News of former Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones' felonious arrest for possession of cocaine early Thursday morning hit the streets of Fayetteville without much of a reprieve.

By the time most in the know awakened, the phone calls began. By 7 a.m. the cell phone was ringing and the news of Jones' arrest stung my eardrum in disbelief.

Cocaine ?

The thought, " I'm sure, " flowed from the lips of thousands of others in the state and in Florida. The laid back Jones, whose college locks and demeanor reminded many of the character Sunshine in " Remember the Titans, " never seemed to be the coke type.

But, also, let's be clear - police have not said that Jones was using the 6 grams of cocaine he identified to police. Yes, he was seen cutting the cocaine with a credit card when police approached, but nowhere in the police report do we find evidence of such drug use or urinalysis proving there was cocaine in his system.

To say he was using, at this point in time, would be an unfair assumption.

But it certainly doesn't look good.

There was always the speculation in his college days that Jones' laid-back personality directly correlated to a man who was smoking grass. But those assumptions, also, were never fair to the Fort Smith native.

Today, the two nations of Matt Jones World differ in opinion.

Razorback Nation sees Jones as a football demigod, having set SEC and school records with relative, easy striding ease. The newscasts and fan reaction in Fayetteville on Thursday was all over the spectrum but most fans, and even a broadcaster or two in theoretically objective newscasts, wished Jones an awakening, recovery and second chance.

Obviously the flood of a 2002 SEC West Championship, 2003 upset of Texas, a seven-overtime victories over Ole Miss and Kentucky, his SEC record for rushing yards by a quarterback (2, 535 yards ) and UA records for touchdowns (77 ) and total offense (8, 392 ) in his career is still fresh on the minds of those in Arkansas.

Arkansans are enthusiastic in that regard. And, generally, Razorback fans and Arkansas residents are nicer than they have to be sometimes to their brethren.

The reason ? Nostalgia.

Across the map, Jaguar Nation sees Jones as a football flop. Entering his fourth season with Jacksonville in the NFL, the 6-foot-6, quarterback-turned-wide receiver has yet to prove himself worthy of his first-round selection in the 2004 draft.

He caught 101 passes for 1, 075 yards and 13 touchdowns in his three seasons with the Jaguars. Last season, however, was his worst with just 317 yards and 4 touchdowns.

He was in danger of being cut from the Jaguars after training camp in August and a quick glimpse on the Jaguars. com message boards showed that many fans viewed the possession of cocaine arrest as the needed excuse to get rid of the player who coaches and fans saw as nonchalant, uncaring and disrespectful of his opportunity in the pro ranks.

His easy-going qualities and fan frustrations ring true in Arkansas, too. Fans could never understand or grasp the long-legged, freegoing player's attitude at Arkansas from 2001-04.

And with the losses came ridicule. But with the wins, his legend grew.

The stories of Jones' UA tenure range far and wide. Former Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, perhaps, had the best of the bunch.

With time running out on the Hogs' season and SEC Championship Game hopes in 2002, Nutt tried to get the attention of his quarterback. Leaning back on the bench as the Hogs had one last shot in the season-ending game against LSU with 35 seconds remaining in War Memorial Stadium, Jones whistled with the wind. He acted as if nothing was going on, seemingly thinking of other things as 55, 000 fans' heartbeats raced.

Jones turned to Nutt and said, nonchalantly, " I've got it. "

Seconds later, Jones drove Arkansas 81 yards down the field and tossed a miracle pass to DeCori Birmingham to secure an SEC Championship berth.

The legend grew. Records were broken.

But Thursday night, the legend was shaken, smeared and ripped from the fans who adored him in Arkansas. Jones' permanent record is probably the only record associated with the athlete on any Arkansas fan's mind today.

But in Arkansas, they love their own - whether they're successful, bruised, battered or flawed in public perception.

Arkansans love President Bill Clinton despite his sex scandals. They love John Daly despite his shirtless golf outings, history of alcoholism and several divorces.

And the same people who branded Matt as their hero and savior for four years at the UA - the same fans, children and adults who Jones may have taken for granted - may just be the ones who save him, forgive him and provide a second chance.

It's going to take a lot of work by Jones and an attitude adjustment to re-open some hearts in the Natural State. An apology to all his fans would be a good first step as the Jaguars and NFL sit and wait to decide his professional fate.

And if Jones does get a second chance in the NFL, either with the Jags or another team, he should take it as a welcomed opportunity, a blessing and perhaps a time in his life for a great comeback story.

If his almost improbable on-the-field antics in college are any hint, his betterment, rebound and life adjustment can happen.

He can overcome his stereotypes, but it may not happen in Jacksonville.

It might not happen in Dallas, Philadelphia, New York or anywhere in the NFL. In fact, it might not matter what the Jags decide roster-wise or what the NFL rules on a suspension. Maybe Jones' has had enough of football and can move on to something else he can feel passionate about.

Luckily for Jones, Arkansas is a forgiving land.

Brandon Marcello is a sports writer for the Northwest Arkansas Times and regularly updates The Slophouse, a blog covering the Razorbacks at www.wholehogsports.com.