FAYETTEVILLE — Unless they drop the ball at the Liberty Bowl, the Razorbacks’ 2009 running backs will hold on to leave a 13-game legacy that cannot be surpassed.
On a combined 305 carries for 7-5 Arkansas, running backs Michael Smith, Broderick Green, Dennis Johnson, Ronnie Wingo, Knile Davis, Brandon Barnett, Van Stumon and De’Anthony Curtis never fumbled to the opposition.
What has kept the backs to the ball?
“Coaching,” Tim Horton said, busting out laughing.
Horton is a football lifer, the son of Razorback Foundation President and former Arkansas and University of Central Arkansas coaching icon Harold Horton, a Razorbacks wide receiver from 1986-89, and now the Razorbacks’ running backs coach.
He’s been seriously into the game too long to take himself seriously. He knows the Murphy’s Law jinx befalling coaches talking as ifthey really have the answers.
“It makes me nervous talking about it,” Horton confessed.
But for his backs, and yeah, himself, too, it is a source of pride worth talking about.
“To be honest, I really am proud of that,” Horton said. “I am as proud of that as anything in my coaching career. I just hope we can keep it up.”
It has been kept up so far without exotic drills.
“We talk about the five pressure points of the football all the time,” Horton said. “We classify a goodpractice if we don’t put the ball on the ground, but we don’t carry the football to class or anything like that. You just have got to give the credit to the kids.”
They have practiced what Coach Bobby Petrino and Horton have preached heading into the Jan. 2 Liberty Bowl game against East Carolina.
“They are conscientious, dependable guys,” Horton said. “They understand if we don’t put the ball on the ground, our chances of winning are greatly enhanced. If we don’t fumble against East Carolina, we have got a great chance to win the game.”
Whether laboring in the shadows of former All-American running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, or starring in his own All-SEC right last year, Michael Smith always has shined for Arkansas.
The senior shines on even with his active Razorbacks career done in two games ago by a severe hamstring injury.
“Michael has always been a great ambassador for the Arkansas program,” Horton said Monday. “This past weekend he helped show recruits around. Today he was at practice when Coach recognized all those who have graduated at semester [Smith graduates with a degree in kinesiology]. He is still very much a part of a team, and he will go to the bowl.
“The running backs for sure still listen to him. He has a great influence on them.”
USHERING OUT AN ERA
Recently much of the Arkansas in the Arkansas Razorbacks behind the scenes has left the scene.
Two more officially depart Jan. 1.
Curtis Yates and John Phillips, for decades the UA’s head ushers working everything from crowd control to lost and found at games and concerts, worked their last Razorbacks men’s basketball game Tuesday night.
They retire exemplifying the three C’s: Courtesy, calmness and common sense.
Sports, Pages 18 on 12/23/2009