Razorbacks QB defended by teammates
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Razorbacks fans customarily so rarely boo anybody but referees or opposing players that it makes news when they do.
So it became quite the postgame dither with Razorbacks senior receiver Jared Cornelius, senior center Hjalte Froholdt and senior safety Santo Ramirez asked by media to comment on some of the remaining fans Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium booing as Arkansas starting quarterback Cole Kelley also started the third quarter of the
44-17 loss to the University of North Texas.
Naturally, Froholdt, Ramirez and especially Cornelius defended their third-year sophomore quarterback weathering throwing three interceptions in the first half that Arkansas trailed, 34-10, at intermission.
“When you come out of the locker room in the second half and your starting quarterback is getting booed?” Cornelius said. “By the home team? When is that right? How is that right? That’s somebody’s son; that’s somebody’s brother. That’s my brother, and I’m not going to sit around like that’s going to be OK. We’re in middle of the football game, and you’re booing him? That’s not the standard.”
No, it’s not the standard. Given the circumstances, Cornelius admirably defended his quarterback.
However, like the vast majority of similar cases past, the fans weren’t so much booing the quarterback playing but booing because some other quarterback wasn’t playing.
Even eager kids on Christmas morning can’t match the glee of college football fans unwrapping the next freshman quarterback.
So after Kelley threw his fourth pick, new coach Chad Morris obliged the masses.
First, true freshman Connor Noland, of state champion Greenwood, and then true freshman heirloom John Stephen Jones, the two-time state champion high school quarterback of Dallas Highland Park, played. Jones is a grandson of former Razorback become Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and son of former Razorback and Cowboys executive Stephen Jones.
Each made a nice run. Jones’ good run was recalled by a holding penalty. And each suffered rookie duress against a swaggering Mean Green underrated Conference USA defense intent on completing its on-the-road annihilation of a Southeastern Conference team.
Noland completed 4 of 7 for
25 yards but was sacked five times and intercepted once.
Jones, 0-for-3, threw Arkansas’ sixth and final interception. It was returned for UNT’s last touchdown.