Best Razorback Games of 2008-09 — One More Miracle

As we prepare to release our 2009 predictions later this week, we’re going to take one last look at the year that was.  But first, like any good countdown, let’s recap:

• #5 — Pelphrey’s Hogs defeat #7 Longhorns as Bud Walton Arena rocks
• #4 — Walk-off win over Florida State earns bid to College World Series
• #3 — Hoop Hogs hand Sooners only non-conference season defeat
• #2 — Diamond Hogs survive CWS elimination with extra inning thriller over Virginia

And finally…(drumroll)…coming in at #1 on our countdown of the best Razorback games of the year is the second coming of the ‘Miracle on Markham’ — the Hogs’ 31-30 upset victory over the LSU Tigers.

Hogs rally to down LSU, retain The Boot (Courtesy of RazorVision)

Sound familiar?  When we did this countdown feature last summer, we chose the 2007 LSU victory as the best of the year.  But unlike that game, the 2008 version didn’t feature a triple overtime win over a #1-ranked team.  So what made this one worthy to be the best?

Well, here’s why:  If someone would’ve told you that Casey Dick would come off the bench in the second half to lead the Razorbacks from 16 points down to a comeback victory with a touchdown pass to London Crawford in the final minute…would you have believed them?

Okay…not good enough?  How about this one:  Your running back — the player who has carried the team for most of their 4-7 season — is out injured but his freshman backup comes in to rush for 127 yards on 18 carries against the 17th ranked run defense in the country?

Improbable?  Unlikely?  Miraculous?  Yes…but it happened…on a rainy Friday last November.  And now we’re about to find out if the momentum of that miracle will carry over into the 2009 season.

GO HOGS!