Mac Smack

Moderated by Arkansas Online Staff

He's like a runaway truck with no brakes.

Posted October 5, 2007

Quotebook

On prospect of breaking Ben Cowins’ arkansas rushing record

ARKANSAS COACH HOUSTON NUTT “He knows it's there. We all do. ... We'll just have to play it by feel and see how it works out. If it happens, great.”

MCFADDEN ON BREAKING RECORD IN LITTLE ROCK “By me being at home, it would just be a great thing, and I would love to do that.”

GRAYLON MCFADDEN, DARREN’S FATHER “If they jump to a big lead, they might not let him play too much.”

DARREN MCFADDEN ON FANS “They're going to be excited. Every play that's happening, whether we're up or down, they're going to be excited.”

CHATTANOOGA COACH RODNEY ALLISON “I remember seeing Earl Campbell in person. That was long before some of you were born. I’ve seen some great backs, being in the SEC and the ACC, and having actually coached Steven Davis (Auburn). He’s right up there in the top three or four that I’ve seen. He’s a great player. I love watching guys like that, that have that kind of talent. They say he is a really good person and a really good team guy too. They say he and Felix Jones, they don’t care about who gets the ball and how many times they get it. When I heard that, I think more of them. They are team guys. They are willing to do whatever it takes for them to win. I respect great players, and they are definitely both great players.”

AFTER 66-7 VICTORY OVER NORTH TEXAS

HOUSTON NUTT “It was real nice to have Darren resting during the second half. I'm glad he got to rest up for the next game. He and Felix are great cheerleaders on the sideline. We'd be sick to our stomach today if we were sitting around this table saying 'Darren hurt his ankle' or 'Felix has a swollen knee. It's not worth that. They did enough. ... "Anyone is foolish if they drop him off their list. He's the best player in the country that I've seen.”

FELIX JONES ON MCFADDEN DISLODGING HELMET WITH STIFF-ARM "LaDainian Tomlinson I've seen him do it. Just seeing Darren do it, it's unreal sometimes."

NORTH TEXAS COACH TODD DODGE “We didn't tackle very well at all, and the numbers don’t lie. Those running backs deserve the hype they get, and we saw it first-hand tonight.”

MCFADDEN “The load I have taken on so far is fine. If I have to put my team on my back, that is what I am going to do.”

 

NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

Paul Gattis, Huntsville Times

“Is it just me or does Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden just seem to run harder than other backs? He's like a runaway truck with no brakes.”

 

Todd McShay, ESPN.com

McFadden is without question the most talented individual in college football today. Let's put it this way: If he elects to leave school early for the 2008 NFL draft, then McFadden could become the first running back selected No. 1 overall since Ki-Jana Carter in 1995. As we all know, the trophy typically goes to the biggest offensive star on the nation's best team. But with all the chaos atop the rankings and with LSU and USC void of a Heisman-like standout, McFadden could become the exception to the rule -- a la Barry Sanders.

Chris Defresne, Los Angeles Times

“Mark this down: The Heisman Trophy this year will be awarded to . . . somebody. Right now, though, the downtown dinner entrée is mystery meat. Almost all the preseason favorites suffered recent fender dings.

“Sinking: Colt Brennan of Hawaii (five interceptions last week); USC's John David Booty (he was nearly John David Botched-it at Washington); Steve Slaton and Pat White at West Virginia (lost at South Florida); Rutgers' Ray Rice (lost to Maryland); McCoy at Texas (more interceptions than touchdowns), Oregon's Dennis Dixon (threw two late interceptions in loss to California).

“Status quo: Darren McFadden of Arkansas (probably the best offensive player out there, but how many losses more than two can a campaign sustain?).

“Rising: Andre Woodson of Kentucky (might win if the vote was taken today), Cal's DeSean Jackson (rebounded from a three-catch week to a game-changing performance against Oregon); Tim Tebow of Florida (only a sophomore, but what a player).

John Clay, Lexington Herald Leader

“Team start deep-sixed Darren McFadden's dream of placing a Heisman Trophy on his Crown Victoria dashboard. Fade factor.”

Barry Horn, Dallas Morning News

What was the main topic of conversation the last time you (TV analyst Craig James) and (Eric) Dickerson chatted?

It went like this: "Hey, Dick. SMU lost to Arkansas State." Dick says, "So what? They've got Darren McFadden." I say, "No Eric, Arkansas State." The response was "bleep ... bleep ... bleep bleepin' ridiculous." And then he says, "Where's Arkansas State?" I love it. Dick obviously didn't major in geography, but he knew how to find the end zone. That's something our Ponies can't do.”

 

HEISMAN WATCH

McFadden benefiitted last week when Florida (Tim Tebow) lost to Auburn, Oregon (Dixon) to Cal and West Virginia (Pat White/Steve Slaton) to South Florida. Also, remember, that Andre Woodson’s so-so- performance Thursday night in Kentucky’s loss to South Carolina has not yet hit the national radar. Regardless, McFadden is at or near the top of most Heisman rankings despite Arkansas’ 2-2 start:

Heismanpundit.com

McFadden stayed atop the Heismanpundit.com Straw Poll for the fifth consecutive week, McFadden totaled 38 points and holds a one-point advantage over Kentucky senior quarterback Andre Woodson (37 points), who nonetheless had five first-place votes to McFadden's three. Florida sophomore quarterback, Tim Tebow (18), was third and took the other first-place vote. Cal's DeSean Jackson (10) and USC's John David Booty (9) round out the top five. Heismanpundit.com is conducting a Heisman straw poll each week during the college football season. The idea is to get a good sense of voter sentiment as the season progresses. There are nine Heisman voters canvassed from across the various Heisman voting regions and they vote for five players each week. The tabulations are made on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis, with five points for a first-place vote, four points for a second-place vote, three points for a third-place vote and so on. In a unique feature to the poll, a Heisman Trophy winner's vote is occasionally added to the mix. The poll so far this year has included the votes of 2004 winner Matt Leinart of USC, 1995 winner Eddie George of Ohio State and 2000 winner Chris Weinke of Florida State.

The Heismanpundit.com Straw Poll voters Tom Dienhart (The Sporting News); Austin Murphy (Sports Illustrated); Stewart Mandel (Sports Illustrated); B.J. Schecter (Sports Illustrated); Olin Buchanan ( Rivals.com); Neal McCready (Mobile Register Guard); Ted Lewis (New Orleans Times-Picayune); Dick Weiss (New York Daily News); J.B. Morris, ESPN.com

CBSSports.com

1. Tim Tebo, Florida, (37 points)

2. Andre' Woddson, Kentucky, (35 points)

3. Darren McFadden, Arkansas, (26 points)

4. Matt Ryan, Boston College, (12 points)

5. DeSean Jackson, Cal, (8 points)

CBSsportline voters J. Darin Darst, Dennis Dodd, Sid Saraf, Adam Caparell and Clay Travis have McFadden at No3. Their Top 5:

ESPN Experts Poll

Each week, ESPN.com's panel of experts casts its votes for the top Heisman candidates. The panel consists of analysts, former players, former coaches and ESPN.com's college football staff.

RK., PLAYER, SCHOOL, POS. POINTS (1ST)

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas, RB 62 (9)

2. Andre Woodson, Kentucky QB 61 (5)

3. DeSean Jackson, Cal, WR 36 (1)

4. Tim Tebow, Florida, QB 18 (0)

5. Matt Ryan, Boston College, QB 16 (0)

Scripps-Howard Poll

There are 10 voters, all college football writers and two from each voting region, who vote for five players each week. The tabulations are made on a 5-4-3-2-1 basis, with five points for a first-place vote, four points for second, etc. First-place votes are in parentheses.

Name, pos., SchooL (1ST) pts

1. Andre Woodson, QB Kentucky (4) 41

2. Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas (5) 35

3. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida (0) 21

4. DeShawn Jackson, WR, Cal (0) 19

5. Matt Ryan, QB Boston College (0) 14

Others receiving votes John David Booty (USC) 10 (1); Curtis Painter (Purdue) 4; P.J. Hill ( Wisconsin) 3; Brian Brohm ( Louisville) 1; Chase Daniel (Missouri) 1; Percy Harvin (Florida )

VotersWendell Barnhouse (Fort Worth Star-Telegram); Kirk Bohls (Austin American-Statesman); Dennis Dodd (CBSSports.com); Vahe Gregorian (St. Louis Post-Dispatch); Mike Griffith (Knoxville News-Sentinel); Randy Holtz (Rocky Mountain News); Michael Lewis (Salt Lake Tribune); Tom Luicci (The \[Newark] Star-Ledger); Dana O'Neil (Philadelphia Daily News); and John Rohde (The Oklahoman).

Patrick Stevens, Washington Times

1. Andre Woodson, Kentucky

2. Darren McFadden, Arkansas: Check back in when Auburn pays a visit to the Razorbacks on Oct. 13.

3. DeSean Jackson, California

4. Mike Hart, Michigan

5. Kevin Smith, Central Florida

6. Ray Rice, Rutgers

John Rhode, Daily Oklahoman

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas; 2.DeSean Jackson, Cal; 3. Andre Woodson, Kentucky; 4.Tim Tebow, Florida; 5. Brian Brohm, Louisville

JIM CARTY, Ann-Arbor News

1. McFadden, RB, Arkansas; 2. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida; 3. Mike Hart, RB, Michigan; 4. Ray Rice, RB, Rutgers; 5. Brian Brohm, QB, Louisville.

Mike Jensen, Philadelphia Inquirer

1. Tim Tebow, Florida. 2. Darren McFadden, Arkansas. 3. Andre Woodson, Kentucky. 4. Matt Ryan, Boston College. 5. Steve Slaton, West Virginia.

Doug Segrest, Birmingham (Ala.) News

1. Darren McFadden, Arkansas RB: Ran for 138 yards and a couple of scores in a 66-7 rout of North Texas. Last week: ranked 2nd.

2. Andre Woodson, Kentucky QB: Fired for 301 yards and 5 TDs in a 45-17 thumping of Florida Atlantic, but saw his NCAA record for passes without an interception end at 325. Last week: not ranked.

3. Tim Tebow, Florida QB: Accounted for 276 yards total offense against Auburn, literally striking the Heisman pose with a ferocious stiff arm, but only got the Gators in the end zone twice. Last week: ranked 1st.

4. Colt Brennan, Hawaii QB: Passed for 369 yards in a 48-20 rout of Idaho, but threw more picks (five) than TD passes (three). Last week: ranked 4th.

5. Matt Ryan, Boston College QB: He was an uncharacteristic mess against the UMass secondary, throwing for only 204 yards on 24-of-42 passing. Last week: ranked 3rd.

This and That

* Central Florida running back Kevin Smith, with 223 yards, has overtaken McFadden as the nation's leading rusher. Smith is averaging 178.3 yards per game. McFadden is averaging 164.2 yards per game. ... Kirk Bohls of the Austin American Statesman was talking about the Big 12 rookie of the year when McFadden’s name emerged: “Rookie of the Year? Since we'll omit Sam Bradford and Michael Crabtree, let's take another redshirt freshman and pick OU's DeMarco Murray, the next Darren McFadden.”

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