Hogs Get Day Off From Practice; 1979 Seniors Address Team
FAYETTEVILLE
, Ark. –
Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt surprised his team with a much needed day of rest and a visit from the seniors on the 1979 Razorback football team on Thursday evening.
“Today we had everyone (the team) dress and tape and had the last group that signed with Coach Broyles come in talk to the team,” Nutt said. “They did a great job speaking to the team about togetherness, about unselfishness, about how they bonded.”
The 1979 team went 10-2, tied for the Southwest Conference Championship and went to the Sugar Bowl for then-head coach Lou Holtz.
“Each one of them (12 of the 14 seniors) spoke and they did a great job,” Nutt said. “We got through with the meeting and the seniors wanted to talk to the team. I think they were really inspired. We are going to go into film study tonight, and we are not going to practice.”
The night off of the practice was a welcome relief for the 2006 squad that hosts Southern California in just 16 days.
“It blew their minds (not having practice),” Nutt said. “But they were really excited about hearing the group talk. They listened very intently and it has been a good day.
“We hit a wall yesterday. It was probably a good time for us (to take a break). They were tired yesterday and when guys like Peyton Hillis and Felix Jones are a little sore and bending over, you know it’s time. A lot of our players have not taken a lazy step, like Sam Olajubutu and Chris Houston, they have been running an awful lot. It was just a good time to do it.”
The 2006 Hogs will return to the practice field on Friday for their final two-a-day practice of the season. The final scrimmage of the preseason is slated for 6 p.m. Saturday inside Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Originally planned to be a full-scale scrimmage, injuries led Nutt to consider canceling the event, but he has decided to proceed with a light-contact version.
The scrimmage is open and free to the public. Seating will be available on the East side and in the South end zone only. Gates 12, 13, 15 and 16 will open at 5 p.m., and 2006 schedule posters will be distributed at each gate.
Concession stands will also be open on the East and in the South, and the Hog Heaven Store in the South end zone will be open.
