Franklin expected to start next weekend
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Arkansas' matchup with Texas A&M this week brings back a fine memory for Frank Broyles.
Broyles' first victory as Razorbacks coach — after six straight losses — came against the Aggies in 1958.
"That '58 team stayed with me," Broyles said. "They built the foundation of what you could do: get better with a good attitude, don't let the losses beat you but get better and better. We did improve."
Broyles spoke Monday at the Little Rock Touchdown Club, sharing some of his memories from his half-century with the Razorbacks. That 21-8 win at Texas A&M was the start of an eight-game winning streak, and Arkansas went on to finish at least tied for first in the Southwest Conference in 1959, '60 and '61.
Those days are long gone now, and so is the Southwest Conference, but nostalgic fans will have their chance to reminisce this week as the Razorbacks prepare to play the Aggies on Saturday at the Dallas Cowboys' new stadium.
Broyles talked for about 40 minutes about his coaching days, current trends in college football and the fight against Alzheimer's disease, from which his late wife, Barbara, suffered.
Broyles mentioned the growth of the spread offense and said offensive linemen play differently now that teams rely so much on speed and passing.
He told one funny story involving former Arkansas athletic director John Barnhill. Broyles said Barnhill once told him Gov. Orval E. Faubus had given him the money to expand War Memorial Stadium.
"We didn't have Freedom of Information in those days," Broyles said, drawing a laugh.
Broyles was Arkansas' coach and later the athletic director before retiring at the end of 2007.
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NOT MANY GIMMES: Is it possible Arkansas' schedule is even tougher than expected? Two of the less imposing Southeastern Conference teams the Razorbacks will face — South Carolina and Mississippi State — looked good this past week. South Carolina upset Mississippi and Mississippi State nearly beat LSU.
Oh, and Texas A&M is 3-0 and coming off a 56-19 win over Alabama-Birmingham.
"They're executing well," Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said. "They're a very fast-paced offense. They run it and throw it well. You see the quick passing game utilized in the West Coast offense. They really try to get up to the ball and get it snapped quickly."
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BRAGGING RIGHTS: Georgia's loss to Oklahoma State was the SEC's only matchup with the Big 12 so far this season. Arkansas wouldn't mind avenging it, but the Razorbacks need a win this weekend regardless of who it's against.
"You always go into a battle against another conference wanting to represent well for your own," quarterback Ryan Mallett said. "It is more important to us right now to get back into the winning column."
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PICTURE IN PICTURE?: Broyles joked that at one point, people worried television would ruin attendance at football games. Broyles had a chance last weekend to appreciate how times have changed.
"Starting at 11 o'clock, until 11 o'clock at night, and 22 games I watched," he said. "There were 22 games on television last Saturday."
The Razorbacks are still waiting to find out the time of their Oct. 10 home game against Auburn — it could be in one of four television slots. The game might be on CBS at 2:30 p.m. local time, or on ESPN, ESPNU or the SEC Network. The latter three have time slots between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
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Pig Points ... This is the 66th meeting between Arkansas and Texas A&M, but it's only the second outside of Fayetteville, Little Rock or College Station, Texas. The teams met in 1912 in Dallas. ... Arkansas leads the series 38-24-3. The most recent meeting was in 1991, and the Aggies won 13-3.
