Bruce James had worked the room to check on his 1969 teammates, then found two old sportswriters in a back corner visiting with Robert Dew.
Dew, nicknamed “Possum,” was providing an analysis of the Arkansas football team, an assessment made from his home in Boston. Dew said he stayed engaged just enough with recruiting to know if it was good or otherwise.
“I can tell you what is wrong right now, the talent is below the rest of the SEC,” Dew said.
Dew then revealed his recruiting gauging system to several gathered last week at the 50-year reunion for the 1969 Arkansas team. James, the former All-America end, quickly said, “You nailed it.”
Dew looks at the confirmed offers for the new Arkansas players each year. He wants to know if they beat SEC teams or lower-tiered teams.
“If we beat New Mexico State for a player, then that’s who we can beat on the field,” Dew said. “If they are recruiting against Louisiana Tech and North Texas, then that’s the ability of the team.
“That’s why I think this staff under Chad Morris has a chance. The offers of the players he has signed and is recruiting are SEC players. A lot more of his new players were recruited by the teams we are trying to beat in the SEC. That’s the only way you are going to get better.
“You want to beat those SEC teams, recruit the same players.”
It’s simple stuff, the same sort of analysis that got Dew through Harvard Business School with an MBA. That followed his degree from Arkansas after his playing career was cut short by a concussion in the 1970 Stanford game.
The Warren product lettered behind Terry Stewart at cornerback on the 1969 defense as a true sophomore. He also was the outside gunner on the kickoff team, but there were few plays to be made.
“Bill McClard, our All-America kicker, put it out of the end zone every time,” Dew said. “All we got to do was run down the field.”
Dew did provide some entertainment along with teammate Richard Coleman.
“Richard and I had a race to see who could touch the goal posts first,” Dew said. “Our teammates bet on it. That really wasn’t too smart. I was fast and Richard was slow as molasses.”
That’s probably not a stretch. The 1969 media guide lists Dew’s speed as 9.9 in the 100-yard dash (and that he was an Eagle Scout as a high school standout as the Warren quarterback).
There was entertainment on one kickoff when coaches decided to let McClard kick from the right hash and aim for the left corner.
“We were going to see if we could pin them inside the 20-yard line,” Dew said. “I was the outside man on the right. What I didn’t realize was that Bill was being targeted by the other team on kickoffs. They’d send a man after him.”
With the move to the right hash, Dew was the next man to the kicker. It’s not a legal formation now, but it was then.
“I just was going to put my head down and run as fast as I could,” Dew said. “The man going for Bill saw that and decided to get me instead. I never saw him. He put his face mask right in my chest.”
The game tape on Sunday proved to be fun for everyone else, especially defensive coordinator Charley Coffey.
“Coach Coffey put on the film and the first thing we saw was me running out of the picture,” Dew said. “I outran the film guy. Then, here I came backward back into view, me going the other way.
“Coach Coffey said it was the funniest thing he ever saw, but all he kept saying: Is little Bobby Dew still alive?”
There was no mention of concussion then, but concussion is what got Dew to start the next season — twice in three days.
Dew earned the starting cornerback position in spring and August camp, but there was an awful collision with teammate Gus Rusher on a deep ball over the middle in practices ahead of the Stanford game, set for national TV in War Memorial Stadium.
“That was on a Thursday,” Dew said. “I woke up on the training table after practice.”
But he played for three quarters against Stanford before a whiplash-type hit got him again.
“I was going in for a tackle and my foot slipped,” Dew said. “Our shoulders hit and my head whipped back. I was groggy after that and never went back in.”
Things got worse after the game. He was in no condition to leave by bus to the Little Rock airport for the return trip to Fayetteville.
“I was in bad shape and I couldn’t get on the plane to come home,” Dew said. “They eventually took me by ambulance to Tulsa.”
Two days of tests told doctors what they needed to know.
“The doctor in Tulsa told me I’d never play again,” Dew said. “In those days, they didn’t know as much about concussions. He said two concussions inside of 48 hours was too much and that probably saved my life. He said if he found out I did try to play again, he would make a major issue out of it.”
Things got worse before they got better.
“I got back to campus and tried to go to class,” he said. “I fell down a flight of steps at Old Main. I had to withdraw from school and return to Warren. I stayed in a dark bedroom for three weeks.”
Dew returned to school in the spring and finished his accounting degree on time. Then, he took a job coaching at Warren High School. That lasted one year before he did what he told everyone he’d do after getting his UA diploma.
“I always had plans of going back to graduate school,” he said. “I applied to several of the top business schools.”
There were lots of positive replies, but Harvard was an easy pick.
“I had always made good grades,” he said. “And, I did at Harvard, too.”
Eventually, Harvard made him a Baker’s Scholar, reserved for the top 5 percent in each class. He met his wife, Marci, at Harvard. She was a classmate from New York. Both have been successful in business.
Dew has worked with CEOs as a consultant for several years. Sometimes what he learned playing for Frank Broyles came into play.
“I told the top man at Conagra he was making a mistake for blocking an exit by his No. 2 man,” Dew said. “I explained to him that Coach Broyles always encouraged his top assistants to take head coaching jobs and helped them.
“That guy thought I was crazy for comparing him to a football coach, but I told him that the way to get better executives was to help them in their career moves. If you don’t, people are never going to want to work for you. I convinced him it was a mistake.”
Broyles did have great assistants.
“It was a treat this weekend to be around some of those who coached me, like Merv Johnson and Harold Horton,” Dew said. “Those were really good coaches, but they were better people. They helped mentor me and teach me life lessons. You couldn’t have been around better people as an 18-year-old coming out of small-town Arkansas.
“In Coach Broyles, I saw great leadership management style. Everyone always says you learn things from football, but I saw things that worked in business. He was one of the first head coach, CEO types. He hired great people and delegated.”
As far as Harvard, Dew said it wasn’t so tough.
“I didn’t think it was because I just did the same things that I’d done at Arkansas as a player and student,” he said. “You prepare each day for class or practice and then it’s easy.
“You might hear that IQ is important, but being better prepared than the other students each day in class is what is important. Preparation is the key. You can outwork your competition. I know we like to measure society in IQ and the other students might have been higher in IQ, but I outworked them.”
To excel at Harvard and in business wasn’t his dream.
“No, I grew up dreaming of playing football for the Razorbacks,” Dew said. “That’s all I wanted as a kid in Warren.”
The dream was realized, then snapped away in what seemed like an instant.
Former Arkansas football player Robert Dew is shown during a game between the Razorbacks and Auburn on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, in Fayetteville. Dew was one of several members of Arkansas' 1969 football team to be recognized on the field. (Photo by Ben Goff)
“It was depressing at first,” he said. “Slowly, you turn the page.
“I had dreamed to be a starter at Arkansas and after I achieved it, it was gone in three quarters.”
As he stood on the field last Saturday as the 1969 team was honored, Dew did take pride that he’d achieved his dreams.
“Standing there, I realized that I’d been blessed to have gotten a chance to play, even in a small role, with that 1969 team,” he said. “I played in every game, a lot sometimes because we’d be so far ahead.
“What I took from the reunion was that we had a lot of contributions from a lot of different players. The totality of the contributions was what made that 1969 team great.
“Now, we had some great players, but we also got contributions from lots of players who did not have great ability.”
Some performed at a high level because of great effort and intellect.
“I think (monster man) Bobby Field and (nose tackle) Rick Kersey are examples of that,” Dew said. “Bobby was slow and couldn’t jump, but he was a very good player. He was always in the right spots. Rick Kersey was also small, but he was smart and tough. You look at them and say, ‘Bobby and Rick were both helluva good players.’
“Then, you have to remember that our coaches put us in great schemes and we were so well coached as far as technique. They maxed our abilities. That group of coaches was so smart and so were the players on that team.”
The reunion was a reminder of that.
“Just seeing those guys, what stands out is that it was a great group of guys; smart guys who would become successful in all areas,” Dew said. “So the reunion brought back such great memories.
“And, standing on the field I also had the feeling that what I’d gone through playing for the Razorbacks was very valuable. It taught me what’s important, that you can handle disappointment.”
That could be the loss to Texas in The Big Shootout, or the idea that a dream was shattered in two plays.
Dew enjoys regular trips to Arkansas. He bounces around the state to play golf with old buddies from his Warren days, or to fly fish with his UA roommate, Louis Campbell. And, he tries to follow the Razorbacks.
“I might be back every few months to check on family and friends,” he said. “I guess that’s one of the reasons I can stay objective. I’m not around (games) all the time.”
Objectively, Dew’s system of recruiting analysis doesn’t paint a pretty picture of what will happen this week in Tuscaloosa, Ala. That’s our cue to settle into the keys to victory.
Turnovers
The recipe for an upset always centers on turnovers. South Carolina got some help with an upset at Georgia two weeks ago. Quarterback Jake Fromm earned his stripes for the Bulldogs with antiseptic play, but three interceptions fueled the Gamecocks.
Obviously, Alabama can roll if it just plays close to form. The Tide has a wealth of top talent, winning the recruiting battles Dew likes to follow. The Tide didn’t just beat Arkansas for their players. They go against the nation’s best and win.
Getting help can come in many ways. Having to go with a backup quarterback, redshirt sophomore Mac Jones, could help the Hogs. But, it’s not like he’s a no talent. Jones was a four-star recruit, chased by other top schools. That goes back to the Dew system of figuring outcomes: the best players generally win.
And, the ones with the best players often have the best turnover ratio. Alabama leads the SEC with only five lost turnovers. That ranks sixth best in the nation.
The Backup Plan
No one expects Jones to play poorly. The Jacksonville, Fla., product has drawn rave reviews from his teammates this week. He’s got the arm strength and is a decent runner. He’s just not Tua Tagovailoa.
In fact, he’s not close to Tagovailoa. That has to be a lucky break for the Hogs.
That’s not exactly the message Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis delivered to the media Monday. He said Jones has a great arsenal of wide receivers and a competent line and running backs.
Chavis said Alabama was the best offense he had ever faced last year in Fayetteville. Jones should do just fine.
“They’re not going completely change their scheme,” Chavis said. “They’re going to let him do what he does well. The thing of it is there’s not enough tape out there to know exactly what that is. But I’m sure they’ve been running the same plays in practice and I think he can (play), obviously. He’s at Alabama and he’s the backup because he’s a good player.”
Youth Movement
Everyone knows the Razorbacks have turned to a youth movement under Morris. Freshmen are playing on both sides of the ball.
But Alabama is playing almost as many. The Crimson Tide have used 20 freshmen so far this season from what some think is Nick Saban’s best class. It’s most noticeable on defense.
Four true freshmen start in the front seven, led by linebackers Shane Lee (44 tackles) and Christian Harris (34 tackles). Both are fast and unusually developed for young players. Lee is 6-0, 244 pounds. Harris is 6-2, 244.
Morris knows that playing youngsters is tough and that makes it doubly impressive what the Tide have done this year in retooling the defense.
On Harris, Morris said, “He’s dynamic and all over the field. It’s impressive to watch them defensively. They definitely are young, but they’re playing extremely well.”
O-Line
This space details offensive line play each week. There’s no more important piece to the puzzle in the ultimate team game. Football games are decided by O-line play in most situations.
More than likely, Arkansas will have yet another new starting combination in the offensive line this week.
Left guard Austin Capps is out after sustaining a concussion against Auburn. Left tackle Colton Jackson, the most experienced of the group, is questionable with a back injury. Both are seniors.
Myron Cunningham, junior transfer, is expected to take Jackson’s spot at left tackle. He’s started five games at either right guard or left tackle this season.
Sophomore Kirby Adcock will likely start at left guard. He took over there when Capps was injured last week.
The main job this week is to account for Alabama outside linebacker/end Anfernee Jennings. The quick 6-3, 259-pounder has four sacks and 44 tackles. He’s a typical Tide lineman, no doubt destined to play on the next level.
On the other side, Alabama starts four juniors and one true freshman on the offensive line. Saban criticized the Tide for a lack of a running game early in the year, but the play calling just didn’t feature much running because the pass was so easy with Tagovailoa and his wonderful cast of receivers.
This will probably be the week that Alabama turns to that big offensive line and takes aim at the lack of size and experience at end in the Arkansas defensive line.
Left guard Evan Neal, the lone freshman starter in the Tide O-line, is a massive man at 6-7, 360. He will probably move to left tackle at some point in his career and play in the NFL.
Protection
This is an extension of the last key, but it’s so important it gets a solo spot. The Hogs want to be balanced on offense, but there just has not been enough protection for the quarterbacks in key situations.
The red zone troubles are directly related to the lack of protection. If the Hogs are to have a chance at pulling an upset, the first thing they have to do is protect the quarterback.
Ben Hicks told coaches after last week’s loss to Auburn that he felt like he’d been hit by a car. Told that later, center Ty Clary was troubled.
“I mean, it just makes us feel lousy,” Clary said Tuesday night when he met with the media after practice.
“I hate it a lot. I hate giving up hits more than anything else. I gave up one in the game, and I was kicking myself for it the whole game.”
Hicks came to the interview room after the game with an ice pack on his left shoulder. He was slowed in practice Tuesday, but should play against Alabama.
Man-to-Man Coverage
The Chavis defense hinges on man-to-man coverage at cornerback. In fact, that’s what Saban’s defense at Alabama features.
Interestingly, Saban takes a personal hand in training the Alabama corners. Tight, physical coverage on the outside allows Saban to call creative blitzes. He’ll bring safeties and the weakside linebacker in exotic blitzes that often hit home.
The problem in this game is that Alabama’s receivers devour man-to-man coverage. And they are trained in practice against the SEC’s best corners. So when the opposition plays press coverage, they are likely seeing something far less than they’ve seen in practice and beat it easily.
Can the Hogs cover Jerry Jeudy, DeVonta Smith and Henry Ruggs? That does not look like a good matchup for cornerbacks Montaric Brown, Jarques McClellion and nickel back Greg Brooks. All in that Alabama trio are juniors and likely to be drafted after this season. The good news is that this will be the last time the Hogs see them, but it might be a painful look.
The Last Time
This is a combo segment. It’s a reminder of how painful last year’s game was for the Arkansas defense. Alabama dominated, 65-31, with 639 total yards on just 59 snaps. Tagovailoa completed 10 of 13 passes for 334 yards and four touchdowns.
But, the Hogs also moved the ball. With a nice package of misdirection runs and passing, Arkansas totaled 405 total yards. Rakeem Boyd averaged 6.8 yards per rush on the way to 102 yards. Ty Storey completed 25 of 39 passes for 230 yards.
The last time the Hogs beat Alabama was in 2006, a double-overtime game in Fayetteville. Houston Nutt was the Arkansas coach. Saban took over at Alabama the next year and is 12-0 against the Hogs in that role.
The Hogs have beaten Saban, just not at Alabama. The last time Saban lost to the Hogs was in 2002, 21-20. The Hogs also beat Saban’s first LSU team in 2000, 14-3.
Tight Ends
Senior Cheyenne O’Grady is tied with Jeremy Sprinkle for the most touchdown catches by an Arkansas tight end with 11. Sprinkle set the record in 2013-16 and O’Grady tied it with a 45-yard TD catch against Auburn.
O’Grady has been the top pass catcher for the Hogs this season. He leads the team with 29 catches for 359 yards, but has scored only two touchdowns. He faced double coverage for most of the Auburn game.
Auburn tackled O’Grady on one screen play to prevent the big Fayetteville product from getting out of the backfield. Alabama has used that trick, too.
The Alabama tight end is formidable, too. Miller Forristall has 10 catches for 103 yards and three touchdowns. Alabama just does not throw to him much with so much talent at wide receiver.
The Ground Game
The running game wasn’t featured early, but has been front and center over the last two games. Najee Harris has 95 carries for 556 yards and most of it has come in the last two games against Texas A&M and Tennessee.
Harris made 114 yards on 20 carries against A&M. He hit a season high with 21 carries for 105 yards last week against Tennessee, most of that after Jones entered at quarterback.
The Tide may not be quite as deep as recent years at running back, but backup Brian Robinson is solid with 289 yards on 63 carries. He has four TDs, with Harris scoring three times. Both are bruising runners, probably more so than the Hogs have seen of late.
Can the Hogs get anything going in their running game? Boyd has 656 yards on 119 carries. He’s scored five TDs. He’s battled a left shoulder injury since early in the Kentucky game.
Punt Returns
This area of special teams is Alabama’s strength. Backup wide receiver Jaylen Waddle is a dangerous punt returner. He has 302 yards on 14 returns, an average of 21.6 yards.
Arkansas true freshman Treylon Burks has developed into a nice punt return specialist. He has 10 returns for 113 yards, an average of 11.3. He had big returns to set up points against Texas A&M and Kentucky.
First, the Hogs have to force a few more punts. Auburn had to punt only twice last week and neither was returnable.