Airplane Mode

I'm currently writing DSD from 35,000 ft on a flight from Dallas to Little Rock. This is a first for the fledgling blog, but I felt that I couldn't leave the readers without their weekly predictions. Given the current circumstances, this will be an abridged (I know many are happy to hear this) version, brought to you in an aptly titled "Airplane Mode."

- Isnt technology great? Not only am I able to blog from mid-air, but our players will soon have state of the art facilities to break down film and create in depth game plans to take on the teams of the SEC. Thank you Jeff Long for making this happen. With these improvements, Coach Petrino will be able to do even more with his prolific offense in the coming years, which is scary to think about on many levels

- There will be lots of air time in the game that pits two offensive geniouses against each other. Unfortunately, this is going to make for a very long day for both secondaries, buti believe the Hogs will prevail. If USCE made Johnathon Crompton look good, expect Ryan Mallett to look truly Heisman. Mark my words... The campaign begins tomorrow

- I'm sitting on he plane next to someone who looks like they could be Mrs. Spurrier. Older, but has aged well, drinking vodka at 2:45 in the afternoon, and sporting a nice platinum Rolex with lots of diamonds. Which brings me to my point. I love to hate Spurrier, but without Florida recruiting he's turned into a figurehead rather than a leader. The Old Ball Coach foiled Petrino last year, and I think Coach P has a score to settle. Look for the offense to keep rolling off of last week's performance, and look for them to score early often

- Special teams will finally get the runback they've been looking for since Dennis Johnson took it 91 yds on the opening kickoff of the season. Last week they got it done with a punt block (which was subsequently shoveled into he endzone) for a TD, but this one will happen the traditional way. Dennis, I've been calling your name all season, now it's time to deliver

The last time I watched the Hogs take on South Carolina in Fayetteville, I saw the greatest rushing performance in modern SEC history. Thank you Darren McFadden for what you showed all of us that day. Hopefully tomorrow we will get to see something as special as 321, but that will be very hard to beat.

Well crew, it's time to make the final approach into Little Rock. The whiskey drink has gotten me prepared for the next 36 hours of my life, and I'm ready to finally be in God's Country. Soon enough... Soon enough!

As always, GO HOGS!!!

The Old Ball Coach

We approach Razorback Stadium tomorrow morning at a true fork in the road:
1. Win this game, remain in contention for respectable bowls, put the confidence back in a team that lost it, in a true heart breaker, to Florida.
2. Lose this game, possibly don't make a bowl, under-acheive according to pre-season expectations, lose the support of the majority of fans (not me).
My preseason prediction was 8-4. What had to happen for us to go 8-4? We had to jump up and beat someone we weren't supposed to: Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Ole Miss, or LSU. Well, through four of those games, we haven't done it, and the only possibility we have left is LSU, and you know we'll get hype for this one. The game tomorrow will dictate whether this season is a bust or not; that's it and that's all.
Things to look for:

1. Ryan Mallet and the receiving corps versus one of the best pass defenses in the country: This will be as much of a challenge as Alabama and Florida were. Are we ready? Have we matured? Having Joe Adams back is priceless. He's given the receivers a much needed spark and some lineman a much needed shot in the nuts.
2. Big Red, Sue E, and Pork Chop versus Cocky: This will be an equally aggressive matchup. Over the years, Cocky has won many mascot awards (Capital One Mascot of the Year in 2003 and All-Mascot team in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2008). The team of Razorback mascots go in as the underdog, but should get the win because, well there's three of them and they have tusks. Also, it's always uncomfortable fighting women, and I bet she's a scrapper. I've checked the sex of Pork Chop before with inconclusive results, so he's a real wild card here.
   
3. Tusk versus a bird: While this bird has spurs, he's no match for tusk. He's really got an amazing advantage in weight ratio and gets the nod here.
   
4. Bobby Petrino versus the Old Ball Coach: Now here's an interesting match up. BP spent years studying film of Spurrier when he coached at Florida and should be able to give the Mustache a lift on the defensive side of the ball. Bob's never been a defensive coach, but his knowledge of Spurrier's offense should help this week.
5. Me versus another hangover before an early game: I have a secret weapon: mimosas. Expect me to be victorious even if I have to pre-game purge.
   

The game this weekend should be exciting, and I'm hoping and praying for a win. Let's bring the Hog faithful support and go back to the DMac ways of owning SC.
Woo Pig
Beat the Cocks (haha)

Final Road Trip

Football season is kind of like Christmas morning... you wait all year for it, and before you realize it's already over. This is not saying that there isn't a lot of football left to be played, but this will be the last time that I make the drive up I-540. It is possibly my favorite drive in the entire nation. It's 45 miles of pure mountainous bliss which ends with a sign that says "University of Arkansas, Next Right." Tomorrow night I will crest that final hill, just past Greenland, and I'll see the Old Main on the horizon for one final time this Fall... truly bittersweet.

In less than 36 hours Hog fans from all over will start the final SEC tailgate of the season in God's country. Some will start with boggs in the parking lot at Baum Stadium at George Cole Field (my second love), while others will try and drink away a hangover underneath the jumbotron in The Pit. After the game, no matter the outcome, Hog fans will descend on Dickson to take car bombs and jell-o shots, and hopefully make it all the way to closing time. It is guaranteed to be one incredible day of drunkeness, as it always is.

While we all hope for a Razorback win over the Old Ball Coach, we will likely forget the outcome of the game in due time (unless Mallett throws for 10 TDs in true DMac 321 yard fashion). What we will remember is another season of memories at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium watching our favorite team, and it will lead to another 8 months of longing for football season to come again. So Hog fans, enjoy what's coming this weekend, because it's a very special tradition that we partake in every fall, and one that gets better and better every year.



Predictions are on the horizon...

It's Getting Better... Sort Of

I think if you asked any Hog fan going into September, they would've taken 4-4 at this point in the season. Too many people, myself included, got too caught up in some of the hype that surrounded a completely unproven team. Subsequently, we got our hopes ripped limb from limb after watching a win against Auburn bookended by back to back SEC losses. But it's got to be looking better, right? In a few short words, I really think it is.

1. For starters, Arkansas has beaten the teams they were supposed to beat, and they've done so in style. The game this past weekend proved that our offense is one of the most dynamic in the nation, and I hope scoring at will will give this team the confidence they need going into the final four games of the regular season.

2. Bobby Petrino is really starting to get away from the stigma that surrounded his exit at Hotlanta, and has started to be a coach fans can get behind. Maybe this will come back to haunt us in the future, but that's like worrying about your Playboy playmate girlfriend cheating on you... no need to worry about the future as long as she's yours now!

3. Joe Adams is back! Wow. I honestly didn't realize how incredible this kid is, but it is evident in his playmaking abilities that he displays week in and week out. I'm not saying we would have beaten Ole Miss had he played that game, but I think Florida is a definite W. He is a gamechanger, and it's wonderful to see him back on the field.

4. We have an actual home stretch. Four games in a row at home is HUGE after having to play at Alabama, at Florida, and at Ole Miss. And let's not forget the fact that we also played in the Death Star, which wasn't exactly a 100% Hog friendly environment. I'm glad this team gets to play several games in a row without traveling and without having to deal with the hazards of the road.

5. Ole Miss sucks. I actually got up on Saturday morning and started drinking at 11 a.m. just to root for Auburn. I'd like to think that Springdale Holiday Inn and I helped to cheer on Gus Malzahn to victory over HDN. While I know my alcoholism had nothing to do with Auburn's win, I know that I loved that Ole Miss loss as much as I loved the Hogs beating up on a terrible opponent.

It's been a nice and quiet week in Hog headlines (except for a that whole special prosecutor investigating our basketball team thing) and I think it's exactly what I needed going into the final four games of the season. I'm looking forward to being in God's country for game on Saturday, and I can't wait to kick of Thanksgiving week with a good old fashioned tailgate at War Memorial Stadium. It may not be exactly what we had hoped for Hog fans, but honestly... it's getting better.

Go Hogs!!!