LIKE IT IS : Cupcakes good for team, not for McFadden

WALLY HALL

Posted on Wednesday, October 3, 2007

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/adg/203214/

While playing North Texas and Tennessee-Chattanooga back to back is not exciting for the fans, it is most likely good for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

In all honesty, it is like two dress rehearsals, and after losing to Alabama and Kentucky on consecutive weekends, some formal scrimmaging was much needed.

Of course, the Razorbacks could play the Sisters of Mercy in the Rock and there would be a great turnout for the country’s largest family reunion, which happens twice a year on War Memorial Golf Course.

The question, though, is what do games like these do to Darren McFadden’s Heisman Trophy hopes ?

Honestly, they cannot help him.

Saturday’s effort of 138 yards in the first half did not hurt Mc-Fadden.

The best he can hope for this Saturday is another game that doesn’t hurt.

If he runs for 300 yards on 20 carries, voters are going to know it was against a team that plays in what is now called the Football Championship Subdivision but is still commonly referred to as Division I-AA.

Another way to say that is, Arkansas is taking a major step down in the level of competition (Tennessee-Chattanooga is not going to be confused with Appalachian State ).

If McFadden doesn’t have a game better than he did against North Texas, then it could hurt.

Obviously, when this schedule was made, no one dreamed Mc-Fadden would be the Heisman favorite.

And through four games, he’s done nothing to hurt his chances.

Yes, there may be some looking for a reason to not vote for him, but he hasn’t given it to them.

In fact, he’s off to a much better start than last year, when he started the season injured.

After four games last year, he had rushed for 409 yards. This year he has 657, or 248 more yards.

Amazingly, Felix Jones has 247 more yards than he did at this point last season.

McFadden is on course to rush for 1, 968 yards. He needs only ™ more to set the school career rushing record.

Jones is on track to rush for 1, 518 yards, which would have been a school single-season record before McFadden set the record last season with 1, 647 yards.

Yes, the Hogs are one-dimensional in their offense, but they are the best at what they do in the country. McFadden’s and Jones ’ ability to score at any time keeps them from being totally predictable.

Jones’ statistics actually help McFadden’s chances at winning the Heisman because he is getting some of the touches and voters know that.

What might have helped Mc-Fadden more in these two games is if he were being taught to not make helmet-to-helmet contact every time he runs up the middle.

After this Saturday, other than Florida International, the defenders the Hogs face are going to be bigger, stronger and faster.

Besides, when McFadden the millionaire is running for money, he won’t want to go helmet-to-helmet anymore.

What would really help Mc-Fadden win football’s most coveted award would be to show more of his versatility, especially in November, which is like a ratings period for the voters.

They like a strong finish.

It might not be a bad idea if, for the final four games, McFadden gave up a few carries up the middle and lined up as a wideout.

For sure the Hogs still need help at that position, and anyone who has ever seen McFadden in practice knows he has the hands, speed and cutting ability to be a great receiver.

Of the past seven Heisman winners, six were quarterbacks, but Reggie Bush won it by rushing for 1, 740 yards and amassing 2, 611 all-purpose yards.

McFadden is on pace for 2, 544 all-purpose yards, and if his receiving yards go up, he could top Bush in both critical categories.

Of course, the most important thing for McFadden is that the Hogs reach their No. 1 goal and win.

He also needs to get by this lower-tiered team without hurting his chances.