MONTICELLO, Ark — A bit of news from my alma mater might make you slow down.
University of Arkansas at Little Rock’s Economics Professor Dr. Gary Wagner co-authored a study correlating a bad economy with rising traffic violations in North Carolina. While correlation is not causation, the study raises questions:
There’s an empty spot on the walk of fame at Alabama for Nick Saban, who brought Alabama back to the national championship in the Rose Bowl and coached the university’s first Heisman Trophy winner, Mark Ingram
by Glynn Wilson
The University of Alabama Crimson Tide is back on top of the football world, hanging on to prevail over the Texas Longhorns in a game of unexpected twists and turns, including the early hit by Marcel Dareus that knocked Quarterback Colt McCoy out of the national championship game in the first quarter.
Dareus later scored on a 28-yard interception return just before halftime, earning him the award for defensive player of the game.
“I was thinking about grabbing the guy with the ball, but then I said, `Let me just grab this football.’ I wasn’t even thinking about the highlight,” Dareus, a native of Birmingham who played at Huffman High School, said after the game. “I was so excited. My legs were weak, my muscles were crazy, and I made it.”
This Alabama team will go down in football history for going through 14 games undefeated and for Mark Ingram’s Heisman trophy, Alabama’s first. Ingram earned offensive player of the game honors for running for 116 yards and two touchdowns. His roommate, Trent Richardson, ran for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
The No. 1 Crimson Tide held off a rally by second-ranked Texas and beat the Longhorns 37-21 on Thursday night in the BCS title game with help from a late fumble recovery by Courtney Upshaw at the Texas 3-yard line. Ingram scored a clinching touchdown from 1 yard out with just about two minutes left in the game.
The victory makes Alabama head coach Nick Saban, now called Saint Nick in Alabama, the first coach to win BCS titles at two universities, Alabama and LSU.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Maybe you’re bored with the “game” for the National Championship that basically ended when Colt McCoy went down. The biggest question left: will he be back for the second half? Rather than get discourage, turn your attention to facebook. You will notice many women have been posting colors throughout the day in a secretive manner. Sources tell me it’s their favorite bra color, which is much more interesting than a blow-out.
| Group | Colors | Responses |
|---|---|---|
| Northeast | Nude (4), White (2), Black, Grey, Lavender, Beige, Red | 12 |
| UALR | White, Beige | 3* |
| Food Biz | Black (4), White (2), Nude, Red | 8 |
| UT | Pink, Violet, Purple with Blue Sequins | 3 |
| Muskingum | Green, Blue and Pink Polka Dot | 2 |
| UAM | Black (2), Red | 3 |
| fb-only friend | Black | 1 |
| family | Bright Blue, Light Blue, White | 3 |
* A former co-ed refused to answer, which I find amusing
I can only assume this must have something to do with breast cancer awareness instead of just being a sideline stunt for an All-Southern National Championship game. Whatever the reason, we should sincerely thank the ladies for the welcome diversion.
NOTE: This originally appeared in Sitron’s Post.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK — Watched the Razorbacks with Dad ‘n’ Dave this evening and finally saw Arkansas win a Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
Prepared for the game by posting my “henna Hog” on facebook. I hoped I’d watch Arkansas kick East Carolina’s butt …
Ryan Mallett didn’t help his NFL stock in this game: if you cannot convert on third down in college, what makes you think you can in the pros? Thankfully, he should realize he needs another year after this game. But have you ever heard of a team winning after going 0-for-13 on third down and 0-for-2 on fourth?
So with the rocket arm not exactly on target (even Jarius Wright’s touchdown catch was underthrown) and the receivers unable to handle the heat that couldn’t warm up the rock, somebody had to “step up” (I hate sports cliches, but when the shoe fits …).
Remember when Alabama’s Leigh Tiffin missed, missed again and missed AGAIN when playing Arkansas in 2006? This year the Associated Press named him to its All-America team. During the game I made the comment that Arkansas would be so lucky if Alex Tejada could improve half as much. But I never thought ECU’s kicker and all-time leading scorer, senior Ben Hartman, would pull a Tiffin of old.
I stood up for Tejada after the Florida loss; after his shanks at LSU, I didn’t even try. Who would have thought he’d get the chance for redemption after those crushing misses? Besides, the Liberty Bowl hasn’t been good to the Hogs:
"henna-Hog"
Tejada finished the year 18 of 25 (72 percent) on the year, which still wasn’t as good as his freshman campaign (73.9 percent) but much better than his sophomore slump (44.4 percent). His career 68.4 percent ranks sixth in Arkansas history, ahead of some guys named Todd Latourette, McClard, Steve Little and Horne. Granted, Tejada may not stay ahead of them and may not end his career as decorated as Trainor, who ranks second in all-time field-goal percentage for the Hogs.
But Tejada now has something that eluded McClard, Horne and Trainor: a Liberty Bowl win.
(Editor’s Note: This column originally appeared in our sister publication, The Locust Fork blog.)
Guest Column
by Tom Campbell
NEW YORK — Few people ever have a chance to be arms’ length from greatness. As a lifelong fan of Alabama football, I feel lucky to know that I’ve been a witness to an event that will become a part of Alabama’s fabled history.
To have had such an opportunity twice is remarkable. On both occasions, I tried to burn each detail into my memory because I knew the events before me were celebrating a legacy of pride and greatness.
Two celebrations of excellence of historic proportions for the storied University of Alabama football program will endure in my memory.
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| Tom Campbell |
| Mark Ingram will carry the Heisman experience for the rest of his life |
Over 25 years ago, as my last official act as student body president at the University of Alabama, I attended the funeral of Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant. As sad as Bryant’s funeral and grave site procession were, the Alabama family celebrated a man whose impact upon his players, coaches, university and fans proved immeasurable.
Economic times were hard then, and folks rallied around the prowess and class surrounding the football institution Coach Bryant built. During a time when people were losing a lot — jobs, bonuses, homes — Alabama football offered fans in the community something to be proud of and helped people feel like winners. Despite the celebratory remembrance of Bryant’s life and career, this event nevertheless marked an end.
Now, decades later, in the midst of a terrible economic climate, I had the opportunity to observe another event crucial to the history of Alabama’s football program as a special assignment reporter for the Locust Fork News Journal. However, this celebration, at the announcement of the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner, marked a new beginning rather than an end.
Before the announcement of the Heisman winner, the press was treated to a banquet dinner in Times Square. Surrounded by the five finalists, their esteemed coaches and a legion of legendary figures from football history, I felt like the room was filled with electricity and promise. Pluck and grit and winning attitudes really had made a difference in the lives of these young men and their proud coaches, and I was inspired to see the culmination of a football season filled with talent, drive and teamwork.
In each of the five young finalists, Tebow, Ingram, McCoy, Gearhardt and Suh, I saw student athletes brought to this level not only by their physical prowess but also by the humility and class that comes with winning character. Each finalist was being celebrated for personal greatness. Each young man was supremely self-confident. But to a man they exuded gratitude for their God-given talent and appreciation for the coaches, programs and teammates who allowed them to shine. None appeared to express an air of entitlement or arrogance.
Of particular interest to me personally, was of course Mark Ingram. The Flint, Michigan, native turned Alabama standout sat before me with poise and polish. This young man had a brilliant turnout in what may well be a National Championship season, and it was easy for me to forget that just a few miles east of Times Square, Ingram’s father awaited transfer to prison — that Ingram achieved this accomplishment amidst personal turmoil and hardship.
Equally hard to believe was the fact that Ingram has achieved this honor as a sophomore. I wondered if he would follow Tim Tebow as the second Heisman winner to earn that distinction as a sophomore.
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| Tom Campbell |
| Alabama’s Nick Saban winks as if he knows a secret after Ingram dodges a question about the Heisman Curse |
Before the result was announced, the pride Coach Nick Saban exuded for his player proved infectious, and I found myself forgetting my journalistic objective for attending the Heisman banquet in the first place as I hoped to hear those two words revealed, “Mark Ingram.”
Would this be one more mark of greatness for the University of Alabama football program? Would Ingram prove himself a formidable opponent on the national stage? Would Saban continue to create his own legacy at Bama, marked as much by the quality of the character of his players as their domination on the football field? Would their affiliation with the University of Alabama continue to be a rallying point of pride and celebration for fans in a time of financial difficulty for many in our state?
And the answer was yes.
Mark Ingram was awarded the Heisman — a storybook beginning for what surely will prove to be a heralded football career.
And I was fortunate enough to witness another legendary chapter in the story of the Alabama football program.
Roll Tide!
NORTH LITTLE ROCK — It looks like I’m going to help my wife start a blog about being an ecovore. Stay tuned for updates!
