How Much Did Petrino Cost Tyler Wilson?

Twitter:  @tommycraftESPN

I have been asking this question for nearly a year now, and I guess when Tyler Wilson signs his contract with the Oakland Raiders we will have a more exact idea, but the answer is in the multi-million dollar range.

So how much did Petrino cost Wilson?

Bobby Petrino was a big part of Wilson’s reasoning to return last winter after learning from the NFL people his draft evaluation after his junior season was late first or somewhere in the second round.

No one could have predicted what was to unfold when Petrino selfishly decided involve himself with much younger women that was not his wife and was his recent hire.  What did unfold was the rapid unraveling of many careers, jobs, and in part, Tyler Wilson’s NFL draft stock.

Now, it is not fair to completely blame Petrino for Wilson’s drop in the draft, but does anyone believe that Wilson goes to Oakland in the 4^thround if Petrino had remained on the asphalt?

So how much did it cost Tyler Wilson? If you look at the numbers of what a 2^ndround QB selection’s total contract and what he is likely to sign as a 4^thround draft pick you can easily say the Senior Season without Petrino cost Wilson between $3 million on the low end and as much as $5 -$7 million depending on the length of contract.

You can’t cry over spilt milk, but this glass of spilt milk was worth millions.

Red-White Gameday LIVE Blog

Join us for our post game show live from Hardee's in Fayetteville after today's Red-White Game.

Now 20-12 as if points matter.  Look at the plays and who made them today in the first half.  This team needs more depth on both lines, more WR's but the one place the coaches have some hard choices seems to be in the offensive backfield. 

As the first half is winding down I think we have all seen a good mix of run and pass, 2 decent QB's, better line play and much better tackling.  Over 51,000 (51,088) attended the game so that is a statement to Bielema about the support from the fan base.

Just a thought as we watch, how much better would spring games be if teams were allowed to play other teams?  This would be better offseason preperation if you knew you had an opponent to hit in 6 weeks, just imagine if Arkansas was playing Oklahoma State today...just something to chew on.

Raymond House points out a few subtle changes in the defense such as shading on the center with one of the four down lineman on defense.  This is something different from last year, and hasn't been done on every down.  Pass blocking still has a ways to go says the former Defensive End but the tackling is already improved over last year.

End of one quarter 10-0 if points matter, and they don't today, so far alot more passing than i was expecting.  Both QB's have looked good, team has the ability to run and pass.  Defensive pressure is hard to get a great read on because of the green shirts but there have been time they have shut down the play because the QB was a sitting duck.  As far as crowd, best spring game crown I have seen, so I would say they reached the 50,000 they were looking for.

Brandon Allen back in for the 3rd drive and puts together a nice drive (9 plays 75 yards) with mainly the passing game that finishes in a 26 yd TD Pass to Demetrius Wilson.  There were a couple of passes that were just off a half step or it could have been a quicker scoring drive.  It appears to me that this scrimmage is designed to show off the pass more than the run game we have seen in the previous practices we have watched.  10-0 if you care

Brandon Mitchell in at QB for 2nd Series.  Series started at the 9 yard line and it didin't take long for Mitchell to take the team out across mid-field showing improvement in the passing game on his initial drive of the day.  The Defense showing some abiltiy to get pressure on, but it's hard to really tell between the tackles when they can't hit the QB. Mitchell's drive ends on a pass that should have been hauled in by D'Arthur Cowan for a TD but a FG gets the first points on the board.  3-0 Red Team wtih 6:06 to go 1st Q

First team offense stall's first drive after 1 first down and forced to punt.  Surprising to see the long pass attempt on first play when your expecting power run game. Williams with a few runs to help with first down, line of scrimmage about what i expected.

 2:06pm - Bret Bielema has brought his team out on the field, crowd has grown in the last 10 minutes.  Remember it's 1's vs 1's so don't miss the good stuff early.  Enjoy the game.  Red team has ball first no kickoff.

In case you missed it yesterday, here is a link to the SCORING SYSTEM for todays game

1:57 pm - National Anthem sung acapella by everyone in the crowd at Razorback Stadium with the band on the field.  Nice touch, whoever's idea that was, good job!

1:51pm - About 13 minutes till we get underway, team is off the field. Decent spring game crowd here, proud of the fact plenty of fans packed the stands on the east side of the stadium between the 20's so the appearance on TV will be a bigger crowd than what may actually be here. I would say lower levels of the stadium right now about 75-80% full.

1:37pm - The SEC takes these spring games so seriously they the "white hat" for today's game is wearing a shirt with a "U" on the back meaning he is normally an umpire or his crew has played a great joke on him, one or the other. 

1:25pm - Derek and myself are here at the stadium and a lot of you are as well. About 40 minutes till we kickoff Bret Bielema's first real public exhibition for his program. So what are you here to see today? Or what do you not want to see today ? I think we will see Brandon Allen show why he is the starting QB coming out of spring and why this coaching staff has to find some way to get Brandon Mitchell on the field this fall somewhere. I think we will all see that more physical line play is back in Fayetteville. I am not saying this line will be confused with Bama's but I think you will see why Bielema is paying Sam Pittman over $500,000 a year. I hope not to see pre snap penalties in bunches, 5 men in the backfield, and turnovers. I will update this until the end of the first half, because the second half you likely won't care or read about so let's not waste each others time, plus we have a post game show to get ready for. Enjoy the game. 

Should Bielema Give Michael Dyer a Chance?

Twitter: @tommycraftESPN

For a morning sports radio man, the subject of Michael Dyer wanting to join the Razorback football team is like gold, two weeks ago before it crashed. 

Dyer, the 5-star running back turned National Championship Game MVP, is a polarizing discussion, and everyone has a strong opinion as to what Bielema should do about giving Dyer a jersey.

For me it’s an easy call if you’re the head hog, thanks, but no thanks. 

Here is my reasoning why I would pass on Dyer:

#1 He had his chance, albeit under a different coach, to come to Arkansas and he made it more than clear Arkansas was not the place for him.  For whatever reason Petrino and Dyer never made a connection, but Dyer made it clear he wasn’t interested in being a Hog.

#2 Dyer’s off the field troubles both at Auburn and Arkansas State have been well documented and it would just be piling on to drudge thru the list here, but the point is this guy has been and could possibly be a distraction again for your team.  Distractions in your first year as a head coach are not something you welcome, and they certainly are not something you invite into your home.

#3 And this one might be the most important reason why I wouldn’t offer Dyer a spot if I am Bielema – To send a clear message that in my program I won’t tolerate off the field nonsense.  Bielema has to lay down the law and let it be clear that he has rules and expectations and if you don’t follow them you will not be a Razorback.  While Dyer has not broken any of Bielema’s team rules, just his presence on the roster would send the wrong message to the rest of the team.

I know some of you will say, give him a second chance, he can help us win now, and I would agree with you, but this wouldn’t be a second chance for Dyer, it would be his fourth or fifth chance.  And as the saying goes, fool me once shame on you and you know the rest.  And there is no guarantee that after a year away from football he will return at the same level he played he was at in 2010 or 2011, time off has its effects. 

If I am Bielema it’s a simple risk versus reward equation and for where expectations are for the next two seasons and for what the risks of having Dyer on the team it doesn’t add up.

Thanks, but no Thanks.

National Championship Game Gives Hope for Hogs

I couldn't help but think as I was watching the NCAA National Championship Game Monday night, if Louisville and Michigan can claw their way back to the title game, so can the Hogs, someday.

Here's what I mean:  It was 1986 since Louisville last won a NCAA title and it was 20 years ago since the FAB 5 took Michigan to the title game.  And for their programs and fans it was a long climb back. 

While Arkansas is currently nowhere near competing at the highest level, I found hope that if the two programs in the title game can build back so can the Hogs.

20 years ago, the Arkansas basketball program was a strong as any in the game, but a steady decline in the late 90's became a free-fall for most of the 2000's.

Now, just because Mike Anderson is on the bench doesn't mean it's magically going to happen for this program, but I feel hopeful that the program has the right leader to get back to Final Four's and TItle Contention.

If it can happen for Louisvllle and Michigan, it certainly is hopeful for Arkansas.

Let the Madness Begin

Even if your not a college basketball junkie, this is one of those days and weekends that make you a sport fan.  Let's face it, most of the NCAA games this weekend you wouldn't chose to watch over yardwork and honey-do's on any normal Friday or Saturday, but since you filled out a bracket, we must watch them all.

Here are the teams I am staking my reputation to this year, and if it's like most years, by the 6pm news on Friday, i will likely want to throw my bracket in the trash!

In the Midwest region I like Louisville, Saint Louis, Michigan State and Duke to get to next weekend with Louisville and Michigan State meeting in the Elite.

In the West region I am taking Pittsburgh, Kansas State, New Mexico and Ohio State to the Sweet 16, and Kansas State and New Mexico to the Regional Final.

In the South region I am taking Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Georgetown, with Kansas and Georgetown in the round of 8.

And in the East I am going with Indiana, UNLV, Bucknell, and Miami to the Sweet 16.  I am advancing Indiana and Miami to the finals.

In the Final 4 teams: Georgetown, Indiana, Louisville, Kansas State

Final Game: Louisville vs Indiana

National Champion: Indiana

I think this will be a great tournament with a few upsets along the way, but look for the Big East and BIg 10 teams to dominate.  Those have been the best two conferences all season, and now they get to prove it.

Good Luck with your bracket.