FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino has heard it from fans around the Razorback Club circuit, and he’s imparting the same message to his team.
Arkansas believes it has a plan and the parts in place to compete for a football championship this season.
“I think there’s no question, with the starters coming back, with the experience coming back, with the number of players returning that were responsible for our yardage, that our expectations are higher,” Petrino said at a news conference Wednesday. “When I say our expectations, that means everybody: The coaches, the players, the fans, the administrators. We feel like we have an opportunity now this year to go out and compete to win a championship.
“That puts more pressure on us, and that’s good.”
The Razorbacks, who stand to be one of the more experienced teams in the SEC, know their window of opportunity is opening in the SEC West as they prepare to go into spring practice.
“Coach has made it very clear to us that we do have the pieces to contend for a championship, but we haven’t been too wrapped up in expectations,” defensive end Jake Bequette said. “The first thing we have to do is go out there and practice in the spring and continue to get better in the off-season.”
Arkansas has also begun to reap some “dark horse” national championship contender mentions.
“You wake up with those words in your head every day,” quarterback Tyler Wilson said. “If we’re going to be that caliber, we have to work hard.”
Wilson described the scene at a weight-lifting session Tuesday night at the Walker Pavilion, where a bell is rung whenever a player hits a personal best lift.
“We’re in the weight room, the lights are all over us, [there’s] a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm, everybody is ringing the bell left and right,” Wilson said. “Everybody is getting better and they’re showing their excitement. ... I definitely feel the buzz and feel this team can be really special.”
It’s true that the Razorbacks will present a veteran club this fall, but there will still be a tangible transitional feel to spring drills, which open March 30.
Quarterback Ryan Mallett will be unavailable for practice while recovering from a broken foot, opening the door for Wilson and other backups.
Offensive coordinator Garrick Mc-Gee will open his first full season at the new post after taking over from Paul Petrino last December.
New assistants Steve Caldwell, Chris Klenakis and Kris Cinkovich will hit the field for the first time.
Key contributors returning from injury, like cornerback Isaac Madison and tight end Chris Gragg, will be back in the mix.
Mallett rolled up to the podium Wednesday on his turquoise four-wheeled scooter, saying his recovery from foot surgery is on pace.
“The plan is to, a week or two after spring break, hopefully get off [the scooter] and get in a walking boot,” Mallett said, referencing next week’s spring break. “I’m ready to get back out there with the guys and be able to go full speed. What I’ve really got to do is take my time and not rush it, and just continue to keep going and getting treatment every day.”
Madison, who was developing as a team leader when he sustained a torn knee ligament early last fall, visited with the media for the first time since the injury.
“It’s been a grind,” he said. “It’s been tough, but I just take that and use that toward my work ethic for getting back onto the field and getting better than I was.”
Arkansas’ pre-spring depth chart had a few interesting listings, such as sophomores Ronnie Wingo and Knile Davis running Nos. 1 and 2 at tailback, ahead of juniors Broderick Green and Dennis Johnson; De’Anthony Curtis making a switch to receiver; senior Jermaine Love topping the chart at middle linebacker above sophomores Terrell Williams and Austin Moss; and senior Patrick Jones ahead of sophomore D.D. Jones at defensive tackle.
Curtis played running back his first two seasons, taking some snaps at “ flyback” last year, practiced at cornerback prior to the Hogs’ victory over East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl and asked Petrino if he could work at receiver this spring.
Petrino seemed ecstatic about the Razorbacks’ depth at multiple positions, perhaps mostly on the offensive line, where Ray Dominguez, Wade Grayson, DeMarcus Love and Seth Oxner all return, along with tight end D.J. Williams and part-time starter Grant Cook.
Players who will miss spring or be limited include Mallett, cornerback David Gordon (shoulder), defensive end Tenarius Wright (foot), tight end Jim Youngblood (shoulder) and fullback Van Stumon (shoulder).
Sports, Pages 17 on 03/18/2010