The long wait is over. It’s finally here…game week. At this point, after a grueling preseason that saw the Hogs toil under hotter than normal Fayetteville temperatures, you’ve got to believe that the Razorbacks are itching to hit anything…anybody that has on a different colored jersey.
Or as Coach Petrino likes to say: “It’s showtime.” Enter the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles, the first victim of the 2010 campaign.
The Eagles are led by veteran coach Watson Brown (107-171-1, 25th season overall), who four years ago stepped down as the head coach at UAB. Brown, who is the older brother of Texas coach Mack Brown, chose to go back to his home town (Cookeville) and coach Tennessee Tech.
In just three short years, he has managed to turn the struggling Eagles into 6-5 winners in 2009, and is now ready to challenge for an Ohio Valley Conference title. The Eagles are predicted to finish fourth in the nine team OVC.
“There’s nobody in this league (OVC) we can’t beat,” Brown said. “They can all beat us, but this is the first year I feel like we can go out there on the field with a chance to win it. We have a shot to win this thing. There’s no doubt about it.”
Brown knows a thing or two about trying to revive struggling programs. Longtime Hog fans might remember Brown’s back-to-back stints in the late 1980′s at Rice (4-18, 2 years) and Vanderbilt (10-45, 5 years).
The Eagles offense sports three All-OVC players in offensive linemen Slade Adams (6-6, 315) and Malcolm Jones (6-5, 300), and wide receiver Tim Benford (6-1, 195). Jones has moved from center to tackle for 2010.
Kansas transfer running back Jocques Crawford (6-1, 238) should bolster this year’s running attack, and they’ll need it. The Eagles are breaking in a new quarterback this year, as sophomore Tre Lamb (5-9, 185) gets to start his first collegiate game against the Hogs. Yikes!
The strength of the Eagles team looks to be on the defensive side of the ball, where 10 starters return this year. TTU employs a 3-4 look, and is led by middle linebacker Jake McIntosh (6-2, 230).
The mismatches in this one are too numerous to mention, but keep your eye on the Eagles new center Michael Baker (6-2, 250) as he tries to handle Hog nose tackle Alfred Davis (6-1, 326). That one should tell you all you need to know.
But, hey…it’s somebody else to hit on. And for that…we are thankful.
You gotta start somewhere. Cookie-ville? Maybe they should call it Cupcake-ville; Tasty!! You know the team is itching to play a game. I'm almost afraid of what the score might be. Remember when the Sooners used to hang up those 77-10 numbers? That might be just the start for the pollsters to see.
Well I think the D gets a false sense of security this game holds the Eagles to a field goal and the offense hangs 55 on them. Hogs in a runaway game.
I agree with both of you guys. I think this game will equal blowout city for the Hogs first win of the season.
I'm actually seeing more like 65 points for the Hog offense. Could be a big, fat 0 on the other side.
As a matter of fact, I think the D scores at least 1 TD in this game, maybe more.
Tejada will kick 2 FGs and the young Freshman, Camara, will kick 1.
Ryan Mallett and D.J. Williams will look impressive.
The D-line will dominate!
You would think that CBP will try to hang a hundred if he can. Not that he is a poor sport, but the lack of overall respect the Hogs have had the past 4-6 weeks should be a huge motivator for the Hogs to make a statement. Even though it's a lowly team, notice in the past the cupcake teams that FL and Bama have played have been destroyed in every sense of the term….Urban and Nick haven't really held back much. If the Hogs want a chance at the BCS trophy and a Heisman for Mallet, they have to run it up in these games…IMHO.
Either way. I don't think putting in Wilson and the freshman recievers is really going to slow down the scoring against this bunch.
Sophomore QB Tre Lamb (5-9 185). Poor kid. His name might as well be Sacrificial Lamb.