From the Bench

First Forecast for Razorback Football: 10-2


Robert Shields


If not now, when? The Hogs are loaded for a good season. The quarterback is being mentioned for the Heisman. The schedule is much easier. A new offensive coordinator adds some extra dynamite to the offense. The head coach has established his system in his third season. Sure, there are some missing spots such as linebacker and the kicking game, but what if those areas get fixed before the season starts?

If you have read my column for the last decade-plus, you know I make two predictions on the Razorback football season, one early in the summer when optimism is high and drama is low, and a second during two-a-days in August. This year to start, I am going with what many fans were predicting for last year -- 10-2.

But how do the Hogs get to that point? This is how…

Sept. 4 -- Tennessee Tech at Fayetteville
This will be an extension of preseason practice and fan excitement will be at a fever pitch. Hogs roll early and often 52-6 like back in the Hatfield era. Monday’s Drive Time Sports is devoted to when tickets go on sale for the SEC championship game and Schaeffer’s dogs make a return to the airwaves.
(1-0)

Sep t. 11 -- Louisiana-Monroe at Little Rock
The Hogs lead the nation in most offensive categories after winning this game 42-10. Tailgaters set back the War Memorial Golf Course renovation by three months. Callers on Monday’s Bo Mattingly show spend every hour comparing this Razorback team to the all-time great offenses in college football history. When Michael in Stuttgart tries to bring up questions about the defense, callers revolt and demand he be banned for life.
(2-0)

Sep t. 18 -- Georgia at Athens
The road is not kind to the Hogs as they have one too many turnovers and take their first loss 32-28. Georgia takes advantage of the miscues and Mark Richt’s name is officially taken off Paul Finebaum’s list of SEC coaches on the hot seat and replaced with Auburn’s coach, Chizik. Callers to the Big Red Fifth Quarter postgame show start to talk about the backup quarterback after Ryan Mallett loses his cool and throws three interceptions.
(2-1)

Sep t. 25 -- Alabama at Fayetteville
The Crimson Tide come into NWA losing only two of its last 28 games and is the winner of its last 14 in a row. The Hogs end that streak 34-28 as Mallett silences his critics and leads the team for the go-ahead touchdown late in the game. The defense comes up with a turnover on the Crimson Tide’s last-ditch drive to end the game. Bruce James announces on the Buzz morning show that this is the greatest Razorback victory since insert-big-game-he-played-in-here.
(3-1)

Oct. 9 -- Texas A&M in Dallas
The Hogs are riding high in the Top 25, but the repeat romp of last year that everyone predicts does not happen. The Hogs get off to a slow start and A&M’s defense plays better than expected. A&M leads at the half. Unlike at the Liberty Bowl, Bobby Petrino shows he is capable of being flexible with his play calling when the Hogs start the second half going to the ground game and the running backs rack up big yards. Hogs hold on late 28-24, and the “Move the Razorbacks to the Big 12 Party” that Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones holds Saturday night draws a packed house.
(4-1)

Oct. 16 -- Auburn at Auburn
Fans keep talking all week about this being a trap game on the road with Ole Miss and the big rivalry with Nutt looming the next week. The Razorback players don’t seem to carry the same emphasis with what is looming and take care of the task at hand. Mallett has his best game of the year and throws three touchdowns in a 38-14 win. In Sunday’s sermon, Pastor Floyd asks the congregation to pray for Gus Malzahn’s offense.
(5-1)

Oct. 23 -- Ole Miss at Fayetteville
For some reason, Arkansas fans are very excited about this game, and the team responds by putting a 49-21 whooping on an Ole Miss team that is rebuilding. An hour after the game is over, the Hogville.net server crashes from user overload.
(6-1)

Oct. 30 -- Vanderbilt at Fayetteville
The city of Fayetteville votes to hold Halloween on Saturday night so kids don’t have to trick or treat on Sunday. Many local fans are miffed and plan to hold Halloween on Sunday anyway because the Vanderbilt game ended up being at night for ESPN2. The Hogs crush Vanderbilt 45-17 in a very lopsided game, and Bobby Johnson becomes a lame-duck coach. The cry for Mallett for Heisman rings out across the land as he throws for five touchdowns.
(7-1)

Nov. 6 -- South Carolina at Columbia
This ends up being the Hogs’ trap game as the team is still riding high and has crept up into the Top 10. The road woes hit the Hogs again as the turnovers return like in the Georgia game. The Old Ball Coach goes for two at the end of the game to beat the Hogs 22-21. The Hogs have more than 500 yards of offense yet only manage 21 points. On Monday’s Sports Rap radio show, Forrest City Joes questions Petrino’s play calling and wonders aloud if he is the right man for the job.
(7-2)

Nov. 13 -- UTEP at Fayetteville
The Hogs need an out-of-conference opponent after the letdown on the road. A storm system moves into northwest Arkansas during the day as temps climb up into the 80s. Tornados are in the area, and the Hogs struggle in the torrential down pour. A freshman kicker makes three kicks in this soup to contribute to a 37-6 win. It snows later that night, and many fans complain about being stuck in NWA and being forced to attend the 2 p.m. basketball game on Sunday.
(8-2)

Nov. 20 – Mississippi State at Starkville
The Hogs always struggle in this place, even in wins. Not this year. The Hogs get it in gear and Mallett and company put the game away early. State quits prior to the 41-24 final and prepares for its next game against Ole Miss. The next day, CBSSports.com columnist names Petrino as the top candidate for the Michigan job, which sends Hogville.net to its second server crash of the season.
(9-2)

Nov. 27 -- LSU in Little Rock
This game lives up to the billing and it’s another wild game to the finish as usual. Key plays dominate the game as the momentum continually switches between the teams. With the Hogs trailing, Mallett makes a long throw downfield to some receiver nobody recognizes and some fans are even saying its Crosby Tuck. It turns out to be Ben Cleveland, who carries a Tiger defender to the 20-yard line before being brought down with five seconds to go. Petrino taps the freshman kicker who proved himself against UTEP for the game winner. The kick careens off the left upright and barely falls good over the crossbar for a 31-28 win. Before the Arkansas players can get to the Golden Boot, Les Miles makes off with it in a mad rush crying that it is unfair LSU has to play in War Memorial Stadium every other year.
(10-2)



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