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An Easy Homecoming

Last updated Saturday, October 27, 2007 10:05 PM CDT
in Razorback Central

By Alex Abrams
THE MORNING NEWS

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FAYETTEVILLE -- Saturday had everything Arkansas could have wanted in a Homecoming game.

Well, almost everything.

There was a clear sky. An overmatched opponent in Florida International. And a 58-10 win for the announced crowd of 60,750 in Reynolds Razorback Stadium to celebrate.

Running back Darren McFadden, who had not scored a touchdown in Arkansas' previous two games, scored four TDs to keep his slim Heisman Trophy chances alive.

Meanwhile, the Razorbacks (5-3, 1-3 Southeastern Conference) forced seven turnovers, including a season-high five interceptions.

And even Arkansas wide receiver Marcus Monk returned from a nagging right knee injury to get his first start and touchdown catch of the season.

"We did what we needed to do," Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. "Nothing spectacular, but we did what we needed to do."

Of course, there was one downside for the Razorbacks on Saturday afternoon: Starting quarterback Casey Dick had to be taken to Washington Regional Medical Center after taking a hard hit early in the second quarter.

Dick suffered a slight concussion and sore ribs after taking a shot from FIU safety Ashlyn Parker with Arkansas leading 17-0 with 11 minutes and 25 seconds left in the second quarter.

"My (first) reaction was he got hit really hard," Arkansas backup quarterback Nathan Emert said, recalling the play that forced him into the lineup and Dick to miss the remainder of the game. "Of course, I was hoping he was OK."

Dick was taken to the hospital for a CT scan, but he was back at the stadium in time to celebrate with his teammates following their second consecutive lopsided win.

Nutt said Dick should be fine, and the offense didn't sputter once Emert took over. In fact, the backup quarterback didn't need to do much at all.

"The defense gave us (good) field position, that was it right there. You said it right there, that was the bottom line," Emert said. "We had field position all day."

Emert completed 13-of-25 passes for 154 yards, and his only touchdown pass came when he connected with Monk in the end zone for a 13-yard score to extend Arkansas' lead to 31-7 with 1:42 remaining in the first half.

Meanwhile, McFadden -- admittedly frustrated at being held scoreless over the past two games -- had a career-high four touchdown runs to go along with his 19 carries for 66 yards.

"It feels real good. Two games I was away from (the end zone)," McFadden said, cracking a smile. "So it's just a great feeling to be back in there."

Monk's touchdown was set up by a Michael Grant interception. That's pretty much how the afternoon went for the Razorbacks, who have outscored their past two opponents by a margin of 102-18.

FlU, which received $625,000 for Saturday's game, did everything it could to help out Arkansas. In the process, the Golden Panthers (0-8) extended their nation's longest current losing streak to 20 games.

FIU quarterback Wayne Younger threw five interceptions to four Arkansas defensive backs, including two to backup safety Rashaad Johnson.

To make matters worse, the Golden Panthers fumbled the football four times, losing it twice.

Everything seemed to go in Arkansas' favor on Homecoming. The turnovers. The battle of field position. The acrobatic catches by fullback Peyton Hillis, who was named the Crip Hall Award winner as Arkansas' top senior performer.

Even the final minute turned out better than expected.

As the Razorbacks tried to run out the clock, backup running back Michael Smith took a handoff, broke a few tackles and sprinted 81 yards for the final touchdown with 47 seconds remaining.

It was a fitting conclusion to an afternoon that, aside from one hard hit on Dick, went rather smoothly.



Reader Comments (28 comment(s))


The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsibility of their authors. The Morning News does not review comments before their publication, nor do we guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by our comment policy. If you see a comment that violates our policy, please notify the web editor.

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 27, 2007 10:29 PM:

" Five wins for the season - four teams are high school level competition, Troy, North texas, UT-Chat, and FIU; the ONLY other win against the SECs worst team (other than UA). I can't wait for the next four weeks. Two words for HDN - "tick tock, tick tock". "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 27, 2007 11:08 PM:

" ... and, just for the record, yes I hope all of the last four games are lost. Then there is NO JUSTIFICATION or MEDIOCRITY to sustain HDN's future employment at the UofA. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 27, 2007 11:26 PM:

" So how much did UA PAY for this win? Was it another $425,000 like we paid to North Texas or the $275,000 we paid to UT-Chat? Either way - who give a flip? Can't wait for the next four weeks piggies and the very same to you HDN. Tick tock, tick tock ... "

baum hog wrote on Oct 27, 2007 11:48 PM:

" Gripe, gripe, gripe.. even when the Hogs win. Miserable. Troy isn't a "high school" team. They beat Oklahoma State and would likely whip that "high school team" in Tulsa as well. Hoping for the Hogs to lose is just pathetic coming from a so-called Hog fan. I hope you're not actually a UA alum. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 12:15 AM:

" Gawd yes, I was waiting for you ... Troy is a high school team; I could care less about Tulsa. If you think Troy, out of the other four LITTLE wins for the UA program this year, is a serious win you have serious dillusional issues. Perhaps, you should check in with the Hawg and enroll in the WIMI. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 12:34 AM:

" I, personally, can't wait until Spurrier comes into Hog Heaven this Saturday and truly WHIPS up on the Hogs. Then, I'm rooting for the REAL Tennessee team (UT), then I'm rooting for Mississippi State, then I don't even have to root for LSU - they will SLAUGHTER us on their own. Enjou your 5-7 season Nutt lovers ... "

Westcoast Hawg wrote on Oct 28, 2007 12:58 AM:

" Desite Houston's Nutts won lost record for the remaining games he should definitely be FIRED at the end of the season and that goes for all of the staff! "

sunflowerboat wrote on Oct 28, 2007 3:26 AM:

" We need to give the Nutts a big good bye. What a shame and scam to be paying Danny after the NCAA ruled he cannot be in the coaches box. He new he was sick well before the season started HDN and CO are geting every last dime out of the taxpayers possible "

HawgCowboy wrote on Oct 28, 2007 6:02 AM:

" Dr. Waltzlawick my dear colleague, do you have a bottle of obsessive/compulsive tonic that you could send to Cohog? He's gotten "hyper" on here with all of his posts. Do you have a bed available for CoHog at the Waltzlawick Institute for the Marginally Insane "

HawgCowboy wrote on Oct 28, 2007 6:08 AM:

" Dr. Waltzlawick my friend, yes is there a bed available for CoHog at the Waltzlawick Institute for the Marginally Insane "

12247 wrote on Oct 28, 2007 7:45 AM:

" Hogs wins have come against mostly pitiful teams. Scheduling fell terrible this year or you might say perfect. Decent teams would have beaten us and we could be 0-8. Troy is better now than when we hired them to lose to us at home. Any real Arkansas fan would be happy we won but should acknowledge the caliber of teams we beat in the very next breath. Truly, there should be changes made in the NCAA concerning Bowl requirements. A win against any team rated 35 or more spots below you the day you play should not be counted for Bowl purposes. Any team not in the top 50 at seasons end should not be Bowl bound even if they go 12-0. This will never happen, the money is too good to pass on. The current system of rent a wins is phoney. It isn't just Arkansas, several teams do it this way. Pitiful. "

HeeHog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 8:21 AM:

" We won and that's a good thing. Perceiving it as a negative is telling. "

HawgCowboy wrote on Oct 28, 2007 9:00 AM:

" CoHog would be the ideal patient for you at the Waltzlawick Institute for the Marginally Insane...(and by quite a margin for CoHog I might add )... where he can hopefully find relief for his complaining and his delusions of grandeur in posting? Please, help him before he's deteriorated beyond hope mentally. Doctor, the world is indebted to you for helping these souls with weak minds and loyalties. They mean normal people in society no harm........(BTW If CoHog is really an LSU fan on here masquerading as a "disturbed" Hog fan, does he still get your Insane Razorback fan discount, Dr. Waltzlawick?) Razorbacks! Hope! "

usafhogfan wrote on Oct 28, 2007 10:05 AM:

" We as Hog fans can conservatively say that we are the best Division II team in Division I today! No never mind, that can't be said either! Was the schedule made after coaches and players defected to other teams? Nutt's days are numbered and I am not disappointed about it. How many times was the Wild Hog offense ran this game? Was it to predictable? Did FIU scout it? It appears to me the Lee coordinated offense is nothing new and could stand to incorporate inovative schemes and sets. Herring's defense once again rose to the occassion. He will continue to do well when he gets his chance as a head coach. "

DrWaltzlawick wrote on Oct 28, 2007 11:11 AM:

" Good morning friends and neighbors. Feelings of stress are caused by the body's instinct to defend itself against those we deem to be threatning us. What you have before you above in many instances, is stress, in other words fear. What could be causing such stress? Well, lets say you've dedicated a great deal of time and effort into trying to get a coach fired. And then you suddenly wake up and realize your goal's may not be achievable. Then certainly, yes, that could be a definite stressing agent, which will result in what? Correct, and uncontrollable natural instinct to defend one's self, as we see routinely in this blog site. It is vital that patient "Co-Hog" choose a way to deal with his stressing agent. One way is to avoid the event or thing that leads to his stressor. Clearly football is not enjoyable to this type of long suffering soul anymore. Reading a book or magazine, or taking a nice stroll through a park may be an adequate substitute to the stressing agent (football.) Here at the Waltlawick Institute for the Marginally Insane(WIMI) we teach the patient not to worry about things they can't control, such as the weather, football, war. For some the end game may be preparing the patient to face the stressor in an appropriate manner. For other more severe cases, such as above, being institutionalized may be the only answer to avoid the stressing agent. Thank you for your question,and have awonderful day. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 12:00 PM:

" I know your room at WIMI is rather bland hawg (aka Dr. W), but the padded walls are for your safety. Sundays are normally visitors days for the WIMI patients, but i realize nobody comes to visit you. Do not concern yourself with that today. Just relax and sleep and remember the staff will attend to you for lunch and dinner feedings as well as getting you all your needed meds. "

gary wrote on Oct 28, 2007 1:56 PM:

" Co-Hog, I think you should read the article before you start your rhetoric. The price, listed in the article, was 625,000. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 2:16 PM:

" I did read that. My question was rhetorical. My point was UA has paid nearly a million and a half dollars for at least three wins this year. The travesty, the joke even, is that Hog fans rellish these wins as honest victories. IF, that's IF, Hogs had beaten Bama, Kentucky, and Auburn those "paid for" wins would have as much meaning as Ohio State playing Bowling Green (which isn't saying much either). At least there would be quality wins mixed with gimme wins. When the ONLY wins all season have been paid for; against high school level teams; and against the worst team in the SEC (other than UA) the is no reason to celebrate or gloat. This is why I will cheer for South Carolina, Tenneessee, Miss State, and LSU. Proving the razorbacks are, and have been, long overdue for a head coaching change. "

Bighog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 3:43 PM:

" FIRST: Why is it necessary for top tier NCAA D1-A schools to schedule low-level games? Easy answer when you consider the business aspect. (1) thanks to politics - Title IX - schools must provide equal sports for women. Where do you think those funds come from, trees??? Typcially (as is true at Arkansas), Football funds ALL the women's golf, softball, track, gymnastics + men's golf, baseball, track, etc. So "paid for" wins actually is more about recouping the money required to pay for those sports. I believe only Men's basketball actually pays for itself at the U of A. SECOND: for the past 4-yrs the Hogs have played the likes of Texas & Univ. of Southern Cal in pre-season, so I guess one "off" year is okay. THIRD: as long as we continue to be forced to divert funds to a Little Rock game, where the UofA looses revenue from parking, concessions, etc. and has to pay for that dump called War Memorial and travel costs, I guess one "off" year is acceptable. Regardless, FANS (the actual type who pay for the program, cheer for the program) will support the KIDS - the student/athletes - during the season and will work to change coaches when the kids aren't playing!!! "

Bighog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 3:48 PM:

" Apparently some folks don't pay attention the other SEC, Big 12, Pac-10 schedules. It's called making money to pay for college athletics (HEY, they actually play more than football) at these schools. That's why you reduce the $$$ payout, they ALL schedule small schools in order to be able and pay for the larger Athletic Program. Duh!!!! "

Bighog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 3:56 PM:

" Oklahoma's non-conf. schedule included: NTex, Utah St. and Tulsa - no powerhouses there. Texas' non-conf. schedule included: Arkansas St., Rice, CFlorida, and TCU - ok, one decent game in the mix. Alabama's non-conf. schedule included: Houston, ULMonroe, WCarolina and FLState - one so-so game. The National Champion Gators? They have FAU, Troy, and WKentucky. Point is ALL big-time programs schedule lesser foes for the $$$$, money, revenue, to pay for the program. It isn't always about W's in the business of big time athletics! "

Bighog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 4:01 PM:

" Just so the colorado fan who doesn't attend games regularly gets the point - next year the Hogs begin the series with the University of Texas Longhorns (again). "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 4:27 PM:

" First: I used Ohio State as my reference that all "big" schools do it. Second: It is a slap in the face to women athletes that men's sports pay for them to compete. That says without men helping them they are not equal. The million plus dollars spent paying for the high school teams, could have been paid directly to womens athletics? Third: It is about the "W's" in big time athletics - fewer "W's" equals lesser notoriety; lesser notoriety equals fewer dollars; fewer dollars equals lesser quality athletes; lesser quality athletes equals fewer "W's". See how that circle connects itself? I'm glad Nutt won't be there to give the down with the Horns sign next year. "

HawgCowboy wrote on Oct 28, 2007 8:37 PM:

" The traitor form Colorado is not worth your time, Dr Waltzlawick. He can't admit when he's wrong and is almost always wrong. He won't show up to let you evaluate him at the institute because he's afraid of mental insufficancies that you will find. He's one of those who never listens. Said he read about the $625,000 in the article, and then asks us "So how much did UA PAY for this win?" in his post. My dear Dr. Waltzlawick, I'm afraid he's beyond help. Should we ignore him and will that send him into a downward spiral? Razorbacks! Hope! "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 9:40 PM:

" Name one time I've been wrong Hawg. Listens to what - your rantings about a sub standard team with a sub standard coach? My previous post states I did read the article, that my question was rhetorical (meaning the question was used for effect). I'm sorry you didn't have any visitors today, but at least you couldn't hurt yourself in your padded room. "

DrWaltzlawick wrote on Oct 28, 2007 10:52 PM:

" Good evening friends and neighbors. First, let me apologize for not getting back with you sooner, the phone's at (WIMI) have been ringing off the hook, as you can well imagine. Unfortunately, we've completely ran out of space here at the institute, so I will do my best to care for the aforementioned on a outpatient basis. Patient "Co-hog" has stated he wishes the team that he supports would lose the rest of their games. Those are very powerful words, in essence, what patient "Co-Hog" is saying is his anger/rage outweighs his affection/love. The Razorback football team has a choice before them, they can endorse the hatred/anger and allow outside individual's to decide their fate and destiny for them, a decision no doubt having been made long ago. Or they can stand on their own two feet, as men, and decide their own destination and fate for themselves. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 11:02 PM:

" Quack. "

CO-Hog wrote on Oct 28, 2007 11:52 PM:

" You are sooooo(ie) correct however in that I HOPE soooooo(ie) much South Carolina, Tennessee, Miss State, and LSU slaughter the piggies. In fact, I hope so much for that I'm getting hungry now for ribs. Mmmmm mmmmm love those razorback baby ribs. Go Tigers! "


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