Here are selected comments posted to the message boards at WholeHogSports.com:
On the in-game experience at Reynolds Razorback Stadium…
Jhawg: They never let the band play any fight songs or let the cheerleaders cheer and get the fans fired up. It was like watching TV with endless promotions and advertisements.
Lone Star Hog: I say more band, more cheers, more cool music and technology on the video boards.
LDHog: My wife stood in line the entire 2nd quarter and part of halftime to get us badly needed water. My first visit to RRS in about six years. The horrible performance of the Hogs was bad enough, but the experience was really bad.
Army Hog: Any time the Hogs get beat the experience stinks. Put Tusk on the O-line.
lilhawg: My only negative relates to concessions. Lines way too long …
Thoughts on the TCU game …
Swine Fusion: This was not good. No sugarcoating it. Having said that, it was not as bad as Auburn last year. Defense was infinitely better, for one thing.
Hogmodo: Actually, the defense is one nose tackle away from being OK, not great, but tons better than last year.
WizardofhOgZ: I really don’t know where we are right now. Usually, I have a better feel than I do at this moment. Yes, I predicted us to lose to TCU by 11 points. Having said that, there was a pretty big variance in the way I thought the game would go.
SoArkHog: Not sure there is a quick fix. Certainly don’t believe that we well be much improved (for the next game).
Reactions to the special uniforms Arkansas will wear against Texas A&M to honor Dallas Cowboys owner and UA alumnus Jerry Jones …
Swine Fusion: I like the (silver) helmets (with a silver hog outlined in red) better than white. Or anthracite.
BaumbasticHawg: Maybe. But you won’t be able to see that hog from any distance.
Gonavy: Well, it is the 11 a.m. game, so not many people are going to see it anyway. Best way to honor Jerry Jones is to win the game.
ELVISHOG: I am not a traditionalist and I do not like the Cowboys. However, I love these (uniforms). Put them in the regular rotation, I say.
eaglehog5: I wish they had honored (Jones) by wearing the uniform he wore as a Razorback.
Superhawgfan: Love these uni’s. Best we’ve had as alternates. But it does remind me a little of Ohio State.
Kenhog: Those pants (silver with red and white stripes) and white shirts with the red helmet for road games in the SEC. Yeah, baby!
HogQ: I think these are pretty sweet. More importantly, my 15-year-old loves them. We have to keep in mind what younger people like as well.
Docestes: Looks a lot like the 49ers, as well. But I like ‘em.
Neastarkie: They are the Ohio State uniforms. Virtually no difference. Maybe we should honor Ken Hatfield and Terry Don Phillips by wearing Clemson’s uniforms when we play Alabama.
Nlr buzzard: They look “Oh How I Hate Ohio State-y” to me. So I have to overcome a bit of a gag reflex. But since it’s a one-off thing and we need something to change the juju on this series, why not?
Comments on short-yardage situations on the goal-line …
Swine Fusion: I have read some NFL analysts who say the best way to convert those pesky third-and-1’s is to run a misdirection play; direct runs are more likely to get stuffed … but I can’t recall whether we tend to go straight ahead or use misdirection. One thing I have noticed is that we don’t have backs dive over the top. That was a Bill Burnett specialty nearly 50 years ago.
ClarenceTrice: … and Bobby Burnett before him.
Dudley Dawson: I’m also a big fan of throwing on first down when you have not shown the ability to punch it in.
Swine Fusion: Yup. Misdirection also helps here; fake one way, bootleg the other and hopefully throw to a wide open tight end who hasn’t run out of the back of the ends zone.
Score predictions for Saturday’s game against Texas A&M …
JJhog18: 28-17 Hogs!
Superhawgfan: I won’t post a score, but I thing the Hogs win big. Our backs are against the wall. Our defense is better. They don’t have a quarterback. We do.
eaglehog5: Sceered of the underachieving Aggie talent. They wake up, take it out on us. A&M 35, Hogs 21.
BBBigChop: I can see how each of these predictions might be true. Arkansas has had TAMU dead to rights twice in the last three seasons, but couldn’t finish it. And it seems like teams always have their “epiphany” games against us. Heart = Hogs by two TD’s. Head = Hogs find a way to lose … again.
JakeHog33: 31-21 Pigs. Just sheer odds should dictate we one of these, right?
Jhawg: A&M has a more talented squad than we do, but we have a better quarterback which will help reduce the Aggie advantage. Coaches are about the same, both beleaguered. The Jerry Jones uni’s give us the edge: Arkansas 24, A&M 23.
Madxbayhog: 38-13 Aggies. I saw nothing in the TCU game that led me to think our staff fixed many issues over the offseason. Why should I believe they were fixed in the last two weeks?
Razorback339: 41-28 Hogs.
Colorado Hog: Texas A&M 31, Hogs 6. A&M has an O-line and Hogs have only a center. We have a poor defensive front so they do not even need a QB. Direct snap and run ahead for 5-10 yards each play.
lilhawg: This one’s a head scratcher. Both teams desperate, both fan bases eager for a win … Hogs tend to beat teams that don’t have a proven QB, therefore, I’m going with the Hogs to prevail, 24-20.
ClarenceTrice: In this series, we have become an Aggie joke. Aggies 31, Hogs 14.
Hawginator: Texas A&M 34, Arkansas 24. The Aggies have more talent and more desperation than we do. Plus they just seem to have our number in Arlington.
LDHog: Hogs 27, Aggies 7. Why not?
Brianatkinson: Aggies 35, Hogs 21. It is a close game but they pull away as we are unable to stop the run.
ELVISHOG: I think we lose, but we look good in the uniforms. TAM 28, Ark. 7
Razorwill: Special teams are our Waterloo. Aggies 31, Hogs 21. Hope I am wrong.
White25: TAMU 7-6. The curse continues.
Arlingtonhog: 28-10, Hogs.
Jimbeau77: Well, without any explanation or over-zealous optimism — well, maybe just a little of the latter — Hogs 27, A&M 24.