Beijing was cool. The Michael Phelps show is not something to be forgotten by sports fans any time soon. Baseball heads down another exciting stretch and the bad blood of Electioneering 2008 is getting in full swing.
But it's September now, and to me---the Sports Radio Guy---that means one thing rises above the rest: football is back! The College Ranks opened up last weekend and saw Arkansas start the Bobby Petrino era off with a 'W', albeit a hard fought 28-24 decision over I-AA Western Illinois. Surely you could hear the collective gasp of the 70,000 Hog fans in Fayetteville on Saturday night when the Hogs fell behind 24-14 with under ten minutes left. But there was Casey Dick, the senior, career baggage and all, calmly driving his team down the field for two critical touchdowns and a come from behind win.
Was it a repeat of Citadel? Not quite. But it sure wasn't pretty. Still, in the end, a win is a win is a win is a win. Ten years from now (maybe ten weeks) few will remember how Arkansas won the game; what will be remembered is that UA won.
It's going to be a long season for the Hogs. Bobby Petrino's first year is one of transition for the team on almost every level: new offense, new defense, new players, new way of doing things. But I firmly believe it's all going to work out. Six wins and six losses remains my season prediction for the Razorbacks in 2008. After Lousiana-Monroe this weekend, it's a ten game dogfight till the end of the year. No easy games on any SEC team's schedule, let alone on an Arkansas slate that also includes games against Texas and Tulsa. And yet, this year, the youth should win out. With so many freshman and sophomores playing key roles on both sides of the ball, there are going to be some major growing pains along the way, but most Razorback fans seem well aware of that.
It's a feisty team for Bobby Petrino this year. And a feisty .500 record would be just about right in his first season at the Hog helm. An SEC title in year four would be just what the football doctor ordered for the Natural State. Give it time, folks. Petrino will get us there eventually.
So college football's back already. High school play resumes tonight. And the NFL's first full Sunday of the season is just three days away.
Pigskin in the air . . . Who knew leather could smell so good?
-JAB
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