DEUCES WILD
By Harold McIlvain II
Two simple words usually get all sports fans alike talking: “What if…”
It’s a simple phrase. But it challenges the unconventional, utilizes the imagination and sometimes unbelievable ideas can come to you when the two simple words are said in a sentence.
The possibilities are limitless, too, with the what ifs. What if certain players or situations turned out differently than what happened? How much would change? Would it even matter? Did something actually good happen because of it?
It’s a hard question to answer with any situation. But that doesn’t make it less interesting.
These are some what if questions that could have dramatically changed the landscape of the sporting world for Razorback fans:
What if…Nolan Richardson stayed in 2002 and Andre Iguodala came to Arkansas?
Yes, the same guy who was drafted ninth overall in the NBA Draft in 2004 and lights up the League today was coming to Arkansas. Iguodala even signed with the Razorbacks, but because of the firing of Richardson, Iguodala packed his bags for Arizona.
He was named to the Pac-10 All-Freshmen team while helping the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance and later made the All-Pac 10 squad. Seeing him on the court for the Philadelphia 76ers makes a person wonder what he could have done as a Razorback.
What if…Drew Brees signed with the Miami Dolphins?
Not too much on the surface of this one. With huge injury questions surrounding Brees as a free agent leaving the Chargers, only two teams were really interested in signing the quarterback, the Saints and the Dolphins. Obviously the Saints don’t win a Super Bowl without his performance this year.
But who else doesn’t win a championship? Alabama?
If Brees signs with the Dolphins, there probably is a good chance Nick Saban is still on the sidelines wearing aqua and orange instead of Razorback red. What would the Crimson Tide be without Saban right now, who has built the program up to make a serious run at multiple Southeastern Conference championships in the next four years? No one can say for sure, but it would have majorly changed the dynamics of the Western Division for the next few years.
What if…Michael Vick didn’t go to jail?
The Eagles quarterback has already served his time for charges of dog fighting. But what did this really change? Atlanta got a franchise quarterback in Matt Ryan and Arkansas got a head coach in Bobby Petrino.
The situation just didn’t work out for Petrino and the Falcons. What Petrino signed up for was drastically changing around him, and he wanted to return to his passion of coaching college football.
But the Razorbacks were able lock up a head coach that has built the offense to a point that it broke so many records that every week a new story about school statistical highs needed to be written. And with a couple recruiting classes under his belt, Petrino and the Razorbacks are gearing up for a potential SEC championship run with Ryan Mallett, who might not be on campus if Petrino isn’t here. Makes a person wonder.
What if…Al Jefferson came to Arkansas instead of going straight to the NBA in 2004?
Arkansas basketball head coach Stan Heath needed some big bodies after being undersized for a few years. Heath was able to sign Charles Thomas, Steven Hill, Darian Townes and…Al Jefferson. After signing Jefferson ultimately decided to skip school to enter the NBA Draft, where he was selected 15th overall by the Boston Celtics. Jefferson was later dealt in the Kevin Garnett trade. So if Jefferson comes to Arkansas, maybe the Celtics don’t win a championship? Who knows.
But with Ronnie Brewer already on campus, it would have been interesting to see what the Razorbacks could have accomplished with Jefferson, too.
What if…Arkansas beat Florida in the SEC Championship game in 2006?
This was a heart-breaking 38-28 loss for Razorback fans. No. 8 Arkansas had a chance at perhaps a national title appearance with a win over No. 4 Florida. Down 17-7 at halftime, Arkansas battled back to take a 21-17 lead in the third quarter before a muffed punt allowed the Gators to take a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
The game before that, Arkansas’s title game hopes took another hit on the heels of a 92-yard kick return by Trindon Holliday in the fourth quarter that gave the Tigers momentum during a 31-26 win. It’s a mind-blowing thought to see how the Arkansas football program might have changed with a shot at a national title.
What if…Patrick Beverley stayed at Arkansas for four years?
Does a backcourt of Beverley and Courtney Fortson make things a little more interesting for the basketball program right now? Beverley would be a senior this year if he hadn’t gone to Europe to play professionally. Beverley would provide an extra 3-point threat for the Razorbacks that they desperately need right now. How much would Rotnei Clarke improve with another true scorer with the addition of Beverley?
And I think it would be a sight to see when Fortson and Beverley both took over in the second half. Couldn’t Fortson and Beverley just agree to alternate second-half takeovers for the Razorbacks every other game for the Razorbacks? Maybe they just trade clutch possessions?
Or what if…Arkansas signed Devan Downey or Denis Clemente rather than Sean McCurdy?
McCurdy, who didn’t average more than 10 minutes for the Razorbacks before transferring after his sophomore year, took a scholarship spot over both Downey, who leads the SEC in scoring with 23 points a game, and Clemente, who averages 16 points a game for a top-25 team in the nation. Either would be an interesting addition to the Razorback program.
Hypothetical always get sports fans thinking. They just make you wonder what could have happened. But there is a reason all coaches don’t answer what if questions. The events didn’t happen – for better or for worse.
Harold McIlvain II is the assistant sports editor of The Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every other Wednesday.