Don’t be nervous about Hogs against North Texas today

Pete Morgan
-
1

Nervous yet? You shouldn’t be.

Just because a former Washington quarterback got hot on the Razorbacks defense in the second half should not create the urgency to smack your hand onto the panic button.

Instead let’s focus upon how the Hogs will turn the season around this weekend as it welcomes North Texas to Fayetteville.

The defense can only desire to build upon the first half from last week’s game while hoping the second half has gone the way of my Dad’s short-term memory.

This will be no cakewalk as some have stated Mason Fine, the starting quarterback for the Mean Green (which may be the lamest mascot in NCAA D-I), is the best passer in Texas.

Personally, I think it is a bandwagon of “small school hype”. However, if we learned anything last week it’s that we cannot take ANYONE lightly.

North Texas does like to throw the ball around the field though, and Arkansas did give up almost 400 yards passing to Colorado State.

Therefore, it will be a strong concern for Razorbacks fans as kickoff nears knowing Fine has thrown for over 400 yards in his first two games, including against Morris’s previous school, SMU.

On second thought, maybe I should not have used the word “hype”

Well, Dre Greenlaw is back, even if it may be in limited action, and North Texas’ second game was against Incarnate Word, so maybe the numbers are a little askew early in the season.

Wait, at the risk of sounding blasphemous, who did you say the Mean Green played last week?

Offensively who knows where Arkansas stands?

At the time of prosing this masterpiece prediction I am uncertain exactly what will be the plan for the signal caller(s) throughout the game.

However, we’ve said it before, and we will probably say it again: the offensive line must afford whomever takes the snaps for the Hogs more time in the pocket. Does that devoid our quarterbacks any responsibility for making bad throws? Absolutely not.

If the run works like it did versus Colorado State, Morris and his staff would be foolish to stray away from it like they did late last week. Even the 64-yard pass credited to Cole Kelley was nothing more than a front-flipped handoff to TJ Hammonds.

There is a lot of solid (but not standout) talent for the Razorbacks in the running back position needing to be utilized. And call it “Netflix Celebrity Status” if you will, but I am anxious to see Rakeem Boyd get more touches.

Punting, placekicking, and all things on the special aspects of football strategy must improve. Word has it Jared Cornelius had difficulty finding punts from the Rams due to the scoreboard lights in the thin Colorado air.

Fortunately, Deon Stewart was able to step in and contribute. There is a level of curiosity as to which one of these two (if not both) will be the primary returner against North Texas.

Conner Limpert may be a key to the momentum in Saturday’s contest early.

Being at home will boost the young man’s confidence, and there’s a piece of instinct proposing his name may be called in being the deciding factor late in this contest.

Across the field, his former teammate, Cole Hedlund, will head up the placekicking duties for the Mean Green. You guys remember Hedlund? Reports say he has fully recovered from his injuries sustained in Bret Bielema’s Under the Bus Tour.

Furthermore, let’s forget about the fact that our early season loss was against Colorado State.

Yet on a contrary thought, you might get ready to depress the aforementioned panic button. And if we happen to lose to the Mean Green, there will be an emphasis on the word “depress.”

Final thoughts: I have a feeling one quarterback will turn the page today. The defense must pressure Fine in the backfield all afternoon (and the evening as well if any of the defensive players are reading) to prevent him from having a field day in Donald W Reynolds.

And. lastly, to quote a certain CBS color commentator: “Arkansas, run the dang football!”

“We shall not fail.” Arkansas 38-24.

The contest between Sir Andy Hodges and myself rolls on. With last week being a push, he retains the overall season lead. Let’s rock these SEC picks to rightly establish myself at the top of the heap. What type of heap you ask? No comment.

  • Middle Tennessee State at (3) Georgia – Bulldogs by 38
  • Murray State at Kentucky – The hot Wildcats by 28
  • University of Texas – El Paso at Tennessee – Vols in a close 21
  • Vanderbilt at (8) Notre Dame – The Fighting Irish fans will boast a 12-point victory over the SEC
  • (12) LSU at (7) Auburn – LSU’s momentum ends here in a 17-point loss to the “Eagles”
  • Colorado State at Florida – Can the Rams do it two weeks in a row? No. Gators by 20
  • (1) Alabama at Ole Miss – No hope for a Rebs upset this season. Bama by 34
  • Louisiana (Who?) at (16) Mississippi State – Bulldogs by 30
  • Missouri at Purdue – Vegas agrees with us. Tigers by 22
  • University of Louisiana Monroe at Texas A&M

Two weeks in a row with no “Upset Alert” … have I lost my gutsy edge? Maybe.

On a side note, I am somehow reminded that I need to pick up my Metamucil this weekend. Fingers crossed that Andy picked LSU over the Plainsmen. Oh, and Go HOGS!!!

Hogs will rebound against over-matched North Texas

Andy Hodges
-
1

Last week’s fourth-quarter collapse against Colorado State has caused an incredibly huge number of Arkansas fans to jump off the bandwagon before this week’s game against North Texas.

That didn’t take long, did it?

It’s like everything else in life … nothing’s as good as it seems and nothing’s as bad as it seems and reality is somewhere in the middle. That’s not me. Lou Holtz first said it in 1977 after his team suffered it’s only loss of the season against Texas.

Lou also had another saying as the world of college football evolved over the last 40 years that’s especially true now: Different week, different team.

The Mean Green haven’t played anybody that’s any good. There’s SMU that has struggled after Chad Morris left, but they didn’t have any defense when he was there so let’s not debate that a lot.

Then they played Incarnate Word. They are from San Antonio and I’m pretty sure most of you reading this didn’t know that. They are an FCS team in the Southland Conference and they aren’t very good in that league.

No, North Texas has a pretty nifty little quarterback. Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis said Monday that Mason Fine can “spin it” with the best.

In reality, Fine might make second team at an SEC school. Well, maybe half of the schools. He’s listed at 5-foot-11, which means if North Texas’ measuring system is like most schools he’s actually 5-9.

Let’s see what he does against an SEC defense, no matter how bad some Razorback fans want to downgrade it.

I’m guessing Chavis and a defense that has a chip on it’s shoulder is going to look better than most people think.

We don’t have a clue who will be the quarterback against North Texas, but I’m still not convinced we won’t see one of the freshmen, despite the fact they weren’t on the depth chart for this game.

It may be a slow first quarter, but the Hogs will take control of this game and this time they won’t blow the lead late.

Arkansas 63, North Texas 24

Last week I was 10-2 bringing me to 22-3 on the season. The Hogs and Florida losing for the first time in 31 years to Kentucky did me in.

Let’s take care of the easy ones first:

Georgia beats Middle Tennessee, Kentucky downs Murray State, Tennessee over UTEP, Notre Dame over Vanderbilt, Florida over Colorado State, Mississippi State over Louisiana and Texas A&M over Louisiana-Monroe.

LSU at -10.5 Auburn

The Tigers will win. Guaranteed.

Okay, bad joke.

LSU comes into this game set up for a kill about as well as any time I’ve seen in awhile. Auburn is still smarting from that second-half meltdown at Tiger Stadium last year and they’ve spent two weeks wanting to erase that memory.

After losing maybe it’s best defensive player last week, this one doesn’t look for LSU.

It’s rare to see a double-digit point spread on two teams ranked as high as they are. Auburn is No. 9 and LSU is No. 12 and it’s a 10.5-point spread.

Auburn 31, LSU 10

Alabama -22.5 at Ole Miss

The Rebels’ faithful will remind you they are the last SEC team to beat Alabama two years in a row. It should have been three, but Ole Miss melted down in 2016 even faster than Hog fans are used to.

The Crimson Tide have the talent to slow down the Ole Miss offense while their offense will likely face better opposition in practice than what the Rebels will muster.

There won’t be any upset here and Ole Miss won’t cover.

Alabama 63, Ole Miss 24

Missouri -5 at Purdue

Even the Tigers won’t mess this one up … at least you wouldn’t think so, huh?

Sooner or later they will realize making Derek Dooley the offensive coordinator might not necessarily be the best idea.

Neither team has much defense, but I don’t think Missouri will cover the spread.

Missouri 42, Purdue 41

Kjerstad on fall drills, upcoming exhibition matches

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad talked with the media Wednesday about his summer and fall practices, including the upcoming exhibition games against Oklahoma and Wichita State.

Van Horn talking about Hogs’ fall practices before scrimmage

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
1

Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn visited with the media Friday afternoon before a scrimmage as they continue fall practices in addition to talking about playing Oklahoma and Wichita State in exhibition games.

???? Friday Halftime Pod — Featuring Aaron Torres and Brett Goode

Tye Richardson
-
0
???? Friday Halftime Pod — Featuring Aaron Torres and Brett Goode

Phil Elson and Tye Richardson discuss what needs to happen Saturday, interview KSR’s Aaron Torres, plus former Hog Brett Goode in-studio.

Hogs to play Oklahoma, Wichita State in fall games

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

FAYETTEVILLE — Dave Van Horn announced a pair of fall exhibition games for Arkansas on Friday.

The Razorbacks will take on Oklahoma on Saturday, Sept. 22 at Noon at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Oklahoma, before hosting Wichita State at Baum Stadium on Friday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m.

Both games will not count toward the team’s 56-game regular season schedule due to the rule changes announced by the NCAA last spring.

2018 Fall Exhibition Schedule
Sept. 22 – at Oklahoma (Noon)
Oct. 5 – vs. Wichita State (6 p.m.)

Tickets for the game against the Sooners will cost $5, but spectators with tickets to the football game between Oklahoma and Army later that day will be admitted for free.

As for the game at Baum Stadium with the Shockers, admission will be free.

The Razorbacks are asking each fan to bring non-perishable food items and new or gently used coats to benefit the Salvation Army and the Jane B. Gearhart Full Circle Campus Food Pantry, who will be collecting these items at the stadium gates.

Seating throughout the stadium will be first-come, first-serve and parking will be free and the Hog Pen will also be open.

Gates will open at 5 p.m.

Light concessions will be available via cash only and fans will also be allowed to bring in outside food and beverages with the exception of alcohol. No coolers will be allowed in the main seating bowl, but will be allowed in the Hog Pen.

A member of the Big 12 conference, Oklahoma and Arkansas have met on 25 previous occasions, but not since 2012 in a midweek contest.

Arkansas is 14-11 all time against the Sooners and have faced them three of the last six times in the NCAA Tournament.

Wichita State, coached by former Arkansas assistant Todd Butler, will be visiting Fayetteville the day before the Razorback football team takes on Alabama.

The Shockers, a 35-win team from a year ago, faces Arkansas for only the second time since 2007.

The Razorbacks and Shockers faced each other one time during the 2013 NCAA Manhattan (Kansas) Regional and were regular opponents almost every year during the 1990s and early 2000s.

All fall practices through the month of September and October at Baum Stadium are open to the public.

The dates for the annual Fall World Series will be announced at a later time.

SportsInformationTraders.com’s Jon Price shares some picks for the weekend

Tye Richardson
-
0

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Tye Richardson
-
0
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

John and Tommy talk Game 3, Fenceman Friday Football picks and interview former Hog Raymond House III.

Razorbacks fall to Georgia in SEC opener on road Thursday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

ATHENS, Ga. — Two second-half goals by Georgia proved to be too much for Arkansas to overcome Thursday night, as it fell, 3-1, in its SEC opener at the Turner Soccer Complex.

Junior Kayla McKeon scored for a team-leading fourth time this season after converting a penalty kick in the 84th minute, but that was not until after Georgia had scored twice in a span of four minutes, making it 3-0 Bulldogs.

The goal for McKeon was one of two shots she had in 57 minutes of play and 17th of her career. Sophomore Parker Goins led all Razorbacks with three shots in the match, all on goal, in 57 minutes also.

Arkansas had its best chance to equalize in the 70th minute after working the ball into its attacking third and getting a look in the middle of the box.

Sophomore Brooke Pirkle was able to get a shot off toward the right post, but Georgia keeper Emory Wegener made one of her five saves on the night to preserve the 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs went on to score their next two goals over the next eight minutes.

From Coach Colby Hale

“First, congrats to Georgia. They were very good tonight. We will watch film and find some areas where we can sort out. We have responded well to adversity every time that we have faced it. We will get back and prepare for a good Providence team that we’ll see on Sunday.” — Hale

How It Went Down

25th minute – With Arkansas controlling the pace for much of the first half, none of its chances were able to get past Wegener. Georgia was able to get on a counter attack midway through the half and get a shot off from 10 yards in front of Arkansas keeper Alexis Bach. Bach skied and made the save, but Georgia’s Reagan Glisson was there for the rebound and the finish to make it 1-0 Bulldogs.

75th minute – After Brooke Pirkle’s attempt did not find the back of the net for the Razorbacks, Georgia scored two more times in the span of four minutes starting with a goal by Abby Boyan, her third of the year. After a Bulldog corner kick pinballed around the box, Boyan picked up the loose ball and put it into the net to make it 2-0.

79th minute – Georgia scored its final goal of the match off another corner. Katie Higgins was on the receiving end as her half-volley rocketed past Taylor Beitz to extend the score to 3-0. It was Higgins first goal of the year.

84th minute – In the final 10 minutes, Arkansas was able to find the scoresheet after a Bulldog defender was called for a foul in the box, awarding the Razorbacks their second penalty kick of the season. McKeon took the shot for Arkansas and converted into the right side netting for her fourth score of the year. McKeon ups her point total to nine points with the goal, which also leads the team.

Up Next

Arkansas returns home for its final non-conference match on Sunday when it hosts Providence at 6 p.m. at Razorback Field. That match will be televised on SEC Network+.

Don’t criticize Chad for going to son Chandler’s games

ESPN Arkansas News Services
-
0

It’s been fairly common knowledge for awhile, but when CBS Sports Network put up a graphic about Chad Morris’ travel schedule last week, everyone knew he was going to his son Chandlers’ games on Friday nights.

When Arkansas lost to Colorado State, suddenly fans seized on that as a contributing factor.

And, of course, that’s a ridiculous reach.

“Football is what I do, it’s not who I am,” he said before Wednesday’s practice.

In other words, he places a high priority on family, which is something many fans don’t want to understand. They also don’t understand that it really doesn’t matter because he would be missing a lot of Friday nights anyway.

“Everything is done here before we ever get on any plane or before we ever travel to any team hotel,” Morris said.

Friday nights are a time when they try to get the players to relax. There are movies, card games and everything but football stuff. That’s the way it is with every team, by the way.

And a lot of the coaches are at games recruiting

“The important thing is to get out and recruit when you get the opportunity,” Morris said. “You only get so many days to get out.”

Morris really gets to kill two birds with one stone. While watching his son play on Friday nights he gets to see some really good players.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, a four-star wide receiver from Rockwall, got an offer after Morris watched the Yellowjackets play Highland Park early in the season.

The recruiting part is a bonus. Even if that wasn’t part of it, it takes nothing away from the Hogs’ preparation for a game for him to be away from the team.

“Again, going back to building this program and taking it from the blueprint of where we were at Clemson and watching Dabo and his success, and being able to go watch his two boys play and being on the road on Friday nights … a lot of programs do things different on a Friday,” Morris said.

This has come up before. It’s only something fans tend to point at when the team loses a game.

It’s even been a headline for pro teams.

When Barry Switzer took over in Dallas after Jimmy Johnson, he went to his son’s games with Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturdays, then flew back to wherever the Cowboys were playing.

That gave Johnson, still bitter over his parting with Jerry Jones, ammunition as the Cowboys at times resembled recess at playschool during those days.

“Barry doesn’t want to be there grinding on Saturday nights,” Johnson said on the Fox pregame show he was doing then.

Of course, Jimmy wasn’t watching film on Saturday nights before games, either, and when the Cowboys won the Super Bowl that year, well, Jimmy shut up about the whole thing.

Let’s face it, if a college football team hasn’t gotten it done by Friday night then they aren’t going to get it done.

Coaches are usually not with the team on Friday nights anyway. They are out recruiting.

But, and I’m fairly certain this comes with a guarantee, no college player has ever felt one way or the other about his head coach being there on the night before a game.

“That’s their one time during the course of the week they don’t have to worry about their studies,” Morris said. “We want them to get away from football for a little bit. Just get to your room and relax.”

Whether Morris is with the team or not means absolutely nothing on a Friday night. You can’t cram the night before a game the way some do for a test the next day.

They either have it or they don’t on Friday night.

Whether Morris is there or not.

???? Thursday Halftime Pod — Featuring the ADG’s Bob Holt

Tye Richardson
-
0
???? Thursday Halftime Pod — Featuring the ADG’s Bob Holt

Phil Elson and Tye Richardson discuss their relationships with Razorbacks sports, pricey tickets & beer, and interview Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.

1...1,5141,5151,516...1,807Page 1,515 of 1,807