Don’t you just love nicknames?
How about Wayne “Thumper” Harris, perhaps the best linebacker in Arkansas football history? He was a two-time All-American in 1959-60 and later was a dominant player in the Canadian Football League.
It’s doubtful that he picked his own nickname, but he loved it and lived up to it with his play.
The one exception to picking your own nickname has to be college bands. Yes, it’s common to reference them simply as its done at Arkansas — the Razorback Marching Band.
But it’s OK if someone in the band or music department comes up with something else, as they have at the UA: The Best in Sight and Sound.
I’ve heard that during halftime announcements for years. It’s a cool nickname.
But get ready for another good nickname when the Arkansas-Pine Bluff unit takes the field at War Memorial Stadium in what is sure to be a fun halftime performance Saturday.
UAPB features the Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South.
The UAPB students have shortened that to M4, a pretty cool nickname. And, it’s a cool band that has marched before a president, performed at NFL games and generally show out each time. Expect a big, solid sound.
This space is usually reserved for the scouting report for the game, but not this week. There are too many differences between the divisions of football, starting with the number of scholarships. The rosters are just not similar.
Instead, as early as last week my thoughts on the bands seemed more important, especially when I began a thorough scouting of the UAPB’s 350-piece outfit. I was sent a YouTube video of its complete halftime performance from earlier this season.
I was a bit surprised when I learned they called themselves M4, because I thought M5 was a better fit. As the band streamed onto the field, the band’s “voice” introduced the Magnificent Marching Musical Machine of the Mid-South.
M4, or M5, will be a perfect complement for the Best in Sight and Sound. And, as I watched the video, my need for further research was heightened.
Ben Lorenzo, the director of the Razorback Marching Band since 2015, was delighted to reveal that not only will both bands perform, but the halftime will conclude with a “massed” performance of Michael Jackson’s 1983 hit “Beat It.”
Collaborations aren’t easy to plan, so this is a major development and should be applauded as the sister bands won’t have a chance to practice before the 11 a.m. kickoff.
It’s tough enough for the Razorback band to just get to the stadium in time for the game. They will bring 400 marchers in seven busses, leaving campus at 3 a.m.
“We are really excited, but it’s a real ambitious performance,” Lorenzo said. “There has been a lot of planning and a lot of work to go into this type of a collaboration. We want the work to pay off for our students and the fans.”
The bands are similar, but different, Lorenzo said. They have the same numbers and probably the same instrumentation groupings.
“I am very familiar with the bands from the Historically Black Colleges (HBCUs) and they are fantastic with a rich history,” Lorenzo said. “They probably have a lot more emphasis on the visual and choreography and we emphasize more precision marching.
“What I’ll say is that they do is a marching style, but it’s just as much dance. They have a large band and they play very well.”
Lorenzo, who holds two degrees from Texas, has background with the Texas Tech and Oklahoma State bands.
“Every university has its own traditions and style as far the band,” he said. “We have ours, but the fun thing about bands is that there are no rivalries. It is rare for a band to be anything but friendly with another school’s band.
“It is great fun to watch another band perform. Unfortunately, for this game, we won’t get to watch (M4) because we are going to be busy getting ready to perform or to perform with them. I do know they will have an incredible program.”
Lorenzo said there are a few differences in the way the bands are constructed.
“We have a few different percussion instruments than they do,” he said. “It’s just a different sound. We have a frontal ensemble – with marimbas — maybe a 15-member section they don’t have. It’s a minor difference.
“The traditional color guard is a bit different, too….They have more of a dance unit than we do.”
Fans should know it took much planning to pull off the halftime show.
“We started working on this as soon as the game was announced last year,” he said. “The details of the logistics began in the spring, as far as the travel plans. But we do this a lot. It’s a way of band life.”
It didn’t take long for the two band leaders to decide to play together to end the performance.
“We came up with a theme. October is breast cancer awareness month, and then we thought of covid-vaccine awareness,” Lorenzo said. “(The song) ‘Beat It’ seemed perfect.”
There should be no argument. It’s all among friends.
Now here are 10 keys to the game on either side of halftime.
Focus
Obviously, I’m not helping with my lead commentary on the bands, not the game. I’ll take the blame if focus is missing for this game.
Arkansas should win the game. The only time the Hogs have ever lost to a team from the FCS level came in 1992 when The Citadel came to Fayetteville to end Jack Crowe’s time as coach with a 10-3 victory.
This should not be close. In the last 10 years, the Golden Lions have lost their five games against FBS teams — to Arkansas State (twice), TCU, Texas State and Akron — by an average score of 53-5.
The predictions indicate another rout is expected.
So the obvious key is for the Hogs to remain focused. That’s not easy to do when you are the heavy favorite.
Containment
Quarterback Skyler Perry is the most dangerous of the Golden Lions. He’s an adept scrambler. He’s a lefty and that might throw off the Hogs. The last starting southpaw quarterback was Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa in 2018.
Perry isn’t Tua, but he’s the kind of quarterback who sometimes gives the Hogs trouble with his impromptu play. The Lions hurt you most when plays break down. He’s a veteran. This is his third season to start.
The SWAC played a spring season because of fall cancellations because of the pandemic. Perry was second team All-SWAC.
So the second key would have to be containment of Perry. He’s the kind of quarterback that all defensive coordinators fear. His strengths are his speed and elusiveness and not so much his passing. He’s thrown for only two TDs through the first six games.
The Crowd
It’s not easy to get energy for a 11 a.m. kickoff.
If anyone knows how to do it by now, it’s the Arkansas fan base. They have been starting at 11 a.m. for the past month.
It’s been said that War Memorial is terrific at night, not so good in the morning. That’s probably true for most places.
The best way to produce energy in the stands is to do something exciting on the field. So it may be on the Hogs to get the crowd started with solid play on the field.
Backups
There are few times when backups might get more time than starters, but this is one game that might happen.
Quarterback Malik Hornsby, exciting when he runs, might get a chance to display his passing skills, somewhat lacking when he’s played so far. Hopefully, he polished that part of his game in practice this week.
This should be a good week to get starter KJ Jefferson some rest after taking too many hits the last few weeks.
It will be interesting if third quarterback gets action and who it might be. Some think John Stephen Jones is third. Others suspect it will be Kade Renfro. This might be when we find out.
The offensive line hasn’t had much depth. In fact, it appears the backup for almost every position on the line is fifth-year senior Ty Clary. He’s got a bad back and probably needs some rest like most, but he’s been playing at right tackle for injured starter Dalton Wagner.
This is the week Jalen St. John and Ty’kieast Crawford get some time. Both have worked at both guard and tackle, more at guard of late. Can they get some meaningful snaps this week and give O-line coach Cody Kennedy more options down the stretch?
Big Plays
Who gets them? UAPB does have a big-play receiver in Josh Wilkes. Aside from the opener, he’s been a big factor in every game this season for the Golden Lions. He averaged 60 yards per game through the first six weeks.
Wilkes caught at least one touchdown in all five of UAPB’s spring games. He’s had TD catches of 82 and 35 this season.
Special Teams
If there is a place where the Lions expect to make plays, it’s on special teams. They have blocked four punts this season, scoring twice. The Hogs have had two punts blocked this season and three last year.
The Golden Lions have returned kickoffs for over 60 yards three times this season. If Vito Calvaruso doesn’t put them in the end zone, the Hogs may have their hands full getting down the return specialists, something they haven’t seen this season.
Conversely, this may be the week the defense gets some stops and forces more punts. It could be the week to try someone aside Nathan Parodi at punt return. He’s usually a safe option and catches the punts he can see (and that’s a reference to last week when he lost a punt in the sun).
Clean Machine
The way you knock out an outmanned opponent is to play clean. The Hog have been up and down as far as penalties. The goal this week has to be to play clean.
As much as anything, pre-snap penalties should be eliminated. The Hogs should be able to run the ball and that should provide a clean pocket on play-action passes if and when they do throw some.
If the Hogs throw, they should have a speed advantage at the skill positions on offense and have open receivers. There is a belief that tight ends Blake Kern, Hudson Henry and Trey Knox should be open if the Lions are forced to focus on stopping the run. Those tight ends must play clean and take advantage of their targets, perhaps up this week.
First Down
The Hogs had a tough time running the ball on first down when they got the lead in the third quarter last week against Auburn. They made 17 yards on nine first-down runs in that quarter. This is the week those numbers should flip.
The running backs might have a big day. Perhaps it’s a chance to rest Trelon Smith, beat up with a toe injury in preseason. He’s close to full speed, but some rest is in order.
So who gets those first down carries? Is it Dominique Johnson, Rocket Sanders or AJ Green? Let’s go with an age-old description of the back making the most out of his chances. Give it to the hot back.
Injury Free
The top key this week is to get through the game with few injuries. Unfortunately, there is no way to make sure that happens.
Injuries are part of the game. But if the trainer gets little work Saturday, it’s a successful game.
The most important men are the drivers who get the team to the field on time. Showing up on time is the first key and maybe the most important key. And, if there are no are few significant injuries, the weekend will probably be dubbed successful.
Fast Start
Jefferson is the key player for the game. How efficient he is at the outset in the run-pass option, the key play in the Kendal Briles offense, could be the difference between a fast start and a plodding start.
If Jefferson can get the Hogs off on the right start, this could be a fun day for the complete roster. The goal is to get him off the field in quick fashion, but he needs to play better than last week against a good Auburn defense.
Jefferson’s decision making was average last week after rating high on the charts against Ole Miss. Either way, the Hogs did move the ball in both games. They made 676 yards against Ole Miss with 38 first downs and 460 yards with 28 first downs against Auburn.
Expect big numbers again this week, with either Jefferson or Hornsby calling the plays.