Triple-digit temperatures greeted the Razorback football team down in central Arkansas for their opening game on Thursday night. Despite the heat, the Hogs came out inspired and reeled off a school record 10-straight touchdowns against the woefully overmatched Golden Lions of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff in front an embarrassingly small crowd at old and tired War Memorial Stadium.
With the majority of the Natural State jonesing for anything Razorback to root for, after a summer-long hiatus from any such competition, football season could not have kicked off soon enough. If only the game had been held somewhere with a more temperate climate.
This year’s squad brings with it an air of excitement not felt on the Hill in far too long. Coach Pittman reshuffled much of his staff after last season’s pitiful, 4-8 showing, and brought in new blood to lead the team highlighted by the return of Mr. Football himself, Bobby Petrino. Who came, as always, armed with an intricate and effective offensive scheme and a certain swagger that has been blatantly absent from the Arkansas sidelines for a decade.
Taylen Green, the fleet-footed, 6’6” transfer QB from Boise State shook off a rough beginning and turned in a serviceable performance in his first start wearing cardinal and white. He completed 16 of 23 passes for 229 yards and two TDs, but missed a coupla wide-open receivers downfield early on, before settling into a comfortable rhythm. He also ran for two more scores, while chewing up 88 yards on the ground in 6 rushing attempts in the rout.
Speaking of porker play callers – Billy Moore, an All-American QB who was part of Rip van Broyles’ first recruiting class and lettered from 1960-62, passed away last Thursday after living life to the fullest for 84+ years. Diminutive in size but armed with the heart and spirit of a T-Rex, Moore was beloved by fans and teammates, alike.
Known to run just as hard as any fullback, the 5’8”, 155 lb. signal caller played high school ball at LR Central High for legendary coach Wilson Matthews, before becoming a Razorback. This was back in the day when most guys played on both sides of the ball, and Moore held down the free safety position on defense when not directing the offense.
Respect from many of his former Hogs poured in after the news of his death spread. “We’re going to miss Billy,” said Harold Horton, a teammate of Moore’s for three years and assistant coach and administrator of the Razorback Foundation. “He was the type of QB that won championships.”
Another teammate and former Hog head coach, Ken Hatfield, had this to say about Moore – “Billy was fun to be around. He was jovial, he’d cut up, but the boy could play football. I’m telling you,”
I enjoyed a distant and comical relationship with Moore for most of my life, and the man always wore a broad smile – the kind that lets you know he had either just said something hilarious or was about to. This man was a force of nature – on and off the field.
RIP #10. You will most definitely be missed.
Coach Pittman and his fighting Razorbacks take their show on the road next Saturday when they travel to Stillwater, Okla., to face Mike Gundy and his OSU Cowboys, a team that was a mainstay on the Arkansas schedule back during the 1970s and ‘80s but has been absent ever since. Comfortably ranked in the Top 20, Okie St. will be a stern road test and a fitting pre-conference opponent for the Hogs to measure themselves against, before the brutality of SEC play begins.
And one final note – Scottie Scheffler, as expected, won the PGA Tour’s end of the year FedEx Cup, which pushed his yearly, on-course earnings to a stunning $62.2 million. Professional golf – it ain’t bad work if you can find it.