It's been 34 years since David Johnson has gone through two-a-days as an Arkansas Razorback, but the former fullback from Hope has never forgotten the heat, sweat and hard work that built the Hogs into a team but also drained the players dry.

" I still remember being out on that practice field and looking south and thinking of my hometown, Hope, " Johnson said Thursday morning. " I remember walking off that field and telling [former Razorbacks quarterback ] Scott Bull that I'd do just about anything for a slice of one them Hope watermelons. "

Hope is known for not only being former President Bill Clinton's hometown but also for producing the world's largest watermelons for its annual festival held each year during the second week in August.

For the past 13 years, Johnson has brought a slice of Hope - in fact several hundred slices - to the Razorbacks by trucking scores of the juicy watermelons 293 miles from Hope to the UA campus.

Johnson and several helpers set up tables and began slicing up the melons during the Razorbacks' morning workout so the Razorbacks could grab a slice or a quarter of a melon as they walked from the practice field to their locker room.

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The smiles on the players' faces were nearly as wide as the melon quarters they scooped up.

" We all look forward to watermelon day, " said senior Reggie Fish as he grabbed a slice.

Johnson had the idea for establishing the new tradition and called up his old coach Frank Broyles in 1995 to get the OK.

" Coach Broyles gave it his OK right on the phone and connected me with Harold Horton and we set it up with Danny Ford, " Johnson said. " Coach Ford liked the idea and the watermelon. "

Coincidentally, the Razorbacks won the first of four Southeastern Conference Western Division titles that season.

The tradition carried on during Houston Nut's 10-year tenure as head coach and Johnson said he never thought of backing away from the tradition with last December's change in coaching staffs.

" Harold Horton introduced me to Coach [Bobby ] Petrino at a Razorback Club meeting this spring, and I told him about the melons and he said bring them on. And that's what we did. "

Johnson and Petrino shared a short conversation after practice.

Johnson said Hudson Foods provides the transportation for the melons.

" What's important is that these kids know we support them, " Johnson said. " Their smiles make it worth while. It's just a little way for me to give back to the UA and the football program. "