FAYETTEVILLE -- First John Wayne, then Jeff Bridges, starred in movie versions of True Grit, the book authored by native Arkansan Charles "Buddy" Portis.
If someone makes a third, how about starring Austin Allen.
They don't come any grittier than the Arkansas Razorbacks' junior quarterback from Fayetteville.
Sparring partners during Mike Tyson's most vicious prime didn't get hit harder or more often than the jolts Allen absorbed in SEC losses Sept. 24 to now No. 6 and undefeated Texas A&M and Saturday to No. 1 and undefeated Alabama.
Allen could have used a referee's mandatory eight-count for all the knockdowns.
Officially, the Texas A&M Aggies sacked Allen just once.
Unofficially, the Aggies -- their ears pinned back to pass rush with Arkansas trailing and having to throw -- nearly always hit Allen right after he delivered 42 passes.
Allen somehow completed 28 for 371 yards and 2 touchdowns. They hit him so hard and so often that Aggies linebacker Claude George tweeted amazement he kept getting up after each knockdown.
"You are one tough SOB," George tweeted to Allen. "Respect."
Dan Enos, the Arkansas offensive coordinator, marveled that Allen kept looking for receivers instead of oncoming Aggies.
"That's a testament to his courage and his toughness that he didn't once during the game peek at the rush at all," Enos said.
In its 49-30 victory over Arkansas on Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Alabama hit Allen even harder and more often.
Arkansas fell behind quicker, forcing Allen to throw 48 passes.
Officially, he was sacked six times, one causing a fumble that Alabama returned for a touchdown. And he was intercepted three times, one returned for a touchdown.
It would seem like a real bad night were it not for all those times he was brutally hit -- not officially sacked -- while completing 25 for 400 yards and 3 touchdowns as the Hogs scored 30. He even plowed into a tackler trying to stretch an 18-yard scramble into a first down on third and 20.
"He did some things that, man, that's awesome, watching him do that," Enos said. "Third and 20, he makes that 18-yard run. Lowers his shoulder ... I mean, what a competitor. Tough guy. Courage."
The Sundays after the Aggies and Crimson Tide made him their personal pinata, Allen amazed Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema even more than during the game.
"I walked into the quarterback room Sunday [post Alabama] and I just said, 'How you doing, my friend?' " Bielema said. "And he turned around as he is making a cup of coffee and saying how good he felt -- like he did coming out of the Alcorn State game."
Outclassed Alcorn never touched him. No. 1 Alabama tattooed him.
"When you've got No. 8 playing quarterback back there for you, you better play until that whistle blows," Bielema said.
Truly true grit.
Sports on 10/12/2016