Robert Shields - I love Northwest Arkansas

[Robert Shields]

This was a column from a few years ago.  I don't want anyone to misconstrue my opinion of wanting games in Little Rock to infer that I don't like Northwest Arkansas.  I love Northwest Arkansas and completely understand why people move there.

I Heart NWA

Robert Shields

What I liked about northwest Arkansas while I was in college? Just about everything. The weather was milder than what I grew up with in Central Arkansas. I enjoyed going to Lake Weddington, fishing on the White River, climbing in the caves at Devil's Den, finding the train tunnel at Winslow, recreating the battle at Pea Ridge after a few cocktails only to be followed by same stunt at Prairie Grove, and hunting down at the end of Betty Joe Drive.

Even though it was not in Arkansas, I enjoyed going over to Tahlequah and floating the Illinois River. One time it was even way above flood stage and I almost drowned. I know some of you are wishing that I was a bad swimmer.

I enjoyed going up to school early -- sometimes almost a month before classes started -- and that was about the same time the football team arrived. I enjoyed the late night runs from Humphreys Hall. (On a side note I want to apologize to the fourth floor girls for the missing Christmas tree and the ninth floor girls for the broken ironing board.)

I enjoyed the keg parties in my room and Joe Johnson, the running back version from Tyler, Texas, verbally committing in my room. It was great having the Razorback football players in the dorm that semester. Tony Cherico lived above me (on a side note, what was he doing up there, bowling?), across the hall were Bono Yarbrough and Casey Keuttle, and down the hall Curtis Steggars and David Dudley. And it was always fun when Charles Washington and Donnie Centers showed up on the floor. (On a side note, it is impossible for Houston Nutt to keep up with his players based on my experience living in the same place with several football players.)

It was fun that everyone up there had a nickname -- Big E, Mr. Fun, Yassir, Gandhi, Dangle Monster, Puffer Fish, Slurp, and Holiday. Or, if they did not have a nickname they pretty much just went by their last name, like Tabor.

And oh the pranks, from shaving cream hand grenades to setting off fire crackers with timers, taking someone's towel while they are in the shower, to pennying someone's door. These days if you put bats in someone's room, the police get involved and charges are brought. But back in the day, the proper response would have been to put a cougar in their room, or at least that is what Mr. Fun would have done.

It was wild and fun running in the labyrinth of tunnels with walls lined with steam pipes and conduits, which connected buildings and ran everywhere below campus. I am sure by now that they are inaccessible and probably would land you in prison if caught.

The late night romps in front of Old Main to play football in the snow and later getting a microwave burrito at 7-11 will be unforgettable. I miss the pep rallies at the Chi Omega theater and lurking around the cross walk by the Communications Building that later became Kimpel Hall. There was the fun of hearing Lou Holtz or Ken Hatfield give their fire and brimstone speeches and the excitement of staying up all night studying with a girl that you liked even though I already knew the material.

The good times at the Rink, Bottoms Up, My Pleasure, River City, Maxine's, Hugo's, Old Post Office, Norma Jean's that became Doc Murdoch's, the Gas Light that became the Gazebo that became the Oasis that became Hollywood's (where William Mills met his demise) and eventually became Mardi Gras. I have not looked lately, but I am sure it's something now more suitable to the new upscale of the area. And, of course, there was hopping on the Night Train that somebody brought a case of from Iowa at College Park apartments.

There was the joy of the 1981 Texas game, and I don't even mind now reminiscing about the horrible feeling after the 1985 and 1989 Texas games. (On a side note, after the 1985 game I spent a day or so kicking field goals at Razorback Stadium from the 20-yard line in the dark, a memory I will cherish forever.) I guess the younger kids will talk about the 2004 Texas game while the older ones will talk about the 1969 Texas game. All of them are etched in our hearts.

It was great seeing Frank Broyles on campus. He would always take time to talk to you if you reached out to him. His great Southern charm was good to hear.

I won't forget the cold Sunday morning scrambling to get in line for basketball tickets when the place of sale was announced on the radio. Back then basketball was so popular that the site was kept secret until the day of sale. The price of being scalped for the UNLV ticket in Barnhill Arena in 1991 was well worth it, also.

I also miss the professors such as Dr. Belzung who taught economics and how at least back then when things were not so politically correct it was OK to offend the females explaining the Laffer Curve. Or maybe back then they were not offended and laughed with everyone else.

I cherished all those moments in Fayetteville and northwest Arkansas and often considered it home.



Send your good memories to fromthebench@yahoo.com

[Hawg Balling]

It was great seeing Frank Broyles on campus. He would always take time to talk to you if you reached out to him. His great Southern charm was good to hear.

This is true.  My dad loves to tell the story of when he was a law student in 1977 and missed the deadline for student tickets.  He decided to throw a Hail Mary and request a meeting with Coach Broyles, though he was sure it'd be declined and he'd be laughed out of the coaching offices.  Much to my dad's surprise, Broyles secretary led him into his office where Broyles graciously took the time to meet with him.  Even though Broyles told my dad there was nothing he could do since he'd missed the deadline, he was very charming and my dad has never forgotten it.  He loves to talk about the time that Frank Broyles took time out of his schedule to meet with a procrastinating law student about season tickets. 

[Hawg Balling]

It worries me that you enjoyed Bottoms Up. Every story that I have ever heard about that place makes me shudder.

The fact that Shields enjoyed Bottoms Up proves that he's a legit U of A grad.  Right there with ya RS

[younghog]

YAWN

[ChemEHawg]

Here's to bottoms up, your own cooler and bad swimmers.... 

That's a really cool story about Coach Broyles. CBP would eat your soul for interrupting his strategy planning for crushing LSU.

[DrSwineESQ]

I wouldn't let Ironhog read this; he'll revoke your membership.

[The Marmot]

BAHAHAHAHAHA!!

So transparent, and sad.

The fact that you have to pen this screed about your 'love' of NWA tells all.

[RedSoxFan]

previous story? more like after you smite count went up 10 fold in the last 2 columns, you felt the need to redeem yourself.

another GSD in 5.. 4.. 3... 2... 1...

[LGHOG]

Robert...This is probably the best writing you have done. It's from your heart. I connected HUGE with this. Thank you for reposting this. VERY good Robert.

[Hog1952]

so why don't you live here?

[OptimusHog]

...

[Aston Martin 8 dude]

This was a column from a few years ago.  I don't want anyone to misconstrue my opinion of wanting games in Little Rock to infer that I don't like Northwest Arkansas.  I love Northwest Arkansas and completely understand why people move there.

I Heart NWA

Robert Shields

What I liked about northwest Arkansas while I was in college? Just about everything. The weather was milder than what I grew up with in Central Arkansas. I enjoyed going to Lake Weddington, fishing on the White River, climbing in the caves at Devil's Den, finding the train tunnel at Winslow, recreating the battle at Pea Ridge after a few cocktails only to be followed by same stunt at Prairie Grove, and hunting down at the end of Betty Joe Drive.

Even though it was not in Arkansas, I enjoyed going over to Tahlequah and floating the Illinois River. One time it was even way above flood stage and I almost drowned. I know some of you are wishing that I was a bad swimmer.

I enjoyed going up to school early -- sometimes almost a month before classes started -- and that was about the same time the football team arrived. I enjoyed the late night runs from Humphreys Hall. (On a side note I want to apologize to the fourth floor girls for the missing Christmas tree and the ninth floor girls for the broken ironing board.)

I enjoyed the keg parties in my room and Joe Johnson, the running back version from Tyler, Texas, verbally committing in my room. It was great having the Razorback football players in the dorm that semester. Tony Cherico lived above me (on a side note, what was he doing up there, bowling?), across the hall were Bono Yarbrough and Casey Keuttle, and down the hall Curtis Steggars and David Dudley. And it was always fun when Charles Washington and Donnie Centers showed up on the floor. (On a side note, it is impossible for Houston Nutt to keep up with his players based on my experience living in the same place with several football players.)

It was fun that everyone up there had a nickname -- Big E, Mr. Fun, Yassir, Gandhi, Dangle Monster, Puffer Fish, Slurp, and Holiday. Or, if they did not have a nickname they pretty much just went by their last name, like Tabor.

And oh the pranks, from shaving cream hand grenades to setting off fire crackers with timers, taking someone's towel while they are in the shower, to pennying someone's door. These days if you put bats in someone's room, the police get involved and charges are brought. But back in the day, the proper response would have been to put a cougar in their room, or at least that is what Mr. Fun would have done.

It was wild and fun running in the labyrinth of tunnels with walls lined with steam pipes and conduits, which connected buildings and ran everywhere below campus. I am sure by now that they are inaccessible and probably would land you in prison if caught.

The late night romps in front of Old Main to play football in the snow and later getting a microwave burrito at 7-11 will be unforgettable. I miss the pep rallies at the Chi Omega theater and lurking around the cross walk by the Communications Building that later became Kimpel Hall. There was the fun of hearing Lou Holtz or Ken Hatfield give their fire and brimstone speeches and the excitement of staying up all night studying with a girl that you liked even though I already knew the material.

The good times at the Rink, Bottoms Up, My Pleasure, River City, Maxine's, Hugo's, Old Post Office, Norma Jean's that became Doc Murdoch's, the Gas Light that became the Gazebo that became the Oasis that became Hollywood's (where William Mills met his demise) and eventually became Mardi Gras. I have not looked lately, but I am sure it's something now more suitable to the new upscale of the area. And, of course, there was hopping on the Night Train that somebody brought a case of from Iowa at College Park apartments.

There was the joy of the 1981 Texas game, and I don't even mind now reminiscing about the horrible feeling after the 1985 and 1989 Texas games. (On a side note, after the 1985 game I spent a day or so kicking field goals at Razorback Stadium from the 20-yard line in the dark, a memory I will cherish forever.) I guess the younger kids will talk about the 2004 Texas game while the older ones will talk about the 1969 Texas game. All of them are etched in our hearts.

It was great seeing Frank Broyles on campus. He would always take time to talk to you if you reached out to him. His great Southern charm was good to hear.

I won't forget the cold Sunday morning scrambling to get in line for basketball tickets when the place of sale was announced on the radio. Back then basketball was so popular that the site was kept secret until the day of sale. The price of being scalped for the UNLV ticket in Barnhill Arena in 1991 was well worth it, also.

I also miss the professors such as Dr. Belzung who taught economics and how at least back then when things were not so politically correct it was OK to offend the females explaining the Laffer Curve. Or maybe back then they were not offended and laughed with everyone else.

I cherished all those moments in Fayetteville and northwest Arkansas and often considered it home.



Send your good memories to fromthebench@yahoo.com

What's NOT to like about NWA? That's like saying I love heaven!

[Robert Shields]

What's NOT to like about NWA? That's like saying I love heaven!

Hog Heaven

[VBMark]

This was a column from a few years ago.  I don't want anyone to misconstrue my opinion of wanting games in Little Rock to infer that I don't like Northwest Arkansas.  I love Northwest Arkansas and completely understand why people move there.

I Heart NWA

Robert Shields

What I liked about northwest Arkansas while I was in college? Just about everything. The weather was milder than what I grew up with in Central Arkansas. I enjoyed going to Lake Weddington, fishing on the White River, climbing in the caves at Devil's Den, finding the train tunnel at Winslow, recreating the battle at Pea Ridge after a few cocktails only to be followed by same stunt at Prairie Grove, and hunting down at the end of Betty Joe Drive.

Even though it was not in Arkansas, I enjoyed going over to Tahlequah and floating the Illinois River. One time it was even way above flood stage and I almost drowned. I know some of you are wishing that I was a bad swimmer.

I enjoyed going up to school early -- sometimes almost a month before classes started -- and that was about the same time the football team arrived. I enjoyed the late night runs from Humphreys Hall. (On a side note I want to apologize to the fourth floor girls for the missing Christmas tree and the ninth floor girls for the broken ironing board.)

I enjoyed the keg parties in my room and Joe Johnson, the running back version from Tyler, Texas, verbally committing in my room. It was great having the Razorback football players in the dorm that semester. Tony Cherico lived above me (on a side note, what was he doing up there, bowling?), across the hall were Bono Yarbrough and Casey Keuttle, and down the hall Curtis Steggars and David Dudley. And it was always fun when Charles Washington and Donnie Centers showed up on the floor. (On a side note, it is impossible for Houston Nutt to keep up with his players based on my experience living in the same place with several football players.)

It was fun that everyone up there had a nickname -- Big E, Mr. Fun, Yassir, Gandhi, Dangle Monster, Puffer Fish, Slurp, and Holiday. Or, if they did not have a nickname they pretty much just went by their last name, like Tabor.

And oh the pranks, from shaving cream hand grenades to setting off fire crackers with timers, taking someone's towel while they are in the shower, to pennying someone's door. These days if you put bats in someone's room, the police get involved and charges are brought. But back in the day, the proper response would have been to put a cougar in their room, or at least that is what Mr. Fun would have done.

It was wild and fun running in the labyrinth of tunnels with walls lined with steam pipes and conduits, which connected buildings and ran everywhere below campus. I am sure by now that they are inaccessible and probably would land you in prison if caught.

The late night romps in front of Old Main to play football in the snow and later getting a microwave burrito at 7-11 will be unforgettable. I miss the pep rallies at the Chi Omega theater and lurking around the cross walk by the Communications Building that later became Kimpel Hall. There was the fun of hearing Lou Holtz or Ken Hatfield give their fire and brimstone speeches and the excitement of staying up all night studying with a girl that you liked even though I already knew the material.

The good times at the Rink, Bottoms Up, My Pleasure, River City, Maxine's, Hugo's, Old Post Office, Norma Jean's that became Doc Murdoch's, the Gas Light that became the Gazebo that became the Oasis that became Hollywood's (where William Mills met his demise) and eventually became Mardi Gras. I have not looked lately, but I am sure it's something now more suitable to the new upscale of the area. And, of course, there was hopping on the Night Train that somebody brought a case of from Iowa at College Park apartments.

There was the joy of the 1981 Texas game, and I don't even mind now reminiscing about the horrible feeling after the 1985 and 1989 Texas games. (On a side note, after the 1985 game I spent a day or so kicking field goals at Razorback Stadium from the 20-yard line in the dark, a memory I will cherish forever.) I guess the younger kids will talk about the 2004 Texas game while the older ones will talk about the 1969 Texas game. All of them are etched in our hearts.

It was great seeing Frank Broyles on campus. He would always take time to talk to you if you reached out to him. His great Southern charm was good to hear.

I won't forget the cold Sunday morning scrambling to get in line for basketball tickets when the place of sale was announced on the radio. Back then basketball was so popular that the site was kept secret until the day of sale. The price of being scalped for the UNLV ticket in Barnhill Arena in 1991 was well worth it, also.

I also miss the professors such as Dr. Belzung who taught economics and how at least back then when things were not so politically correct it was OK to offend the females explaining the Laffer Curve. Or maybe back then they were not offended and laughed with everyone else.

I cherished all those moments in Fayetteville and northwest Arkansas and often considered it home.



Send your good memories to fromthebench@yahoo.com

Robert, so then you know why the folks in NWA deserve all the home football games.

Doh! Yes, I went there...sorry, it was too easy.

It was time for a GSD hijacked thread.

[little pigee]

There was the joy of the 1981 Texas game, and I don't even mind now reminiscing about the horrible feeling after the 1985 and 1989 Texas games. (On a side note, after the 1985 game I spent a day or so kicking field goals at Razorback Stadium from the 20-yard line in the dark, a memory I will cherish forever.) I guess the younger kids will talk about the 2004 Texas game while the older ones will talk about the 1969 Texas game. All of them are etched in our hearts.

I'll bet you think we would have won ALL of these had they been played in WMS!

[Dallas Razorback]

I'm new to the boards, but does Robert Shields ever write anything less than 4 pages?

[DeltaBoy]

What's NOT to like about NWA? That's like saying I love heaven!

Too many Yankee Transplants!

[Pulled(PP)pork]

Here's to bottoms up, your own cooler and bad swimmers.... 

That's a really cool story about Coach Broyles. CBP would eat your soul for interrupting his strategy planning for crushing LSU.

well, in Broyles defense, he wasn't coach at that time, that would have been Holtz eating your soul.


PP

[County kid]

Too many Yankee Transplants!

Every growing area is gonna have Yankee transplants. I take it your from east Arkansas. So are you saying you would rather live in the DELTA rather than nwa just cuz of some squareheads that moved here? Don't get me wrong, I like the delta for its duck hunting, buy would NEVER live over there!

[Pulled(PP)pork]

Every growing area is gonna have Yankee transplants. I take it your from east Arkansas. So are you saying you would rather live in the DELTA rather than nwa just cuz of some squareheads that moved here? Don't get me wrong, I like the delta for its duck hunting, buy would NEVER live over there!

desolate and flat....with too much wind


PP

[NWASooner]

Where's the "I love Little Rock" thread?

[Robert Shields]

You admit to Bottom's Up, but fail to mention Roger's Rec!?!

Roger's Rec and Maxines both should have been mentioned.

[ADinWaiting]

I'm new to the boards, but does Robert Shields ever write anything less than 4 pages?

No, he is a "featured" columnist.

[bphi11ips]

Great post, Rob.  Hogville reminds me more and more of CNN vs. Fox. 

[Robert Shields]

Robert...This is probably the best writing you have done. It's from your heart. I connected HUGE with this. Thank you for reposting this. VERY good Robert.

It was from the heart.  It's more of a prose form as though I am telling a story.  The more technical opinion writing of my column is different.  You can download for free a short story of mine at the iBookstore - An Unwanted Freedom .  It's very short.  It will take all of about five minutes.

[Wild Bill Hog]

so why don't you live here?

Doesn't want to work for Walmart is my guess.

[ADinWaiting]

Doesn't want to work for Walmart is my guess.

Hey! Don't leave Tyson and JB Hunt in the dust!

[Inhogswetrust]

Where's the "I love Little Rock" thread?

There was one before. It had one post.

[XX]

You admit to Bottom's Up, but fail to mention Roger's Rec!?!

Ahh...yes, my favorite place to buy beer when I was a teenager.

+1 for the memories.....

[wmr]

Why should anybody give a damn what Robert Shields thinks of Northwest Arkansas?

[ADinWaiting]

Why should anybody give a damn what Robert Shields thinks of Northwest Arkansas?

They should not.

[SamBuckhart]

The Library. And two drive-in movies.

[Wild Bill Hog]

Why should anybody give a damn what Robert Shields thinks of Northwest Arkansas?

Because there's not really anything going on in sports right now.  Don't even have a BB game.  Gotta do something to pass the time, and Robert is helping do that.  Relax and drink another beer.  It's all good.

[Wild Bill Hog]

37 replies ,and no one has asked........Who is Robert Shields?

Dude is on a roll starting threads that go for several pages.  I'm not sure that's a valid question to ask any more.

[uncle bubs]

Too many Yankee Transplants!

That just depends on where your at in NWA. There's just as many homegrown Arkansans in the Ozarks, folks just tend to focus on all the WalMart out-of-staters, which don't even typically come into the lower parts (Springdale/ Fayetteville). You have 4 boom towns, then a ton of little towns tucked away. The little towns are what make NWA great. Folks up there are just as proud to be from Arkansas as anybody else is from our great state.

[younghog]

Dude is on a roll starting threads that go for several pages.  I'm not sure that's a valid question to ask any more.

Almost spilled my tea lol... Scenes of the Jetta commercial. Let's go to Vegas

[hogfan74]

Dangle monster?  Somebody stole my nickname!

[tusksincolorado]

I loved and miss Maxine's.    

[YepItsMe]

Oh nice of you to all of a sudden change a heart of don't attack me for NWA I actually like it.  whatever!  dude I'll see you in Arizona Bay...maybe

[piggly wiggly]

Joe Johnson was actually from Longview, Tx.  Just saying.

[MuskogeeHogFan]

This was a column from a few years ago.  I don't want anyone to misconstrue my opinion of wanting games in Little Rock to infer that I don't like Northwest Arkansas.  I love Northwest Arkansas and completely understand why people move there.

I Heart NWA

Robert Shields

How predictable.

[Duvall Falls Hog]

Turbo Buffalo. Turbo Buffalo.

[DeltaBoy]

Every growing area is gonna have Yankee transplants. I take it your from east Arkansas. So are you saying you would rather live in the DELTA rather than nwa just cuz of some squareheads that moved here? Don't get me wrong, I like the delta for its duck hunting, buy would NEVER live over there!

IT a great place to live if you like a quiet country life.   Going to College at UALR ruined me! I love visiting the Delta and I even vacation in the Delta but I can not move back it is too slow for me nowdays.   NWA is not as nice today as it was in the Early 1990's, Too much No abla english.

[Hooch]

I LOVE LAMP!

Im not reading this whole thread but if it made it this far without that comment I am dissapoint.

[josh_sec33]

I was about to come make that comment.

Darn it.

[ADinWaiting]

No where in your rambling incoherent response did you come close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. We are all dumber for having read it. I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.
 

[hogslobber]

Joe Johnson was actually from Longview, Tx.  Just saying.

" Just saying."


I see this all the time.


What does this mean ?

[tusksincolorado]

Drink up and get the Hell outta here!

Really, I miss my youth and college years..........it was so simple then. Go to class, drunk on weekends, chase girls, work a part-time gig then call home asking Dad and Mom to send me up some more money! Going to OK to Buy Coors.

Hell, somebody tell me why I wanted to grow up an be a adult again?

[Jack The BN]

Who is Robert Shields?

[Wild Bill Hog]

Who is Robert Shields?

He's become the starter of multi-page threads.  I'm still amazed.