Examining the parallels between Pelphrey, Petrino
Swinging for the Fences
Matt Watson
Issue date: 11/17/08 Section: Sports
Remember when it took a dramatic last-second comeback for Bobby Petrino and the Razorbacks to overcome Western Illinois, a nerve-racking close call in the season opener against a directional university?
Enter John Pelphrey, Southeastern Louisiana.
The hardwood Hogs began their season Friday much like their gridiron counterparts did three months ago, trailing much of the game against a lesser opponent and escaping with a win after a memorable crunch-time performance.
So what have we learned?
It's just the first game of the year.
Like it would have been pointless to send Petrino packing or call Al Davis and ask him to send Darren McFadden back to play on Saturdays, it's a little early to be calling for Pelphrey's head or booking a flight to the Ukraine to beg Patrick Beverley to spend his basketball paycheck on textbooks next semester.
Just like the football Razorbacks, Pelphrey and the gang will have a chance to win (almost) every game they play.
At times, Casey Dick and company were purely overmatched (Alabama, Texas). Other times, they stayed within striking distance until the waning moments and looked worse in the box scores than they did on the field. (Florida, South Carolina). And then there were times that an extra minute (or one less) or another flag thrown (or picked up) could have generated a different result in the end (Kentucky, Ole Miss).
It's obvious the young but talented "Baby 'Backs" have some work to do.
They have so much raw talent, it's hard to contain.
But with untamed talent comes headaches and heartbreak. On the bad days, that is. On the best days, these Hogs can and will compete with some of best teams in the Southeastern Conference.
But what have we learned from Petrino and friends?
They're not going to win every game. Maybe not even half of them. But that's the nature of the game. Roughly 50 percent of the players on the field or court will walk away losers when the final whistle blows, week in and week out.
Enter John Pelphrey, Southeastern Louisiana.
The hardwood Hogs began their season Friday much like their gridiron counterparts did three months ago, trailing much of the game against a lesser opponent and escaping with a win after a memorable crunch-time performance.
So what have we learned?
It's just the first game of the year.
Like it would have been pointless to send Petrino packing or call Al Davis and ask him to send Darren McFadden back to play on Saturdays, it's a little early to be calling for Pelphrey's head or booking a flight to the Ukraine to beg Patrick Beverley to spend his basketball paycheck on textbooks next semester.
Just like the football Razorbacks, Pelphrey and the gang will have a chance to win (almost) every game they play.
At times, Casey Dick and company were purely overmatched (Alabama, Texas). Other times, they stayed within striking distance until the waning moments and looked worse in the box scores than they did on the field. (Florida, South Carolina). And then there were times that an extra minute (or one less) or another flag thrown (or picked up) could have generated a different result in the end (Kentucky, Ole Miss).
It's obvious the young but talented "Baby 'Backs" have some work to do.
They have so much raw talent, it's hard to contain.
But with untamed talent comes headaches and heartbreak. On the bad days, that is. On the best days, these Hogs can and will compete with some of best teams in the Southeastern Conference.
But what have we learned from Petrino and friends?
They're not going to win every game. Maybe not even half of them. But that's the nature of the game. Roughly 50 percent of the players on the field or court will walk away losers when the final whistle blows, week in and week out.
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