Flyers predict Hogs’ 2009/10 football season

Awww, hell naw. It’s THAT time already? It must be because Coach Bobby Petrino and the Arkansas Razorbacks are on the field and thick in the middle of two-a-days. I think that every Hog fan is ready for Bobby P’s second season as head coach. Surely it’ll be a more exciting season than last year, but no one is sure that we’re completely out of the woods yet. A tough SEC schedule could wreak havok on our season, but without having seen a game yet, I think our team is headed in the right direction.

So let’s make some predictions, shall we?

The Fayetteville Flyer’s BOLD Predictions for the 2009/2010 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Season

1. Last year was clearly a rebuilding year for the Hogs. Does it continue this year?

• sg: We’re getting more in tune with Petrino’s system. We’ll see glimpses of what it will become, but with this year’s schedule, we still need more depth for SEC competition. So yes, still rebuilding a little.
• Dustin: We’re still rebuilding a little. I’d say we’re halfway rebuilt, though.
• Todd: Yes and no. Yes in that we will be building. No in that we’ll be building football robots that can beat any team.
• Jonathan: We’re definitely not in the situation we were last year, but we still have a lot of young, albeit talented, players on the field. I don’t think I’d classify it as a rebuilding year, but we still have some work ahead of us.
• Trip: No. We’re not in the rebuilding phase anymore, more like the sanding, painting and picking out tile phase.
• Bret: Yes, in that they haven’t reached the full potential this program will see. But the Hogs will be worlds better than last year.

2. Predict each game’s outcome:

Game Notes:

• Missouri State — “They might have changed their name, but Missouri State (formerly Southwest Missouri State) is still a directional school.” — Bret
• Georgia — “It sure will be fun to watch Moreno and Stafford NOT play against us anymore.” — sg
• Alabama — “If we don’t win the SEC this year, I’m gonna go coach in the Pros again. PSYYYYYYYYYCHE!!!” — Nick Saban (not really)
• Texas A&M — “On the way to the stadium, Aggie bus driver sees a sign that says ‘Cowboys Stadium Left’ so he turns around and takes the team back to College Station. Hogs win by forfeit.” — Bret
• Auburn — “Reggie Fish scores four touchdowns and records a ‘I Ball’ remix on the field as a celebration. Hogs disqualified.” — sg
• Florida — “I’m scared of pro football!” — Tim Tebow (not really)
• Ole Miss — “Blah blah, fired up, blah blah, step it up, blah blah, I wish I could still eat at Hugo’s. Go Hogs!” — Houston Nutt (not really)
• Eastern Michigan — “We’re f’ed.” — Entire Eastern Michigan team (not really)
• South Carolina — “Hogs beat up on Spurrier’s Gamecocks. Freshmen in the student section think their “Cocks” jokes are clever and original. They aren’t, but they are still hilarious.” — Dustin
• Troy — “Troy wonders why they keep putting us on their schedule. Then they remember how much money they get, and decide it’s cool.” — Dustin
• Mississippi State — *clap* *jump* *bang head on goal posts* *act like crying* *pretend to be dead* — Bully the mascot (not really)
• LSU — “I told the team that the best way to train for winning the Golden Boot is to drink beer out of boots, like in ‘Beerfest.’ Boy, was I wrong.” — Ryan Mallett (not really)

3. Is Arkansas Bowling this year? If so, where and who is the opponent?

• sg: Yeah. Independence Bowl vs. Nebraska.
• Dustin: Yup. Cotton Bowl vs. Missouri.
• Todd: Yes. Chick-Fil-A.
• Jonathan: This is tough… and I don’t want to jinx them, so… no bowl game for the hogs. I hope I’m wrong.
• Trip: Yes, probably at Ozark Lanes, unless they want to go to Springdale.
• Bret: Yes. 8-4 would get us in the Cotton Bowl for our second trip to Dallas this season, where we’ll play Oklahoma State or TCU.

4. Aside from playing AT Florida, AT Ole Miss and AT LSU, what will be the Hogs’ toughest game this year?

• sg: At Alabama. No question. If it weren’t for Florida, ‘Bama would be the best in the SEC.
• Dustin: At Alabama. Those guys are gonna be tough this year. I expect them to win the West.
• Todd: At Alabama.
• Jonathan: Alabama.
• Trip: Easy, at Alabama. Just because Ole Miss pulled one out of no where, don’t forget that Bama is probably the best team in the West.
• Bret: South Carolina, it’s a long, hard season. The Hogs will be coming off two tough road games and a cupcake at home.

5. Bobby Petrino — Real deal, real steal, or really gone soon?

• sg: Real Deal. I just hope he sticks around long enough to prove the ney-sayers.
• Dustin: Bobby’s the real deal. And I think he stays around for no less than 5 years because A. He likes it here, B. He likes coaching in College, and C. He’ll never live it down if he stays anywhere else for less than 4-5 years.
• Todd: Real Awesome.
• Jonathan:I think he’ll be here a while… maybe not 10 years, but a while.
• Trip: It’s too soon to tell but my gut says Real Deal.
• Bret: Real deal. If for no other reason than he has no other place to go. NFL teams won’t touch him, and there’s no better job than coaching it he SEC. Why would he leave?

6a. Arkansas’ Offensive MVP for the year?

• sg: Michael Smith, if he stays healthy. DJ Williams, if Smith goes down early in the season.
• Dustin: Michael Smith
• Todd: DJ Williams
• Jonathan: I want to see Ryan Mallett tear it up. He has my vote.
• Trip: Michael Smith
• Bret: Michael Smith. New depth at the running back position takes some weight off his shoulders keeping him fresh, injury free.

6b. Arkansas’ Defensive MVP for the year?

• sg: Malcolm Sheppard has to step up.
• Dustin: Wendel Davis
• Todd: Malcolm Sheppard
• Jonathan: This is where my lack of time to read up on the ’09 Hogs FB team shows. I have no idea who to pick here. Sorey.
• Trip: Elton Ford
• Bret: Isaac Maddison. New depth and competition in the defensive backfield takes the Razorback defense to the proverbial “n’other level” Maddison will be the standout.

6c. Arkansas’ newcomer of the year?

• sg: I want to say Darius Winston, but he’ll get torched a few times. I’ll go with Ryan Mallett.
• Dustin: David Gordon
• Todd: Darius Winston
• Jonathan: See 6b. Again, sorey.
• Trip: Ryan Mallett
• Bret: Ronnie Wingo

7. Arkansas’ offense — avg number of points scored per game?

• sg: 28
• Dustin: 36
• Todd: 17
• Jonathan: 19
• Trip: 21
• Bret: 35

8. Predict Ryan Mallett’s season numbers: Number of TDs, INTs, Total Yards and Incidents on Dickson St.

• sg: 25 TDs, 9 INTs, 2800 yards, and NO incidents.
• Dustin: 28 TDs, 18 INTs, 2900 yards, and 0 incidents on Dickson. He’s learned his lesson.
• Todd: I don’t know what a good average is. Just put 100 or something. Incidents on Dickson St. = 0.
• Jonathan: 15 TDs, 10
  INTs, 1901
  Total Yards, 2 incidents (one involves a cool magic trick that goes really wrong).
• Trip: About a thousand.
• Bret: 23TDs, 11 INTs, 2400 yards, 1 MIP

9. Tejada = good kicker again?

• sg: You betcha.
• Dustin: Tejada’s back. Bigtime.
• Todd: Yes.
• Jonathan: I really freaking hope so.
• Trip: Tejeda = head case.
• Bret: Hope so.

10. Reggie Fish rap?

• sg: Hell, why not?
• Dustin: Not bad, but the other guy rapping is definitely better. Reggie should stick to catching passes returning punts hiding in the backfield for trick plays.
• Todd: Removed by YouTube.
• Jonathan: Ryan Mallett raggae?
• Trip: No thanks. Once is enough.
• Bret: He’s no Kool Moe Dee.

So there they are. The Flyer’s predictions for the upcoming season. Should be an exciting one, no matter what happens. What are your predictions?