PETE’S PICKS: Razorbacks shouldn’t have problems with UAB today

I was steaming, and it had nothing to do with the Florida sun beaming down upon us. Besides, it was New Year’s Day 2007, so the heat was not even a factor in my moment of internally seething temperament.

The day had started off with a lot of promise. It was a beautiful morning, the hotel room was comfortable, the continental breakfast was sublime, and the traffic between Gainesville and Orlando had been light. My friend Chris and I had driven down the day prior in a lot of rain, but those clouds had moved out, and it now felt like we were in an Electric Light Orchestra video.

Arkansas was facing Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl that day, and, despite a two-game losing streak to close out the regular season and the SEC Championship game, the feeling was the Razorbacks could win this upper-level bowl over a Big Ten opponent. If you can somehow find the stats for that game, you would look at it and think, “Arkansas must have won this game by at least two touchdowns.”

Unfortunately, that was not the case. Despite a very impressive day running the ball by Felix Jones, three key pieces cost us a bowl game trophy that day. One was a horse-collar tackle on a “breaking away” McFadden which caused him to go out with an injury.

That kind of tackle was not illegal in college football at the time, but it had been labeled as such in the NFL and would be implemented as a 15-yard penalty by the NCAA in 2008.

The second in our list of three was a missed field goal. I distinctly remember fans mumbling about Houston Nutt not having signed a particular in-state kicker (whose name escapes me). It seems there was an alleged technicality over the kid’s paperwork, but to discuss that further would all be speculation.

Lastly, two atrocious calls by the officiating crew, with each one impacting the outcome of the game, really eliminated any possibility of Arkansas winning the game. Do not get me wrong, two Razorback quarterbacks each also threw a very ill-fated interception which killed both the drives and the momentum, but the bad calls were so severe, my texts blew up with a fan from Arizona and another from BYU discussing how badly my team was “getting ripped” by the officiating crew.

I was still moderately young, and I could feel my anger building. After all, I bled Razorback Red, and, like so many, a lot of the pride we have in our state houses itself in a town called Fayetteville.

I remember still being inside the stadium at ground level heading to the parking lot and hearing a head coach giving a victory speech over the speakers as they presented his team the trophy. He really was not that far from me, and as I glanced over, my temper was starting to settle, and I thought, “He sounds like a nice guy.”

And, as it turns out, he is, but that’s another story for an easy trivia question sometime. It was at that moment three (for lack of a better term) idiot Badger fans jumped right in front of us with one stating, “Aw, cheer up fellas, you might win a bowl game someday.”

I could quickly tell this guy was the ringleader of the other two, and he obviously spent a lot of time doing curls in the gym, so he was in full-on bully mode. It was now my blood started to boil as I could tell these three clowns were doing a weird flex, and their goal was to make us walk around them instead of making room for us to pass the narrow walking area.

Chris was a nice, courteous, and non-violent guy. I never recall him having engaged in a physical confrontation. He did possess a quiet temper, and he was also what I would call deceptively strong.

As Idiot Number One smirked arrogantly and his buddies laughed, Chris put two hands to the guy’s chest and shoved him in the air what seemed like ten feet, stopped only by a television equipment box. The no fear confidence previously exhibited by his two cronies disappeared within a split-second, and they parted like the Red Sea to let us pass.

Stay calm this season. Bad days happen. We pick up, and we move on. There will be a bright moment to tell you everything will be just fine. Football is just a game, and we lost last week’s game to a very talented Oklahoma State team.

Except for some costly turnovers and penalties, we played extremely well. Unlike the aforementioned bowl game, there is a lot of season left, and there will be victories, some losses, and then some reminder that football is simply a venue of entertainment. Who am I kidding. Let’s enjoy watching the Hogs throw around the Dragons of UAB today like Chris did that fool from Wisconsin over 17-years ago.

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Arkansas, 40 – 10

Random Thoughts

None of us in the Natural State really view football as “just a game”. We have a lot of pride in our team, its players, the coaches, and the university.

TRIVIA QUESTION: What “nice guy” coach delivered the Capital One Bowl acceptance speech for his team on New Year’s Day 2007?

If Bobby Petrino wears those cool shades on the sideline today, I will give someone $50 cash to wheel out a piano/keyboard to him. I will give you another $50 if he actually starts playing it.

TRIVIA ANSWER: If you really do not know, then I do not… Wait, allow me to gather my temper here. It was later-to-be Arkansas Head Coach Bret Bielema.

The traffic from Orlando back to Gainesville that day was horrible. It was backed up for hours. In fact, it was at such a standstill, we considered having our postgame tailgate right on Highway 75.

I was traveling all week, and I had to write this piece later than I hoped, so I was able to see the results of Friday night college scores. In all seriousness, how good is UNLV going to be this year? Look away if you have it recorded, but Barry Odom’s Rebels took down a Kansas team who had playoff hopes last night, 23 – 20.

Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 3:15 P.M. via HitThatLine.com and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 99.5 in Fayetteville, 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs, and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

SEC Picks for Week 3

Primary conference play is getting closer, as there are only thirteen SEC games this weekend: three conference matchups and ten non-conference contests. Honestly, in my opinion, there are only a couple of intriguing games.

One is two Top 25 teams squaring off, and the second is a pairing of two disappointing teams who may have equal strengths and weaknesses which could make for a close final score. There might be a third game which could end up closer than most people are expecting, but the ranked team should still win by two touchdowns.

Andy Hodges had an impressive series of picks last week. I will give him props for that, as he is a nice guy, and his ability to see deeply into even the most boring game impresses me. In an effort to reward his good work, my guess is he is probably treating himself to a few rounds of shuffleboard while sipping a chilled glass of Metamucil to help him with what we call, his “regular” season.

(4) Alabama at Wisconsin – The Crimson Tide look to be as sharp as they were when Nick Saban lost. When this game was originally scheduled I thought it might be a good contest, but the Badgers have taken a bit of a tumble, and they showed nothing fierce in two-score wins against Western Michigan and South Dakota. Bama by 28.

(16) LSU at South Carolina – Mark this down. I was wrong. I mistakenly thought Kentucky would win somewhat easily over the Gamecocks last week. It turned out to be quite the opposite. South Carolina did not look perfect, but they definitely looked improved from last season. Unfortunately, LSU is visiting this week, and the Tigers are far, far better than the Wildcats of BBN. LSU by 14.

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GAME OF THE WEEK
(24) Boston College at (6) Missouri –  Two teams which have looked great all season. The Eagles manhandled Florida State in Week 1, and they shutout an inferior Duquesne team in the subsequent week. The Tigers have not been tested this season, and pre-season outlooks had easy W’s on their season until Week 5 against Texas A&M. Oddly enough, if Missouri can get past Boston College, they might be able to put it in cruise control until Week 9 when they travel to Tuscaloosa. I am getting ahead of myself. Missouri cannot. They have to find a way to bottle a surging Eagles offense averaging 466-yards per game, mostly on the ground. Unless something causes the Tigers to get complacent, they are too talented and should be able to win this one at home. Missouri by 21.

Texas A&M at Florida – I honestly have no idea which previously over-ranked team will come out victorious. Last week both teams easily feasted on cupcakes. In Week 1, both lost to rank teams. The Aggies had a closer contest with Notre Dame than the Gators did with Miami. However, none of us were expecting the Fighting Irish to drop a home game against Northern Illinois in Week 2. I have a slight inclination the Gators’ locker room is already giving up on Billy Napier. Texas A&M by 10.

Tulane at (15) Oklahoma – One might be tempted to call this one a blowout early; however, the Green Wave have had historical seasons of playing physical, close football against better programs. They also looked impressive in a Week 1 win over hapless Southeastern Louisiana and a close Week 2 loss to Kansas State, 34 – 27. And, unless you have issues with your short-term memory, the Sooners did not have a great game hosting Houston last week. A win is a win, but 16 – 12 scare over a team who lost at home to UNLV by 20-points the previous week? OU Head Coach Brent Venables better “be able” to win this game by at least three scores, or there will be rumbling in our neighbor to the west. Sooners by 24.

UAB at Arkansas – This one could be close at halftime since the Dragons’ roster is laden with players who are just slightly not good enough to play for Alabama. Arkansas by 30.

(5) Ole Miss at Wake Forest – Our former SEC foe is on a tear so far this season. The Demon Deacons have no chance of slowing them down. Rebels by 30.

UTSA at (2) Texas – Our old friend Jeff Traylor is still the head coach of the Roadrunners, and, last week aside, he has had recent success. His team will earn their money this week with a loss to a powerful Longhorns team. Texas by 40.

Vanderbilt at Georgia State – Could the Commodores be on the rise? Or will we have a repeat of last season where Vandy looked strong early and then tail off as the season progresses? They will win this week, and the real test will be the waiting Tigers from Missouri in Week 4. ‘Dores by 30.

Toledo at Mississippi State – The Bulldogs will have trouble early with the Rockets, but then, after four minutes, State will pull away. Bulldogs by 35.

(1) Georgia at Kentucky – If the Wildcats left Kroger Field with their heads down last week, following a visit from the Bulldogs this week, Kentucky will be able to kiss their own knees. Unless Mark Stoops can channel his brother’s coaching ability, this will be over in the 2nd quarter. Georgia by 40.

New Mexico at Auburn – Andy called it. The game between the Tigers and Cal last week was even more boring than last season’s. Hugh Freeze breathes a sigh of relief as a much easier opponent is on the slate this week. The Lobos will serve as comic relief, but the fans will still be suspicious for the upcoming season. Auburn by 27.

Kent State at (7) Tennessee – This one receives my nomination for Week 3’s “Good Grief Game”. Vols by 42.

While you are locking in your wagers for Week 3, put a nickel on Red 34 for me as well.

A certain someone will probably go on record as stating my temper was not in control as the game against OSU wore on last week. But, hey, at least Colorado lost to Nebraska, right? For clarity, I do not care about the prior, only the latter.