Not OK...

Hi Fellow Hog Fans-



I have not been motivated to write anything until this weekend... And it hit me like a ton of bricks.



The shirtless man-fan. GASP.



Never, I'll say again, NEVER is it ok to go without a shirt, boys, unless there is water nearby. Perhaps a beach or pool? It was hot, but honestly, not that hot. For some reason, Little Rock games are the only place that I find the mythical shirtless fan. I'll let you all draw your own conclusions on that one. Little Rock games defintely draw out, um, let's just say a different kind of fan than Fayetteville games do.



All that to say, I love a good Little Rock game. It's just a different experience. So far, so good! The Hogs are off to a great start. Looking forward to seeing our talent put to a real SEC test this weekend against Georgia.

Wooo Pig Sooie and all that jazz...

Yours, Razorbelle

The Great Stadium Debate

There are two issues that will almost always divide Razorback nation as soon as they're mentioned. The first is the departure of Houston Dale and everything it encompasses. The other is the merits of playing games in Little Rock, Arkansas. As soon as any question comes up about any Little Rock game, it is only a matter of time before someone chimes in with the "why do we play games in that dump anyway?" Before you know it, you're in a full blown debate which has managed to pit Little Rock against Northwest Arkansas, and you'd swear we were living through the War of Northern Aggression all over again.

For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Great Stadium Debate (GSD) didn't really arise until the beginning of the decade. It was at that time that Frank Broyles raised the funds to construct what would become Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium (DWRRS). It was transformed from a double sided 55,000 seater to what we currently see five Saturdays each fall. With the addition of the south endzone and the upper deck on the east side, DWRRS became an elegant 72,000 seat beauty complete with the largest jumbotron in the world (at the time).

It was no surprise that a power struggle ensued between the Stephens family and other Little Rock donors and the Broyles administration. Broyles wanted to have all of the games at his new home, and the Little Rock crowd wanted to continue the unique tradition of having two home stadiums for an entire state with only ONE team. After much debate, it was decided that two games each year would be played at War Memorial Stadium (including one SEC game), and the remainder would be played in Fayetteville. It was a compromise that made most happy, but as with any debate, there will always be two sides.

As it turns out, there were still some that were unhappy with the newfound compromise. These people felt that with this new Taj Mahal of a complex (which is the 7th largest in the SEC), we should play all games underneath the lights of DWRRS. They said good riddance to Little Rock, and that there was no need for the dumpy outdated War Memorial Stadium (WMS). It was argued that the tailgating at DWRRS was at least as good as the golf course at WMS, and that the atmosphere of the 72,000 strong would always overshadow what would be seen in Central Arkansas. To this day (over a decade later), they contend that there is no way anything about WMS could ever compete with the stadium on The Hill, and they will fight tooth and nail to convince you otherwise. Simply put, these people are WRONG!

I'll be the first to admit that WMS is outdated. I'll also be the first to make fun of what was formerly known as Waste Managment Field. But under no circumstance will I ever allow someone to deface a loyal home of the Razorbacks for decades on end. In order to keep from going on what could be a days long reading about the merits of War Memorial Stadium, I'll narrow this down to five issues that support Why We Should Keep Games In Little Rock.

• It's named WAR MEMORIAL STADIUM. This stadium was built as a tribute to all of the brave men and women who have fought to protect everything that we love about being Americans. The stadium is a lasting monument to veterans of two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Storm, and the current wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. By abandoning games in Little Rock, you're abandoning those who have lost their lives protecting our country from those who want to take away your ability to do things like, say... watch college football. But hey, DWRRS is nicer, right??? Simply put, if you think we should move games out of Little Rock, you're un-American!


• It just so happens that We Win at WMS. I know that one of our games there every year is a cupcake, and one SEC game every other year is a lower tier SEC school, but we still win. I don't know if there is something different about playing in front of a Little Rock crowd, but the Hogs always seem to bring a little extra to the Rock, and it shows. Unfortunately, we are not so lucky when we show up in DWRRS. We have lost more SEC games than I can care to remember, and many of them were absolute BEATINGS. Maybe if we had played UGA in Little Rock this year we would've pulled it out. But hey, who cares about winning??? As long as you've got your upper deck you're happy, right???


• Location, location, location. Unfortunately, as much as I love Fayetteville, and I really do, it happens to be forever away from a majority of the state. Hell, it's faster for me to get to Fayettenam from Dallas than it is for someone who lives in West Mumphis or Helena. Good luck seeing a Hogs game if you are from Lake Village. In this instance you might as well be a Ole Miss, Miss St., or LSU fan, because they're easier to get to. Little Rock games offer people from all over the state the ability converge to Central Arkansas and see their Hogs play. One state, one team! But who cares about people who aren't from NWA??? As long as you've got your jumbotron you're happy, right???


• The Miracles on Markham. It is well documented that the Jones to Birmingham in the endzone (I miss hearing Paul Eells voice by the way) and Dick to Crawford in the endzone were two of the most exciting comeback wins in the history of Arkansas. These games are what you remember 30 years later. These games are what you tell your children about. These are games where it's more than acceptable to have a "sports cry." Can we really forget the stadium where these incredible moments happened. And these were just two instances in the last 7 years! It just simply doesn't make sense to abandon the stadium and the city that have given so much to the Hogs over the years. But hey, those are the past, and who needs those??? As long as you have your AQ Chicken to eat you're happy right???


• THE ATMOSPHERE. Fayetteville doesn't even begin to hold a candle to what is offered at WMS. 55,000+ people all gathering in one place to tailgate in an open area, and on a golf course no less. You know where else that happens? Pasadena, and that's it! Let's forget about the tailgating, because there is absolutely NO argument about this, and talk about the game time atmosphere. Time and time again opposing coaches and players have left WMS in awe of how loud 55,000 screaming Hog fans in that bowl can be. There are times when it's hard to hear yourself think. The fans in Fayetteville are nice, but they simply don't have what the Central Arkansas contingency has. In DWRRS I've been told on numerous occasions to sit down b/c I'm blocking the game. I've also been deemed "too drunk" at games on The Hill. You know where that doesn't happen? Little Rock. You know where approximately 70% of the crowd is drunker than I am? Little Rock. You know where people always have more fun? Little Rock. But hey, who needs 55,000 of the most passionate fans in the state? As long as you have your luxury boxes you'll be happy, right?

I know this all seems like a bit much, but it's what happens when you debate one of the most sensitive subjects in the entire Arkansas Razorback fanbase. The truth of the matter is, I could go on about this for days, and so could the other side. What it all boils down to is a nicer stadium vs. an extremely unique tradition. There are plenty of arguments to be made for both, but I know which side of the fence I fall, and I embrace it with every bone of my Razorback loving body.

Sorry it's been so long, and I'll try to be better. Predictions will be on the way tomorrow.

And as always... GO HOGS!!!

The Non-Hangover Friday Night

YooHoo Hog Faithful,

I think it is only fair that I be completely honest with you, I am soooo over football. This may have something to do with the fact that Razorboy can’t get enough, and thus my life is dictated by the SEC (primarily Alabama’s) football schedule. Don’t worry about me though; I have learned to cope. I read A LOT of books during football season.

Anyway, with all of the 11:21AM games this year, I thought it only fitting to share my Friday Night non-hangover plan with all of you. (Not that I always follow it…)

Dinner: YOU MUST CONSUME FOOD. I suggest something light. My go-to on Dickson is sushi. We always go to Wasabi because they have a college token and one of our fave bar tenders works there, Nick. I usually choose to switch off between Sake and light beer during dinner and make sure to suck down an entire glass of water before leaving.

Post-Dinner Drink: Head over to Theo’s for an Espresso Martini. It is delish and will give you energy to make it through the night. Red Bull is too much sugar for me and leaves me with a stomach ache, but this is just what I need to get the party started.

Kick it up a Notch: I would be remiss if I didn’t list Zooloo’s for $1 Jello Shots as a must. Just don’t get carried away. Two is plenty. I recommend red or blue. This is also a perfect time to chug water. This is what will keep that hangover at bay tomorrow.

Foot Loose and Fancy Free: By this time, I am the most fun girl on Dickson, or at least that is what I think. If I am wise, I stick to my drink of choice Kettle One and Water with Lime. I know, I know, I sound like an alcoholic, but honestly I could drink these all night and feel great in the morning. I don’t do well with sugar, so this works for me. Beware the shot buyers… This is where you will get in trouble. Do not let them stray you from your plan. The mixed shots are loaded with sugar and will get you sick quick. Dancing also helps to metabolize the alcohol, and at this point you are probably an awesome dancer.

Before bed: Drink a glass of water and take 2 Advil.

Viola!!! Hangover free. Kick the morning off with a Mimosa or a Bloody. Starting this early almost ensures a hangover by 5PM, but you will have made it through the game with flying colors.

Yours, Razorbelle

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!!!

Saturday Night Spooktacle

I'm over it. I'm over it. I'm over it. Dammit, not matter how many times I say it I just can't make myself believe. This has been one of the toughest weeks of Razorback fandom for me in many many many years, and it just doesn't get any easier. We are to the point that no matter how many wins (I'll say four) that we get in the next five games, the season is still a tough pill to swallow. I wanted a win against Georgia, Bama, Florida, and certainly Ole Miss, and we went 0-4. Boom... Roasted.

There comes a time when you have to just move on, and hopefully this week the I'll be able to do that. Luckily, the Hogs get what will hopefully be their easiest opponent of the year in Eastern Michigan. I know very little about this team, but from all sources they should be a nice cupcake to give this team a little dose of confidence they so greatly need. And for once, we actually get a night time game. This means that I won't be forced to get up at the crack of dawn and start taking pulls out of a bottle of Stoli, rather I get to do it out of my own free will.

No matter what happens Friday, as long as the Hogs destroy the visitors from Detroit (pronounced De-twah if you want to be fancy), it's going to be a good day. At some point I'm probably going to decide that I actually do want to participate in Halloween festivities and I'll head to the store to pick up candy for trick-or-treaters. I might even dawn a costume and make my way to a bar to see how many Dallas girls are dressed as french maids. At the end of the night I'll realize that it's daylight savings time, and instead of enjoying an extra hour of sleep, I'll decide to enjoy an extra hour of drink. So, to pay my respects to the coming Day of the Dead, I present an extra spooky, sort of terrifying, mostly unoriginal, SEC Predictions from Beyond the Grave.

• Arkansas v. Eastern Michigan - The scariest thing on the field for this one is going to be the re-introduction of the ugliest uniforms the Hogs have ever dawned in a game. I saw these pants in person at the Cotton Bowl where Mizzou EMBARRASSED the Razorbacks for 60 minutes, and from the second the team took the field I knew it was going to be a long day. If the game on Saturday is remotely close, please take my advice and burn these pants. On a side note, there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss seeing #5 running the ball from our backfield. We miss you DMAC!!!
• Ole Miss v. Auburn - It looks like the ghost of 2008 has decided to raise from the grave, as the Auburn Tigers once again got off to a blistering pace, but have since done absolutely nothing. I'm not sure if it's team chemistry (there are rumors that some players aren't happy that Cody Burns got benched... you can read between the lines there), lack of preparation, or opponents figuring out Saint Malzahn's scheme, but they're hurting. This week would be a perfect example of a typical HDN letdown game, but if they stick with the gameplan of All Dexter All The Time they should take this one pretty handily
• Kentucky v. Mississippi State - The thought of these two teams battling it out is scary enough to make me want to gouge my eyes out. I can honestly say that I do not care about any aspect of this game, other than I hope Mississippi State loses so that we might bump ahead of them in the SEC West
• Florida v. Georgia - This guy... THIS GUY. There is something about this game that I absolutely love. Maybe it's because it's the Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party on Earth, or maybe because it's played in a neutral field, but I love it. I wish I could witness this in person (if for no other reason than to see UGA girls in their Halloween costumes), and hopefully one day I'll get the pleasure. Alas (and alack), I just don't see the Tebows having a letdown this week. Florida takes this one 2 touchdowns
• Tennessee v. South Carolina - Both teams need this win! Tennessee needs it to help vindicate their hiring of Layne Kiffen, and the Old Ball Coach has to have it to keep his solid bowl hopes alive. I think this game goes ugly early, and the turnover numbers are going to be the story of the week out East. In the end, Old Ball Coach keeps his teams good bowl hopes alive by taking down the Vols
• Tulane v. LSU - Blow out in Death Valley! If LSU wins out and takes the SEC Championship, they will play in Pasadena... I realize this is a big "if," but don't rule it out

We are about 27 hours away from kickoff in God's country, and I will not be in attendance to this affair. However, next week I'll be taking a nice three day weekend to head up to God's country to meet up with 72,000 of my closest friends. Hog fans, it's time to take care of business.

As always... GO HOGS!!!

The Turning Point

This is it. This is the week we've all be waiting for. This is the time for the Hogs to officially step it up, and it's their time to prove themselves to the nation that wrote them off roughly two years ago. As fans, we honestly can't be much happier with what we've seen transpire on The Hill over the last 18 games. We have gotten the chance to see a team grow, to develop, to raise the bar, and to create an atmosphere of winning that hasn't been seen on campus since the early 90's when the Nolan Richardson had his kids playing 40 Minutes of Hell. Hog fans, this is the team we've been waiting for.

Obviously these are rather high praises to give a bunch of sophomores and freshmen that are 3-3 on the season, but I believe in what I see. And the reason, because I honestly think that Coach Petrino has his team believing everything I just wrote. This is not a team that is going to harp on some bad calls that might have cost them the game. These guys aren't going into Saturday looking for petty revenge over what was a notably dramatic shift of coaching staffs. This is a group of guys that goes out to play every game with a disciplined and well planned strategy. They have one goal week in and week out, to execute. And with execution will come wins... lots of them.

So here we sit at the turning point of our season. Predictions all year had us being 3-3 going into the game vs. Ole Miss, and that's where we are. Ole Miss has started what was supposed to be their dream season with a resounding THUD, going 1-2 in conference and beating up on a bunch of nobody schools (in the 4th quarter). Arkansas has underachieved at times, but their recent appearance in The Swamp has a lot of people looking for Arkansas to be the next big thing in the SEC. With this being said, I believe it's safe to say that this is the biggest game both teams will play all year, and will determine who goes to Dallas on January 3rd, and who is stuck in Memphrica ringing in 2010.

So who takes it? Do the Rebels finally decide that they are as good as many said they should be? Does Jevan Snead stop playing like a big ol' bag full of mashed up a**holes and start playing like the Heisman hopeful he once was? Or is it Arkansas, fresh off almost upsetting the #1 team in the nation on the road, that comes into the Grove looking for revenge (on so many levels)? In an effort to answer these questions, and in honor of the recent introduction of the lottery in the Great State of Arkansas, this round of predictions comes to you as an Ode to the Arkansas Powerball.

And the first number is:

• #91 - Jake Bequette has really come of his own on the defense recently, and from what I've heard he's made tremendous strides. It is evident on the field that he is playing with a new found passion to get to the QB, and his performances against Auburn and Florida have shown that this Catholic High alum truly has football running through his blood. Get ready for a third great SEC performance, and he will be the defensive player of the game

Our second number of the night:

• #7 - The number of 3rd down conversions Arkansas must have on Saturday. I realize the offense is explosive, and I understand that a 42 yard pass is almost run of the mill for Mallett and company, but they cannot be a successful football team on a regular basis if they do not complete more 3rd downs. Ole Miss has not shown many signs of being the same defense they were a year ago, but if they can back up the Arkansas offense on 3rd down, their D-line could have a lot of shots to get to the QB, which is never good considering Mallett's mobility

Coming down the shoot:

• #4 - The number of turnovers the Hog defense will get off of Jevan Snead by the end of the night. Never has a QB fallen so quickly from grace as has Snead. He's been tested week in and week out... and has failed. Alabama (the best team in the nation) made the Ole Miss defense look anemic at best, and Snead was unable to get anything done. To boot, he was at home. Unless that powerhouse win over UAB last week did something for his confidence, look for a few fumbles and almost certainly a pair of interceptions

The fourth number of the night:

• #24 - This is the number of points the Hogs will score in the first half to stun the Rebels into submission early. The Hog offense will show it's ability to score early and often against a top notch defense, and look for Mallet and the receivers to be on their best game. They missed a ton of opportunities late in the game against Florida, and they're looking to prove they deserved a W in Gainsville

The fifth number coming to you:

• #2 - Alex Tejada bounces back from what was one of the more difficult kicking blunders of his four year career at Arkansas. I'm not saying he hits a fifty yard game winner or anything, but he'll be perfect on the day, with numerous extra points and even a couple of nice field goals. He's been here before, he knows how to deal with it, and much like Casey Dick against LSU last year, he'll want to play well in his senior season and knows how to do it

And for the sixth and final Powerball:

• #33 - I was off two weeks ago when I said that Wingo would be the breakout young back behind Michael Smith. As it turns out, it was Dennis Johnson, and he has been sensational in every aspect of his game. DJ is at his best when the team is counting on him, and this is evidenced by his dominance in special teams returns, and his incredible performance as a starter against a heralded Florida defense. With the way he's playing, I say if DJ wants it, DJ gets it

So there you have it folks, your winning Powerball Lottery #'s are 91, 7, 4, 24, 2, and the Powerball 33.

On a side note, this will be my first SEC road game I'll get to see in person, and I couldn't be more excited. Last week I got the pleasure of attending Texas v. OU in the Cotton Bowl, and while I hate both teams, it was truly an awesome experience. This week I get to back it up with The Grove, and two weeks from now I'll be in God's Country once again to see the Old Ball Coach come to town. It's going to be a truly great 4 week stretch!

And as always... GO HOGS!

On My Way Home to God's Country

Razorbelle here, coming to you from the Charlotte airport. I came out for work, but had the distinct pleasure of hanging out with some great friends last night. I unfortunately missed my first flight home, but will be back this afternoon to watch the big game from the comfort of my living room tomorrow.

*** I need to add the shirt below to my “What Not to Wear” List (it has been at all the local Walmarts in Northwest Arkansas.

Unfortunately, I think I may have actually contracted Swine Flu while in Charlotte.

I am limited on time, but I thought I would share a perfect tailgate drink recipe with you. This was a big hit at a party I had recently, and would be perfect for a morning tailgate at the Grove.

Bourbon Punch:

1 part Bourbon
1 part Pre-Mixed Lemonade
1 part Pre-Mixed Sweet Tea
Lemons

This looks great in a pitcher. Just slice up some lemons and throw them in the pitcher. Add equal amounts Bourbon, Lemonade, and Sweet Tea. Pour over ice and enjoy.

For those of you that wretch at the smell of bourbon, this sweetness of the Tea and the sourness of the Lemonade help to neutralize the taste of the bourbon.

For all those headed to the game this weekend, have so much fun, and call the Hogs for me. Also, congratulations to Brad and Lauren who are getting married this weekend. Love you both!

Yours- Razorbelle

Alack and alas! The Houston Nutt Show!

I shall disrespectfully disagree with that lie stated by CollegeTokens that we (Razorback Nation) as a whole do not hate Houston Nutt that much. Yes we do!

Why hate such a great coach that has called so many great calls in big games (albeit the same calls, on the same drive) that worked (sometimes)? Why hate someone that had some of the best players in college football through his recruiting? Why hate such a great person that has single-handedly kept the Springdale Holiday Inn in business? Why do we still despise Houston Nutt?

I'll answer these questions with a listing of affectionate nicknames that I have gathered from other Houston fans:

Hooter Dale

Springdale Holiday Inn Platinum Member

AT&T Unlimited Texting Member

Used Car Salesman

The Coach That Was Fired

The Dork

The QB Killa

How Bout that Play, Chuck

Murray State Mafia
Option Left, Option Left, Option Right, Punt
dive, dive, pass to peyton hillis in the flats, punt.

mcfadden, mcfadden, incomplete, punt.

sack, sack, draw, punt.

off tackle, off tackle, 8 yard route when we need 10 yards, punt

Smoke Screen

Third and Long

Just So Close

National Title Under Construction

The Lucky Rollercoaster

The Man Who Sat on a Semi-functional Lucky Horseshoe
Not One to Bragg
Head Cheerleader
Pass the Buck
D-Bragg

A lot of it boils down to "what could have been." Let's ask ourselves what Bobby Petrino could have done with Felix Jones and Darren McFadden in his backfield. 'Nuff said. Yes, HDN had some great recruits, but given the quality of certain recruits, it was heart-wrenching to see that talent wasted so many times by horrible play calling, general game management and in general blaming other people for his mistakes failures and taking credit for successes.

Another reason we really, really dislike Hooter Dale is due to the way he left us. I will compare it to a bad breakup with a hot girl that you dated for ten years. You guys were up and down and every time you thought you'd be happy as ever, that hoodrat cheats on you! Then she makes it up to you and does something amazing (like beating Texas) and everything is good again and those thoughts of breaking it off with her are long gone. Repeat up and down at least 4 times a year (season.) When you finally reach the end of the relationship, that hoodrat breaks up with you (the nerve!) right before you could break it off. Then she starts dating your slightly uglier and less intelligent (I call it the Oxford for stupid people) best friend. Now you have to see your ex and your ex best friend all the time. The worst part is that your ex-best friend is falling for the exact same up and down that you were put through for your entire relationship! Alack and alas! The Houston Nutt Show is still on air, only in a different geographic area.

Please comment about your favorite HDN nickname and please feel free to add new ones.

Live, Local, Latebreaking,

The Springdale Holiday Inn

48 Hours and Counting

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Currently, we are a little less than 48 hours from game time in the Ozarks, where the Auburn Tigers will try to improve their perfect season to an impressive 6-0 against the Arkansas Razorbacks who sit at 2-2. This may seem like a no brainer win for the Tigers, but their previous five wins have come against a weak notch Big East squad, two no names, and two of the worst teams in the SEC (sorry Tennessee, you still suck, even with $5m + coaching staff). This matchup leads us to an interesting crossroads for two teams and their very young 2009 seasons.

Scenario 1: If Auburn wins, they are already bowl eligible, and head into the Kentucky game looking to secure their 7th win. They then get the heart of the SEC (LSU, Ole Miss - sort of, Georgia, and Alabama). Their season could end 8-4 or 11-1.

Scenario 2: The Razorbacks give Auburn their first true test of the season, and the explosive Tigers running game gets shut down by a much improved Arkansas defense. The Hogs win will give them a ton of confidence going into the Swamp, where a post LSU letdown will leave the Florida Tebows vulnerable to an upset (see Ole Miss 2008). The Hogs would likely end their season 7-5 or 8-4, and a New Years day bowl would be a possibility.

So now that we've documented what's on the line, it's time to go over what we should expect from the game on Saturday.

• Gus Malzahn will still be loved by the Razorback faithful. He will enter Fayetteville looking to avenge his loss last year while coaching Tulsa, and will manage to make all Hog fans happy by either losing, or by getting our hopes up that his prolific offense will some day lead our team into SEC battle. Gus is a great coach and a class act, and everyone will recognize this fact by the end of the game
• Traffic will be bitched about by everyone that has the unfortunate task of driving into Fayetteville for the 11am game. Exits will be backed up for miles, and the Fayetteville and Springdale Police departments will do nothing to alleviate the problem that will leave the stadium half empty until the beginning of the second quarter
• Ryan Mallett will get his chance to shine at home against another unproven defense. If he is given enough time, he'll get his fair share of opportunities to exploit the Auburn D, and barring our receivers having a bad hands day, should have very efficient (note: not prolific) passing numbers
• The Running Backs will finally get the game they've been looking for. Texas A&M was not a good team, and by the end of the game the offense had worn them down. This allowed for a solid 62 yard TD at the end of the game which might have been what the offense has been looking for all season. In order to truly prove themselves, they're going to have to be able to get that 2 yard touchdown run they've been missing
• The Defense will likely get torn to pieces. While I do believe the Jerry Franklin TD runback against A&M was the turning point in the defensive season, they're still not there yet. Look for the running defense to be truly tested, and if they don't respond, look for the secondary to be tested just as much. It might be a very long day for these guys However, if they carry over some of what they had while playing in the Death Star, they might be the heroes of the game
• If you're watching on TV, expect to see the gayest commercial in the SEC on at least 200 times. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, it's the one where someone is fishing on a boat in Alaska, and a plane lands on the water with the Auburn Tiger tail flying off of the back of it. The jackass flying right into the middle of the guys fishing spot leans out of the plane and yells "WAR EAGLE," and the fisherman responds in kind. This commercial is so stupid it hurts my head to think that a marketing degree at Auburn might actually be worth the paper it's written on
• Arkansas fans will cheer whenever they hear the score of the Alabama v. Ole Miss game. While Houston Nutt may have avoided a loss at Vanderbilt (congrats on that one!), there is no way he defends his home turf against arguably the best team in the nation. Hootie is on the record as saying that if the Rebels make it to the 4th quarter they'll be good. Guess what guys, Jevan Snead is going to show off that Heisman arm and throw 2 picks... in the first quarter. Not only will they not make it to the fourth quarter, they likely won't make it to halftime before it's a blowout. Have fun Ole Miss, you're really going to enjoy that new coach of yours
• People will have a tough time rooting for anyone in the night game. Nobody likes Florida, and everyone hates LSU. It's a lesser of two evil situations, and either way, rednecks in some white trash city will be celebrating after the game is over. The only question is if they'll smell like corndogs or not

I'm sure there is plenty more that will transpire during what will be a perfect weekend in God's Country. Other highlights might include Orange Peel jell-o shots at a tailgate in the pit (http://bit.ly/1NQIXn), people celebrating on Dickson with a post game pub crawl, a pint at the pub and some pub bowling, and undoubtedly a few drinks at Razorbelle's favorite bar with a Big Ass Fan.

Enjoy the weekend Hog fans. And remember, nothing is better than a game day on The Hill.

GO HOGS!