Ryan Mallett | Mike Dougherty's Blog

Zebra population safe in Arkansas

October 26, 2009
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A rather embarrassing 30-17 loss by the Arkansas Razorbacks to the Ole Miss Rebels on Saturday in Oxford has limited the talk by Hogs fans about “cheating” officials in the Southeastern Conference.

Such complaining was all the rage in the Natural State/Land of Opportunity/Wonder State after the gallant effort by the Hogs of Bobby Petrino in their 23-20 loss to top-ranked Florida on Oct. 17.

The fact that Ryan Mallett and the Razorbacks offense were inside the Florida 40-yard line three times in the third quarter and came away with three points didn’t seem to interest the whiners and moaners as a possible reason for the loss. It was all about “those SEC officials.”

When league “suits” admitted the mistaken call against a Razorbacks linemen who whistled for a personal foul during the Florida game, the glee almost could be felt from Piggott to Foreman. Later in the week, when the SEC suspended the crew for its Arkansas-Florida performance, it was like tossing a bloody arm in a tank of sharks. Think “frenzy.”

But this Monday … officials, as in the black-and-white-shirted variety, aren’t so much a topic of conversation.

With their beloved 22-year-olds losing soundly to a team coached by Houston Dale Nutt, who had fled these environs, Woo-Pig-Soooie-ans were a bit close-lipped. Could be that their jaws were tired from producing hot air for referee flambé or could be that they mouthed off too much to Ole Miss fans on message boards, once they got around to remembering the Mississippi game … long about Friday.

Whatever the reason, Hog Central Station is a bit quiet this Monday night.

“In space” cadets at the mike

October 24, 2009
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The announcers for this Arkansas-Mississippi football game in Oxford (for the so-called SEC Network) act as if they arrived about 15 minutes before game time.

I don’t know who they are and I don’t think they’ve favored one team or another, but the play-by-play guy has already confused his quarterbacks, calling Mississippi’s Jevan Snead “Ryan Mallett” during that opening drive. He has on numerous occasions mentioned that the ball carrier gained “two yards or maybe up to the line of scrimmage.”

I would rather he get it right by waiting another second than guess badly and then change it within the same sentence. … Maybe it’s just a personal thing, but if he’s reporting what’s happening to me, I would rather he get it right.

One more thing, why do so many announcers think they have to jump on the bandwagon when someone “creates” a cute word for another perfectly good term such as a receiver “runs well in space” instead of “runs well in the open.” It strikes me as just trying to show that he’s “cool” or “with it.”

Oh, they now have reminded me that the play-by-play announcer is Dave Neal and the color commentator is former Heisman Trophy-winner Andre Ware.