a near disaster. In years past, the Hogs were monsters against the run, but the last few years have been embarrassing much of the time. I’ve said it before; it doesn’t matter how many times you throw the ball if the QB can’t get it there on target or the receivers drop the ball. We’ve got to get better in those areas. Casey’s stats look good, but the drops have got to stop. The bottom line, as it always is, is that the Hogs get the win. They write the “W” the same way, whether you win by 1 point or 40. The Hogs will get better. Go Hogs!
Go Hogs! A win is a win… the kids will grow up.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
What the %#%$!
When I paid my money to the Springdale Lynch Mob to get rid of Nutt, THIS IS NOT WHAT I PAID FOR! My God ASU beat Texas A&M! And THIS is what I get for my money with Petrino!
Where are the Nutt Haters Now? They must be laughing in Mississippi tonight…and Atlanta!
I dont want to hear from all the Nutt lovers! I know he would have had this team ready like he did the rebs today. What can I say? IM SORRY!
Florida chapter of the SLM!
An Official Apology from the Florida Chapter of the Springdale Lynch Mob:
To whom it may concern:
It is now official. We were wrong about Houston Nutt. Houston we have a probem!..NO REALLY, we have a real problem.
When we worked so hard to spread the lies about coach Nutt, we just thought we deserved better than makinig it to the SEC Championship. We thought we deserved a National Championship. WELL ALRIGHTY NOW.. It would appear that exceeding your teams accomplishments Coach Nutt MIGHT be a little harder than we originally thought.
It now appears clear that we made a HUGE mistake. For that, we apologize. We were wrong and I will be the first to admit it rather than give false hope and (a win is a win,,,the kids will grow up!) SAY WHAT! Do you realize who we played tonight and had to score a touchdown in the final two minutes to beat?
WOW, Coach Nutt we apologize and can only ask that you please be kind when you and the rebels show up for your game with THE KIDS…they may not grow up much during an SEC season. We may be praying to God for a 10 win season and beating the #1 team in the country on the road, and playing for an SEC title. Coach, please forgive us. We knew not what we were doing.
Florida Chapter of the SLM
hey gatorjag, if you’re spreading lies and destroying a man’s character over football… probably not much reason to pray to God for 10 wins… I doubt he’s listening.
[...] stats, postgame quotes, and Notes. A couple of liveblogs were going on during tonights game…Slopnet, ArkansasRazorbacks.com, and AS360. That second liveblog also has a nice photo of the, spoiler no [...]
Hey gator, I was always somewhat indifferent about HDN; neither a hater nor a lover. Regardless, you need to get over it, dude. Get with the program, man. It may take awhile, but the kids will grow up. Go Hogs!
HATORJAG …I knew there would be someone to immediately turncoat and jump on the team. I shouldn’t validate your complaints with a reply, but I wanted to remind everyone that some people are NEVER happy.
Allow these young Hogs to grow up. Any complaints at this point just demonstrates how unrealistic some expectations are. The game is played to be won - and on occasion those wins aren’t pretty. I like the freshmen … they are on the field and competing. Happy to see the schedule allow two ‘indoctrination’ games first… and it may be a rough year - but I like that we have a team than can throw on 4th and 10 (finally). And we’ll all see, soon enough, that Johnson and D’Curtis will find their way.
HogNation,
We had to do what we had to do right? I mean we simply could’nt accept the product that Nutt was producing, correct? He had to go. We had to spread lies and do whatever it took to get rid of HDN.
dwp, GET WITH THE PROGRAM? Just how many wins do you think this team has dude. We got rid of Nutt so we coud win Championships right? Well this team has a ways to go wouldnt you agree?
HDN must be sitting in Oxford with a big grin on his face saying ” you wanted me gone, you got it”, “you thought Petrino was the answer to your problems”, you got it. “You thought he can beat Texas, Auburn, Alabama, and LSU like I did”, YOU GOT IT. He must be smiling saying “YOU ASK FOR IT, YOU GOT IT, ENJOY, I WILL BE UP FOR A VISIT SHORTLY!”
I simply want to be man enought to say HE RIGHT!
gator… come on, man. either get behind the program or make a move to oxford. regardless, lets get over the HDN issue. the kids are talented and will eventually grow up. GO HOGS!
dwp,
Are you kidding me? I am a hog fan from birth. I grew up in Little Rock and was there when Joe Ferguson threw touchdowns to Chuck Dicus!
I just expected more. Is that so hard to understand. Remember, Nutt was the problem, right? All things were supposed to be great now that he was gone.
Is THIS what we should expect? Is THIS what YOU expect? Will a 4-5 win season be what you wanted last year when we did all we could to get rid of HDN? Come on!
I am just willing to man up and say I was wrong. You apparently are not man enough to see what we have gotten ourselves into. You must not hear the laughter that I am going to hear this week in Florida and in the national press. You must not be willing to eat the plates of crow we will have to eat this year. You must find it much easier to just sit back and accept a 4-5 win season and keep saying to yourself “the kids will grow up”
I am willing to se the reality and accpet it. You need to as well. Ignorance will cost you. There is such a thing as carma and the Hogs payback looks like it will be very ugly for the way we treated Houston.
Gator. The Razorbacks will be playing on the national stage in 3 years. The kids will grow up.
I’m a new guy on this slophouse so you guys dont know me yet. BUT you will soon.
I like the gatorjag’s slogan.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? 3 years? What?
dwp last year all you hog fans wanted Nutt out because you were convinced that going to the SEC championship game is not good enough for you guy’s. You thought that a new coach would be a good thing for yall.
Then you got bobby and OMG Jesus has come to the hogs and now you guy’s are going to win the national championship game.
Well how do you feel now? Because GatorJag is 100% correct on this one. I ee no one was giving him any credit but I will beause as I look over what has happened he is right.
How do you expect to sit there and say that in 3 years you guy’s will be great? when last year you were taling about how bad we NAADED nutt out of there. THE FREAKING MAN TOOK YOU TO THE SEC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME!
Oh, one last thing.
Boby will NOT be here 2 years let alone 3. Mark my words on it.
If we are going to WORK as hard as we can to beat
Western Illinois the how do you guy’s expect to beat a REAl team like an SEC team? How do you expect to do what nutt did last year beating LSU in the 3rd overtime? How do you expect to beat Florida , Texas, Auburn, Alabama? let me tell you how…. YOU WONT!
Remember the Cotton Bowl!
GO Tigers!
hehe.. tomahawk… i want YOU outta here. you’re a nut, dude. there’s no other way of saying it. BP will be here and the razorbacks will be playing on the national scene in 3 years. the kids will grow up. tomahawk… i am outta here, but take your meds, man.
Hey tomahawk,
Thanks so much for your candid look nto the mirror of reality. Mizzo did look good last night. I still have nightmares about what the Tigers did to the Hogs last year. UGLY!
Anyway, dont worry about dwp, his meds have still not kicked in yet. He needs to up his dosage for the rest of the season. Can you imagine what he will be saying after the Texas, Alabama,Florida and Auburn games? Oh, I forgot…dont worry, the kids will grow up! YEA!
3 years? Are you kidding me! Tomahawk is right on the money and you are not man enough to admit how you treated the old coach. Michigan paid WVU $4million on TOP of his salary to get him there for the very same reason that the Springdale Lynch Mob went after Houston Nutt. Well, Look at what happened to Michigan yesterday! LOL! CARMA BABY…CARMA! And guess what? CARMA IS IN ARKANSAS NOW!
Thank God for W.Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe/ OMG when HDN and Gus come home….WOW, it may be just like that Mizzo game….UGLY!
Good post Tomahawk!
HAHAHA,
I find it utterly Hilarious that DWP act’s like such a great fan and is all about what will be in 3 years. But he won’t talk about anything that anyone on here brings up.
As I look at your post above you refuse to address any issue that is brought up. I brought up about 5-6 in my post and all you can tell me “I want you out!” “Take your meds” Do you have any knowledge about the Hog’s? Do you even know where you stand? If so then why don’t you talk about it! I’m calling you out!
If Nutt would have come out last year and told you guy’s “In 3 years I will have this team all grown up, and we will be wearing papers cuz were BIG KIDS NOW” then yall would have been ****ed but the fact that it is a new coach yall don’t care?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
GatorJag, HAHA I think he may be ready to jump on the Ohio State Bandwagon after the FL, ALA, AUB, TEX games! Then he won’t need to know anything about his team cuz that is how All Ohio State fans are.
Tomahawk,
I am as guilty as any of many or maost on this blog who couldn’t wait to get ole HDN out of town as soon as possible. I even sent money to help the cause I am sorry to admit. We have a great HawgNation here in J-ville and have loved and been proud of the accomplishments of the Hogs for over 40 years now. Me and ole Scathawg here in J-ville have season tickets and fly around the country to watch the Hogs. We are blessed to be able to have the ability to follow our favorite teams, the Hogs, the Gators,and our beloved Jags.
Unfortunantly, me and ole scathawg got suckered in by the Springdale Lynch Mob over the past two years into beliveing that Houston Nutthad to go. We listened to Mama Mustain and the rest of the mob and decided that we deserved better than just setteling for a SEC Championship game. We were so ignorant that we couldnt see the very success that HDN had brought to the Hogs.
I remember an Auburn game when Matt Jones (Jaguar) ran all over the Tigers. We also remembered two years ago when we ran all over the Tigers with D-Mac. What we forgot was the heart that those players showed when they were ckearly overmatched talent wise.
We forgot about the team surrounding HDN after those games and leading the Razorback Fight Song with the band over near the end zone. We forgot just how impressive HDN was with the hogs. We forgot that he probobly got more out of less talent than any coach we had ever seen. We forgot that old phrase, do onto others…
Well, we were on this forum with all the rest demanding better. I remember the pride when the Hogs went to Baton Rouge last year and beat #1LSU. WOW were we fools!
That is all I am saying. We were fools, we were wrong, and I am sorry about how we treated Coach Nutt. I have a feeling that the payback will be hell.
By the way, me and scathog are doctors and can help DWP with his meds. LOL!
It’s Godd to see that at least one of you guy’s on here are willing to admit to your mistakes.
Thanks GarorJag, I’m glad that you now see the sevarity of what happened.
Dont get me wrong guy’s I love the Hogs I just think that because of the way we treated ole NUTT we need to haveone Sucky year to show you all the power the fans have, and to show you all how great of a coach Nutt was.
If you could I would sudgest tht you get an order of OxyCotton on it’s way for DWP when the Ole Miss game comes up! He does NOT need to see that game. HAHA
Your right Tomahawk!
You hit it right on the head with how I now see the severity of what happened. Thanks for accepting my apology. At least I am biog enough to admit it. The others, they know but they just cant admit it.
Me and the Old ScatHawg will be sending that perscription to DWP! LOL!
Hey Tomahawk, are you a big KC Chiefs fan? I have four tickets to the KC/ATL game in a few weeks. You can have one if you want it. Man, we will have a good time. My wife and sons are going and we would be proud to have you join us for the game if you can make it. If not, whenever you fin d yourself in the land of real championships, FLA, come to J-ville and see the Jags and Matt Jones!
Wally Hall said it best recently, “Houston Nutt is the luckiest man in college football.” He’s lucky because he inherited Ed Orgeron’s recruits and will look good as a result his first year as Ole Miss coach. He did the same thing at Arkansas when he inherited Danny Ford’s players. Look at the stats and the win-loss columns in years thereafter.
People in Ole Miss need to enjoy the honeymoon because it’ll be like Hurricane Gustav bearing down on you in the coming seasons, lack of character, lack of integrity will abound. What goes around, comes around.
Houston Nutt is also lucky he left Arkansas. He’s not stupid by any account. I think he saw what he lacked and knew he lacked the skill to compensate for it as coach (God knows his ego wouldn’t have him admit it). So like a cheesy used car salesman, he slipped the scene and took his “golden handcuff” money.
Ok, I know I’ve got the attention of those who will call me a Nutt hater. Hate is viscious, venomous term. Dislike is the more appropriate term. But, you folks who want to jump off the bandwagon at get go better find somewhere else to hang your sheepskin. If enough of you want to start the barbeque and put Petrino on it, believe me, you’ll give him all the justification to look someplace else to coach in a short period of time. I live in Missouri. For a few years, folks up here thought Gary Pinkel wasn’t going to get it done. For DECADES, they had this impatience that mired the program in uncertainty, in-and-out coaches and hurt recruiting. You don’t hear much out of those same people anymore since Mizzou walloped the Hogs in the Cotton Bowl and put an offensive hurt on Illinois last night. Oh yeah and by the way, Pinkel runs the spread offense.
If you are true hog fans and are patient, you’ll give Bobby Petrino and his staff a chance to incorporate their style of football and slowly but surely get results. Just look at his ability to recruit good incoming freshman when he had far less time to do it as opposed to other established regimes. This may come as a complete surprise to some of you. But, I was a supporter of Houston Nutt as the Arkansas coach from the time he came to Fayetteville until the game against Texas in 2004. That’s SEVEN seasons of his ten. That’s patience.
Look across the land in college football and in the SEC. The spread offense is the successful brand of offense. Houston’s style is old school run game. I believe Petrino is far more suited to know what works better. In time, I have faith he and the team will show us just that.
UA 87,
Allow me to remind you a another quote of Hall today…”Western Illinois is a Football Championship Subdivision playoff team. Think Central Arkansas or Arkansas-Pine Bluff.”
That is embarassing man, but atleast Wally lives in the state of reality.
87, you were one of the Lynch Mob like me. We both hated..uh I mean disliked Nutt. Please be man enough to admit we were wrong. Houston put 41 last night on a bowl team from last year. We beat UAPB by 4 with a towuchdown in the last two minutes! Come on!
You and me both know that IF we were honest and HDN was still the coach and he had just beaten UAPB by 4 in the final two minutes? We would be on him like white on rice dude and you know it! We would be demanding a change TODAY!
So here we are with Petrino and a win against UAPB! WOW! Are you serious! What are you going to say 87 after Texas, Alabama, Florida, and Auburn, just to START! I will be at each of these games and will be thinking of what must be going through your mind. Cant wait to read you thoughts on the difference between the past ten years and this years.
87, just join me in my apology for the way we handeled the whole thing and remember that payback is a witch!
I won’t join you in anything, gatorjag. The atmosphere created by Nutt and his staff (especially Shibest) the last couple years was deplorable. But that’s in the past.
You want to apologize? Have at it. I’m not convinced Houston could have coached the Hogs to a victory last night. But that too is irrelevant.
Listen to the post game interviews. Nobody was booing in the stadium last night. True Hog fans have patience, period. Nobody said this season was going to be easy. A lot of far more skilled people than you and me that follow college football for a living pick the Hogs to finish dead last in the SEC. If they’re right, so be it. At least we have a coach now that is genuine.
You like to compare WIU to UAPB. What do you think it was like for Aggie fans to watch A & M lose to Arkansas State last night? That was Mike Sherman’s first game as coach. I doubt the folks in College Station are forming lynch mobs. Likewise in Ann Arbor, Rich Rodriguez and the Wolverines didn’t fare well against unranked Utah.
One game and STILL a victory, try to gain some legitimate perspective.
87,
You got me to thinking about some notes I had kept from the end of last season. I looked in file after file but finally found the right folder.
Here is a sample of posts on this site last season after the LSU game. Enjoy.
A post from a guy in Florida:
“Don’t get me wrong. The fans will paint their faces as fast and as furious as any in the nation. And the facilities are fabulous.”
“The problem: Expectations. They range somewhere between absurd and insane. But try telling that to the whooping Hog fans wearing those plastic pig noses.”
“They’ll just “Woo, Pig. Sooie!” louder and longer until they can’t hear you.”
“Wild expectation: Arkansas can win the SEC!
Sober reality: It has never happened!”
“Delusional expectation: Arkansas can win the national championship!
Cold-hard reality: It hasn’t happened since 1964.”
A post from Tennessee;
“In my estimation, there are six better SEC coaching gigs: LSU, Florida, Tennessee, Auburn, Alabama and Georgia. So, that makes Petrino’s new job seventh best. Congratulations, Bobby!”
How about Congratulations Hog Fans?
And one of my favorites from a real Razorback: Red this one carefully and consider where we are now after the 4 point win over UAPB.
“As a former razorback from 88-93, I know we are headed into the familiar waters of uncertainty which landed us into a decade of decline.”
“During my career I had three different head coaches, and 5 different linebackers’ coaches. We won the SWC back (88) to back (89) yet our coach Ken Hatfield was also ran out of town by negative misguided passion for success. What a short memory some people have.”
“Get ready for many changes of heart from recruits and current players. My recruiting class experienced an mass exodus only 7 stayed and finished out our careers.”
“You can definitely count on at least three keys players not staying around. Enjoy the fruit of negativity.”
Insightfull isnt it? I am guilty. Now we all are going to have to eat that fruit.
And I leave you with one more thought provoking post I found in my notes:
“A few self-appointed know it alls have just taught the future generation of Razorback athletes that you don’t get your way by winning, you get your way by whining. No, the Razorbacks did not win any national championships or SEC championships under Houston Nutt. But he might have taught them a little bit about character. Of course, in your life and world character has no place.”
U of A’s battle cry should now be “We No Longer Have Anything. But At Least We Don’t Have Houston Nutt!”
I must admit. They were right and I was wrong.
Good for you. Go hang your sheepskin in Gainesville, Knoxville, Baton Rouge, Oxford or wherever it is that you’d rather be.
I’ll gut it out with the rest of the true Hog fans.
87,
Oh yea, I forgot about how the TRUE HOG FANS, like you are so patient. As I recall from last years posts, you are extremely patient. Oh yea! PATIENT.
Lord if patience is a virtue, you must be the Pope!
Come on 87, don’t hide behind hypocrisy! You were just like me last year. The difference is that I don’t find hypocrisy nearly as comfortable as such a patient person as you does. You just dont realize how small of a minority we both were and you still are.
And by the way, my sheepskin (PHD to you) is from the University of Arkansas.
gatorjag,
One last thing. Instead of wasting time dredging up negativity, try to infuse some positive energy. Attitude is everything. If these players bought into your “one game” mentality, they for sure would be destined for failure.
I’m reminded of my neighbors to the east in Illinois. Ron Zook won a total of FOUR games from his first two seasons. Last year, his team beat Ohio State (also a number one team at the time) and took the Illini bowling. If the folks in Urbana-Champagne shared your sentiment, he’d of never seen a day of last season on the sidelines there.
Get positive or go somewhere else.
87,
You are missing my point. This is not going to be just one game, man. We are on the brink of what may be a series of seasons of continuall struggles and losses. And you know what, me and the Springdale Lynch Mob are partially to blame. Its not the players fault. I feel sorry for them. I apologize.
They are possibly going to have a couple bad years and then by the time they come up for air, Petrino will be Petrino and he will be gone.
I live in Florida and loved Ron Zook. I beleive that the Gators National Title came from his players, not Urbans. Zook did a great job and I think Illinois is lucky to have him.
You just cant admit that on this foum last year, you and I and many others were demanding Nutt go because he wasnt good enough and had not accomplished enough. When Petrino came on board, we all were saying things like National Championship and SEC Championship. and We will no longer have to accept the mediocrity that HDN bought us. You know I’m right.
Well….Arkansas 28, UPB 24. Now thats what I call not accepting HDN’ s mediocrity!
By the way 87,
You want positives? I am positive that when I fly home for that Florida/Arkansas game, Florida will show you the difference between the two schools, the two teams, the two coaches, and the talent of the two teams. And when you watch that game, remember how the Hogs have played the Gators the past few years.
You know the difference. That is what I an positive of.
Hopefully the WIU game was an anomaly. It’s too early to tell how Petrino’s career will go at Arkansas. I supported Nutt 100% because he was the coach of my favorite team in all of sports. I support Petrino 100% for exactly the same reason. I don’t even have a favorite NFL team; I root for every team with a former Hog on the roster. It seems to me that one reason stated often for Nutt’s dismissal was that he had a one-dimensional offense that was dull to watch. Last night’s offense was one-dimensional, too, but in the opposite way. I don’t care if we run the ball every down or throw it every down; I just want us to win. The Hogs are the only team I have ever cared about. I would rather us win “ugly” than lose “pretty.” I’m behind Petrino, not because he throws the ball more than Nutt, but because he is the coach of MY Hogs! Go Hogs!!
Young, raw talent. The Razorbacks will get progressively better this season. In three years, they will be playing championship ball.
Gator and Tomahawk, you guys are hysterical. Hehe.. both of you could use a doctor - as in psychiatrist. Take a seat on the couch, dudes. Get rid of the negative HDN energies. Take a deep breath. Breathe. It’s a new era. Regardless of the coach, support the program. The kids will grow up - though it may be a little late for you guys. Go Hogs!
The problem with most people is they cannot see the big picture. To the ones that say we owe Nutt an apology, don’t think so; he owes us a big thank you for the 3.4 million to head down the road. I liked Nutt’s character up until the last few years. Regardless of what media source you get your info from, you can look at both sides and know there were some questionable decisions made by Nutt. If we had any balance to our offense during his last two years, we could have been competing for the National Championship. However, it was very evident that we were always going to be one dimensional and never step up to the next level with Nutt. The last year I fell on the side of the fence that change was on. I am glad we are in a new error and can’t wait to see what the future holds.
It is amazing to me to see how quick people jump off the wagon and start to bash Petrino. Even hog fans saying that Petrino will be gone in a few years. If you feel that way, you are way too influenced by the media. That is all I hear in TN and they only have once side of the story of his departure of the Falcons; the medias. Petrino is in the best conference, already had a taste of the NFL (did not like it), is at a winning program and knows he can take it to the next level, is in a beautiful part of AR and I am sure they will be happy there and will be there for a while.
As far as expectations, mine were high for this season and this game. I told friends I am an optimist when it comes to the hogs and will continue to be until something brings me to reality. This game brought me to reality. All new system, ton of freshman and sophomores, new coaches and I am sure other changes I have not mentioned. Change takes time, that is why most people don’t deal with it well. However, give change some time and things usually turn out for the better. The reality is that everyone likes to win and it is easy to not face reality or denial that it will take time. Face that reality and get on board with Petrino and you will learn to enjoy the game and stop being so negative of the program and coaches. A quick reminder, this is a game, a fun one, but just a game.
As far as the game last night, think about if Nutt was there. He would not have had any diff players, probably not as good a recruiting class. If we were ever down like that in a game, there would not have been any chance to pull that victory off b/c he would have just kept on running. I am glad we do not have to watch that anymore. It was very nice to hear 3 WR to the left and 2 two the right on 4 and 10 and them make a completion. Nutt would have run it for 2 yards. Dick did a nice job. His stats were great. He was 25 of 41 I think? Take around 8 off the 41 b/c those were errors of the WR and he was more like 25 of 33 for 318 yards passing. Also, subtract out the interception b/c that was a WR’s fault as well. That is pretty good for a QB that many had no faith in. Also, look at our running game. The only one that had experience was Smith, he was out. We had Barnett, who I believe was not even recruited as a RB (not sure on that) and Curtis a true freshman. What did you expect on the run? As far as the D, well, they are young and the reality is it will take them some time to get it together. The O was confused on the type of D the opponent was running, but got it together after the half. We also shot ourselves in the foot way too many times; I believe b/c of freshman errors. Again, what did you expect from freshman? I expected more, but reality is, they are freshman and did a pretty good job considering most were not even recruited for this type of offense. Oh, that was the other issue with change we had to over come, some of the recruiting class and the old players left from the Nutt error. Give Petrino time and he will have this program running on all cylinders. I am sure glad we pulled the W off and that is all the really matters. We will continue to improve, just be patient.
One last time, the key is to face reality that it is a building year and we have a great foundation started. Lower your expectations and you will be much happier with this year. Get over Nutt’s departure (if you can’t you are just nutts), actually, take is name out of your vocabulary when blogging, as I plan to. I enjoyed him, had some great years with him, but lets all let him go and move on. The future looks bright for the hogs, give it some time!!!!
GO RAZORBACKS!!
How very funny!
As a matter of fact DWP, I am a very successful psychiatrist in Jacksonville. You can just call me Dr. Jag., from now on. And you, I should call a patient. You need my help. I travel a lot and speak at many Universities.
Maybe I should look you up while I am at the Alabama game. You could use my expertise and intelligence.
Hehe.. gator, you belong in Alabama, dude.. I could easily see you hanging a shingle on a double wide with a full bottle of prescriptions at your disposal. Although I will pass on being blessed by your [obvious] “intelligence” and “expertise”, I really look forward to spending the season with you, man. You are hysterical.
YOU SIL WILL NOT ADRESS ANYTHING THAT I BRING UP!
all you can do is make fun of people your not smart enough to even talk football all you cand do is try to make yourself feel better by insulting others.
DWP,
Allow me to analyze. When you speak of hanging shingles on the trailor in Alabama you are actually speaking about yourself. You are opening up a window into your own identity. I am sorry that you live such a poor life in a trailor. I imagine you also struggle with a poor self esteem among many other things.
I can help you but before you can get help you have to admit that you need help. Denial has got you to where you are today.
Its OK to live in a trailor park DWP. There is no shame in that since you face obvious limitations that you cannot overcome. It also appears that your post also indicates that you have a problem with medications. There is help for that as well. You need to seek professional help. I am limited here in Jacksonville but there are many menal health professionals like myself in NW Arkansas that I can reccomend. Just let me know. I want to help
The blogs are for talking about Razorback sports, not stupidity. I can’t believe some of you are in the business world and communicate like this on a blog or at anytime for that matter.
Buck,
I am just a doctor trying to help a lost Hog in need of help.
I understand the humor, but it is time to move on and talk football.
Buck,
I do like your long post. You made some great points. Expectations must be lowered. Last year when Petrino was hired you would have thought Bear Bryant had been hired. But why? just because it wasnt HDN. They were so invested in his departure that they had to raise expectations on Petrino. They painted themselves into a corner and now they cant get out. It is going to take a few years for the Hogs to get anywhere near where Georgia, Florida and LSU are. Mallett might be part of the answer, but you have to put talent around great players to make championships.
Hog bloggers, no need to argue with the ramblings of gatorjag, just ignore his negative gobbelde****. Phychiatrists just like to hear themselves talk (what’s the rate now, $200 an hour?) All they ever do is write prescriptions for anti-depressants. I’m a product of the Arkansas educational system, so even I can do that! Sorry for my non-Hog related rant, I was just tired of all the negative talk. Buck hit the nail on the head, Nutt would have just run run run on that last drive. Most of us couldn’t even carry the helmets for those 18-19 year olds. I say “way to go Hogs, good win!” And no, Dr. Jag, I didn’t grow up hating my mother!
Go Hogs!
Hehe.. I wouldn’t pay gator $2 an hour. The kids will grow up, Razorback fans. They will realize how good they are… It will just take a little time. Go Hogs!
Guys, haven’t you figured out yet that gatorhog is really a Nutt-lover cleverly trying to stir things up. Who else uses the term “Springdale Lynch Mob” and “apologizes” for spreading lies about Nutt. The reality is even Nutt knew there were going to be a couple of rebuilding years because of average recruiting years. I doubt that the old coaching regime could have gotten any more out of the talent that was available. Just look at how much Dick has improved as a QB. New system, new faces means a very steep learning curve. A true indicator of Petrino’s coaching ability will be how much the Hogs improve as the season progresses - NOT how the team performs in its very first game.
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