From the Bench

Receiver’s Absence at Spring Practice is Puzzling

Robert Shields

I puzzle about the mystery surrounding the absence of Joe Adams from the practice field during the University of Arkansas’ spring football practice. Adams is one of the stars of the team. In fact, he may be the most important playmaker you will find on the roster.

Why is the Joe Adams situation weird? It’s the secrecy of it. Coach Bobby Petrino says it’s because of personal issues. I get the coach is limited in what he can say about his players when it comes to medical issues because of privacy laws and university policy, but we don’t even know why he is missing in action.

Adams had some very serious medical issues last year (he apparently had a very mild stroke) that kept him out of a few games. A stroke is a very serious matter for anyone. Yet somehow we all found out about that problem, and it was a medical issue. The word got out.

The fact Jerry Franklin is missing spring practice has also been disturbing, but it seems everyone knows why he is missing and hopes he gets back out on the field by summer. Most assume that he will work hard and return.

Then there is Brandon Mitchell. He has missed several practices for good cause -- he had a death in his family. I am sure Hog nation wishes him the best and prays for him in his mourning. We all know this is the reason he has missed practice. This situation is also a very personal issue, yet it is public knowledge.

Ryan Mallett, the star quarterback, is also missing practice. We all know the reason empirically as he limps around on his boot protecting his foot that recently underwent surgery.

But when it comes to Adams, nobody seems to know why the absence. And the poker-faced coach is not letting on as to why. Many Razorback fans are very interested and not just because he is a star player, but because of the secrecy surrounding him leads to so many questions and so much gossip.

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Real Deal in the Rock

Apparently some great basketball was played in the Little Rock area over the weekend. Arkansas is home to three prized basketball recruits, and on their team there was apparently some more great talent.

My advice to John Pelphrey to keep his job in the short run, and he already knows it, is to better land a lot of those guys. Nolan Richardson was hammered for not recruiting Arkansas kids that were not even nearly as touted. Nolan finally gave into pressure, signed a group of Arkansas kids that never panned out, and most transferred or some just gave up basketball for forestry, which helped to push Nolan out of the coach’s office.

My advice to Pelphrey in the long run is to do as Petrino does and ignore the in-state talent so you can recruit the guys that you know are the best.


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