Hogs gone Wild

Arkansas 17 LSu 19

2005-12-10T18:31:00.000-08:00

Arkansas 17 LSU 19
BATON ROUGE -- LSU needed to beat Arkansas in Tiger Stadium by just one point Friday to advance to its third Southeastern Conference Championship game in five years.
So, just to be on the safe side, the Tigers won by two points, as 92,127 fans and a national television audience watched the Razorbacks give LSU a little post-Thanksgiving heartburn in a 19-17 hometown victory that was in doubt until 20 seconds remained in the fourth quarter.The win finished LSU's regular season at 10-1, 7-1 in the ever-demanding SEC and moved LSU into a championship game showdown against Georgia next Saturday in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. Arkansas finished its year 4-7 overall, just 2-6 in the conference.
The Tigers held a seemingly-safe 19-3 lead early in the third quarter after tailback Justin The Razorbacks were led by a pair of true freshmen in quarterback Casey Dick and tailback Darren McFadden who were largely responsible for the Hogs' two second-half touchdowns. Dick found wide receiver Cedrick Washington for a 29-yard touchdown with 4:16 to play in the third quarter and McFadden added the two-point conversion run to cut the Tiger lead to 19-11.
McFadden then scored on a 1-yard plunge with 10:34 remaining in the game to cut the lead to 19-17. An interception of a Dick pass on the
ensuing two-point try by Chevis Jackson kept the Hogs from tying the game.
LSU and Arkansas then traded possessions and defensive punches like prize fighters hanging on the ropes. The Razorbacks held the field-position advantage late, starting every fourth quarter drive from their 35 or better including a 50-yard line start to their last drive of the game. LSU, meanwhile, was constantly mired inside its own 25 and failed to gain one first down in the fourth quarter.
The Razorbacks moved to the LSU 33 in the waning moments of the game on a 4th-and-6 completion from McFadden on a roll to the left to Marcus Monk. But, the Razorbacks failed to move any closer to what could have been game-winning field goal range. Dick was sacked for a seven-yard loss on third down by Tiger defensive end Melvin Oliver and then harassed again by Oliver on a fourth down heave that landed in the hands of Tiger safety LaRon Landry at the 7-yard line, ending the threat. Arkansas missed several opportunities to score throughout the contest including a missed, 28-yard field goal by Chris Balseiro early in the third quarter following an 89-yard kickoff return by McFadden. Arguably, Arkansas would have won the game if not for a botched punt in the endzone that resulted in a LSU safety late in the first half.
"That really hurt us," said Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt. "There's no excuse to get the ball at that close early in the third quarter and not come away with at least three points. Every yard was crucial in this game, every foot."
McFadden entered the contest as the second-best rusher in the SEC, averaging 105.6 yards per game just four yards behind Auburn's Kenny Irons. While Irons gashed the Tigers for 218 yards earlier in the season in an overtime LSU win, McFadden was held to 57 on the ground. But, he was arguably the most valuable player of the game to his team when the 89-yard return, two point conversion and 13-yard pass are factored in.
LSU's stingy and often stifling defense held the Razorbacks to just 241 total yards. But the Tiger offense countered with 302 and the Hogs even held a slight advantage in passing yards thanks to two completions of 45 yards or more. Dick finished the game 12-28 for 148 yards, one touchdown and an interception. Credit is due Arkansas," said LSU Coach "They came in here and played very emotionally. We (LSU) certainly did not play our best in several ways. But, if you look at it, time and time again the defense came through. We won, and it feels good."

The Battle for the Boot

2005-12-10T18:20:00.000-08:00

The Battle for the Boot” it is called. The powers that be felt as if LSU needed a rival. Ole Miss was the Tigers most hated opponent for years. But NCAA probation and limited success over the lat 20 or so years has really taken the umph out of LSU-Mississippi. However, LSU’s lead 5-4 over the past nine games Some consider LSU and Alabama rivals. Tiger fans may say the Tigers and Tide are bitter foes, but Bama has dominated the series for years. However, LSU has now won three straight and four of the last five. So the logical decision was Arkansas. The teams’ states share borders and together they form a boot configuration suitable to plate with 24 karat gold. While some folks scoff at the post Thanksgiving turkey brawl, the series has actually been a fairly good one. While LSU tends to out-talent Arkansas all over the place, highly emotional and charismatic Razorback coach Houston Nutt always seems to get his Hogs extremely high for this game. Aside from last seasons sound 43-14 licking of Arkansas in Little Rock, the LSU-Arkansas series may be one of the most competitive in all of the SEC, maybe even college football. The “Battle for the Boot” began in 1996, and although LSU holds a 7-3 lead over the Hogs over the course of 10 games, the Tigers have won 41-38 in 2001, rallied for a 55-24 win in 2003 and lost the thriller in 2002 21-20. Arkansas dashed LSU’s SEC West title hopes with a 14-3 win in 2000 in a rainy Little Rock.

Uconn out last Hogs

2005-11-22T06:46:00.000-08:00

Arkansas 77 Uconn 68 .... MAUI, Hawaii – Arkansas trailed the entire game but made two big runs at No. 3 Connecticut in Monday’s opening round of the Maui Invitational before the Huskies hit enough free throws down the stretch for a 77-68 victory.
Connecticut took its largest lead at 55-38 with 11:06 remaining on a dunk by Rudy Gay, but Arkansas scored seven straight and closed within 10 on a three-pointer by Ronnie Brewer. After four free throws gave the Huskies a 12-point margin, the Razorbacks scored nine straight to get within three.Charles Thomas made two free throws and Dontell Jefferson made a dunk. Eric Ferguson, seeing his first action since the Red-White Game on Oct. 29, hit a jumper after getting an offensive rebound and made the free throw after being fouled to get the Hogs within 59-54. An offensive rebound by Thomas led to a layup by Steven Hill as Arkansas closed within 59-56 with 5:38 remaining.
Gay made two free throws but Jefferson answered with a jumper to keep UA within three. A Brewer jumper kept Arkansas within 64-60, but UConn went on a 7-2 run with four points from Gay to give the Huskies a 72-62 advantage with 1:32 left.
A Jonathon Modica layup cut the deficit to 72-68 with 30 seconds remaining, but Connecticut, which made 21-of-25 free throws for the game, made five-of-six the rest of the way.
Connecticut scored 10 of the game’s first 12 points, led 26-13 at the 7:29 mark of the first half and 30-18 at the 4:32 mark before Arkansas made its first rally. A Jefferson jumper and a layup by Brewer after a steal cut the lead to 30-22. Jefferson made two free throws and a Darian Townes jumper got the Hogs within 30-26 at the 2:38 mark before UConn settled for a 34-28 halftime lead.
Gay made 11-of-19 shots and was five-of-seven at the line for a game-high 28 points. Denham Brown had 21 points and Jeff Adrien 11. UA limited Josh Boone to four points and seven rebounds.
Brewer paced Arkansas with 25 points. He made eight-of-17 shots and had a game-high six steals.
Modica finished with 13 points on six-of-12 shooting, and Jefferson and Hill had eight points each. Ferguson finished with six points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals.
Connecticut shot 57.7 percent from the floor (15-26) and 84 percent at the line while UA shot 42.9 percent overall (25-57) and 78.9 percent at the line (15-19). UConn had a 37-25 rebounding advantage and turned the ball over 23 times while Arkansas had 20 turnovers.
Arkansas faces Kansas Tuesday at 3 p.m. The Jayhawks fell to No. 10 Arizona, 61-49. Arizona shot just 28 percent, but Kansas shot 34 percent and turned the ball over 27 times. Sasha Kaun had 12 points, and Brandon Rush 11 points and seven rebounds for the Jayhawks.

Hogs blast Mississippi State 44 -10

2005-11-21T13:40:00.000-08:00

LITTLE ROCK - The Arkansas offense scored early and often en route to a 44-10 win over Mississippi State in the final home game of the season at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock Saturday.
A crowd of 55,712 witnessed running back Darren McFadden become the first Arkansas freshman to rush for 1,000 yards in a season and just the seventh Razorback in school history to accomplish the feat. He finished the day with 165 yards rushing and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs.
The Arkansas offense appeared to pick up where it left off against Ole Miss in the first quarter. On the opening drive of the game, freshman quarterback Casey Dick completed third down passes to Marcus Monk and Peyton Hillis to move the chains. McFadden then capped the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to give the Hogs an early 7-0 advantage. Midway through the first quarter, Mississippi State quarterback Micheal Henig fumbled the ball under pressure from a swarm of Razorback defensemen. Marcus Harrison picked up the lose football for the Razorbacks and rumbled 25 yards to the 44-yard line.
Seven plays later, McFadden set a new freshman record for touchdowns in a season when he took a pitch up the sideline 21 yards, carrying defenders with him into the end zone for his 10th score of the season. Arkansas led 14-0 with 4:35 remaining in the first quarter.
Arkansas added to its lead on the second play of the second quarter with a 23-yard Chris Balseiro field goal. The Razorback defense forced another turnover on Mississippi State’s next play from scrimmage. Jamal Anderson sacked Henig, forcing a fumble that was recovered by Keith Jackson on the Bulldogs 12-yard line. Balseiro connected on another field goal to push the lead to 20-0.
Arkansas put together an impressive 12-play drive on its next possession. Dick hit Hillis on a swing pass for a 15-yard touchdown, making it 27-0 with 5:15 remaining in the second quarter. Mississippi State tallied its first down of the game on its next drive when running back Jerious Norwood broke loose for a 53-yard gain. The Bulldogs got on the scoreboard with an Adam Carlson field goal to make the score 27-3 with 3:35 left in the half.
But the Razorbacks put the game away for good when Felix Jones took the ensuing kickoff from the goal line and returned it 100 yards for a touchdown. Jones became the seventh Razorback to record a 100-yard touchdown and the first since Madre Hill in 1994.
After a Mississippi State punt, Arkansas got the ball back with just over a minute to play in the half. Dick found Monk in the back corner of the end zone with only 11 seconds remaining to push the lead to 41-3 at the break. Dick completed 12-of-23 passes with two touchdowns and two interceptions in his third start as a Razorback.
The Arkansas defense held Mississippi State (2-8, 0-7 SEC) to 44 yards of total offense in the first half. The Hogs pass rush kept pressure on the quarterback all day. The Bulldogs tallied negative-eight-yards passing in the first half and sacked the Mississippi State signal caller six times in the game. Jamaal Anderson and Keith Jackson led the way with six tackles each.
Midway through the fourth quarter McFadden found daylight for a 64-yard run to the Mississippi State seven-yard line. That pushed him over the 1,000-yard mark for the season, making him the first freshman, and the seventh player in Arkansas history to record 1,000 yards rushing in a season. Chris Balseiro converted his third field goal of the game to reach the final margin 44-10
Arkansas (4-6, 2-5 SEC) will travel to Baton Rouge, La., for its final game of the season Friday. The bout with the LSU Tigers will be televised on CBS and kickoff is slated for 1:30 p.m.

Ole Miss Notes

2005-11-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

Weather .... A+ Absoulutely beautiful, Mid 70's, and sunny. There not a better place for college football, than a warm sunny day in the Grove. The north can have there frozen tundra, I'll taken a warm sunny day with a little southern footall, anytime.
Nightlife .... A+ Memphis is now the closes thing the U.S. has to the 0ld New Orleans. So has you can guess the nightlife is first class. Beale Street, the Home of the Blues! Beale Street is the number one tourist attraction in the State of Tennessee and one of America's most famous musical streets! Located in the heart of downtown Memphis with three blocks of more than 30 nightclubs, restaurants and retail shops. Music includes traditional Blues, Rhythm and Blues, Jazz and Rock 'n' Roll. Catch a concert at Handy Park or attend one of the annual festivals or parades. There are few cities around with as much to do as you'll find in Memphis. In addition to the legendary Memphis nightlife or Memphis attractions, there's irresistible food and captivating museums and something quirky fun and real for everyone in the family.

Tailgating .... A+ Tailgating & The Grove Name another college campus with a better tailgating venue than Ole Miss and the Rebel fans take the time honored tradition of tailgating to the highest level. The Grove provides that wonderful venue and it is surely the one of the best game day experiences in college sports. Tailgaters come early, stay late and set up tables, grills, party tents and serve the finest food and beverages. A tradition, not only during football season but baseball as well, tailgating occurs whenever the mood strikes the Ole Miss family. You can't just see it. You must experience it.Walk of the Champions Several hours before every home football game, the Ole Miss football team and coaches walk from the Student Union under the Walk of Chamions arch and through the Grove on their way to their way to the Starnes Training Center and the game. Cheered by Ole Miss fans the entire way, it is another experience that adds to the game day excitement.

Fan's .... A+ The Razorback fan were simply awesome. The first have was a little slow, but the second was like an old Rzorback Pep Rally. We call the hogs 27 time in Oxford, if that tells you the spirit of these Razorback fan's. Most of us could hardly talk after screaming so much.

Game .... A+ Arkansas Wins!!! For only the second time ever in Oxford. The game started slow for Arkansas, but the second half was one of the best I ever been too.

City .... A Memphis spills up out of the rich black soil. Memphis lingers on the warm breeze with the sweet smoke of barbeque pits and the melancholy mojo of the best guitar you ever heard. There's just something real about Memphis. From the holy grails of music landmarks to the restaurants, from the basketball court to the acclaimed zoo, from the elegant hotels to the mystical nightclubs on legendary Beale Street, there's an irresistible soul that's drawn people here for more than a century

Stadium .... C+ The Ole Miss faithful are still glowing with excitement from the recent renovation of Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Ole Miss increased its capacity to 60,580 in 2002 with the bowling in of the south end zone.The Rebels are 220-62-8 all-time at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.

Trip .... A+ This was one of the most fun road trip, I've been on in a long time. Everything seemed to be going our way. Memphis is always alot of fun . The football game was Great!!! The Grove was awesome, and lots joking and laughing along the way.

Overall Grade .... A

Miles Travled 785

Gas Money 87.22

Hog Calls 27

Year to date ................................................................................

Record 3-4 (games we been too)

Record in RRS 1-3

Record in LR 1-0

On the Road 1-1

Miles Travled 3515

Gas Money 484.40

Hog Calls 54

Celebration !!!!!

2005-11-21T07:21:00.000-08:00

Arkansas 28 Ole Miss 17 .... OXFORD, Miss. – Arkansas parlayed a stifling defensive effort with a second-half offensive revival to earn a 28-17 win over Ole Miss on Saturday night in front of 53,289 at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Arkansas (3-6, 1-5 SEC) scored 21 points in the second half, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to earn its first Southeastern Conference victory of the season. Ole Miss (3-6, 1-5 SEC) led 14-7 at halftime, but managed only a field goal following the intermission.
Arkansas freshman quarterback Casey Dick captained three second-half scoring drives and threw for three touchdowns in only his second career collegiate game. Dick completed 17 of 24 passes, including connecting on his last 12 attempts, for 175 yards and three scores. Marcus Monk hauled in touchdown passes of 23 and 24 yards while Peyton Hills scored on a four-yard touchdown pass.Monk led the Razorbacks with five catches for 63 yards and two touchdowns while Hillis snared four catches for 41 yards and a score. Freshman tailback Felix Jones led the Hogs on the ground with 50 yards on 13 carries.
Arkansas’ defense pressured Ole Miss quarterback Ethan Flatt all afternoon sacking him four times and forcing two interceptions. A 42-yard interception return for a touchdown by Arkansas strong safety Randy Kelly was the only points the Hogs scored in the first half. Nine different Razorback defenders tallied a tackle for loss led by sophomore defensive end Jamaal Anderson earned four (-22) including one sack (-13).
The Razorback offense struggled in the first 30 minutes earning only 51 yards in total offense before the break. SEC leading rusher Darren McFadden was bottled up all day earning only 22 yards on 13 carries. But the Razorback defense held firm long enough for the Hogs’ offense to ignite down the stretch to clinch the win.Things started slowly for both squads, at least on the offensive side. Flatt was knocked out of the game on the Rebels’ opening offensive possession, but returned to the field later in the first quarter to lead his team on a scoring drive. Flatt connected on a 45-yard screen pass to Mico McSwain on the big-play of the drive. The Rebels also converted a fourth-down play deep in Arkansas territory before tailback Larry Kendrick scored on an eight-yard screen pass from Flatt with 3:10 remaining in the first quarter. Matt Hinkle added the extra point to make it 7-0.
Arkansas’ offense found yards hard to come by in the first quarter as the Hogs were only able to gain 22. Fortunately for the Razorbacks, the UA defense provided a spark on the final play of the first 15 minutes. Kelly picked off a Flatt third-down pass and raced 42 yards for a touchdown to tie the game. Officials initially ruled Kelly out of bounds at the two-yard line, but a video replay showed the Arkansas defensive back reached the ball over the goal line before hitting the ground. The second defensive touchdown of the season for the Hogs and a Chris Balseiro extra point knotted the game at 7-7.Midway through the second quarter, the Razorbacks returned the favor when Darren McFadden fumbled inside Arkansas territory. Ole Miss linebacker Patrick Willis recovered the ball at the Arkansas 38-yard line. The Rebels went 38 yards on six plays for a touchdown capped on a one-yard run by Kendrick. Hinkle connected on the PAT to put Ole Miss back out on top 14-7. The teams went scoreless the rest of the way with the Rebels heading to the locker room with a seven-point halftime lead.
Arkansas’ defense made short-work of the Rebels’ opening drive of the second half. Aided by an Anderson sack, the Hogs forced Ole Miss to punt after only three plays. Hillis fielded a punt and raced 27 yards to put the Razorback offense at the Rebels’ 38-yard line. On the first play, however, Felix Jones fumbled and Ole Miss free safety Charles Clark returned the miscue 32 yards. Ole Miss’ nine-play drive stymied and the Rebels settled for a Hinkle 28-yard field goal to extend their lead to 17-7 with 8:23 left in the third quarter. The Razorbacks responded with a scoring drive of their own. Dick guided the Hogs on an 11-play, 73-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 23-yard touchdown pass to Monk. The touchdown and Balseiro PAT closed the Rebels’ lead to 17-14 with 3:33 left in the third quarter.
Arkansas’ offense was on the move again early in the fourth quarter hitting paydirt on a four-play 36-yard drive. Dick found Hillis for a four-yard touchdown pass with 12:20 to play. Balseiro drilled the extra point to put the Razorbacks ahead for the first time on the afternoon at 21-17.
The Razorback defense followed with another key stop halting the ensuing Ole Miss drive after only one first down. Pierre Brown finished off the Rebels’ drive by sacking Flatt for an eight-yard loss. Following the punt, Dick and the Razorback offense took the field for another drive to the end zone.
Dick converted on a trio of third-down conversions with the final one coming on a 24-yard scoring strike to Monk. Balseiro kicked the extra point to give the Hogs a 28-17 lead with 5:06 left to play.
On the ensuing drive, Ole Miss drove the ball into Arkansas territory but a missed Rebels’ 34-yard field attempt with 2:22 remaining all but iced the victory for the Razorbacks. Arkansas ran out the clock to pick up its first conference win of the season.

South Carolina Notes

2005-11-07T10:57:00.000-08:00

Weather... A+ I can never remeber going to the last game of the season in Fayetteville, and wearing a t-shirt. If anything it was a little on the hot side. upper 70's and sunny.

Game... B+ Homecoming, Senior Day, The Old Ball Coach. A game that came down to the last series. Great Weather. Only if we had won, it would have been the perfect game.

Fan's... C - It was a pretty good crowd for an 11:30 kickoff. The first and second quarters the fans really seemed to be in to it, for such an early kickoff. The 3 quarter they really seemed to get that afternoon drag to them. At point's it sounded like were the only one' yelling in our section. But, the lowest point of the game for the crowd came in the 4th Quarter, when the razorback didn't make it on a 4th down. With about 4 minutes to go, thousands of Razorback fans started leaving for there cars. Arkansas still had a defensive and offensive series left to go. Down by 4, Bowl chance on the line, seniors last game in Fayetteville. I guess they wanted to bet the rush to the restaurants. Good football programs start with the fan base, so I guess bad football time should expect to have bad fans.

Tailgating... C+ For such an early kickoff, there were lots of fans tailgating. Fayetteville is really starting to get better at this.

Trip... A+ Wow, It was simply an awesome drive throught the Ozark mountains. The fall foliage was wonderful. Most year it seems like there never a Fayetteville football game around the time the leaves are so beautiful, but this year it turned out to be perfect.

People... We saw Anthony Lucas going to the Field at halftime. We could also see Dan and Shannon from across the stadium.

Overall grade... B+

Miles Travled 410
Gas Money 74 dollars
Hog calls 3

Year to date

Record 2-4 (games we been too)
Record in RRS 1-3
Record in LR 1-0
On the Road 0-1
Miles Travled 2730
Gas Money 397.18
Hog Calls 27

Tailgating in the Rock!!!

2005-11-07T10:36:00.000-08:00

This was before the ULM Game, on the golf course in Little Rock. Super Ryan is ready to this party started. We claim this land for Hogs Gone Wild.

Mitchell and baxley, talkin about third world economics.

Jenny and Todd, They can't remeber where they parked?

Jenny and Rebecca, friends Forever.

James and Kyle didn't make halftime, before the fans around them wanted them to leave.

Three Yards Away

2005-11-07T09:02:00.000-08:00

Arkansas 10 South Carolina 14

Fayetetteville - Arkansas was three yards away from a perfect Homecoming. Even though the Razorbacks earned 356 yards in total offense and held South Carolina to 187, the Hogs needed three more yards. Those three yards are the story of the season for the Razorbacks.It actually looked like the Hogs got two of those yards. On Arkansas’ first possession, Cedric Washington caught Casey Dick’s pass just over the 30 yard line, the necessary marker for a first down. He circled back but still dove forward right on the 30. However, the ball was spotted two feet short of the 30.Every Razorback fan knows what happened next. Houston Nutt, perhaps responding to those who think he is too conservative, went for it. Dick, taking just the fourth snap of his varsity career, was stopped short on a quarterback sneak. South Carolina took over on the Hog 29 and scored in four plays and with the help of a costly penalty.Arkansas overcame the early disappointment, had tied the game and was driving late in the half. Darren McFadden took a lateral from the Gamecock 38 and dashed down the sideline. He was hit and was headed out of bounds at the one but he broke the plane of the goalline with the ball before he was pushed over the boundary. Replays and coaches’ video showed it clearly. It should have been a touchdown.However, the ball was ruled out at the one and Arkansas failed on three tries to score a touchdown. A field goal made it 10-7 rather than 14-7 at the half.Trailing 14-10, Arkansas mounted a terrific drive late in the game and had second and one at the South Carolina 17. Three tries netted nothing and the Gamecocks took over. Had Arkansas been given the touchdown on McFadden’s run, Balseiro would have tried a field goal on fourth down to give the Hogs the lead.Would have’s, should have’s and could have’s are the story of every athletic event. The winners congratulate themselves for getting the breaks while the losers point out how close they were to winning. Close in all five SEC losses, Arkansas hasn’t created the huge break necessary for a win.There is no time yet to ponder what might have been. There are still three games left. Playing games with nothing at stake for the first time in Nutt’s eight seasons, perhaps the Hogs will be so relaxed they will peak late. Or, without the motivation of a possible bowl invitation, Arkansas could find it difficult to win any of the remaining contests.If the Hogs will continue to play with the effort they have displayed in SEC games, they are bound to win before the season concludes. The defense has come a million miles since the loss at Southern Cal and had just one major breakdown against the Gamecocks. Of course, that resulted in the 42-yard touchdown pass that gave the visitors the victory. Had Arkansas made any of the three critical yards mentioned above, South Carolina’s touchdown might have proved meaningless.Nutt’s first quarter gamble, a decision he would have reversed if given another chance, was actually a result of the confidence defensive coordinator Reggie Herring had expressed all week. Herring told Nutt he didn’t think the Gamecocks would score much if at all. That prompted Nutt to take a risk he otherwise would not have.It might have just cost a field goal had Arkansas not been penalized for a late hit after South Carolina gained 15 yards on a first down pass. That gave the Gamecocks the ball at the seven rather than the 14. It took an excellent catch on third down for South Carolina to reach the end zone.With an improved defense and a running game that has been productive against every opponent, the lingering question is Dick’s ability to generate a passing attack in the last three games. He showed signs of being able to bring some balance to the Hog offense with some very crisp passes. He hit a pair of third down tosses on Arkansas’ touchdown drive, the flipped the ball perfectly to Peyton Hillis for the touchdown.Later Dick threw darts to Cedric Washington and Marcus Monk for gains of 47 and 19 yards, respectively. The pass to Washington had to be right on target because a Gamecock defender was near enough to intercept anything but a perfect pass. When the defender missed, Washington turned it into the longest passing play of the season.As suspected, Washington became more involved in the game plan. His three catches netted 73 yards. Cedric Logan had a 16-yard catch. Monk frequently drew two defenders but Dick still threw his way at least three times.Dick had his errant throws, too, including one into the end zone on the play before Balseiro’s field goal. That’s to be expected in his first start. He made good decisions throughout the game and did not look bothered by the pressure of playing for the first time.After proving he can throw the ball and will play with poise, Dick will be given more responsibility. The offense is likely to open up somewhat, particularly if the receivers will move closer to maximizing their potential.At his press conference Sunday Nutt admitted the hurt he, his staff and players are feeling. They expected to win Saturday just as they have expected to win every game. Southern California was unwinnable but Arkansas has had chances in every SEC contest.Nutt is aware of his critics but hurts more than anyone when the Razorbacks lose. He only flirted with Nebraska and LSU because he suspected the 2004 and 2005 seasons could be lean. Arkansas is his dream job and he won’t give it up without a fight. The Razorbacks may be out of the bowl picture but they will continue to play hard. Now they’re playing for next year. A win or two would go a long way toward building early momentum. Perhaps this is the week the Hogs will make those three yards.

1:00 Kickoff at Ole Miss

2005-11-01T07:58:00.000-08:00

The Arkansas - Ole Miss game on Nov 12, 2005 will be a 1:00 Kickoff. At Vaught Heminway Stadium. The kickoff time was just put on the Ole Miss web site.

Road Trip: University of Mississippi

2005-11-01T07:43:00.000-08:00

By Adam Duerson

Hotty Toddy, gosh almighty
Who in the hell are we --
HeyFlim Flam, Bim Bam
Ole Miss, by Damn!

Todd's a hottie with the what-now? And who's Bim Bam? "That's our fight song. Don't you like it?" I'm not sure. Strike one. You don't look like you work at SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. Don't you folks dress up?" For a tailgate? Not really. Strike two.
"You can't just go drinking that in the open." My bad. "You have to hide it -- like this." Cue indiscreet concealing of beer in blue plastic cup. "Much better."
And with that I, who couldn't have been more of an outsider if I had arrived sporting Winnie the Pooh pajamas, should have been expelled to the bayou from which I emerged before stumbling upon this fantasy world.
There are rules here at Ole Miss's Grove. And ways of communicating that I couldn't comprehend. (How does one conjugate "Y'all"?) Of course, I'd been set up. Driving east on StatHighway 6 -- past the Cheepo Deepo [sic], a field of bathtubs, Waffle Houses -- one doesn't expect, well, much of anything.
But in Oxford lies, as promised, the most magical place on all of God's green, football-playing Earth: the Grove. A school of red and white and blue tents swimming in a shaded 10-acre forest of oak trees, floating in an ocean of good will and even better manners.
I didn't know the rules at the Grove, rules like: "Don't bother showing up before 4 a.m." Sure, space is at a premium, but for a 6 p.m. game against Memphis? Who would? Apparently everyone, when you consider the masses who actually do arrive promptly at four.
Another rule: "The Grove closes at midnight," though it's often violated. Because of the old Bible Belt standard (no liquor sales on Sundays), it's the only place fans -- and players -- can get their post-postgame swill.
My most egregious rules violation: Dress as if you're attending a baptism. Ironic then that I, the most underdressed of the bunch, was the one being baptized. Holy water would have spit me back up, but they don't drink holy water in Mississippi. They drink bourbon. Yes, they drink bourbon and eat boiled peanuts and finger sandwiches from sterling-silver platters and serving dishes arranged by caterers and frantic moms on elaborate tabletops. They partake in front of flat-screen TVs with DirecTV, underneath chandeliers and amongst intricate candelabras and ornate flower arrangements. And when football calls, they pay people like Andre, at the Rebel Rousers tent, to stand guard.
The Ole Miss-isms keep coming. When nature calls, they don't "whiz," they "potty" -- at the Hotty Toddy Potty, or its companion, the Hotty Toddy Potty Too. And players don't just walk to the game. They walk like "champions." Read: in their best shirts and ties. Like adults.
Because that's what the Grove really is: a place for adults. A secret place run, governed and funded by grown-ups. Sure, the students drink their booze and scarf their food. But they also lug the tents in at 4 a.m. (often for $100 or more). It's as if the Ole Miss'ians have swindled their Li'l Miss'ians into attending only so they themselves have an excuse to come back.

5 Questions for Eli Manning

Archie Manning's youngest son questioned in 2002 whether he was "ready to leave [college] and go out into the real world." Smart kid. When you live in Oxford, where they redshirt Miss Americas, who wants the real world? The former Rebels QB, now with the NFL's Giants, gives his read on Oxford.

1. Explain "Hotty Toddy," please. If you're around Rebels fans, you might say "Hotty Toddy," and it just means you're an Ole Miss fan too. Any other meanings are beyond me.

2. Being the hospitable adopted Mississippian that you are, what advice do you give a visitor to Oxford? Go to the City Grocery restaurant [on Courthouse Square]. My parents went there every Friday night -- with reservations during home-game weekends, of course. Even I couldn't walk up without calling ahead. Make sure to try the shrimp and grits. I haven't found anything like that in New York yet. And visit the Grove, of course.

3. What's your earliest recollection of said Grove? I went a lot when I was in middle school and as a kid. You'd play pickup football in your best clothes and your parents would come looking for you. They'd find you all muddy and sweaty. People always think of it as a place for alumni and students, but some of my best memories from there are as a kid.

4. And then you grow up and can appreciate all the beautiful women and libations, right? As a student, after games I would go back into the Grove. My parents always had a tent and we had the full setup. Pretty much anything you wanted in the drink category, you could find it at our tent.

5. What else did the Manning family tent consist of? Nothing too ritualistic; nothing as fancy as some of the others get. But we always had some sort of shrimp dish, being from New Orleans. And then some sandwiches. Chili. Fried chicken. Boiled peanuts. Veggie spreads. Dip. More drinks.

The Ole Miss Tickets are here

2005-10-31T12:06:00.000-08:00

Section 104 is in the north end zone

This is the view from our seats in section 104, very close to the action. It's going to be a loud and rowdy time.

The Ole miss tickets arrived today. Hogs gone wild, is taking ten of the wildest loudest Razorback fans in Arkansas. The group will include Dan, Jeremy, Klye, Todd, James, Anna, Mitch, Ryan, Baxley and Brad. You Can just call them SUPER FANS !!! We'll be sitting in section 104 row's 11 and 12. Five seat on each row. GO HOGS GO !!!!!!!!!

2005-10-31T11:53:00.000-08:00

Updated: Oct. 31, 2005, 1:03 AM ET
Dick to replace Johnson vs. Gamecocks
Associated Press
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Casey Dick, a freshman quarterback who's seen no action in Razorback games this year because he's been redshirted, will start for Arkansas against South Carolina on Saturday, coach Houston Nutt said
The red shirt is coming off, Nutt said Sunday, because Dick has impressed his coaches with his passing in practices and has shown the skills to move the offense.
Robert Johnson started the first seven games for Arkansas this season. Nutt said he would take the blame for Johnson's struggles as signal-caller as the Razorbacks went 0-4 in the first half of their Southeastern Conference season, 2-5 overall.
"It's not that I'm saying it's Robert Johnson's fault," Nutt said. "Nothing could be further from the truth. Robert Johnson has done some good things for our program and he's still needed."
Nutt said Dick deserves a chance to show if he can spark the Razorback offense.As a senior at Allen High School in Texas, Dick completed 133-of-248 passes for 14 touchdowns. He also rushed for 401 yards and eight touchdowns in his final high school year.
Nutt said Dick has thrown against the Arkansas defense all season in practice "and has done very, very well."
"He has a strong arm and good instincts," Nutt said. "It's hard to explain. He just has 'it.' He just seems to have a knack for making some plays and we're going to give him an opportunity."

McFadden SEC Freshman of the Week

2005-10-24T11:11:00.000-07:00

Darren McFadden was named Southeastern Conference freshman of the week after rushing for 190 yards and two touchdowns in a 23-20 loss to No. 4 Georgia on Saturday.
McFadden also won the award the previous week after a loss to No. 19 Auburn, and Razorbacks running back Felix Jones was honored in September.
At Georgia, McFadden set a single-game rushing record for an Arkansas freshman, breaking Darryl Bowles' mark of 169 yards against Texas A&M in 1979. McFadden also became the first Arkansas freshman to rush for 100 yards three straight games in a season.
"Darren had another outstanding game against one of the best teams in the nation," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "He continues to get better and better every week. He hits the line of scrimmage at full speed and uses his blocking well. If he continues in the same direction, he has the potential to have a special career as a Razorback."
McFadden has run for 682 yards this season, another Arkansas freshman record. He leads the SEC with eight rushing touchdowns.

Dawgs Survive Hogs 23 - 20

2005-10-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

ATHENS, Ga. — Tailback Darren McFadden set Razorback freshman rushing records while Arkansas' defense and offense improved vastly from a week ago, but the Razorbacks fell, 23-20 shy of Georgia in Saturday's SEC game before 92,746 at Georgia's Sanford Stadium.
For 19-point underdog Arkansas, 2-5, 0-4 in the SEC West and blown off the field in the second half of last week's 34-17 loss to Auburn, it was a remarkable road showing against the nation's fourth-ranked team, 7-0, 5-0 in the SEC East.Yet ultimately, aside from clutch Georgia plays and the Bulldogs' ability to overcome the knee injury-induced loss of senior starting quarterback D.J Shockley in the second quarter, the Razorbacks had nobody but themselves to blame for pivotal penalties and breakdowns.
Take your pick:
A defensive breakdown enabling Georgia backup quarterback Joe Tereshinski to hit a bomb setting up a field goal just before half.
A holding penalty on offensive guard Jonathan Luigs to force Arkansas to settle for a Chris Balseiro instead of a possible touchdown drive.
A false start by tight end Jared Hicks stalling a drive ultimately ending with Balseiro missing a 45-yard field goal.
Quarterback Robert Johnson throwing an interception setting up a Georgia touchdown or Peyton Hillis fumbling a punt setting up a Georgia field goal.
Erase any of the above and maybe these Razorbacks spring the biggest upset
since their 3-7-1 team of 1992 ambushed then nationally fourth-ranked Tennessee, 25-24 in Knoxville, Tenn.
"That kills you," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "The Jared Hicks penalty really hurt, fumbles. There's no room for error against a good team."
But Nutt found room to praise an Arkansas team given up for dead after last Saturday in Fayetteville when a 10-6 halftime lead dissipated to 34-17 disaster.
Netting 190 yards and two touchdowns on 31 carries, one a 70-yarder, McFadden of Pulaski Oak Grove surpassed Daryll Bowles (169 against Texas A&M in 1979) as Arkansas' all-time freshman single-game rushing leader and with four games to play already has eclipsed with 682 yards Cedric Cobbs' 662 yards in 1999 as Arkansas' leading freshman rusher in a season.
Freshman tailback Felix Jones contributed 62 yards on 10 carries. Jones' 35-yard run the next play after going 20 with a screen pass from Johnson set up McFadden's fourth-quarter touchdown.
Arkansas outrushed Georgia, 216-52. The Hogs' 20 points was the most the Bulldogs allowed this season.
Johnson, whom Nutt talked of benching after the Auburn game, went the distance completing 11 of 19 for 116 yards. He threw the one pick to UGA safety Tim Jennings at the Arkansas 22.
Jennings' theft set up Tereshinski's confidence-building first series completed by a fullback Brannon Southerland's 1-yard touchdown run for a 14-0 lead with 7:03 left in the second quarter.
Brandon Coutu kicked a 32-yard field goal with :03 left on the halftime clock. He also would kick a 48-yarder with 9:40 left in the third quarter and a 27-yarder with 7:41 left in the game after Hillis fumbled a Gordon Ely-Kelso punt.
McFadden had just pulled the Hogs to down 14-7 with his untouched 70 yard pop before the Coutu field goal before half.
He took it Georgia in the second half, too, completing a career high 31 totes.
"I've never carried 31 times in high school," McFadden said. "Coach told me he was going to put the load on me."
Smacked by Arkansas' Freddie Fairchild, Thomas Brown fumbled the second half kickoff which Arkansas' Jamaal Anderson recovered at the Georgia 16. The Luigs holding penalty got Arkansas behind in the count, but Balseiro kicked a 33-yard field goal.
Georgia countered with Coutu's 48-yarder for a 20-10 lead.

A Tale of Two Halves

2005-10-16T16:26:00.000-07:00

Fayetteville - The Arkansas defense kept Auburn out of the end-zone for a half, but the Tigers responded with touchdowns on their first four possessions of the second half en route to a 34-17 win at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.Trailing 10-6 at halftime, No. 21 Auburn’s offense responded with a 73-yard touchdown drive to open the second half. Quarterback Brandon Cox connected with Devin Aromashodu for a 17-yard touchdown pass, giving the Tigers (5-1, 3-0) their first lead of the game, 13-10. After an Arkansas punt, Auburn held the ball for more than seven minutes during an 85-yard, 14-play drive that culminated in a five yard touchdown pass from Cox to running back Tre Smith. The Tigers led 20-10 at the end of the third quarter.Arkansas quarterback Robert Johnson was intercepted on the second play of the fourth quarter while throwing out of his own end zone. The Tigers took over on the Arkansas 24 and extended the lead to 27-10 on a nine-yard touchdown pass from Cox to tight end Cooper Wallace.The Razorbacks responded with a quick scoring drive. Arkansas moved the ball 80 yards in just six plays. Darren McFadden tallied his second touchdown of the game when he scampered in from the 17, cutting the Auburn lead to 27-17 with 9:34 remaining in the game.Auburn answered with yet another touchdown drive. A seven-yard touchdown run by Smith made it 34-17 and put the game out of reach with only 3:37 left to play.An interception by Michael Coe on the Tigers first possession of the game set up a 19-yard Chris Balseiro field-goal to give Arkansas (2-4, 0-3) an early 3-0 advantage with 9:26 to play in the first quarter. The Razorbacks came up empty on their next possession after a fumble inside the Auburn 20 spoiled a promising drive.Auburn tied the game 3-3 on a 22-yard field-goal by John Vaughn with 11:58 to play in the second quarter. The Tigers drove the ball 75 yards in 14 plays, but the Hog defense dug in near the goal line. Matterral Richardson broke up Cox’s pass on third-and-four just short of the goal-line to force the field goal attempt.Two possessions later, Arkansas had an opportunity to regain the lead, but Chris Balseiro’s 38-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked by Will Herring with 4:53 left to play in the second quarter.Arkansas’ defense responded by continuing to pressure Cox. The Auburn quarterback was called for intentional grounding and a 15-yard-loss on the first play following the blocked kick, pinning the Tigers deep in their own territory. Vickiel Vaughn intercepted Cox’s pass on third down and Arkansas had the ball on the Auburn 13 to start its drive. Three plays later McFadden scampered in from five yards out to score the first touchdown of the game. Arkansas led 10-3 with 2:20 to play in the first half.Auburn answered quickly as Cox completed four consecutive passes to move the ball inside the Arkansas red zone. The Razorback defense held once again and Auburn settled for a 38-yard field goal to cut the lead to 10-6 just before halftime.Cox completed 17-of-26 passes for 203 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Aromashodu had six receptions for 98 yards and a touchdown. Tailback Kenny Irons ran for 182 yards on 33 carries, helping the Tigers rush for 233 as a team. Auburn had 436 yards of total offense.McFadden finished with 108 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries, but Arkansas, which entered the game third in the nation with 286.4 rushing yards per game, were held to 148 yards on 30 attempts.Johnson was 17-of-28 passing for 174 yards. Peyton Hillis had career highs of seven receptions for 81 yards while Cedric Washington added 58 yards on three catches.The Razorbacks travel to Georgia for an 11:30 a.m. (Central) game on Saturday.

Arkansas 44 ULM 15

2005-10-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

Arkansas 44 ... UL Monroe 15 ... Arkansas got two Felix Jones touchdowns in the third quarter and Darren McFadden tore off scoring runs of 39 and 15 yards, and each ran for over 100 yards, on the way to a 44-8 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Indians got a 23-yard touchdown pass to Joey Trappey on a fake field goal, but were killed by penalties and poor run defense allowing 321 Hog yards. Player of the game: Arkansas freshman RBs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones combined for 237 yards and four touchdowns on 25 carries. Stat Leaders: Arkansas - Passing: Robert Johnson, 12-17, 119 yds, 1 TDRushing: Darren McFadden, 11-125, 2 TD. Receiving: Peyton Hillis, 3-36UL Monroe - Passing: Steven Jyles, 11-25, 97 ydsRushing: K. Lancaster, 13-96, 1 TD. Receiving: RoShon Jacobs, 3-47What to take away from this game: The Hog backfield is well stocked for a few years to come. The play of freshman backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones against UL Monroe shows the team's depth, while Robert Johnson had his most efficient game yet completing 12 of 17 passes. Of course, it was against ULM and the offense was a bit too sloppy out of the game, but after the last three games, this was an important win to get a little bit of confidence going into the home date with Auburn.

The Vanderbilt Game

2005-10-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Vanderbilt Game Tailgating

2005-10-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

The Razorback fans, tailgating beside us. Gave away over 200 hot dogs, they were the life of the party on Razorback Dr.

The Razorbak spirt is alive, and well before the Vanderbuilt game . If we had only know of the inpending doom that awaited us. Former Marching Razorbacks JR and Amy make there return to Razorback Stadium.

Arkansas Biggest Party

2005-10-02T17:40:00.000-07:00

Arkansas biggest party happens this weekend. When the Arkansas Razorback make there annual pilgrumage to War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The golf course, next to War Memorial Stadium is simply the best party this state has to offer, with 30,000 people Eating, drinking and tailgating. A Little Rock Saturday night is one of college football greatest atmosthere. Hogs Gone Wild can't wait to get this Tailgate party started. We will be on the golf course about 2:00 p.m. (not sure where) with food and drinks. The Razorback start the ULM beatdown at 6:00 p.m. The best way to find us would be to just give us a call. Todd's # 501-592-2483. Kyle's # 501-472-1426. We look forward to seeing you on the course. Go Hog's Go!!!!

Hogs show charactor in loss to Alabama

2005-09-25T19:17:00.000-07:00

By JOHN ZENORAP Sports Writer
The Arkansas Razorbacks made sure they didn't get embarrassed this time.The Razorbacks rebounded from a humbling defeat to take No. 15 Alabama down to the wire before losing 24-13 Saturday. Their third consecutive defeat was vastly different from a 70-17 demolition the previous week at No. 1 Southern California."It showed a lot of character," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "We don't like to lose. Losing is not fun. This shows us how good our team can be."The defense especially made a huge turnaround. Instead of the 736 yards surrendered against USC, the Razorbacks (1-3, 0-2) allowed only 301 to the Crimson Tide (4-0, 2-0).Alabama led just 7-3 at halftime before stretching the lead to two touchdowns. Freshman tailback Darren McFadden, who made his first start, scored on a 70-yard touchdown run, displaying his big-play capabilities for one of the nation's top rushing teams."He brings speed and elusiveness," Nutt said. "He's a home run hitter. We're never afraid to get it to him. When he scored, that's when the game should have been won."Kyle Dickerson then set up a Chris Balseiro field goal with a blocked punt, helping give Arkansas hopes for an upset before a late Alabama touchdown put the game away.The Razorbacks responded well to an intense week of practice after the California nightmare."Everybody kept their heads up high," tailback De'Arrius Howard said. "Football is so close to life. You press so hard but sometimes you still don't get the outcome you want."Alabama was coming off an easy road win over South Carolina, but managed 200 fewer rushing yards with 37 carries for 128 yards in this game.
"They were more physical than South Carolina," said Tide tailback Ken Darby, who gained 98 yards on 18 carries. "We knew coming in that they would be aggressive and would be after us after their loss last weekend."They were, outgaining Alabama by 17 yards and making the late comeback attempt. Arkansas had won the past two meetings against the Tide.Alabama coach Mike Shula said he thinks Tide fans expecting a blowout were selling the Razorbacks short."We knew what kind of talent they had," Shula said. "Maybe it's because they got blown out the week before. They're a good football team. They've got a lot of pride. They've got good players. They've got good coaches."The Razorbacks should get another confidence booster on Saturday, hosting Louisiana-Monroe in Little Rock."We were down after the game," McFadden said, "but you have to have a short memory and forget about it."

Alabama Watch Party

2005-09-19T11:54:00.000-07:00

Hogs gone wild will have a watch party for this Saturday game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Alabama Crimson Tide. It will be at the place best know as Club Clinton and, everyone is invited. Party starts at 11:00 am. Be sure to wear Razorback colors and show team spirit. Go Hogs Go !!!

Hanging 70

2005-09-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

After scoring 70 points against Arkansas with ease, Reggie Bush and the USC offense proved they're just fine without Norm Chow. Is this the best offense ever? I never thought I'd ever see an offensive performance more impressive than Nebraska's 84-13 win over Minnesota in 1983. The Huskers scored 21 points in each quarter with Irving Fryar and Mike Rozier rolling at will. Of course, other teams have scored more points over the years, and that Gopher team was one of the worst in college football, but the ruthless precision of the attack was beyond jaw-dropping. Everything worked absolutely perfectly from the top guys on down. Even when the Huskers tried to pull back, their plays worked. I know they've only played two games, and I know that they were against Hawaii and an Arkansas team that appears to be a shadow of its former self, and I know I'm going overboard, but I've bought into the hype: the USC Trojan offense really might be the greatest of all-time. The way the attack came out and ripped up an Arkansas defense full of SEC athletes left me staring at the TV unable to turn away. Even without Norm Chow leading the way, Matt Leinart and the boys were stone cold killers. 736 yards of offense, 28 first quarter points, 42 first half points, 70 for the game; it could've been 100 if they'd kept their foot on the gas. I'm not going to make a dumb statement about this offense being able to hang with the worst team in the NFL, but the next level will soon be loaded with talent from this Trojan attack. Think about it; Leinart is the number one pick in the draft next year (unless Adrian Peterson figures out how to get out early). Reggie Bush might be number two. Steve Smith and Dwayne Jarrett have first round potential. The line, backfield and receivers all, potentially, have more early draft picks among the backups. Someone will take a chance on John David Booty when his time comes. Of course USC was going to be good, but this good? After all the Hollywood hype, all the magazine covers, and all the expectations, this offense could be even better than anyone imagined. Like everyone else, I've tried to find when and where the hammer is going to fall on this juggernaut. At Oregon? Come on. At Arizona State? It'll be fun; the Sun Devils have the offense to hang toe-to-toe. At Notre Dame? At Cal? Only if they can throw 50+ on the board. We might be witnessing 1995 Nebraska here with everyone simply jockeying for second.

Arkansas - Alabama Game to be televised by JP

2005-09-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas will battle Southeastern Conference Western Division rival Alabama on Saturday, Sept. 24, in game televised by Jefferson-Pilot sports. The game at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., will kick off at 11:30 a.m. CT.
The game will mark the Hogs’ first appearance on JP Sports this season

Trojans turn Razorbacks into Piglets

2005-09-19T06:55:00.000-07:00

By Barker DavisSeptember 19, 2005
The Back Judge would like to take this moment to grovel slavishly at the feet of the leviathan otherwise known as USC. College football is truly not worthy. What the Trojans did to Arkansas on Saturday night truly boggles the mind. Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt should go looking for a new sobriquet after watching USC completely strip his team of its manhood at the L.A. Coliseum. People who didn't even watch the game woke up in Fayetteville yesterday feeling horrible. Yes, it was that ugly. Eyards of total offense. In a first quarter that saw them bolt to a 28-7 lead, the top-ranked Trojans (2-0) averaged 30.75 yards a play, using just 1:32 and eight plays to record four scores and 246 yards of offense. There aren't a handful of other teams in the nation that could manage such efficiency against air, much less against a team rumored to be from the SEC. Anyone who thought the Trojans might lose this season needs to re-evaluate or book a rubber room, because USC looks like it might not lose even a quarter on its sprint to a record three-peat. Next week undefeated Oregon is the opponent. Sit back and enjoy the show. Game balls and gassers USC gets all the game balls but one, which goes to Michigan State for its continued dominion of Notre Dame. The Spartans survived a late collapse to drop the 10th-ranked Irish 44-41 in overtime for their fifth consecutive victory in South Bend. Rumor has it John L. Smith will be putting Touchdown Jesus up for auction on EBay tomorrow. You might be asking why Florida's Urban Meyer doesn't get a game ball for his first SEC victory, a 16-7 win over No.?5 Tennessee at the Swamp. Well, supposed offensive gurus who run quarterback sneaks on fourth-and-1 and whose offenses can't crack the 250-yard barrier don't merit game balls. Somewhere between Salt Lake City and Gainesville, Meyer fell in love with the fullback dive and forgot how to spell innovation. His spread option looked more like basketball's old four corners against the Vols. You, sir, are no Steve Spurrier. Tennessee's Phil Fulmer, however, does merit several gassers for his team's effort. The Vols' special teams performance wasn't worthy of a Pee Wee squad, much less a top-10 team. After a brief pause, it looks like this series will return to its pre-Zook status quo as Tennessee's Great Pumpkin and his Vols find ways to lose. For the second time in three weeks, Oklahoma gets a gasser for being blown out by UCLA 41-24. It's hard to imagine that a team that made consecutive trips to the BCS title game is 1-2 with ugly losses to unranked also-rans from TCU and UCLA and a comeback victory against Tulsa. Somebody get the Sooner Schooner a gurney. If Mack Brown and No. 2? Texas lose next month's version of the Red River Rivalry to OU, the Back Judge predicts his tenure at Texas will end right there at the Cotton Bowl with a pink slip at the postgame press conference. Finally, we'd like to revoke Stanford's Pac-10 charter and give the Cardinal a gasser in perpetuity for losing Saturday night to UC Davis 20-17. UC Davis -- the noted jazz musician? It turns out that UC Davis, which previously lost to powers New Hampshire and Portland State, is in the third season of a four-year transition between D-II and D-IAA. That means it's about as talented as the night shift at your local McDonald's. You can't lose to teams like UC Davis if you're under 50, possess at least three senses and are relatively sober. So it's just a baby step short of scandalous that Walt Harris picks his home debut to celebrate the program's first-ever loss to a non-D-I school. What's the early line on Stanford vs. USC on Nov.?5? The Back Judge will take the Trojans and give triple digits.

2004 Razorback Season

2005-08-22T13:35:00.000-07:00

2004 Razorback Season

2005-08-22T13:25:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday in Autumn

2005-07-08T21:11:00.000-07:00

Autum Saturdays are about touchdowns, goalline stands and winning one for the Gipper. But they're also about colorful traditions, pageantry, social camaraderie and passions that stir the soul. College football is an enticing blend of business and pleasure, an emotional binding of generations in a fun and ever-festive atmosphere.