Hog Calls

Plain old Bobby keeps it in perspective

Fayetteville High's Austin Allen shakes hands with his father Bobby Allen after signing his letter of intent to play football at the University of Arkansas during the official signing ceremony Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at Fayetteville High School.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Wearing the pants in the family led to a spousal kick in the pants, Bobby Allen confessed.

Having been employed 18 years by the University of Arkansas, coaching defense under Houston Nutt, Bobby Petrino and John L. Smith from 1998 to 2012 and working under Bret Bielema since 2013 as director of high school and NFL relations, Allen addressed the Northside Rotary meeting Tuesday at Mermaid's Restaurant in Fayetteville.

"This time of year we go to work in shorts," Allen said. "So when I was getting dressed this morning my wife [Marcela] said, 'How come you are putting on pants?' I said, 'I am speaking at Rotary.'

'She said, 'Don't try to be witty. Don't try to be charming. Don't try to be intelligent. Just be yourself.' "

Well, Mrs. Allen, starting with you providing the punchline guffawed at by the married in attendance, your husband actually proved witty, charming and intelligent just being himself.

Allen has enough accomplishments he could have talked for hours.

At Arkansas he variously coached every defensive position, coordinated the defense for Nutt's 1999 team in its 27-6 Cotton Bowl victory over Texas and recruited an array of All-SEC Razorbacks that included running backs Fred Talley and Felix Jones and linebacker Caleb Miller.

Allen also recruited linebacker Martrell Spaight, last year's leading tackler in the SEC who is now in the NFL.

None of that was discussed Tuesday.

Beyond addressing Bielema's goals for this team and its recent academic success, it was all in the family. Allen likely knew he would be taking questions as the father of Arkansas senior starting quarterback Brandon Allen and sophomore backup quarterback Austin Allen.

How do the brothers get along?

"They are like cats and dogs," Allen said to laughter. "They get after each other pretty good. It doesn't matter whether if we were playing marbles in the back yard, one would want to beat the other. But I will say this, they are very supportive of one another."

They needed to be.

Arkansas fell on hard times, 4-8 and 3-9, during Brandon's first active years. Some message board posters and talk show callers brutally blamed it all on him. Even last year's 7-6 improvement didn't suffice for some who continued to rip Brandon.

How does Bobby Allen deal with insults directed toward his offspring?

To laughter, he covered his ears.

"It's the nature of the business," Allen said. "They have got to understand that people are entitled to their opinion. At times it seems personal, but it's all part of it."

Of course, as a veteran coach Allen knows that. Still, he talked to a couple of Arkansas quarterbacks before his time at Arkansas: Quinn Grovey (1986-90), the Razorbacks' radio sideline reporter, and Barry Lunney Jr. (1992-1995), who is starting his third year as Arkansas' tight ends coach.

"Quinn Grovey said, 'I had the same thing when I played," Allen said. "I talked to Barry Lunney and he had the same thing when he played. It's no different here in Fayetteville than it would be in Tuscaloosa or any place else."

Sports on 08/05/2015