It is totally football time, ya’ll. Football time, I says. With as much activity that has gone on in the past nine months, it’s finally about to culminate in the form of a good, ole’ fashioned, football game. This weekend pits the Razorbacks from Arkansas versus the Leathernecks from Western Illinois.

Starting today, and for the rest of the season, we here at the Flyer will be predicting each game’s outcome. Additionally, we’ll have a running tally each week of how said contributor is doing. Let us know your prediction in the comments and the person closest will definitely win something. Something really cool. Probably. So just do it.

How does this week look, gang?

JTrain says: The helmet car drops from the sky and flies through the uprights landing on the field while simultaneously popping a wheelie. As far as the game goes — We’re a little sloppy but still pull it off.
Arkansas 31, Western Illinois 17

Ted Dancin’ says: The first half is a mess because instead of painting the new giant logo at midfield, they got the work orders wrong and actually embossed it. This makes for a few sprained ankles but eventually the Hogs adjust. Western Illinois, however, does not.
Arkansas 28, Western Illinois 10

Squidge says: We will win, but it’ll be close. Scary close. Wipe-your-brow-hog-fans close.
Arkansas 21, Western Illinois 17

Dern L. says: Petrino is topless by the middle of the 3rd quarter. Dick surprises, shows he can throw the ball when put in a system more complementary to his skill set.
Arkansas 45, Western Illinois 13

sg says: nt outside and there was soap and trash everywhere! BMXracer420 says: wtf sg says: beats the hell outta me BMXracer420 says: lame
Arkansas 49, Western Illinois 21

the Steve says: Ted Dancin’, drunk as usual, puts the moves on Dern’s old lady. Dern karate punches Ted’s nads.
Arkansas 66, Western Illinois 28

Have the high gas prices kept you from taking that big road trip to Vegas you were planning on taking this summer? If you said “yes,” rest assured that you’re not alone. Road trips, and not just the ones to Las Vegas, have been on the decline as those stupid gas prices have risen. There is some good news, however: You see, even though you might not be able to travel far and wide on your vacation this summer, there are plenty of excellent destination spots right here in the Natural state

So, just where exactly in Arkansas should you go? I mean, if you’ve lived in Arkansas for any amount of time, then you’ve probably been to all the major places of interest: NWA, Little Rock and Hot Springs. Besides the obvious cities, there are plenty of places that would make for a great vacation in Arkansas. You just need the right person to fill you on the lesser-known or often overlooked spots. Well, my friend, It just so happens that Dema-zette travel columnist, Jennifer Nixon, will be lecturing tonight on the top travel destinations in Arkansas… and I imagine she’ll surprise you on some of her recommendations.

So, if you’re scratching your head trying to figure out where to go on a last-minute summer vacation, it might be a good idea to head up to the Fayetteville Public Library tonight at 6 for Jennifer Nixon’s lecture.

Who knows, you might come across a great place for your vacay.

Vegas can wait.

Last week, Playboy magazine released it’s annual top 50 poll, and if you like the Arkansas Razorbacks (And boobs. Naked ones) you’ll love this year’s predictions.

After being picked last in the SEC West by the media during SEC Media Days, and generally getting hated on by most of the national media most of the time (especially by the Tim Tebow network, ESPN), it’s pretty crazy to consider Playboy chose the Razorbacks 19th in the nation in their preseason poll.

That, and while most national sportswriters are choosing the Razorbacks to go 5-7, 6-6, or 7-5, Playboy thinks the new Bobby Petrino led team can go 8-4.

So, these guys are crazy, right? They let the Girls Next Door make the predictions maybe? Looking at the other predictions, they don’t seem that crazy. The top 5 are:

1. Oklahoma (12-0)
2. Ohio State (11-1)
3. Florida (11-1)
4. Missouri (11-1)
5. USC (11-1)

The only thing far fetched about that is that USC could be 11-1 with the same recored as Ohio State, Florida, and Missouri, and the national media would finish them below those teams. Otherwise, I could see it.

What do you guys think of Playboy’s rankings?

Remember way back when ESPN was spouting all sorts of hate in the direction of Arkansas? Boy, we here at the Flyer sure do. It’s not an every day occurrence when you get to say the number one sports network was talking crap on your team. But, when you’re an Arkansas Razorback fan, you COULD almost make that claim.

With last week’s SEC Media Days in the books, it seemed like we (and by “we,” I mean Bobby P.) were out of the water in terms of media scrutiny. But now that I’ve been closely following ESPN’s SEC blog, I really feel that we haven’t even scratched the surface of their (their being that of Chris Low) bias towards us.

Ever since the afore-mentioned SEC Media Days, there has been ONE blog post dedicated to Arkansas — and that was to just show clips of Bobby P. talking to ESPN. Every other team had a dedicated blog entry talking about their upcoming season and players. Ours was a video that was half-filled with Petrino having to answer questions about his stint in the NFL. The only other pseudo-blog entry was again filled with NFL questions. Nice reporting, Low.

The rest of the time we get to read more of the same about Alabama, Tebow and Fulmer. We’ve been mentioned here and there — fantasy sleepers, who was the latest Hog to get arrested, etc. — but overall, ESPN is neglecting us.

I think one of the latest blog posts really tells the tale. Apparently, Alabama is the SEC’s most hated team. Who knew? But Low doesn’t stop there, he goes on to rank the rest of the SEC’s most hated teams. Coming in at number 10 (out of 12) is Arkansas. Here’s what Low has to say:

10. Arkansas: Let’s just hope we never have to hear Bobby Petrino calling the Hogs again. But, really, is Arkansas even in the SEC, or is it the Southwest Conference?

Is Arkansas even in the SEC? What the hell does that mean? We’ve been in the SEC for over 10 years now and I might say that we’ve fared MUCH better than some of the long-standing teams since then. We may not be hated like some of the more successful teams, but insinuating that we should be in the Southwest Conference is insulting.

Again, what does that even mean? We’re not in the same class as the other SEC teams? Have we not won a national title in basketball (see 1994). Did we not beat the college football champion on their home field (see 2007)? Have we not dominated the Track and Field circuit for the past umpteen years (see last three decades)? Do I need to go on?

THE SOUTHWEST CONFERENCE DOESN’T EVEN EXIST ANYMORE!!! I guess that’s the joke, right? Hilarious. Well, if Low doesn’t remember, the SWC had teams like Texas, Texas Tech and Texas A&M in it (who are all now in the Big 12). And if I remember correctly, we were trading blows with them back in the day pretty evenly. And let’s not even get into why Arkansas would be a better fit in the Big 12.

I suppose I find it hard to believe that Arkansas gets such a bad rep when Houston Nutt is crapping flowers in Ole Miss. It’s almost as if the media loves to hate us and everyone else (especially Tebow and Nick Saban) can do no wrong.

It’s getting old, Low. It’s getting really old. How about trying to report something worthwhile for a change? Oh, and if you readers feel like I do, why don’t you drop Chris a line and tell him what you think.

Being that we are in the middle of fucking nowhere here in Fayetteville, we don’t see a lot of “cultural” activities pass through, unless you count the upcoming performance by The Charlie Daniel’s Band as a “cultural event.” (Sorry, I don’t.) Even more difficult to come by, however, are “literary” events, unless you’re a fan of the completely obscure and boring crap that the MFA department brings in a few times each semester. (In which case, why are you even reading this? You should probably be double-checking the comma usage in your latest submission to The Iowa Review–because, you know, the success of your manuscript, and thus, your entire writing career, really hinges on how effectively you use commas in a boring-ass story about how traumatic your tenth birthday party was.)

Well, believe it or not, we are actually being privileged a bona fide literary event this weekend. And trust me, it will be well worth the entry fee of zero US dollars.

On Saturday night, author John Brandon will be reading from his debut novel, Arkansas, which was recently published by McSweeney’s. Now, you might be thinking, “McSweeney’s? Like that website where they have lists with absurd names like “How Important Moments in My Life Would Have Been Different if I Was Shot Twice in the Stomach at Close Range?” Well, yes, technically. But no. While they do operate a silly website, in addition, McSweeney’s also runs a totally bitchin’ publishing business.

It should be noted that I haven’t actually read the book yet, but it’s been getting lots of positive reviews, and I’m definitely excited to get my hands on a copy. I mean, who wouldn’t be excited about reading a book described thusly:

Arkansas is a biting first novel full of wet T-shirt contests, illicit drugs, and cross-country road trips. There are the days: the dappled grounds, the aimless yardwork, the hours in the booth giving directions to families in SUVs. And then there are the nights: crisscrossing the South with illicit goods, the shifty deals in dingy trailers, the vague orders from a boss they’ve never met. Before Kyle and Swin can recognize how close to paradise they are in this neglected state park in southern Arkansas, the lazy peace is shattered with a shot. Night blends into day. Dead bodies. Crooked superiors. Suspicious associates. It’s on-the-job training, with no time for slow learning, bad judgment, or foul luck.

The reading begins at Nightbird Books on Saturday night at 7:00. A reception will follow. This event is part of the Nightbird Books’ Two Year Anniversary Party, so go out and help celebrate and support the blessed rarity that is a successful locally-owned bookstore! Really awesome literary events like this are few and far between around here, so if you’re a fan of books about Arkansas, or the state of Arkansas in general, or books with wet t-shirt contests in them, or existential crime-thrillers, or even just perhaps really pretty bookstores with a lot of cute birds in them, then you shouldn’t miss this reading.

It never fails; Every time I find myself North of the Arkansas border on a Sunday buying the ever-important “Sunday beer” from Macadoodles I pick up a few lottery tickets when I’m checking out. Why not? Maybe I’ll hit the big time. Odds are I just padded some other lucky soul’s pocket and I won’t get any of my money back but, I have a good time checking the numbers and imagining what I’d do were I to hit the jackpot. For me, it’s all good fun.

Once again, an initiative to create an Arkansas state lottery is in the works. This time the initiative is being spearheaded by none other than the state’s #2 official, Lieutenant Governor Bill Halter. Halter, using his significant political weight, is pushing the creation of a state lottery as a way for the state to help fund college scholarships which would be awarded to students at two and four year colleges or vocational schools. According to Halter, the lottery is simply a “funding mechanism” to be used to educate more Arkansans which will lead to a better-trained and more effective workforce in the state. In addition, Halter estimates that a state lottery would bring in $100 million annually, all of which would be earmarked and used towards funding the scholarships and teacher bonuses. Not a small sum of money. He points out that many Arkansans are currently playing the lottery; they’re just driving across the state line to buy tickets from our neighboring states, thus funding other states educational programs.

Efforts in the past (1996 & 2000) to create a state lottery have made it onto the ballot but failed to pass the general vote. The largest difference between the previous two proposals and the current one is the removal of anything regarding casinos. But will removing casinos from the proposal be enough to sway the general public? Larry Page, executive director of the Arkansas Faith and Ethics Council, hopes not. In an essay on gambling, Page wrote that “The lottery can be described as the most insidious form of gambling.” I don’t know about you, but it sounds like he’s not a fan. I’m guessing he’s never won at his church’s bingo night and he’s just bitter. Those blue-haired ladies are awfully bingo savvy, you know.

As always, the religious right (which, in Arkansas, translates to “Southern Baptists”) are at the forefront of the battle against gambling. They claim that the lottery prays on the poor and the uneducated, taking more of what little money they had to begin with. I find it interesting that these folks only seem to care about the poor when it suits their interests. Aren’t these the same folks that could care less about funding welfare, medicaid and universal healthcare? But I digress…

Anyway, there are lots of arguments, both pro and con, and on both sides of the argument, for creating an Arkansas state lottery. As expected, religious groups, especially here in the bible belt, are opposed to any form of legalized gambling while the rest of us could either care less or simply wouldn’t mind being able to pick up a lotto ticket or two when they gas up their car.

The question is: Will this year’s proposal make it to the ballot? And, if so, will the good people of Arkansas vote in favor or against? Traditionally, and especially in the past, I’d say “No,” it won’t pass general election. However, with the large amount of interest from young, more liberal voters this Presidential election season, I’d say that it stands a very good chance of becoming a reality. But who knows for sure?

So, what do you think about creating a state lottery? And while we’re at it, why not start selling beer on Sunday? That drive to Macadoodles sucks.

n

Did you hear what happened to the Aggie hockey team? They drowned at Spring Training.

And with that, let the Aggie jokes resume.

That’s right, ya’ll. As of October 3, 2009, an old rivalry will begin a new 10-year tradition as the Hogs and Aggies take the field at the brand new Jerry Jones Stadium in Dallas. “It will be the place to be,” said Arkansas AD Jeff Long. Hell yeah it will.

It’s about time we swap out one of our cupcake games for a real match up. And if 10 years isn’t long enough, there’s an option to add five more four-year extensions. In other words, some of our staff’s unborn children’s unborn children could be learning Aggie jokes just like we did.

Hats off to everyone involved in this one. Hell yeah!

For many Arkansas fans, Bobby Petrino is the anti Houston Nutt.

Nutt was the rah-rah guy, the motivator, the emotional leader. Petrino has been characterized as more of a business man. An emotionless workaholic.

Nutt, in his ten years as head coach at Arkansas relied heavily on the run. Petrino figures to return the Razorbacks to a balanced offense, with a heavy emphasis on the passing game.

But the difference that is going to be exciting to many Arkansas fans is this: 5 star quarterbacks transfer away from Houston Nutt’s programs. Today, Bobby Petrino got one back.

Sources today are reporting that Texarkana native, and former Michigan quarterback Ryan Mallett will enroll at Arkansas, this coming just hours from the announcement that both star running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones will declare themselves eligible for the NFL draft. Mallett was highly regarded coming out of Texas high school, the #2 ranked quarterback in his class, and the #4 player overall. He started three games at Michigan this year before deciding to transfer after the retirement of his head coach Lloyd Carr, and the hiring of Rich Rodgriguez from West Virginia.

Is this a sign of things to come for Arkansas fans? Arkansas already has commitments from instate quarterbacks Jim Youngblood from Camden, AR, and Tyler Wilson from Greenwood. Now with Mallett on board, it stands to reason that the stud wide receivers will be next to fall in line. Due to NCAA rules, Mallett will have to sit out a year before playing at Arkansas, but will be eligible in 2009.

One thing is for sure. It’s a new era in Arkansas athletics. Out with the old, in with the new.

As strange as it seems, it’s pretty obvious lately that ESPN hates Arkansas. The way that Tim Tebow was heralded as Jesus II in the weeks leading up to the Heisman when everyone in America knows that Darren McFadden is the best player in college football. The way the coaching opening at Arkansas was portrayed while the search was going on, and more recently, the Bobby Petrino bashing all make it pretty clear that those assholes hate us. Not that I care what those east coast biased, Pac-10 loving wiener heads think. After seeing the way Arkansas has been portrayed in the national media lately, it is refreshing to see that at least this guy gets it. I know this is old news, but I am so glad to finally see an article that gives Bobby Petrino’s side of the story in his split with the Atlanta Falcons, and takes ESPN to task for their blatant bashing and obvious one-sided, biased “journalism”.

Will Gilbert- I don’t know who you are, but you said basically everything I’ve been thinking. The bottom line is this; coaches leave schools all the time. Yes, Bobby Petrino in in his third coaching job in three years, but that’s because he took one really bad job, and had to get out of it. He did what just about anyone would do. He took an opportunity to get out of a bad situation. He hated Atlanta. His family hated Atlanta. He left. End of story. Mr. Gilbert gets it. You rule, buddy.