FAYETTEVILLE — CBS Sports college football analyst Spencer Tillman gave members of the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club plenty of strong opinions Wednesday and may have left them feeling better about where the Arkansas Razorbacks could be headed .
Tillman said if he were an Arkansas fan he would be on “tiptoes of anticipation” waiting for the next step after a rough six months in which the Razorbacks “can’t get any lower” after Bobby Petrino’s firing in April and a 1-2 start under interim Coach John L. Smith.
“Where you guys are right now, you’re shocked, you’re a little bit punch drunk, but you’re in a great place to turn this thing around,” said Tillman, a former Oklahoma running back.
Tillman said if he were a coach he would embrace the challenge presented by the Arkansas head coaching job.
“I would be all over this opportunity,” Tillman said. “This is a great place, beautiful place. Great facilities, passionate. You’re in the right conference. You guys will get a good coach. You will.”
Tillman took exception to the way Smith played Tyler Wilson’s availability last weekend, particularly having the senior warm up prior to the game.
“There’s nothing you’re going to learn in that pregame warm-up that is going to confuse anybody or legitimately contribute to a rational decision as to whether or not he would play or shouldn’t play,” Tillman said, pointing out the concussion protocol that definitively ruled Wilson out prior to the game.
Smith said Arkansas’ coaches knew in their hearts Wilson wouldn’t be available but didn’t want to tip their hands to anybody. He also said he thought it was “vital” for fans to see Wilson out there so they would realize the quarterback is going to be OK eventually.
Wilson said he didn’t object to dressing out even though he knew he wouldn’t play, calling it another step in his process of returning.
“I think it was good for me to go out there in pregame,” he said. “You only get to go out there in pregame 12 times a year and get into the routine, so it was good for me. I was all for that.”
Wilson’s status
Coach John L. Smith said Tyler Wilson’s progress this week has him optimistic the senior team captain would be ready to return from a concussion he sustained Sept. 8.
“[We] have not gotten Tyler cleared yet, but he’s made it through two days of practice and is looking very, very good at this point,” Smith said. “We’re keeping our fingers crossed and we’ll have to wait and see what happens.”
Student support
A crowd of students numbering in the hundreds lined both sides of the southeast tunnel of Reynolds Razorback Stadium and cheered Arkansas’ players as they walked toward the locker room following Wednesday’s workout.
Quarterback Tyler Wilson, who practiced for a second consecutive day, shouted “Go Razorbacks!” and slapped high-fives with several students along the route.
“That’s awesome,” defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said. “Hog Nation is strong. We’ve got to put a better product on the field for them.”
Safety Ross Rasner said he hadn’t seen anything like the impromptu pep rally in his four seasons.
“It’s really special to know that all the students still have our backs,” Rasner said. “It’s been a really tough two weeks, to say the least, so to see all that has been great.”
Corner chat
Defensive coordinator Paul Haynes said true freshman Will Hines is running with the first defense at cornerback, though a decision on a starter between Hines and senior Darius Winston has not been made.
“We’re just trying to find the best guys out there that can do the things we’re asking them to do, to cover, to tackle,” Haynes said. “Things may change as the week goes on, but as of right now, he’s a one.”
Haynes said Hines was a little more aggressive and the coaching staff loves his speed and cover ability.
Tank talk
Coach John L. Smith said during his Wednesday radio show that senior team captain Tenarius Wright would probably play linebacker and defensive end this week.
Wright moved to middle linebacker after the first day of spring practices, and in the summer the coaches suggested Wright could play both spots. A camp injury might have slowed those plans, and he hasn’t taken a snap at end yet.
“You’ll see him playing a little bit more at the defensive end spot than he has in the past,” Smith said. “It will allow him to use his strengths more.”
Rookie watch
Arkansas linebackers coach Taver Johnson said freshman linebackers Otha Peters and A.J. Turner, who played a few snaps in the opener but not since, have seen their practice time pick up.
“You’re getting to the point in the season where they get a chance to get more work in,” Johnson said. “They’re doing a good job, but they’re still young guys learning every day. It’s a good thing that we have them here.”
Smile! primer
Arkansas Coach John L. Smith’s exhortations to the media to “Smile!” prior to his Monday news conference has spread into the national spotlight thanks to YouTube and other social media .
Smith opened his weekly radio show Wednesday by explaining what motivated him to shout “Smile!” a couple of times.
“So I walk in, the media, you know that’s kind of like walking in and addressing my football team,” he said. “You look ... what is going on? Everybody’s head is down.
“My goodness, I’ve never felt so much negativity coming at me in a long, long time. So I said, ‘Hey, put a smile on your face. Let’s go get something accomplished.’ ”
Sports, Pages 24 on 09/20/2012