Did anybody really wonder about this story?

[hogatheart]

For some reason this guy thinks Towns steps in and is the presumed starter next year just because he's a 4* transfer from Cali. Why can't this guy understand Towns will have to earn a shot just like anyone else. Terrible write-up and very uninformed. I guess he's entitled to an opinion, but good grief!!

[Biggus Piggus]

I'll play devil's advocate and suggest the writer made some good points. Essentially all it's doing is putting another scholarship player on the roster (I assume) that we really don't need. As it appears now, we have what we think are 4 quality QB's going in to next season and all probably think they should be the starter. Which means 2 or 3 of the 4 you can expect to transfer once he falls behind #1 on the depth chart. The move makes sense, but don't look at it as though we have 4 four star quarterbacks this year. We have Brandon Allen and next years starter. 

Your assumption is baseless. Arkansas needs better talent at quarterback. Period. Look at the rest of the friggin' conference and tell me otherwise.

[SultanofSwine]

Maybe James Harrison smashed his participation trophy too. He should just write under his real name...Richard Noggin

[sickboy]

I'll play devil's advocate and suggest the writer made some good points. Essentially all it's doing is putting another scholarship player on the roster (I assume) that we really don't need. As it appears now, we have what we think are 4 quality QB's going in to next season and all probably think they should be the starter. Which means 2 or 3 of the 4 you can expect to transfer once he falls behind #1 on the depth chart. The move makes sense, but don't look at it as though we have 4 four star quarterbacks this year. We have Brandon Allen and next years starter. 

I'll play devil's devil's advocate and say that if you have an opportunity to add a quality player to your roster at a key position, arguably the keyest position in the game of football, you do it. The rest will always work itself out. The upside is always higher than the downside when you've already got depth at the position.

[Biggus Piggus]

My understanding now is that the "reporter" had some sort of loyalty to Ty Storey and was unhappy about the addition of another quarterback in Storey's class. He never was honest about his motivation in the story.

[BPsTheMan]

He's destined for SID at Northeast Okie State in tallequah

[redeye]

For some reason this guy thinks Towns steps in and is the presumed starter next year just because he's a 4* transfer from Cali. Why can't this guy understand Towns will have to earn a shot just like anyone else. Terrible write-up and very uninformed. I guess he's entitled to an opinion, but good grief!!

Yea, lot's of people seem to be doing that, but they're not professional journalists.  Like you said, Town will have to earn it, first.

My understanding now is that the "reporter" had some sort of loyalty to Ty Storey and was unhappy about the addition of another quarterback in Storey's class. He never was honest about his motivation in the story.

That's not a good excuse.  It puzzles me that anyone would do that, but we see it all the time, nowadays.  I mean, what does he hope to accomplish?

[mao]

My understanding now is that the "reporter" had some sort of loyalty to Ty Storey and was unhappy about the addition of another quarterback in Storey's class. He never was honest about his motivation in the story.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner

[Fan1958]

Full of cliches (player to be named later) and misinformation.  Says Town not to be the man in 2016.  How would this guy have a clue about that?  Six mediocre months at USC?  Spring ball and summer workouts.

CBB not true to his word?  Would a coach turn down a highly rated/recruited WR, OT, RB or TE despite the talent currently on campus?  Of course not.

That's the problem with the internet, blogs, Facebook, etc.  Gives a forum to too many idiots and 10 year olds.

[hogsfan31]

People need to realize, if it were a highly rated WR or RB that were transferring the exact same way this kid is, and we offered and he came here everyone would be ecstatic. I haven't seen otherwise, I mean everything I've read from everyone is that they're pretty anxious and excited to see what the kid can do in the race next year. How is a highly rated QB any different than the other two positions I mentioned? It's not. Bring in the best and develop the best to be the best. If this kid wins the race, he's earned it. If he doesn't, whatever QB that does has earned it. Either way, you don't turn downs highly rated talent at any position, esp QB because someone's feelings might get hurt. Hurt feelings don't win championships

[Biggus Piggus]

Read the guy's Twitter replies and you can see how green-as-grass he is.

[Iwastherein1969]

...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7zfnbdyAW8

[KennyForAD]

Maybe he is trying to make everyone so mad that they start punching his face so he can get a few of those zits popped.

My GOD, what a dipshlt!   Nice ear rings...

[Choctaw Hog]

My GOD, what a dipshlt!   Nice ear rings...

Is that really him? 

[Mitch C]

Is that really him? 

Yes that is him

[Choctaw Hog]

Yes that is him

Just as I imagined him to be.  What is his background?  Where does he currently live? 

[Bigpiggin]

Just as I imagined him to be.  What is his background?  Where does he currently live?

In a van down by the river.

[Hawghiggs]

Agreed. Bolin has no idea what he is talking about.

First of all, Town was a member of the team at USC for the Spring and the Summer.

I'll agree that he should have seen the writing on the wall with the Sarkisian offense that was more Read-Option/HUNH than Pro Style, but if you are a highly rated QB recruit from S. California and you are offered a full ride to USC, you gotta believe that they are willing to bend their offensive strategy to your skills or else they wouldn't want to sign you, right? Not so much, with the rumor that Sarkisian was pressured to sign the best and most highly rated kids in the area by the big money boosters (see HDN and Mitch Mustain). Big money Boosters are better off allowing the HC to go after whomever they feel they need.

As for this kid winding up at Arkansas it is more of a function of him and his family understanding that he has a greater opportunity for the future based on the offense that we plan to run and the overall strength of the team that we are building, than anything else. They see the potential for the future and especially as it effects a kid who has a Pro Style offense so deeply embedded in him. And fellas, there aren't that many TRUE Pro Style Offenses out there these days at the college level. With our physical approach to the game offering great opportunities out of play action for passing, we present a great opportunity for QB's of this caliber that aim for the NFL.

Great post.  I would like to add to the fact that we should never turn away a player of this caliber. If he is successful here. It will only open up recruiting of Quarterbacks nationwide.

[PonderinHog]

Here's a picture of his father.

[MrKnowItAll]

Eric W. Bolin has been a sports reporter for the Times Record since October 2012. He covers sports, focusing on Northside High School. A native of Stilwell, Okla., Eric came to Fort Smith after working three years at ESPN. He is a graduate of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., and holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication

[Pig in the Pokey]

Eric W. Bolin has been a sports reporter for the Times Record since October 2012. He covers sports, focusing on Northside High School. A native of Stilwell, Okla., Eric came to Fort Smith after working three years at ESPN. He is a graduate of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., and holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication

looks like Meatloaf. or Lemmy.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

looks like Meatloaf. or Lemmy.

Well he didn't help Northeastern State's program at all, which may be more of a problem with the AD from that program than anything else. Tony Duckworth (the AD) drops the ball more often than not with their athletic programs, so why would you expect writers who came from their program to be any better?

[board]

It was just a shock column to get attention.

Yep and looks like it worked, judging by all the responses to biggie piggie's thread. Seem to recall him being at one time a semi-journalist, of sorts..........

[hoglady]

I really don't see much reason for an article like this.
He attacked Towns' character, then Beliema's character, then attacked the athletic ability of Austin, Rafe and Ty.
That was an agenda driven piece against Beliema and/or the Hogs in general.

[theFlyingHog]

He said on Twitter that he is not a Hog fan. Well, duh

[ricepig]

He said on Twitter that he is not a Hog fan. Well, duh

Which is fine in a reporter covering a team. He's the reporter asking the question today if Town had a chance to start in 2016? Bielema just looked at him and said, we wouldn't have signed him if we thought differently.

[factchecker]

https://twitter.com/NWAHutch/status/635236089062559744

[MuskogeeHogFan]

https://twitter.com/NWAHutch/status/635236089062559744

What a shock. What did you expect him to say?

[bphi11ips]

What a shock. What did you expect him to say?

You, my friend, are becoming my favorite poster. 

[Doug]

The writer probably believes that if he writes a few things in that faux-hip and condescending style, he can use his clips to get a better job. It is going to be fun watching him be forced to settle for something on his level.

His level being Pee-Wee League. I read his crap. I would rather be tortured by an ISIS member reading Robert Shields' stuff than to ever see another Ewik Bawlin piece.

Just as I imagined him to be.  What is his background?  Where does he currently live?

He lives in Uncle Mary's basement (even his own parents kicked him out).

[hawgXi]

Eric W. Bolin has been a sports reporter for the Times Record since October 2012. He covers sports, focusing on Northside High School. A native of Stilwell, Okla., Eric came to Fort Smith after working three years at ESPN. He is a graduate of Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, Okla., and holds a bachelor's degree in mass communication

I knew we could count on you mrknowitall to splain this deal.

I say:  don 't need this kinda low info journalism.  move him back to the res

[(notOM)Rebel123]

Only thing I "really wonder about" is why I bothered to read that article.

[BPsTheMan]

.

[HOGINTENNESSEE]

For some reason this guy thinks Towns steps in and is the presumed starter next year just because he's a 4* transfer from Cali. Why can't this guy understand Towns will have to earn a shot just like anyone else. Terrible write-up and very uninformed. I guess he's entitled to an opinion, but good grief!!

He is entitled to his opinion.

However, to actually be make it a professional writer he better start mixing facts, actually make a rational argument and articulate what his argument is. That didn't happen

[BPsTheMan]

.

[Biggus Piggus]

You are incorrect.

Lame. As usual.

[WarPig88]

I wonder if the author hyperbole's much?

[Biggus Piggus]

He seems to think his primary qualification is that he is not a Razorback fan. What a dick.

[cultoftheredpig]

This guy is going to quickly become a liability for  [[[Stop spamming your site, Eric.]]] .com - this will not end well. I hope management is looking far enough down the line.

[Biggus Piggus]

Excessive pride is a bad quality in a poor sports writer.

[okiehawg]

Competition breeds greatness.  As good or bad as Allen, Ty or Rafe may end up being, the more competition in camp the better it will make all of them.  If you are in CBB's position and a 4 star recruit wants to jump on ship the answer is almost always yes (unless you are Art Briles). 

[HogBreath]

It appears that is what is going for. However, Clay Travis actual can articulate his argument.

Clay Travis sucks azz.

[Yamahog]

Maybe he meant to post it on "The Onion"......

[Augustus]

He is also a writer/contributor for Saturday Down South, and it's pretty fitting.

I wanted to like SDS when they were expanding/coming of age, and in the last year they reached out to "hire" actually knowledgeable people to write for not only the Hogs beat, but all teams across the SEC.

I know one person, who you know as well (on here), who was all set and at the last minute SDS screwed him over.

Instead, they apparently chose to have idiots like Eric Bolin contributing for them. Or, in some cases, SDS writers covering the Hogs & other SEC teams that have no connection whatsoever with the respective team... getting facts/records completely wrong, omitting obvious facts about not only the Hogs but other schools, etc.

SDS opted for the Clay Travis wannabe's, instead of people who really know what they're talking about.

I'm pretty disappointed with SDS. They could have been a much better Sports Media site.

[Rzbakfromwaybak]

Very puzzling article.  Towns has baggage??  I thought "baggage" was when they have been arrested several times for punching women or doing a few robberies, etc.  After reading this article, you would have thought coach BB just bailed Zeke Pike out of jail for his last arrest, & welcomed him with open arms.  With all the players that are transferring around because of dismissal's, arrests, etc.....this is an odd one to pick to vent about?   

[ballz2thewall]

i read biggus' post and about 10 replies after that.

i take it none of you have followed towns while at usc? this thread begs a discussion that would likely be in violation of forum rules.

[nwahogfan1]

Wonder why Eric wrote this article?   Does he have an agenda?

Does he not want more competition for a particular QB on the Team?  Is he slamming our past QB recruiting?    Does he not like us getting a transfer from USC? 

Just wondering why?

[colbs]

I'll play devil's advocate and suggest the writer made some good points. Essentially all it's doing is putting another scholarship player on the roster (I assume) that we really don't need. As it appears now, we have what we think are 4 quality QB's going in to next season and all probably think they should be the starter. Which means 2 or 3 of the 4 you can expect to transfer once he falls behind #1 on the depth chart. The move makes sense, but don't look at it as though we have 4 four star quarterbacks this year. We have Brandon Allen and next years starter. 

If Arkansas signed a 4* QB this coming signing day would your thoughts be the same?  It would be pretty much the same situation. 

[Oklahawg]

He can't help himself, he's from Okie.......what would you expect?

C'mon dammit.

[pigture perfect]

 I chose to not read the article based on the revues here. Must have been bad.