I just wanted to comment on a few thoughts from Saturday's game:
1. My hat is off to the Tennessee fans. Other than a few outliers, it was a very classy group of people who made the trip to Fayetteville.
2. To the posters who commented on what it means for teams to play the Vols: There is nothing like a game against Tennessee for Arkansas fans. Students were camped out in front of the stadium all week to get on the front row. I've seen the Vols in Fayetteville in 99, 01, and this year, and there's nothing like it. If you remember 99 (the year after the infamous fumble), our goal posts came down. We were -5.5 on Saturday, and I wouldn't touch that line with a ten foot pole. Herbstreet repeatedly gazed into the student section, and said that he'd never seen anything like it. This kind of electricity wasn't present for games against Texas (our alleged "rivals"), USC, or LSU. Bottom line, the Vols demand respect and make for an incredible game year after year.
3. We've been "rebuilding" for almost half a decade. McFadden is an absolute stud, but our team as a whole has grown by leaps and bounds since USC. We were firing on all cylinders from the O and D lines, to special teams, to the secondary and backfield. If McFadden hadn't been there, we have 3-4 other playmakers that would have had plenty of success behind our line. Also, our offensive coordinator is fresh from the high school fields and has added entirely new dimensions to our offense.
4. Not sure about CPF. We've had coaching contraversies for years now, and I know how that goes.
5. It was a shame to have Ainge out of the game. I wish we could have played Tenn at full strength. Alternatively, I would have liked to see Cooter for no other reason than to hear all the "Dick v. Cooter" jokes.
6. Finally, Tennessee is a perenial powerhouse that will adapt and overcome. Every program has tough seasons, and every program has dream seasons. It's a hell of a time to be an Arkansas fan, and I hope we can do the SEC proud this post-season.
HogFan1
1. My hat is off to the Tennessee fans. Other than a few outliers, it was a very classy group of people who made the trip to Fayetteville.
2. To the posters who commented on what it means for teams to play the Vols: There is nothing like a game against Tennessee for Arkansas fans. Students were camped out in front of the stadium all week to get on the front row. I've seen the Vols in Fayetteville in 99, 01, and this year, and there's nothing like it. If you remember 99 (the year after the infamous fumble), our goal posts came down. We were -5.5 on Saturday, and I wouldn't touch that line with a ten foot pole. Herbstreet repeatedly gazed into the student section, and said that he'd never seen anything like it. This kind of electricity wasn't present for games against Texas (our alleged "rivals"), USC, or LSU. Bottom line, the Vols demand respect and make for an incredible game year after year.
3. We've been "rebuilding" for almost half a decade. McFadden is an absolute stud, but our team as a whole has grown by leaps and bounds since USC. We were firing on all cylinders from the O and D lines, to special teams, to the secondary and backfield. If McFadden hadn't been there, we have 3-4 other playmakers that would have had plenty of success behind our line. Also, our offensive coordinator is fresh from the high school fields and has added entirely new dimensions to our offense.
4. Not sure about CPF. We've had coaching contraversies for years now, and I know how that goes.
5. It was a shame to have Ainge out of the game. I wish we could have played Tenn at full strength. Alternatively, I would have liked to see Cooter for no other reason than to hear all the "Dick v. Cooter" jokes.
6. Finally, Tennessee is a perenial powerhouse that will adapt and overcome. Every program has tough seasons, and every program has dream seasons. It's a hell of a time to be an Arkansas fan, and I hope we can do the SEC proud this post-season.
HogFan1
