Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Is that cup of coffee on your desk this morning half full or half empty?

We ask because that’s probably going to impact the way you view Arkansas’ latest choice for honorary captain at this week's Tennessee game. ESPN2 will televise the No. 8 Razorbacks (8-1, 4-1) hosting the unranked Volunteers (4-5, 0-5) at 5 p.m.

Former quarterback Clint Stoerner has been tabbed as honorary captain.

Which brings us back to that cup of coffee. Stoerner is one of the most easily recognizable and beloved names in Arkansas football lore.

Some fans still immediately think of him for the “Stoernover” in Knoxville, Tenn. on Nov. 14, 1998. Arkansas had a chance to win that Top 10 matchup, but fell to Tennessee and out of the national title hunt, 28-24, following a turnover that we won’t go into great detail to explain (there is video below if you really want to re-live it).

Others prefer to think of Stoerner leading a 28-24 victory against the third-ranked Volunteers on Nov. 13, 1999. Beating Tennessee that year set off a wild celebration that included the goal posts being torn down and carried to Dickson Street. (Side note: An aspiring sportswriter, fresh out of college and visiting a buddy in Mena might or might not have driven to Fayetteville to check out the scene that night.)

There’s so much more to Stoerner’s career than those two games, of course. He was a four-year letterman for the Razorbacks and a two-time All-SEC pick at quarterback. Stoerner threw for 7,422 yards and 57 touchdowns (now No. 2 all-time to Ryan Mallett) and he’s still got records for career completions (528) and pass attempts (1,023).