Familiar faces

The Razorbacks scrimmaged with a little pressure, as a large group of ex-Razorbacks and their families were on hand at the practice fields as part of the team’s annual barbecue for former players.

The current and former players dined together along with the coaches and staff members after the two-hour scrimmage.

‘I don’t know what our total number was, but when we called our team up at the end and brought all our former players up and their families, it was a lot of people around,” Coach Chad Morris said. ‘Man, it’s really special to be able to bring those former players back in here and let them feel welcome.

“This is their home. There’s been a lot of sweat, and a lot of tears, a lot of laughter and wins. Some losses. More importantly, lessons in life are learned on that football field.

“There’s only one Razorback, and when you wear that logo on the side of your helmet, you become very unique. We want our players to understand how important it is to be a former player and to put the sacrifice in.”

Center Ty Clary, who wears No. 66, talked with Tony Ugoh, who wore the same number as an AllSEC offensive tackle for the Razorbacks’ 2006 SEC West championship team.

“It was actually really cool to meet him,” Clary said. “That’s a big, tough Hog. It was awesome to meet all those guys.”

Safety Joe Foucha said he felt added energy from the former players.

“Especially when the Razorbacks that played here went to applauding and getting hyped,” Foucha said. “That kind of turned me up because knowing that they know something special here is coming, the feeling is great.”

Added linebacker Bumper Pool: “They were all out there, and it was cool getting to see them come back, especially when we get to play for them because we look up to them.”

Morris said he didn’t talk to the team long after calling up the former players and their families.

“It had been a long morning,” he said. “They were ready to go eat. They were giving me that look. When you look at former players and they give you that look, you know you’ve got to let them go eat. They were hungry.”