Most Recent Blog Posts

• 2009 RAIN TOTALS

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

     

    Check out the 2009  yearly rainfall totals. For the year we're just over 53" which is actually more than a foot above normal. But... last year we had even more rainfall. At this time in 2008 we had received 57.81" due to all of the tropical systems that moved across our region.

    -Garrett

     

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  • 2 days ago
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• Overcast & Cold

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    Hard to believe that temperatures have only been in the 30s and low 40s the last few days. These low clouds are the result of the upper level low still swirling overhead. Should see some sunshine on Thursday.

    -Garrett

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  • 3 days ago
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• Brace Yourselves, Lamar!!!!

  • From: 5newssportsjohne
  • Description:

    After a weekend of deliberation, and advice from their legal counsel, the Arkansas Activities Association decided to lift the indefinite suspension on the class 3A playoffs. Of course, the indefinite suspension was the AAA's answer to an 11th hour decision by fifth judicial circuit judge Gordon McCain, who granted an injunction to the Lamar School District. It basically overruled the AAA’s decision to force the Lamar Warriors to forfeit all but 1 of its conference games for using what the AAA called an ineligible player.

    Lamar argued in front of a AAA subcommittee that the player in question had been cleared by the AAA to play, AAA disagreed. A classic, “he said, she said.”

    As of Monday, Lamar is back in. Reinstated by the AAA. Atkins loses out, but they would have been out had there been no legalities in question.

    The town of Lamar, especially the school, was euphoric on Monday. The team? Back at practice. Getting ready to host a playoff game against Parkers Chapel. The whole thing would have been perfect, except for 1 thing.

    1 line.

    1 sentence, that’s all.

    1 sentence to cause trepidation, and fear to all Warrior Boosters.

    It was the last sentence of the AAA’s release that was put on their website Monday morning.

    “The AAA’s legal course of action is still pending.”

    Pardon me? I’m sorry, I thought this thing was over? Lamar wins, football resumes in the 3A. Right? Well…

    I hate to bring in rationality, seeing as we’re all holding hands, and “Buying the World a Coke,” but here comes:

    The AAA can’t have this precedent set. That’s right, they know it, and those that have had run-ins with them in the past know it well. This is a door that cannot remain cracked. To their credit, it’s a brilliant move by them.

    If the AAA would have immediately appealed the decision to the Arkansas Supreme Court, it would have taken weeks to get on the docket. Then? Longer to have been heard. That would have effectively cancelled the playoffs for all teams in the 3A, period. There’s no way they could let that happen.

    So? Hold off. Let Lamar back in. Less casualties that way. Atkins? Sorry guys. It was you, or you and 25 other teams. That’s a large amount of revenue down the commode. The schools depend on that money generated from those games.

    Awful early for those kids at Atkins to learn that life isn’t fair, but that’s what Lamar has been arguing for the past 3 weeks.

    So, Lamar gets to make their run. Here’s why they need to brace themselves, and it brings me back to my original point. It ain’t pretty.

    Nobody’s told me this, and I don’t know this to be fact. But if I were a betting man (and I am), I’d bet that the AAA takes this to the higher court once the playoffs end. If and when they do, they will go full-throttle to get Judge McCain’s decision overturned. They have the money to load up on the legal counsel, and will use it (ironically partially funded by revenue gained from 3A playoff games?).

    It may or may not happen. But if it does? It could happen in the fall of next year, maybe the spring. If/when the decision gets overturned, whatever Lamar does in the playoffs will once again have to be forfeited.

    What if Lamar makes a miracle run in the playoffs? Will they have enough of a legal defense to challenge the AAA legal brass in Little Rock? If Lamar doesn’t get far in the post-season, they probably wouldn’t put up much of a fight.

    I know it’s looking ahead. Far ahead. It isn’t officially set in stone. But could it happen?

    Yes.

    The kids should enjoy themselves in these playoffs, I mean seriously, they didn’t do anything wrong. But could a bigger letdown be in their future? Right or wrong, the AAA won’t likely let this be a precedent, or they lose power as the enforcer of all things high school sports in the state.

    AAA will do one thing for sure. They’ll weld together that crack in the bureaucratic armor by clarifying their residency rules for athlete eligibility, if they haven’t already. Didn’t take a jury realize that needed to get done.

  • Blog post
  • 3 days ago
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• Cold Blast!

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

     

    

     

    Thought these graphics were cool, look how much the afternoon temperatures dropped!

    A return to near normal weather will take place later in the week. A few snow flurries will be possible thru Tuesday... especially in Northwest Arkansas

    -Garrett

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  • 4 days ago
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• Empty Seats

  • From: mikeirwin
  • Description:

    This past weekend, in a brief span of just over 24 hours, a pair of Razorback sophomores put on a remarkable show for their fans at Bud Walton Arena and Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

    Friday night guard Rotnei Clarke set a new SEC record with 13 made three point shots in the Razorback basketball team's season opener. Clarke also set a new school record for scoring with 51 points.

    The following night quarterback Ryan Mallett threw for 405 yards and five touchdowns as he broke Clint Stoerner's single season passing record at Arkansas.

    Years from now a lot more fans than actually attended those two events will claim they were on hand to witness the fall of those records. A lot of fans like to brag that they were around when history was made whether they were actually there or not.

    "It was mesmerizing," I heard a fan say after watching Clarke's performance. "No one was here," his friend protested.

    "I was here and so were you," the guy shot back.

    Actually, from a quick scan of the crowd, I'd say that only a little over a third of the 19,200 seats in Bud Walton Arena were occupied.

    A two-win conference record last season and a series of player suspensions has left many Razorback fans apathetic about the school's once proud hoops program.

    Crowds at Razorback Stadium have been down somewhat since the Hogs lost to Ole Miss three weeks ago.

    I've never been one to tell fans how to spend their money but Clarke will only be around for a brief time and then he will be simply be a part of Razorback history.

    The stories of his practice habits are already the stuff of legends. Supposedly he recently hit something like 280 of 300 three pointers in a shooting practice.

    I'm told that Clarke soaked his feet in ice and then went back out on the court to shoot some more. With that kind of dedication he deserves to play in front of more than 7,500 fans in an arena that used to be packed for every game.

    Mallett, quite simply, is the best passing quarterback I've ever seen at this school. Joe Ferguson had a lengthy NFL career but Mallett has a chance to break every passing mark in the Arkansas records book. 

    Fact is the 10,000 or so fans who could have watched him pass Stoerner's record but stayed at home may have missed their chance to see him build on that record, at least in person.

    Mallett is draft eligible after this season is over. Hopefully he will return for his junior year but if he keeps up his current pace the NFL will likely make a strong run at him considering his cannon-like arm and 6'-7" frame.

    I'm lucky. Not only do I not have to buy a ticket but it's part of my job to watch Razorbacks like Clarke and Mallett set records. So I won't lecture missing fans who choose to stay at home. I'll simply look at those empty seats and try to picture all the fans who weren't there but who will claim they were there in the years to come.

    No offense but a real memory is much better than a manufactured one. 

     

     

     

     

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  • 4 days ago
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• Record Cold-Wet October

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    Thought you might like to see this USA Today article on how cold and wet October was. Nationally it was wettest on record and 3rd coldest on record. Locally it was also the 3rd wettest.

    http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2009-11-10-october-climate-usa_N.htm

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  • 1 week ago
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• Two Coaches

  • From: mikeirwin
  • Description:

    This year's Arkansas-South Carolina game featured two of the most respected offensive coaches in college football going head-to-head for the first time, each directing an SEC program badly in need of success.

    Last week Steve Spurrier went so far as to compare the situation he and Bobby Petrino are facing. Petrino was asked about the ole ball coaches remarks. He said he did not understand the point Spurrier was trying to make.

    I think Petrino knew exactly what the South Carolina head coach was saying. I don't think he liked the comparison.

    Five years into their Spurrier experiment Gamecocks football has not come close to the kind of success their head coach enjoyed at Florida.

    Petrino is off to a rough start at Arkansas but he clearly does not believe his program will still be strugging to break even three years from now.

    When Petrino first arrived in this state I was well aware of his reputation as an organized offensive guru. I also thought at the time that he had the personality of a door knob.

    One day during his first spring here Petrino cracked his first joke after practice. The Razorback media were so shocked that his attempt at humor was met with silence. He had to inform us that he was kidding around.

    Looking back it's easy to see what was going on with him back then. Petrino was emerging from his worst experience as a head coach. The world of the NFL was not for him. Not any part of it.

    I can relate. In one of my early jobs in television I found myself working at a small station southeast of Dallas. I thought it was going to be great. I'd come up on weekends and cover the Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers.

    What I encountered was something I'd never seen before. A part of the sports world where business managers, agents and self-help gurus were as important as winning games. Quite simply the NFL is not a game. It's a business and a business were the coach is not always the center of things.

    Coming to Arkansas and hearing that Houston Nutt was allegedly run off by over-the-top fans and a probing, prying media Petrino was understandably cautious in those first few months.  

    Watching him, relaxed and smiling in Saturday's post game presser, it was clear that he is now at home here in this state. Razorback fans have been very patient with the slow but steady progress he and his staff have made to date. The Hog media is clearly not out to get him.

    Make no mistake about it, he is in charge and the last time I checked there were no team owners, business managers or sports psychologists hanging around The Broyles Center.

    Spurrier had a rough Saturday. He threw his headsets around a lot during the game. He scowled at his players and barked at his coaches. Watching that, it was painfully obvious that Columbia, South Carolina is not Gainesville, Florida and he's not the same ole ball coach these days. Time was not on his side when he took the South Carolina job. Now he has to be wondering how much time he has left there.

    Petrino is younger. He has yet to win an SEC title or a national championship. The carrot is out there, dangling in front of him.

    I don't know what the next three years will bring but I do know that at least a part of Spurrier's comparison of South Carolina and Arkansas football was dead on.

    Both schools are SEC add-ons. Fans of both desperately want respect in the best conference in college football. Both schools hired big name coaches and offered big time salaries to make it happen and yet both coaches are finding out what former Arkansas interim head coach Joe Kines meant when he said, "In the SEC they cut your throat and drink your blood."

     

     

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  • 1 week ago
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• Tornado Confirmed

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    Here are the results of the National Weather Service storm survey from the other day. No torando warning was in effect at the time.

    -Garrett

  • Blog post
  • 2 weeks ago
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• Auditions Anyone?

  • From: mikeirwin
  • Description:

    Several of us in the media were standing around talking during a Hog football practice last week. One of the guys was wearing a suit. "So, what's up with the suit and tie?" I asked curiously. I figured he must have just come from a wedding, a funeral or a birthday party.

    Turned out that it was a job interview. His own job.

    As a part of the newspaper merger in Northwest Arkansas most of the employees of the Northwest Arkansas Times and The Morning News of Northwest Arkansas had to re-apply for their current jobs.

    After the practice defensive coordinator Willy Robinson announced that a similar process was taking place with his players. In the wake of a lifeless effort against Ole Miss, Robinson said that for the rest of the season the defensive starters would be determined by effort and work ethic shown in practice.

    Sure enough, there were some lineup changes for the Eastern Michigan game. It worked out pretty well. In spite of the grumbling by some fans after the Hogs gave up 27 points to the hapless Eagles it needs to be mentioned out that at one point Arkansas had a 49-0 lead in the game.

    Allowing some late touchdowns in a game like that has never been an issue for me. It's pretty hard for second and third stringers to be focused with a such huge lead even if they are getting a rare playing opportunity.

    I will, however, be watching with great interest to see if Robinson continues to shuffle his lineup based on practice effort.

    Hopefully, if the normal starters see that he's serious about this system, they will respond in practice and keep their jobs.

    The danger is this: There are plenty of players who don't do their best work in practice. I'm not talking about dogging it. I'm talking about the simple fact that when the lights come on some guys rise to another level.

    Matt Jones was like that.

    Years ago Ken Hatfield had a noseguard named Tony Cherico who was so battered on a week-to-week basis that he could not do much in practice anyway. However, turn the lights on and the transformation was amazing. 

    Cherico is now an assistant coach on Barry Lunney's staff at Bentonville High.

    I like Willy Robinson. A lot of fans and some in the media have had him fired since early in the 2008 season. I'm glad this speculation about his demise has been exaggerated to date. I find Robinson's no-nonsense approach in press conferences refreshing.

    After the Eastern Michigan game a reporter was asking Robinson about the new practice philosophy with regard to naming starters.

    "Why are you doing this?" the reporter quizzed.

    "Because I want to," Robinson answered.

    The Hogs have four games left, three of them SEC matchups. This can still be a good season for this team. It will probably take winning out to make some fans happy but that's not impossible, especially if Robinson's tryout sessions are productive.

    Auditions anyone?

     

     

  • Blog post
  • 2 weeks ago
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• Hosed...

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    What a wet October!! Here's a look at Rainvision. That band of yellow from near Clarksville south to Waldron was responsible for near 5" of rain on Thursday evening. This prompted several flash flood warnings and even caused Hwy 71 to be closed for a time. This ranks as the 3rd wettest October on record!

    Thankfully, we'll get to dry out heading into the first week of November with highs in the 60s or low 70s and mostly sunny skies for most of the week.

    -Garrett

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• Severe Storms 10/29

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    Severe storms will be likely along the leading edge of a squall line on Thursday. The timing of the system has been difficult, but it appears mid morning thru early afternoon will be the favored time for severe storms in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley. The top graphic shows the Storm Prediction Center's outlook map for the strongest storms. The bottom picture is the surface chart. One of the things we'll be watching really close on Thursday will be the position of the warm front. If the warm front manages to make it farther north than expected... there will be a heighten risk for tornadoes.

    This storm system has intense upper level wind speeds, which will mean a higher potential for widespread damaging winds, especially along the leading edge of the line. While the winds in the upper atmosphere are strong the forward motion of the system isn't as progressive. There could still be rain in the area on Friday. Winds at the surface will also be gusty from the south initially and then from the west behind the system.

    Expect a severe thunderstorm watch or tornado watch during the day Thursday. Severe storms will likely occuring into the early afternoon or evening hours. Rain totals in Western Arkansas will be around 1-2" East Arkansas is going to be soaked with near 4" of rain possible. This storm system will also bring several feet of snow to the Rockies signaling the start of the skiing season to our west.

    -Garrett

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• Thursday Severe Possible

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    Another strong storm system will roll into our area on Thursday into Friday. Unlike the system that arrived early in the week, this one will bring a risk of severe thunderstorms. The chart above shows the winds in the middle of the atmosphere. Expect strong storms late Thursday into Friday with cooler air by Friday afternoon.

    -Garrett

  • Blog post
  • 3 weeks ago
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• Oct 25-26 Rainfall

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    Rainfall totals for the start of the workweek are going to be well over an inch across most of our area. Look for location in SE Oklahoma and NE Texas to receive the most rainfall. A break in the rain will occur on Wednesday with more rain on Thursday! Wet week ahead with possibly some dry and pleasant weather for Halloween.

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  • 3 weeks ago
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• Their Fight Now

  • From: mikeirwin
  • Description:

    I once knew a pair of brothers who, while they were very loyal to each other, were as different as night and day.

    Let's just call them Billy and Freddie (not their real names).

    Billy was big and athletic but very quiet. Freddie was smaller with a loud mouth.

    Billy often ended up having to defend his little brother, finishing fights that Freddie had started.

    The year Billy entered high school Freddie had some serious issues with one of Billy's friends. Freddie finally ticked the guy off to the point where he made some extremely inflammatory remarks about Freddie.

    Billy felt it necessary to step in and defend his brother's honor against a guy that he basically liked.

    It didn't start out as much of a fight. Billy got knocked down twice and it was clear his heart wasn't in it.

    "Get up man," Freddie urged as he gestured toward his brother's friend who was now his opponent. "He's a jerk. You gotta make him pay."

    Billy looked up and said quietly, "You know, this is your fight, not mine."

    "Well, it's d*mned sure your fight now," Freddie shot back.

    With a slight nod Billy got back up and finally mangaged to win the fight.

    This long-ago incident popped into my head while watching Saturday's Arkansas-Ole Miss game.

    From the opening kickoff it was obvious that Houston Nutt had his team primed for a fight while the Razorbacks looked like they were still trying to get over the Florida game. As the old men in my hometown would have put it, Arkansas came out flatter than a three day old soda pop.

    As difficult as it is for some Razorback fans to grasp this concept most of Bobby Petrino's current players have no beef with Houston Nutt.  It's the fan's fight not theirs. 

    All last week they tried to avoid the subject. "I didn't play in that game," senior guard Mitch Petrus said when asked about the emotions of Arkansas' players going up against Houston Nutt in last year's Ole Miss game.

    If he didn't know it before Saturday Bobby Petrino should know now that as long as Houston Nutt is at Ole Miss the Arkansas game is going to be circled on the Rebel's schedule.

    Why shouldn't it be? Nutt believes he was unfairly run off from a job he wanted to keep. He knows that his play calling was considered to be a joke by many Hog fans. This game will always be a chance for Nutt to prove them not just wrong but dead wrong.

    Nutt had help on Saturday from some of Arkansas own fans. When you pick at Nutt 365 days a year, when you constantly bombard the Ole Miss fanbase with unflattering comments about their head coach, there is no way his players will remain unaffected.

    In effect, Nutt had an entire library of bulletin board material to use when he made his pregame speech to his players and make no mistake about it few coaches are better at a pregame speech than Nutt.

    Arkansas will continue to lose to Ole Miss if it's treated as just another SEC game.

    It's not. Not anymore.

    Whether the players are onboard with it or not this is now the rivalry game that the Razorbacks have lacked since joining the SEC.

    Were there other issues that contributed to Saturday's loss?

    Of course.

    As long as this team doesn't have a proper running game Ryan Mallett is going to be a target against a good defense and yes, Ole Miss has a very good defense.

    The Razorbacks had a hard time getting to Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead because they were occupied trying to stop Dexter McCluster who, on Saturday, looked like an all-SEC tailback. That's the way to keep a defense off your quarterback.

    Arkansas receivers aren't getting the job done either. There is talent there but their focus is woeful at times.

    Bobby Petrino is trying to fix Arkansas football program but fixing such a program in the SEC is a lot like trying to work on a car while other mechanics are standing beside you trying to undo your work. It takes longer.

    Recruiting and proper preparation are the main things that will improve the program.

    However, once a year for as long as Houston Nutt is at Ole Miss, the Hogs had better get themselves jacked up to play the Rebels.

    It's their fight now. 

  • Blog post
  • 3 weeks ago
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• Forecast Rainfall

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    Here's a look at the Microcast Rainfall projection for Wednesday night thru Thursday. Rain should slowly end during with day on Thursday with much cooler temperatures and chance for a few wrap around showers to develop in the late afternoon and evening. Chilly weather for Friday with clearing skies on Saturday.

    Thursday morning looks wet. Email your rainfall pictures and totals to ipix@kfsm.com

    -Garrett

  • Blog post
  • 4 weeks ago
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• "Rick" Influences Our Weather

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    Hurricane Rick which became the 2nd strongest storm on record for the Pacific basin over the weekend is forecast to weaken and move northeast. While we won't be seeing any tropical storm force winds...we WILL see the increase in the moisture in the atmosphere. Will high clouds starting to stream back as early as Tuesday signaling the start of a moisture flood ahead of the next front that is forecast to arrive on Wednesday night.

    Bottom line: Rain Wed PM and Thu... totals around 1" to 1.5" heavier because of Rick. Could also see a severe risk as well.

    -Garrett

  • Blog post
  • 4 weeks ago
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• The Zebras

  • From: mikeirwin
  • Description:

    Scanning the Internet in the aftermath of Arkansas' 23-20 near upset of top ranked Florida I noticed that a Razorback fan had posted a photograph of one of the game officials wearing blue and orange, allegedly on his personal website. The fan's intent was clear. This guy is a Gators fan and he was calling the game.

    In the land of extreme opinons that is sports talk radio and fan message boards the referees in the Arkansas-Florida game flat cheated. NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens even weighed in on the matter on his Twitter site. He too suggested there was cheating going on, while later posing that he had no particular interest in either team.

    Okay, it was obvious to even a casual fan that two calls in particular were suspect.

    Midway through the 4th quarter Florida tied the game at 20 with the help of a pass interference call against Arkansas cornerback Ramon Broadway. The referees tacked 10 more yards onto that 15 yard penalty after defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard was flagged for a personal foul. That call in particular enraged Arkansas fans.

    Broadway made sight contact but the pass was not catchable.

    Sheppard simply shed a block on the other side of the field from the ball. Yes, the Florida lineman did go to the ground but he was simply shoved out of the way after attempting to deliver what I would call a cheap shot attempt on Sheppard.

    Bobby Petrino, in his usual efficient, cut-to-the-chase style said simply, "I didn't like them. I didn't think they were good calls."

    Hog quarterback Ryan Mallett made no reference to any particular call but he did tell reporters that the Razorbacks beat themselves with penalties.

    The game was unbalanced with regard to the number of flags thrown against the two teams. Arkansas was whistled 10 times for 92 yards. Florida was flagged just three times for 16 yards.

    The two calls already mentioned were highly questionable and after reviewing the game it also appears to me that the referees missed a few infractions committed by the Gators.

    But that's where I stop.

    In an age of conspiracy theories I don't believe that the SEC office tells their game officials to favor the higher ranked team for the overall good of the conference.

    To believe that would suggest that there are no honest referees out there. I promise you that if such a policy existed behind the scenes more than a few game officials would spill the beans. Dishonest people exist in our society but they don't dominate it.

    Aside from the possibility of mass conspiracy there exists a second issue in the minds of some fans: Individual referees whose calls are biased for various reasons. This theory is easier to accept. None of us can know what is going on in the mind of each official as he calls a game. I would, however, suggest that this problem is much more rare than some fans will ever admit.

    I grew up next to a teriffic athlete in my hometown who, after this playing days were over, became a high school football referee in Colorado. He explains this whole issue in simple terms: "Refs make mistakes."

    It's really easy to accept what he says once logic is applied.

    Football coaches and players spend the entire week preparing for a game. Do they play that game without error?

    Is it reasonable to assume that referees can make honest mistakes too?

    Fans watching on TV and those who look at big screens during games have something that game officals don't have when they make a call: Instant replay in slow motion from multiple angles.

    The bottom line, except in rare cases, I don't think referees cheat. I do think that some are affected by the home crowd. Some probably carry an unintended bias toward coaches they've come to like or coaches they don't like. Some probably come into a game respecting the favored team especially in a situation where an unranked opponent faces off against the top team in the country.

    Maybe someday we'll have robot referees who always make the correct call. But that would suggest robot players who never make mistakes either. What fun would that be?

    Besides, what would a college football season be like if fans weren't mad at the referees?

    Editors note: After this blog was written the SEC office issued a statement admitting that video evidence does not support the personal foul penalty against Sheppard.

     

  • Blog post
  • 4 weeks ago
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• NOAA WINTER OUTLOOK

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    El Nino is expected to influence the winter across our area with near normal temperatures and near normal rainfall. You can read the official release here: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20091015_winteroutlook.html 

  • Blog post
  • 1 month ago
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• Weekend Chill

  • From: Garrett_Lewis
  • Description:

    

    Another cold front will put the brakes on any heat moving into the weekend. The NW winds from 5-15 will usher in some of the coldest air of season with highs only in the 50s and lows possibly touching the 32º mark... especially Saturday night into Sunday.

  • Blog post
  • 1 month ago
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• Willy & Gus

  • From: mikeirwin
  • Description:

    If Saturday's Arkansas-Auburn game had been a movie then it was Willy Robinson and Gus Malzahn in the middle of the street, guns drawn, ready for a high noon shootout.

    Surprisingly Mustache Willy drew first and fired several shots on target. Deadeye Gus went down but just when he appeared to be gone he recovered and pumped three quick shots into the 'stashe. Wounded and reeling Willy still managed to finish Deadeye off with another volley.

    Okay, that's a little silly but I found myself admiring the respect that Robinson afforded his nemesis following Arkansas 44-23 win over Auburn.

    The two men had gone head to head last year when Arkansas faced Tulsa in a game that was a lot closer mainly because the Hogs did not have the offense they possess this season. They both knew each other's work. Each would try to outmaneuver the other.

    The way Robinson saw it, Malzahn tried to throw Arkansas a curveball in the first half and it backfired a bit.

    "The first eight plays we didn't see any of the things he'd done in the previous five games," Robinson said of Malzahn's game plan. "Not a thing."

    "Where all of the sudden he had me reeling," Robinson continued, "was in the second half at the start of the third quarter he really came back with what he usually starts with each game."

    It was Malzahn's normal 1st quarter offense that had the Hogs on the ropes after closing a 34-3 Arkansas lead to 34-23 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

    "It's all cat and mouse with this guy," Robinson concluded.
    "I'm exhausted." 

    Robinson has gone from being a goat to a hero in the world of fan message board extremists. Scorned as a coach who doesn't know how to teach proper coverage techniques for cornerbacks on a sideline route after the Hogs were drilled by Alabama, Robinson is now being touted as the guy who exposed Malzahn's overrated Hurry Up No Huddle offense.

    Both notions are off base by a country mile.

    Robinson certainly knows how to coach cornerbacks. The fact that they don't always perform properly doesn't mean he's teaching the wrong stuff.

    Malzhan doesn't walk on water but his offense is downright scary to face according to Robinson.

    Robinson took a mild shot at his critics after the game. Asked if he'd ever had a defense play this well against such a complicated offense, Robinson said with a grin, "I don't know. I get emails saying I'm old. How's that for an honest answer?"

    I've been around football coaches for as long as I can remember. I have football coaches in my family. I have boyhood friends who became football coaches. Two of my college roommates are football coaches. One of the things I like best about that profession is the respect that most coaches develop for their competitors on the other side of the field.

    There aren't too many jobs out there where some guy at another company is trying to directly wreck your hard work.  Lowes and Home Depot may be trying to outsell each other but it's not all or nothing unless one goes out of business.

    Football coaches from each team in each game spend long days and sleepless nights trying to make the other guys come up empty and when you lose that's what you are left with, an empty feeling.

    I think that's why a coach like Robinson has such respect for a competitor like Malzahn. They both are good at what they do. They both worked their tails off last week but Robinson is part of a win and Malzahn is part of a loss.

    It's an unforgiving business. Nobody knows that better than coaches.

     

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