Good win for Hogs, but lots of work to do
Swinging for the Fences
Matt Watson
Issue date: 9/3/08 Section: Sports
Bobby Petrino probably didn't expect the students at Saturday's game to begin flapping their arms, signaling for the help of angels like in Angels in the Outfield (one of my favorite baseball movies ever, along with The Sandlot).
From the lost fumble on the first play of the season, giving the Leathernecks the ball at the Razorback 15-yard line, everyone knew it was gonna be a long night.
It's never good when you're calling for the cavalry in the first game of the season, especially when it's Western Illinois, who jumped five spots to No. 17 in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) coaches' poll after the close call in Fayetteville.
My roommate commented during the second half, "If you squint your eyes, it kinda looks like we're playing LSU."
Except the No. 7 Tigers had already beat last year's favorite giant-killer, Appalachian State, in a 41-13 pounding.
It would've been a great win against a quality Southeastern Conference team, an instant classic against Texas or USC, but it was still a good win. It appears that every win in 2008 will be a good win.
For all those who expected a Petrino-coached team to win every game by three touchdowns this season, it's not completely his fault his team almost got knocked off by an FCS team.
His starting tailback was suspended for the game. Two notable players were sidelined with injuries, 2007 All-SEC honorable mention Jerrell Norton in the secondary and senior captain Elston Forte at middle linebacker.
Of the eight Razorbacks who recorded a reception Saturday, six are freshmen or sophomores.
It's not like Petrino ran any routes or lined up in the trenches.
Regardless of the teams on the field or the near-Apocalypse that almost began the Petrino era at Arkansas, the Hogs left the field 1-0.
On the back, and legs, of Casey Dick.
I doubt any of the fans calling for heavenly help realized it was already on the field, wearing a No. 11 jersey.
From the lost fumble on the first play of the season, giving the Leathernecks the ball at the Razorback 15-yard line, everyone knew it was gonna be a long night.
It's never good when you're calling for the cavalry in the first game of the season, especially when it's Western Illinois, who jumped five spots to No. 17 in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA) coaches' poll after the close call in Fayetteville.
My roommate commented during the second half, "If you squint your eyes, it kinda looks like we're playing LSU."
Except the No. 7 Tigers had already beat last year's favorite giant-killer, Appalachian State, in a 41-13 pounding.
It would've been a great win against a quality Southeastern Conference team, an instant classic against Texas or USC, but it was still a good win. It appears that every win in 2008 will be a good win.
For all those who expected a Petrino-coached team to win every game by three touchdowns this season, it's not completely his fault his team almost got knocked off by an FCS team.
His starting tailback was suspended for the game. Two notable players were sidelined with injuries, 2007 All-SEC honorable mention Jerrell Norton in the secondary and senior captain Elston Forte at middle linebacker.
Of the eight Razorbacks who recorded a reception Saturday, six are freshmen or sophomores.
It's not like Petrino ran any routes or lined up in the trenches.
Regardless of the teams on the field or the near-Apocalypse that almost began the Petrino era at Arkansas, the Hogs left the field 1-0.
On the back, and legs, of Casey Dick.
I doubt any of the fans calling for heavenly help realized it was already on the field, wearing a No. 11 jersey.
Be the first to comment on this story