Razorbacks must be able to adapt as they go

As the University of Arkansas prepares for its SEC opener against Texas A&M, there are lingering questions on offense and especially on defense.

No doubt injuries are taking their toll, especially in the receiving corps, but junior Drew Morgan is emerging as a go-to guy who can be counted on to help make plays.

He managed to get wide open over the middle last week against Texas Tech, but Brandon Allen was locked down on Hunter Henry, so Morgan improvised brilliantly. He tiptoed down the sideline, went around Henry, who was covered, and Allen passed to Morgan, who ran for a first down.

The Razorbacks need that type of quick thinking.

They also got some of that on defense last week when true freshman Dre Greenlaw was moved into a starting role at linebacker. At times Greenlaw looked lost, but his recovery was good enough and he made nine tackles in his first start.

Greenlaw is only going to get better. This time last year he was a starting safety for Fayetteville High School.

Arkansas went with two linebackers last week with regular starter Brooks Ellis leading the team in tackles with 12, but he may have to be called on to help with short coverage in the middle of the field this week.

Toledo and Texas Tech had several passes completed over the middle. Both also threw under the coverage and used screen passes.

Playing at AT&T Stadium is a great recruiting tool for the Razorbacks and the Aggies, and even though the ticket prices are a little steep — although with the Jerry’s World television there isn’t a bad seat in the house — it is a pretty good experience for the fans.

That also goes for the media, with much of the credit starting with Charlie Fiss, who is vice president of communications for the Cotton Bowl.

There is not a more competent person in his business, and he is one of the good guys in the world of sports information.

Charlie is a native of Springdale, a UA graduate and a former sports information director for the Arkansas women’s sports department.

In 1984 he joined the staff of the old Southwest Conference, and on his first SWC tour it was Charlie who called ahead to order lunch at a sandwich shop in College Station, Texas.

He had asked everyone on the tour if ham and cheese or turkey and cheese was fine, and yours truly was standing near him when he picked up the pay phone and called the sandwich shop.

He ordered 30 each of the two types of sandwiches, and he asked for them to be half on wheat bread and half on white bread.

An hour later, the bus waited while Charlie went

inside and paid for the sandwiches. When he got back on the bus, he was laughing so hard he was almost crying.

Each sandwich had one slice of wheat bread and one slice of white bread.

As usual at Texas A&M, it became a tradition.

In 1994 Charlie went to work for the Cotton Bowl, and each year that game is considered by members of the media to be far and away the best postseason game in the country.

Charlie, who has volunteered at 25 consecutive Kentucky Derbies, has decided to

semi-retire. He will continue to help with events, but he is moving to Phoenix.

And, yes, there is a beautiful woman involved with his change in life.

Southland Park in West Memphis will host the first induction into the West Memphis Sports Hall of Fame tonight beginning at 6 p.m.

The first inductees are Keith Lee, Michael Cage, Bill Terwilliger, Reginald Jones, Lewis Carpenter, Mike McCoy, Marcus Brown, Ike Harris and Sonja Tate.

Tickets are $25.