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.
Maybe just as well that no false hope was built that either of the two rookies are immediately ready to lead these 1-2 Razorbacks from their current wilderness. They head into Saturday's 6:30 p.m. SEC Network-televised (Resort Channel 79) SEC opener against the ninth-ranked reigning SEC West Champion Auburn Tigers in Auburn, Ala., with No. 22 SEC West rival Texas A&M looming Sept. 29 at the Dallas Cowboys AT&T Stadium followed by No. 1 reigning national champion Alabama coming Oct. 6 to Fayetteville.
Maybe it's just as well that fourth-year junior quarterback Ty Storey didn't play Saturday.
For it seems likely Arkansas' quarterback roulette wheel points to Storey starting against Auburn.
Off the bench, Storey was Arkansas' best quarterback, relieving Kelley for the 55-20 victory over lower division Eastern Illinois.
Though Storey struggled, throwing two interceptions playing the entire first half in Fort Collins, Colo., Arkansas led Colorado State 13-9 at intermission.
Arkansas would have lost the game, 34-27, even with Kelley directing two third-quarter touchdown drives.
Storey seems the best option to start against Auburn rather than risk shell-shocking a freshman or starting Kelley off four picks.
Morris still has a week's practice to decide.
If nothing else, the first-time adulation and then throwing picks-educated Noland and Jones to the life that about every Arkansas quarterback led who has played before them.
If Noland and Jones both stick around as quarterback seems to be the position with the most transfers when future playing time appears limited, they'll likely find that fans can't wait to unwrap the latest phenom signed behind them.
It's a college football given, especially if it's a team struggling like these Razorbacks struggle now.
Quarterback is the Arkansas area upon most fans likely focus, but UNT exposed that every Arkansas facet needs considerable improving just to become SEC competitive, much less victorious.
Sports on 09/18/2018