2008 Arkansas Football Media Day
August 5, 2008 at 6:57pm by TipsterHog
Filed under Arkansas Razorbacks, Football
ArkansasRazorbacks.com: Football media day press conference
Petrino: “One of the first things is how quickly we move on and take from what we’ll have in the meetings today and last night to practice this afternoon. We continue to install. We’ll be running new plays and new defenses and new things in the kicking game today than from what we did yesterday.
“So the ability to really take it from the meeting room into the individual technique and fundamentals drills, then into our group drills and that’s why we end it each day with team drills is we want to see how well they carry that over.”
Also:
- ArkansasRazorbacks.com: New uniforms revealed at 2008 football media day
- AP: Petrino: Arkansas has ‘a long way to go’ before opener
- ArkansasSports360.com: New Football Uniforms Unveiled by Razorbacks
- Alex Abrams: Dick Is Engaged, Confident and Now A Captain
- The Morning News: Hogs Introduce New Position, UA First Snap
- Harry King: Classes first, media second
- Tom Murphy: Glare has just started at UA, Hogs sport a new style
- Wally Hall: Already obvious that Petrino means business
- Nate Allen: Petrino touts strength of Hogs’ front lines
- Heath Allen: Fiery Robinson has UA defense getting in the zone
- Memphis Commercial Appeal: Hog running backs will still be on display, Quarterback plays waiting game at Arkansas
Updated 8/6/08 8:30 a.m.
A couple of things from today’s events……
1) I like the new uni’s; very sharp. You can tell…made for TV.
2) Best quote of the day was from Paul Petrino…when asked about players competing for starting spots, he likened it to interviewing for a job wherby the “the film is your resume.” Haven’t heard that one before.
You gotta love the quotes; real football organized by real coaches with an agenda.
Yes, it is easy to see why we are picked last and impossible to miss that that prediction will not come true. These guys are going to surprise some people, maybe some big people.
Blind,
Your outlook jibes with mine but, other than the reporting provided by this (exceptional) site, I have little ‘concrete’ to base it on. What are you seeing/hearing that makes you optimistic?
The coaches experience, focus and commitment. Every time they opened their mouths I hear something else that convinces me that there is no wasted motion in this bunch. And, the reports on the freshmen. They like what they have and, these are just the guys to put them in a position to succeed. Finally, it seems like they may be making unexpected progress in the secondary.
I believe they will squeeze every ounce of talent out of these guys and know their strengths so well that they can game plan to their strengths very well. Their focus and concentration will be instilled in the players during practice as well which will build confidence, team work and game time performance. Much like the hay days of Nolan and Hawgball, these guys will find the games easier than practice.
Add to that, we have good lines and better than expected performance out of our underachieving upper classmen to go with that talent in the freshman class.
I think that they will answer all of the questions at running back and reciever by Alabama and build a good secondary with the players on hand. Linebacker could be the only real hole left by midseason.
It may be that they don’t have the depth and talent for this schedule but, they will produce enough with what they have to surprise a couple of people and get into a bowl.
It seems the Razorback coaching staff has taken a real liking to what Jerious Wright has been doing on the field. I noticed in one article that Wright has been placed out in front of the line as punt return man. He was known in HS to be a guy that could take it to the house, on any given play, with his 4.3 speed, so I hope he continues to progress in that area. It’s been a long, long time since we had a guy that could be a real play-maker at the PR. It also seems that Wright is the leading contender of Freshmen to step in right away and be in the rotation at WR. It seems like Joe Adams has had a little bit more of a transition period coming into the college ranks, but I wouldn’t count him out just yet. He has the talent to be very good as a Freshman. De’Anthoney Curtis has been pretty good so far too, so I’m keeping my fingures crossed for those guys to come through. If we can somehow gain stability at the LB positions, as the season progresses, I think we’ll be ok this year. A lot of that is going to depend on the Fresh. Tenarious Wright. Injurys will always have to be figured in, so hopefully we’ll be lucky with that.
There’s one more comment I want to make about this team, and the up and coming season. I’m from Greenwood, and we have a very, very good football program here. The main reason for that is the HS coach Rick Jones. It has been stated over and over again that he is a man of integrity, ever since he got here 5 years ago. From the time you are in the 3rd grade, to the time you actually play for the HS team, you are held accountable. All of these coaches are on the same page, from boys club on up. They will make sure that you represent the Greenwood Bulldogs with class, character, and pride. Just ask Tyler Wilson about it. These new Razorback coaches remind me of the same. They will always hold you accountable on and off the field. At Greenwood, we may not always be the most talented team, but we will always be the most disiplined and prepared team you will ever face. Just ask Jim Youngblood, De’Anthoney Curtis LaVunce Askew and Brian Christopher. Thier Camden Fairview team was a big favorite to knock off the defending champs last season at home, but it wasn’t meant to be. Fairview bosted 11 college recruits on that team, and 4 went to the UofA. Greenwood’s one big recruit was Wilson. Talent didn’t that night in Camden. Disipline, and accountabilitry did. That’s what Bobby Petrino has brought with him to the UofA.