From the Bench

Spring Practice Begins With Great Expectations to be Fulfilled

Robert Shields

The Razorbacks have started spring football practice, so the grandiose proclamations, such as the one I heard on Drive Time Sports about this being the greatest offense in Razorback history, can commence.

I expect that fan expectations will run high from now until whenever the first devastating loss comes. Fans are coming off a lull during the winter since the Razorbacks do not have basketball any longer. The fans are also still basking in the great AutoZone Liberty Bowl victory that ended the season on a high note if you weren’t in attendance.

The fact that quarterback Ryan Mallett is sitting out the spring has not had a dampering effect. Even higher ticket prices have not dulled the enthusiasm, although how well tickets are selling is still unknown. Fans may settle for worshiping from afar because the University of Arkansas athletic department does not operate in an economic vacuum where price does not matter.

The oddity at the start of spring practice is that the Hogs’ leading linebacker, Jerry Franklin, is being held out so far. The report we get from the coach is that he did not perform as expected during the offseason and is behind. We all remember how the Hogs fared in the Georgia game when Franklin was tossed from the game. I know a lot of fans are hoping he finds his way back to the field sometime during spring practice.

Besides the kicking game, the weakest aspect for the team has been at linebacker the last two seasons. Starting spring practice with your leading linebacker absent is just not the way to get this beleaguered defense rolling.

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Butler Makes Case for Football Playoff

I don’t know who will win as the deadline for this column is before Duke and Butler meet in the national championship game, but it is hard to not pull for seven-point underdog Butler. Just the idea of such a team winning from a second-tier, no make that a third-tier, conference is astounding.

Butler was ranked high at the beginning of the season and they have talent, but their compelling narrative is that a team like that can come from nowhere and beat the big boys. It truly is the Hoosiers story. It makes it possible for small schools to believe that their dreams of doing something big in the NCAA tournament are not in vain.

If Butler can do it, any team can do it. It is the very concept of the underdog winning it all. It is the story of the freshmen beating the seniors in your high school intramural basketball league. It is the story of David beating Goliath and that sometimes in life, it does not matter how much a school has in attendance, money, facilities, or talent -- they can overcome all of it.

This is the reason I wish Arkansas would go back to the overall state champion in high-school basketball.

And for those that were disappointed in their bracket because Kansas and Kentucky did not meet, get over it. If that is really what you wanted, you must also be an advocate of the BCS Championship game because what it does is preclude teams like Boise State from ever having a chance like they would in a football playoff.

I find it a complete mockery that some make the argument for expanding the basketball tournament by comparing it to the number of football teams that play in bowls. Only the NCAA could take the postseason that worked and make it more like the one that doesn’t in pursuit of the almighty dollar.

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Stuff I Am Interested in

The new bridge being built in Little Rock that will connect the River Trail with Two Rivers Park is an excellent addition to the Central Arkansas trail system. I have waited for this addition for some time, and I am glad it’s finally coming to fruition. My only hope is that bike riders don’t come screeching off it like they are the space shuttle coming in for a landing as they already do on the Big Dam Bridge.

Even though I am really excited about the bridge being built, there is a small part of me that is going to miss the idea that to get to the point on the peninsula at Two Rivers Park, which is completely isolated, you had to make a 3-mile round trip. It will be easily accessible for all now, which I guess is a good thing.


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