Selected comments from Arkansas fans on the message boards at WholeHogSports.com:
Arkansas fans celebrate it’s first win in seven weeks after Saturday’s 23-0 victory over Tulsa
youdaman: Great job defense, and very good job of just eliminating any chance of mistakes on offense. Good job by everyone.
Jimbeau77: Yes, the team still has that grit. Good for them to get the W.
BoreHog: That last drive was over 70 yards and took an amazing 8-plus minutes!
McKinneyHog: Great win and great feeling for the players, coaches and fans. It feels so good. One-game winning streak! Let’s make it two against Vandy!
Swine Fusion: An SEC win for this team would be huge. Big difference between 3-9/1-7 and 2-10/0-8. Bret Bielema never got out of the pit he dug by starting 0-13 in the SEC.
On quarterback Connor Noland’s performance in his first career start
HoldenHogfield: I thought of youdaman (during the game). He’s been screaming for Connor to play and he’s been screaming for slant passes. So Connor starts and his first down field pass is a slant to the wrong team. I just chuckled thinking of youdaman’s face. Luckily we played well enough, even with all the injuries, to win the game. And let’s hope we all get to see Connor throw lots more slants for lots more yards and lots more wins.
youdaman: LOL. Definitely wasn’t the start he wanted for sure, but they knew he would be nervous and they sent the house. He rushed it a bit, but proud of how he settled down.
Army Hog: The young Noland was very calm in his post game press conference. He talked about watching the Hogs his whole life and wanting to be a Hog. Those are the in-state kids we need on the hill.
eaglehog5: Does Noland play this week if Ty Storey stays healthy?
doghog72: No, I don’t think so. Offense is much better with Storey. Noland needs to redshirt and develop IMO.
nlr buzzard: Noland could still play two more games this year and not lose the redshirt. I think there will probably be some opportunity to get him in the game for a few series two of these last four, unless Storey and the big fella go on a real tear down the stretch. If Storey gets hurt again, Noland would be the presumptive starter. I think the game situation dictates what happens this week. Winning the game is important with a bye week coming up and a chance to have a good November. So while Vandy is the weakest of the last four opponents, it probably is going to take Storey being on the field for almost every possession to have a chance to win.
Remembering a Tulsa game in Fayetteville that didn’t go as well
Colorado Hog: When that score kept hanging around 20-0, how many of you thought of that horrible day (in 1971) when we had the same score on them late with Joe Ferguson at quarterback and we lost, 21-20? It was there for me. Of course, that Tulsa team had a much better offense, but we were also ranked in the top 10 at the time. That was a bad, bad day. Oh, yes, the following year, we won by, yep, 21-20.
Southpaw: After Tulsa missed its second field goal, I remembered the time Steve Cox (while playing for Tulsa) made three field goals and beat us, 9-3. Of course, Steve Little graduated following that season and Cox transferred to UA.
pghawg1: I thought about the same thing. That 9-3 game was in 1976, I believe. Isn’t that the last time they beat us?
TJD63: Yes.
Swine Fusion: I tried to forget that game in 1971. Thanks a lot!
Jimbeau77: I remember the 21-20 loss and was there for the 9-3 loss. I always came in second place in the Pass, Punt and Kick program competing against Steve Cox back in our younger days. He and I were teammates in PeeWee Football and Pony League baseball until he moved the Charleston.
Predictions for today’s game against Vanderbilt
Jimbeau77: I think our defense got some much needed confidence in the shut out last week. We throw even more pressure against the Vandy offense. We install more offense as well. Hogs 33, Vandy 24.
MountainHawg: I’m not convinced Vandy has a better offense than Tulsa, but they do have a decent quarterback. Our offense will come up with some creative ways to get Rakeem Boyd the ball. Hawgs 31, Anchors 13.
GeneralHog: 17-16, Arkansas.
SDHog: 24-21, Hogs.
LDHog: Hogs 24, Vandy 7, Boyd runs wild.
eaglehog5: Hogs 23, Mo ‘Dores 21.
dbhog: Hogs 23, ‘Dores 10.
Neastarkie: I’m back to drinking the Kool-Aid. Arkansas 31, Vandy 28.
BobgHawg: I think it will be a close game. But I do not think it will be a high-scoring game. So Hogs, 17-14, but I would not bet on us winning.
Hogbacker: I feel the same way. This is a toss-up game and whoever has the least turnovers comes out a winner in a nail-biter. I want to believe we win because of our steady improvements. Hogs 24, Vandy 21.
bakedhog19741: Vandy 24, Arkansas 21. Like most, I expect this to be a close game, but this isn’t the Vanderbilt of year’s past. They’ve played some very good teams very close.
JacksonReid: Vandy is just a little bit better. 24-20, ‘Dores.
swinebeforepearls: Hogs take home the bacon in a nail-biter, 21-17.
white25: Arkansas 8, Vandy 7. Two in a row for the team in the red/white helmets.
HoldenHogfield: I have no idea how either team will play. Lots of injuries, not much depth. Both teams play hard. Both have nice tailbacks and decent QBs and both QBs have been injured. Both have decent defenses and decent special teams. We are at home, but I think they are the better team. So can I say whoever wins the turnover/no special teams gaffes is the winner? OK, total wild guess, ‘Dores 28, Hogs 20. To clarify, I have no idea.
LongTimeHog: Vandy 21, Arkansas 10.
Razorwill: Vandy is very physical from their games I’ve watched. Hope our guys match their physicality. They run the ball well, use their tight end effectively (shades of ‘Bama and Ole Miss) and will throw some deep balls. I think our offense can outscore theirs but just barely. Arkansas 27, Vandy 23.
Hogsrus: 24-17, Hogs.
youdaman: Vandy 24-20. Sad to say but I believe they’re are just more physical than we are.
Georgia Hawg: They have very good running back who will be back for this game. He may be one of the best backs we see this year. Our run defense is good enough to slow him down and hopefully force a few turnovers. Storey and Boyd stay healthy the entire game and we get on a roll offensively. If we can score 31 points on ‘Bama then we can sure score that many on the ‘Dores. Arkansas 34, Vandy 13.