No doubt, I have attended more than my fair-share of Razorback athletic events and am grateful for all the tickets that came my way over the years. Having experienced the gamut of emotions following the Hogs, and with football season still a few weeks away, I humbly present to you the top five Arkansas gridiron games that I, Hall Closets, watched – live in the stadium.
#1 – vs. Ole Miss (2001). It took four regular quarters and seven overtime periods to determine a winner. Proof that it had been a marathon game surfaced later, when we departed Vaught-Hemingway Stadium and encountered a pile-up of mobility scooters near the water fountains – all with dead-as-doornail batteries – and reflective of the Rebels’ fanbase and the fabled Grove on the stroll home that night.
#2 – vs. LSU (2002). Known as the “Miracle on Markham St.” Matt Jones’s seeing-eye pass found DeCori Birmingham deep in the south end zone of War Memorial Stadium as time expired brought the house down in the Rockpile that evening. This one is hard to believe, despite seeing it in person. A little girl and her family sat directly in front of us; and when everyone stood up to cheer/jeer the Hogs, she would turn around and look at us for answers, since she wasn’t tall enough to see the field over the groan ups. Late in the game with Arkansas behind, and Houston Nutt trying in vain, once again, to pull the proverbial rabbit outta his bum, fans turned ugly and started cursing. All I could tell this child was to hang in there and think positively, cuz you never know what might happen. Over and over I relayed this to her; but honestly, I wasn’t convinced, myself, since it didn’t look good for the home team, as time ran down. Yet once it became evident that Jones’s pass was complete, resulting in an Arkansas touchdown and improbable dub; you shoulda seen the look on this girl’s face and ours. It is something I’ll not ever forget and bet she won’t either.
#3 – vs. Tennessee (2010). Joe Adams, the quickest human I’ve ever seen in football pads, lit up the opposition, like he was playing a video game. There was the punt return, where nine Volunteers got hands on him, but no one managed to bring him to the ground ‘til he reached pay dirt. He musta covered 80+ yards by the time he crisscrossed his way to the goal line on what was officially ruled a 60-yard return for a TD. His receiving mate, Jarius Wright, magically hauled in a Mallet pass that, like Adams’s play, must be seen to appreciate.
#4 – vs. Ohio St. (2011). Sugar Bowl at the Superdome in NOLA. We were flying high behind the golden arm of Ryan Mallet (RIP) and ready for battle. The Buckeyes jumped out to an early lead, thanks to the play of several highly inked and, as it turned out, ineligible playas. We had some great seats in the end zone, high above the fray (thanks Uncle Jon), and our dear friend, G Money in tow. The Razorbacks fought back and blocked a punt deep in Ohio St. territory in the waning minutes – just about the time we had had enough and were heading for the exits. All of this went down on our end of the field, so we scampered back to our seats and watched things play out. Mallet’s final pass as a Hog was intercepted, and the comeback thwarted, but the loss did not deter us from having a HUGE evening in the Big Easy.
#5 – vs. Alabama (2009). Held in Fayettenam, this was the first, real chance the Razorbacks had to defeat a Saban-led Crimson Tide team. On the Hogs’ opening drive, Ronnie Wingo, jr., got behind the defense on a wheel route (like he always did), Mallet delivered a strike to the running back for a score and total pandemonium ensued. From where we sat, it felt like Donald W. Reynolds Stadium was literally about to take flight with 90k folks on their feet. To this day, it was the loudest roar I have ever experienced. Grievously, as the Hogs were driving late in the game to score and take the lead, Antonio Langham picked off a pass that Mallet was trying to throw outta bounds. Dude looked like Spiderman, as he stretched out for the ball, all the while, somehow, dragging a toe inbounds and snuffing any chance for an Arkansas victory.
Thanks for taking a trip down memory lane. Ideally, it inspired some fond memories of your own. With football season almost upon us, and another savage schedule on the horizon, it’s gonna take a village, er, the whole Natural State to pull off the unlikely, but it can be done.
WooPig!!!
yeehaw