07-31-2002, 08:58 AM
Andrews' Attitude Is Key
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Column By Harry King
Arkansas News Bureau/RazorbackCentral
For Shawn Andrews, this year is more about attitude than ability.
A splendid combination of size, strength and nimble feet, Andrews can play. He proved that last year. The question is, will he return to Fayetteville with the same willingness to work, the same hungriness that was so evident during his freshman year?
For certain, there is plenty of opportunity for the big head.
Inserted into the starting lineup in the third game of 2001, Andrews made a couple of All-Southeastern Conference freshmen teams and was named first team Freshman All-American by the Sporting News. Recently, Mel Kiper at ESPN came up with his list of the top 30 college football players in the country heading into 2002. At No. 19 is Andrews, the first offensive lineman on the list. Although Kiper has probably never seen Andrews in person, his cryptic ****ysis says the tackle "could become the best offensive lineman in school history."
High praise for a player who won't turn 20 until this Christmas.
"Whenever you have a young guy who has the kind of notoriety and respect that he's earned, the bar is raised for him," said Mike Markuson, coach of Arkansas' offensive line for the fifth year.
"You have to be a real mature person to handle that. I think back when I was 19 and, wow. You got your face on every publication and that's where coaching comes in."
Prior to the 2001 season, Markuson and the other coaches had talked to Andrews about contributing as a true freshman out of Camden Fairview. The only other true freshmen to start in the Razorbacks' offensive line were Freddie Childress in 1985 and Nathan Ball in 1999. For Andrews, it was only a matter of time.
After the Razorbacks made a total of 206 yards in their first two games, Andrews moved into the starter's role and Mark Bokerman slid from tackle to guard.
"Obviously, we needed him and he made a difference," Markuson said.
Once Andrews became a starter, Arkansas averaged 373 yards per game. There were other factors, including the emergence of Matt Jones, but Andrews was an essential component of the improvement.
He led the team with 46 knockdown blocks, including 13 in a 42-17 victory over an Auburn team that was ranked No. 17 at the time.
"He's just so big and strong and he's got so much power," Markuson said. "He's got real strong arms. When he gets his arms extended and he runs through somebody, they're going to have a tough time.
"Athletes like Shawn, with their ability, there are not a lot of guys walking around the street who can do what he has done," Markuson said.
Head coach Houston Nutt said the emphasis with Andrews has been that the coaches wanted him to come back "and be the same Shawn as he was last year."
Anything less is likely to show up during practice. "If they're not into it, that's when they make mistakes," Markuson said.
Andrews is also prone to weight gain although he is such a specimen that 350 is acceptable on him. Still, he is well aware that he will have more energy at 330. With his appetite, a 15-pound gain is only a weekend away. Supposedly, the coaches cut him off at the Laurie's Beef Bowl after he downed six 10-ounce prime ribs during an outing prior to the Cotton Bowl.
Somebody at Laurie's, which has been connected with the Dallas bowl game for more than 20 years, said Andrews didn't even threaten the record of 12 prime ribs.
Meat-eating competition between the bowl teams was dumped after team doctors reported a record number of clogged arteries.
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Column By Harry King
Arkansas News Bureau/RazorbackCentral
For Shawn Andrews, this year is more about attitude than ability.
A splendid combination of size, strength and nimble feet, Andrews can play. He proved that last year. The question is, will he return to Fayetteville with the same willingness to work, the same hungriness that was so evident during his freshman year?
For certain, there is plenty of opportunity for the big head.
Inserted into the starting lineup in the third game of 2001, Andrews made a couple of All-Southeastern Conference freshmen teams and was named first team Freshman All-American by the Sporting News. Recently, Mel Kiper at ESPN came up with his list of the top 30 college football players in the country heading into 2002. At No. 19 is Andrews, the first offensive lineman on the list. Although Kiper has probably never seen Andrews in person, his cryptic ****ysis says the tackle "could become the best offensive lineman in school history."
High praise for a player who won't turn 20 until this Christmas.
"Whenever you have a young guy who has the kind of notoriety and respect that he's earned, the bar is raised for him," said Mike Markuson, coach of Arkansas' offensive line for the fifth year.
"You have to be a real mature person to handle that. I think back when I was 19 and, wow. You got your face on every publication and that's where coaching comes in."
Prior to the 2001 season, Markuson and the other coaches had talked to Andrews about contributing as a true freshman out of Camden Fairview. The only other true freshmen to start in the Razorbacks' offensive line were Freddie Childress in 1985 and Nathan Ball in 1999. For Andrews, it was only a matter of time.
After the Razorbacks made a total of 206 yards in their first two games, Andrews moved into the starter's role and Mark Bokerman slid from tackle to guard.
"Obviously, we needed him and he made a difference," Markuson said.
Once Andrews became a starter, Arkansas averaged 373 yards per game. There were other factors, including the emergence of Matt Jones, but Andrews was an essential component of the improvement.
He led the team with 46 knockdown blocks, including 13 in a 42-17 victory over an Auburn team that was ranked No. 17 at the time.
"He's just so big and strong and he's got so much power," Markuson said. "He's got real strong arms. When he gets his arms extended and he runs through somebody, they're going to have a tough time.
"Athletes like Shawn, with their ability, there are not a lot of guys walking around the street who can do what he has done," Markuson said.
Head coach Houston Nutt said the emphasis with Andrews has been that the coaches wanted him to come back "and be the same Shawn as he was last year."
Anything less is likely to show up during practice. "If they're not into it, that's when they make mistakes," Markuson said.
Andrews is also prone to weight gain although he is such a specimen that 350 is acceptable on him. Still, he is well aware that he will have more energy at 330. With his appetite, a 15-pound gain is only a weekend away. Supposedly, the coaches cut him off at the Laurie's Beef Bowl after he downed six 10-ounce prime ribs during an outing prior to the Cotton Bowl.
Somebody at Laurie's, which has been connected with the Dallas bowl game for more than 20 years, said Andrews didn't even threaten the record of 12 prime ribs.
Meat-eating competition between the bowl teams was dumped after team doctors reported a record number of clogged arteries.