Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

That dark horse contender they call 'Arkansas' has the state buzzing with the nation starting to feel the vibrations. Razorback fever is slowly sweeping across the land with SEC Media Days, the "unofficial" start to college football season, kicking off tomorrow.

Sports Illustrated writer George Schroeder's most recent column covers what has been on the breath of every Razorback fan since Mallett's announcement to return: it's Arkansas' time for SEC glory. The pieces are in place on a team that returns 17 total starters, but the hype revolves around Arkansas' QB Ryan Mallett. Arkansas fans have experienced their fair share of heartbreaks throughout the years, but despite the disappointments the next season is the one for glory, except this time that praise is well deserved.

Schroeder writes:

By now, Arkansas fans must think that's how the bounces are supposed to go. As the SEC has passed around the crystal football, and BCS bowl berths, the Hogs have contented themselves with lesser thrills and perennial also-ran status. Hence the caution -- We expect 10 wins! -- and given Arkansas' history, keeping expectations manageable seems like the smart thing. But could anyone imagine the fans of, say, Alabama doing the same?

And here is where hope comes into play, because Arkansas has never had a quarterback quite like Mallett. At least, not since Joe Ferguson. Petrino has coached quarterbacks like Mark Brunell, Jake Plummer, Brian Brohm, Jason Campbell. He said Mallett might be the most talented.

"His height and arm strength are something that are right at the top," Petrino said. "The competitive spirit and the leadership are right with all the great quarterbacks."

Mallett was considered a probable first-round selection had he decided to leave early for the NFL (as a third-year player, he was eligible after his sophomore season). But he said was never too serious about leaving. He promised his mother he would graduate (he lacks 15 hours for a sociology degree, and plans earn 12 hours this fall). Arkansas' media relations staff pitched a plan for promoting him for postseason awards. And Mallett keeps saying he owed it to the fans.

The Razorbacks have a powerful offense that was the best in the SEC and returns the cogs to make the machine work better than ever. The defense will have a question mark surrounding it until the last game of the season, and even then questions will probably follow.

But Arkansans and national pundits both know that Mallett is the center piece to this hype and the only thing he asks of fans is to 'Get Ready'.

With SEC Media Days kicking off tomorrow and the Razorbacks' buzz bigger than ever, it's safe to say the fans have lived up to his request. Now he has to live up to theirs.