Where I Come From: Memorable Moments
by John Expat on Jul 9, 2010 4:26 PM CDT
in EA Sports NCAA FB 11
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PrintThis is the fifth in a week-long series of posts sponsored by EA Sports NCAA Football 2011.
The Razorbacks have certainly produced their share of memorable moments both good and bad over the years, but for the sake of my blood pressure (and yours), I'm only going to focus on the positive ones today.
The list below includes 10 moments that will always stand out in my memory as a Hog fan (some moments are literally moments, others are entire games). I should note that this is a personal list: it's not the best games, or the most important ones...just the ones that particularly stand out to me. Definitely share your own thoughts in the comments section!
So, in reverse chronological order, here we go:
1. Arkansas vs Georgia, 2009 (1st quarter): Introducing Ryan Mallett
The Bobby Petrino era truly began in the first quarter of this game, as Mallett lived up to the hype (and then some) by tossing NFL-style TD passes to Jarius Wright, Joe Adams and Greg Childs in quick succession. Although a now-familiar defensive breakdown cost the Hogs a victory, I'll never forget the feeling of watching bomb after bomb in the early part of the game and thinking, "who are these guys in Arkansas jerseys??"
2. Arkansas vs LSU, 2008 (4th quarter): Casey Dick's Finale
Dick certainly won't go down in history as one of the great Hog QBs, but it was hard not to be moved watching him lead the Razorbacks to a last-second victory over the vastly more talented LSU Tigers in his final game (after being benched in favor of his brother, nonetheless!). A gritty and inspiring performance, and one of my favorite games ever.
3. Arkansas vs LSU, 2007 (entire game): Bringing That Wood
Friday night in Death Valley. #1 LSU. McFadden. Jones. Hillis. The Wild Hog offense. Houston Nutt's swan song as Head Hog. Comebacks on both sides. Multiple overtimes. Dick laying out an LSU defender to spring D-Mac for a TD run. The greatest postgame interview ever. This game had it all, people!
4. Arkansas vs Tennessee, 2006 (1st half): Unveiling the Wildcat
No one quite knew what to expect as UT and ESPN's College Football Gameday came to Fayetteville to meet the 11th ranked Hogs. Could the Razorbacks perform in the national spotlight? As it turned out, they used the occasion to unveil the Wildcat offense and utterly befuddle the Vols in ways that hadn't even been previously imagined. With D-Mac running the show, we were practically scoring at will in the first half. Watching Arkansas abuse Tennessee on the big stage was a sweet, sweet moment indeed.
5. Arkansas vs LSU, 2002 (final minute): Miracle
No words for this one...just watch the clip:
6. Arkansas vs Texas, 2000 (entire game): Ringing in the New Century
Routing the Longhorns in the Cotton Bowl? Talk about getting the 21st century off to a great start.
7. Arkansas vs Tennessee, 1999 (entire game): Clint Stoerner's Redemption
The 1998 game against Tennessee remains one of the most brutal defeats not just in Razorback history, but in all of college football. So to exact some measure of revenge by defeating the Vols the next year by the exact same score just feels right. Stoerner to Lucas for the win!
8. Arkansas vs Alabama, 1995 (last play): Welcome to the SEC
At the beginning of their 4th season in the SEC, the Hogs didn't have a lot of big victories (or success of any sort, really) to their name, so knocking off Alabama on the last play of the game was just what the doctor ordered. (And the fact that Crimson Tide fans still claim it wasn't really a TD makes it that much sweeter.)
9. Arkansas vs Houston, 1989 (entire game): Aerial Assault
I had the pleasure of watching this one from the north end zone of War Memorial Stadium. Ken Hatfield threw out the conservative playbook and let Grovey, Russell, Rouse and crew match Houston's run & shoot offense big play for big play. [video clip is sadly no longer on YouTube]
10. Arkansas vs Texas A&M, 1986 (final defensive stand): Turning Back the Aggies
Ultimately, not a hugely significant game in Razorback history, but I have fond memories of watching this one at War Memorial with my dad. A&M was really good (#7) that year, and drove to the 10 yard line in the final minute with a chance to win, but the Hogs held 'em off four straight times to pull it out. An absolute nailbiter. (Thanks to YouTube user acnhs09 for so many of the great clips.)
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Man, these bring back some great memories...
I still love the video of Casey Dick laying that sweet block. The Miracle on Markham, Part II, was the perfect way for him to go out.
All of those are very worthy picks.
My list would have to include the 1992 upset of the Vols in Knoxville and the 1991 defeat of Texas in Little Rock during the Hogs’ last season in the SWC.
That game against Texas took place the day after the Gazette folded. In more ways than one that weekend felt like the end of an era. Of course, I was excited about leaving the SWC. The Gazette folding, not so much.
I have some in common with John and Stephen
My top 10 would be
1978 Orange Bowl victory over Oklahoma (definitely the top memory).
1965 Jon Brittenum to Bobby Crocket drive to beat Texas.
1975 beating a Texas A&M team touted as the greatest defensive team in SWC history 31-6 (and the “immoral Teddy Barnes” catching a TD pass with his face mask when he didn’t know he was the intended receiver).
1965 Cotton Bowl besting Nebraska and winning the national championship
1969 Sugar Bowl 16-2 win over a heavily favored SEC champion Georgia (I wrote the score of that game on my helmet in Vietnam).
1989 we-scored-last-so-we-won against Houston
1991 victory over Texas (I, along with the rest of the staff, had been fired the day before with the closure of the Gazette — it was the End of the World as I knew it but I felt fine)
1992 upset at Tennessee
2000 Cotton Bowl over Texas
2002 Miracle at Markham
by Whit E. Knight on Jul 9, 2010 6:54 PM CDT up reply actions
Whoops, that is the "immortal Teddy Barnes"
by Whit E. Knight on Jul 9, 2010 7:42 PM CDT up reply actions
Immoral Teddy Barnes
For a minute there, Whit, I thought you were doing a William Bennett impersonation.
by Stephen Expat on Jul 9, 2010 8:55 PM CDT up reply actions
Great List!
If I were to do one of my own, I think I would have much of what you have in there. But I would have to squeeze in the final play in the epic 7 Overtime game in Oxford. Petty tackles Ziegler short of the goal line, and the Hogs have won the longest game played, and I nearly collapse! haha. What a great memory.
EA NCAA 11 and War Memorial Stadium
I love remembering all these great games but it is absurd that this is somehow sponsored by EA Sports NCAA11, the same folks that refuse to put War Memorial Stadium in their game. Remember, these are the same folks that say over and over “If its in the game, ITS IN THE GAME” Who gives a shit about having hand towels in the game?
Heyy
where is the fanbase??? I love the Hogs
Can you get ❼ Lebron? Can you get 1 Vikings? 2010 is the year to do it!!
by UnBannedVikingholic on Jul 10, 2010 7:57 AM CDT reply actions
Wow
What a great post! I would also have to put the 7 OT game in Oxford in my list, especially since I attended that one. Thanks guys!
Some other picks
I talked to a couple I know who have been avid Razorbackers for more than a half-century and have attended more games than anyone else I know, and they added some favorite memories of theirs not previously mentioned:
Middle linebacker Wayne Harris, later a stalwart for Calgary in the Canadian Football League, leveling Texas’s star running back, knocking him out of the game (sometime in 1958-60).
Ken Hatfield’s punt return for a touchdown in Arkansas’s 14-13 victory over then No. 1 Texas in 1964, the season the Hogs won the National Championship. (By the way, that might be the greatest single play in UA history.)
Beating eventual co-national champion USC at Little Rock, 22-7, in the 1974 season opener.
The 1969 Big Shootout with Texas, even though we lost.
by Whit E. Knight on Jul 10, 2010 11:12 PM CDT reply actions
Decided to do my own.
As I said, my frame of reference is limited.
10. Missouri St., 2005 – First Razorback Game
9. Alabama, 2006 – Leigh Tiffin! Wide Right!
8. @ Auburn, 2006 – America, meet DMac.
7. Tennessee, 2006 – College Game Day
6. South Carolina, 2007 – DMac rushes for 300+ yards. Steve Spurrier throws visor.
5. @ LSU, 2007 – #1 is Done, Courtesy of the Hogs (anyone remember those T-shirts?)
4. LSU, 2008 – Miracle on Markham, Part II
3. TAMU in Dallas, 2009 – Great way to start off the Southwest Classic. Blew out the Aggies by 4 TDs.
2. Auburn, 2009 – CBP and crew show up Gus Malzahn’s offense (with an admittedly shaky defense, to boot) for the second year in a row. Hogs take a big step toward replacing Auburn permanently in the SEC pecking order.
1. ECU in the Liberty Bowl, 2009 – Only Arkansas Bowl win that I’ve ever witnessed. Here’s hoping to more, sooner rather than later!
not a list but a couple mentions
2000 @ Mississippi State: First Arkansas game I ever attended. It was an ugly affair in the sleet and snow that Arkansas won in overtime with a defensive goal line stand.
2001 @ Ole Miss: 7 overtime game that found me in the middle of the Rebel student section (then located on the north goal line). I got hit in the head with a whiskey bottle at the end of regulation when Cutcliffe decided to play for overtime instead of the win. I don’t think it was intentional but it was painful nonetheless. The game-winning tackle at the one yard line during Ole Miss’s final possession made it hurt a little less.
I realize no one will read this
but I have to mention a favorite memory that I inadvertently left off my list.
Against Texas Tech sometime in the mid-1970s, the Razorbacks were beating Texas Tech late in the game and just needed to run out the clock. So they kept giving the ball to Ike Forte up the middle and he gained 6, 7 and 8 yards a pop even with everyone in the place knowing what the play would be, eventually scoring a touchdown. If was like a Houston Nutt wet dream.
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