Bowl Week: Orlando Update for Dec. 30

Jennifer Godwin

Orlando Observations

More coverage of the happenings in Orlando can be found at our Focus site

Rain on the way?

The Arkansas Razorbacks took to the field Saturday for a final practice before the Capital One Bowl on New Year's Day. Arkansas will conduct a walkthrough Sunday in preparation for the game against the Wisconsin Badgers. Part of the preparations have included readying players for less-than-ideal weather conditions.

“It’s supposed to be raining on Monday,” head coach Houston Nutt said, “You have got to be prepared for a wet ball day. There is a good chance of rain so you want to make sure that your quarterbacks and centers are prepared to handle the wet ball because we haven’t played in the rain for a while.”

At pre-game press conference Saturday, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn expressed concern about the possible wet conditions. He, Darren McFadden and Keith Jackson Jr. checked out the field, which got a little rain a few days ago and could get more come Monday.

I love a parade

Hundreds of people lined the route Saturday for the 26th annual Orlando Citrus Parade. Many spectators were wearing a telltale crimson hue, but was it Razorback red? The Wisconsin Badgers team colors are white and a lighter shade of scarlet, so it was difficult to distinguish between the two camps.

A couple of four-legged friends also enjoyed what Orlando had to offer on Saturday. A mom of one of the UA twirlers was seen before the parade with two dogs in tow.

The parade had 64 entries. including the citrus floats by Anheuser-busch Inc; Champs Sports; City of Orlando; Florida Citrus Sports; Orange County Government; Orlando/Orange County Convention and Visitors Bureau; and Seaworld, Discovery Cove and Busch Gardens. Entry No. 21 was the University of Arkansas marching band, one of 26 marching bands in all.

Singing their praises

Actress Marlee Matlin servied as grand marshal of the parade. Another well-known figure, this one with ties to Arkansas, also made an appearance. Rogers-born country singer Joe Nichols rode in the parade Saturday along with his daughter, Ashelyn. Beforehand, he gave an interview promoting the Razorbacks.

It's OK, they're with the band

More than 300 members of the UA marching band made the trip to Orlando on Thursday. Their mode of transportation? A caravan of seven buses. Cary Jenkins, bridal editor for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and man-about-town in Orlando, met up with the family of one band member, the Wises from Alma. According to Jenkins, the UA band received rave reviews from the crowd, including one spectator who said, "Now that's a marching band."

Freshly squeezed

Tony Martin, president of Florida Citrus Sports, said in his official welcome Saturday that the Citrus Parade has grown to be one of the largest sports-affiliated parades in the nation. It certainly has to be the juiciest: More than 100,000 pieces of fruit were used in the bigger floats.

Oh, sunny day

While the weather in Arkansas has been a bit dreary, Orlando was a different story Saturday. As Phyllis Brandon, HIgh Profile editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, pointed out, "We took off in the rain [from Arkansas early Saturday] and landed in the sun." Brandon is traveling with a second group of University of Arkansas alumni who made the trip to Orlando for the bowl game weekend. The plane, adorned with the letter "A," took off from Central Flying Service on Saturday afternoon. The plane's "A" stood for Arkansas, a little Hogs fan was told during the trip.

A trip to remember

There are many young Razorbacks fans making the trip to Orlando with family. One boy in particular is making the trip with his grandfather, Gayle Holmes, a longtime Razorbacks fan. The two have traveled to many games together this season, and flew down Friday for the Capital One Bowl game. The pair's story is featured in a new video in our Razorbacks video gallery.

This article was published Saturday, December 30, 2006.