Archive for ‘Razorbacks’
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — He has finally ditched the scooter, which is a relief. The four-wheeled contraption was light, it was handy, and it allowed Ryan Mallett to get around quite nicely while the broken bone in his left foot healed. But even with a bicycle bell affixed to the handlebars by a student trainer, it wasn’t stylish transportation.
No, it looked “funny,” and Mallett was embarrassed to be seen riding it. And unfortunately, it was a sure-fire conversation starter.
“The people that enjoy Arkansas football,” he said, “will come and talk.”
Around here, that’s just about everybody. Of course, around here, just about everybody already recognized the Arkansas quarterback. But add the scooter, and there was no doubt.
Nor was there any doubt about the inevitable first question: How’s the foot? Specifics are hard to come by; Mallett has clearly been coached in the art of being vague. But in a teleconference a few days back, he said it’s healing nicely, that a second surgery last month to replace a screw wasn’t actually a setback and that he should be ready to roll by preseason practice. Sorry, “roll” wasn’t a great verb choice. Let’s go with run. Or more importantly, pass.
Consider it Mallett’s attempt to reassure the Arkansas fans who have been wondering, since Mallett broke the foot during a conditioning drill last February, whether it might be just another chapter in the overall narrative of Razorback football. Think Charlie Brown’s futility in kicking the football, and you’ve got the picture.
There’s more buzz preceding Arkansas’ 2010 campaign than anyone around here can remember. The pieces seem to be in place for a run at the SEC championship, or if you’re really optimistic, even beyond. In Bobby Petrino’s third season, the Hogs return 17 starters. For the first time in what seems like forever, that includes a franchise quarterback.
Mallett, a 6-foot-7, 235-pound junior, set or tied 16 school records last season, his first after transferring from Michigan. After a rocky start, the Razorbacks won five of their last six games — the loss came in overtime at LSU — and Mallett’s big right arm was a huge reason.
Quick quiz: When was the last time the Razorbacks went into a season with a Heisman candidate at quarterback?
Comment
It’s official the Razorback Football Season is underway and I hope it is an exciting season. I am a huge fan and love the Hogs. I am excited about Ryan Mallett leading the way to our first SEC Championship.
SOOOOOOO PIGS!
Arkansas’ athletic teams have not always been called the Razorbacks. During the early years of its athletic history, the Cardinal served as the University nickname.
A lot of things changed in 1909, however, when Arkansas football coach Hugo Bezdek called his players “a wild band of Razorback hogs,” after guiding his team to a 16-0 victory over Louisiana State on October 30, 1909.
Alluding to the Razorback, characterized by a ridge back and tenacious, wild fighting ability, Bezdek never forgot this idea and often called his team “a fighting band of Razorbacks.” This new nickname became increasingly popular and the student body voted to change the official University mascot from the Cardinal to the Razorbacks in 1910.
In the 1920s, “Wooo, Pig, Sooie” was added as the school yell, referred to more commonly as the “Hog Call.”
There are dozens of Lions, Tigers and Bears, but in all of college athletics there is only one Razorback. The distinctive logo of the Arkansas teams is officially known as the Profile Hog, but is known to many fans as the Helmet Hog — a fixture of the football team’s helmet for almost half a century.
If you do not know I am a huge Arkansas Razorback fan and last night was the first ever appearance in a BCS bowl for the Razorbacks. It was against Ohio State and my good friend and co-host of Jeff Baker The Ord podcast is a Ohio State fan. Well we had a bet to change our facebook profile according to who one. Well the Razorbacks did not win so I had to change my facebook profile page.
