"He would scream when they got a touchdown and when they got a sack."Ī visit to Fayetteville likely will happen soon. "He would always say 'woo pig,' " Hobbs said. Hobbs, who recorded 86 tackles, 9 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and 1 interception as a junior, said he knew when his father was watching the Hogs play. "I know I can't jump through the screen to play college football." "If I'm watching it, I want to play it," Hobbs said. While his father is a big Hogs fan, Hobbs said he didn't see the Razorbacks play on TV because he rarely watches football. "You have a full scholarship waiting on you at Arkansas." said 'What's up my friend, hoping to talk soon,' " Hobbs said. He said Bielema contacted him by direct message on Twitter before extending the offer. "He finished it with a 'woo pig sooey.' " "He said that it was a big deal to get an offer from Arkansas, and he wants me to stay humble and thank God for my blessing every day," Hobbs said. Hobbs' grandfather, Peter Vaughns, who lives in Little Rock, was thrilled about the offer. "He was very emotional, real emotional," Hobbs said. Hobbs, 6-5, 210 pounds, of Fort Worth (Texas) Eastern Hills High School has about 10 other scholarship offers from Texas, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, TCU and others.īecause his father is from Wilmot and is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, the offer triggered strong emotions. Since I was a little kid he talked about me getting an offer from Arkansas, and today that blessing came. "My dad is from Arkansas and he went to Arkansas. More information on the Pig Trail can be found at the website of the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture - was a big day for outside linebacker Byron Hobbs and his father, Paul, an Arkansas native, after Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema extended a scholarship offer to the younger Hobbs. The Arkansas encyclopedia notes that "today's traveler is more likely to use the Pig Trail for leisure and recreation than point-to-point transportation." In a year when leisure and recreation are more valuable than ever, that's reason enough to detour from the rumbling traffic of the interstates. They are overshadowed by the arching roadside trees and the panoramic views shaped by the Boston Mountains. Other manmade sights along the route include churches, cemeteries and farms. Along with outdoor gear and Pig Trail T-shirts, it sells sandwiches and snacks as well as beer and wine. Near the bridge over the Mulberry, Turner Bend Store is a local landmark, having opened in 1911. The Mulberry River serves as a top attraction along the scenic byway for canoeing, kayaking and rafting. Whether the road was named for these hogs, for its resemblance to a curly pig's tail, for the UA's football team, or some combination of the three remains unclear." "Near its crossing of the Mulberry River, it was not uncommon in times past to see roaming pigs, both feral and domesticated, as Ozark farmers once considered the forest as open range for fattening their shoats and hogs. The nickname "Pig Trail," according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture, is of uncertain derivation: Who needs tunnels when you can have the challenge of some of the tightest curves on one of the hilliest roads in the state? Tunnel, schmunnel!" But, except for the tunnel, it's really not very fun. The new interstate may be smooth, semi-straight and mostly level. ![]() "Go the way of the piggies," Brant urged readers. They'd be following the light-hearted advice written by Democrat-Gazette Food Editor Kelly Brant when she was a features reporter for the newspaper's Northwest edition in 1999. 17, fans from Central Arkansas with tickets for the limited-capacity seating can consider taking the Pig Trail in one direction or the other. That's when it becomes one of Arkansas' prime showcases of autumn leaves.Īs the Razorbacks prepare for their next home game on Oct. Running from the southern edge of Ozark National Forest north to a crossroads at Brashears, the byway is most photogenic in the fall. ![]() That's a shame, because the drive remains an alluring one - especially the 19 miles formally designated as Pig Trail Scenic Byway. That left the older roller-coaster route on Arkansas 23 and 16 as something of a fondly remembered backwater. Then Interstate 540 (now I-49) with its Bobby Hopper tunnel opened in the late 1990s, providing a much smoother and faster trip for the "Woo Pig Sooey" throngs. Back in the day, driving the Pig Trail with its steep and serpentine stretches was a rite of passage for faithful fans heading from points south to Razorbacks football games in Fayetteville.
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