HOG CALLS: Thomas makes most of opportunity

FAYETTEVILLE — In 2008 and 2009, Matt Harris showed up to help the Razorbacks as a safety making 110 tackles and intercepting two passes.

He then inadvertently, but perhaps considerably, helped these 2010 Razorbacks by not showing up for his one 2009 game that lapsed into 2010.

The one Harris missed provided Arkansas with an award-winning junior incumbent for a position that otherwise would be deemed without a returning starter.

It was and remains a shame that Harris had to miss his final Arkansas game as a 2009 senior who had paid his dues.

Harris weathered three non-lettering years to letter two seasons as a safety.

Many in Harris’ straits would have quit, but the son of retired Dallas Cowboys Ring of Honor safety Cliff Harris pressed on.

With so many obscuring his path finally graduated, Harris found a home during the Bobby Petrino era as the persevering good kid, using all that scout team practice experience to play 24 games out of 25.

But even smart, fifth-year senior good kids still can occasionally act like kids.

So on a Memphis night when Harris and fellow senior reliable Wendel Davis slipped curfew, they got snagged and sent home before the Jan. 2 Liberty Bowl game againstEast Carolina.

Tramain Thomas started in Harris’ free safety place.

It ranked among Arkansas’ better performances by an understudy starting in a bowl game, similar to when backup running back Roland Sales’ 205 yards rushing shocked Oklahoma in the 1977 Hogs’ 31-6 Orange Bowl upset.

Obviously the Liberty Bowl and East Carolina don’t match OU and the Orange Bowl for stature.

But comparing scores, Thomas actually was more vital to the Jan. 2, 2010, outcome in Memphis than Sales was on Jan. 2, 1978, in Miami.

At Memphis, Thomas intercepted a pass and returned it for a 37-yard touchdown and made nine tackles in Arkansas’ 20-17 overtime victory.

The sophomore was named the Liberty Bowl’s outstanding defensive player of the game.

Thomas continued impressing defensive coordinator Willy Robinson last spring.

“What’s one man’s misfortune is another man’s good fortune,” Robinson said. “That’s kind of the way that thing played out. To be honest with you, it’s probably a good thing because it worked out well. For him to get that award he earned was very positive for his growth.”

Thomas’ emergence, plus the late spring switch of cornerback Rudell Crim to strong safety, has Robinson feeling better about his safeties.

Especially since neither can relax.

Anybody snoozing will be surpassed by junior Elton Ford, an experienced starter at either safety risking his neck to start again.

Ford started his first eight games as a true freshman in 2008 before suffering a neck injury that terminated his season and menaced his career. He vowed to return in 2009 and did. Ford made 65 tackles in Arkansas’ final 11 games, including eight starts.

“You think about f ighting through a broken neck, and that’s basically what he did,” Robinson said. “He performed like a champion. It means something for him to get back on the field as a starter. It’s going to be a battle that happens every day.”