From the Bench - Presenting the 2015 Benchies to Recognize Outstanding Accomplishments in Sports

[Robert Shields]

Presenting the 2015 Benchies to Recognize Outstanding Accomplishments in Sports

Robert Shields

In the spirit of the "Hogspy Awards" that the University of Arkansas athletic department hands out every year to recognize the most memorable moments in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service, if you buy that, From the Bench awards its own version, the "Benchies," to recognize those who have made their mark in the past year in the athletic kingdom. 

We all know the most important award to Razorback athletics is fundraising, but here are the rest. So let's award some Benchies for the more "memorable" moments of the last 12 months.

"Trending Award" – The Boot
Photos of the aftermath of the Razorback victory over LSU with the team and fans celebrating the return of the Golden Boot left a lasting imprint from the season. After shutting out LSU in Fayetteville, the team streaked across the field to seize the Boot from the LSU sideline and then lofted it high and took it out onto the field. It was a jubilant moment and it played out on Facebook and whatever your favorite social media outlet is.

"Improved Award" – Bret Bielema
Mike Anderson could have won this award again by making the NCAA tournament and winning a first-round game. It very well may have been the best team in basketball since 1999 with Derek Hood and Kareem Reid. But in the end, it goes to Bret Bielema, who more than doubled his number of wins and won a bowl game against the Texas Longhorns curb stomping them. That's always a great way to end your season. 

"Karma Award" – Steve Spurrier
We all know who won this award last year and is responsible for the name, but this year it goes to Steve Spurrier. A year after putting a beatdown on Arkansas and saying the Razorbacks will have to recruit their way out of this mess when they were going 3-9, the Gamecocks were terrible while the Hogs just kept getting better and better. For Bielema, the success he enjoyed last year was more than just good recruiting -- it was good coaching and preparation, unlike Spurrier's season.

"The Newbie Award" – Jimmy Dykes
With no head-coaching experience, Dykes was inexplicably given the women's basketball job at Arkansas. He won this award last year also, but he is still the newbie. Some told me he turned the women's basketball season around. I have no reason to doubt them.

"Disappointment Award' – Razorback Football Team
I know this seems odd since I have done nothing but praise the football team, which finished strong winning three out of its last four games and shutting out two ranked opponents in back-to-back games. The disappointment comes from losing so many tight games. The team lost a heartbreaker to Texas A&M in overtime. It was a game where the Razorback outplayed the Aggies most of the game and was the superior team. The Hogs then went on to drop other very close games including one to Alabama where a fumble out of the back of the end zone cost the Razorbacks seven points and to compound it they also missed an extra point and lost the game 13-14. The losses to Mississippi State and Missouri were almost as equally as painful. The more I am typing the more I am beginning to wonder why we are all so optimistic about next season.

"Tweeter Award" – Jeff Long
Love him or hate him, this guy knows how to work Twitter. Maybe he should teach a class for student athletes and famous people how to do it appropriately. He has many loyal followers and has composed thousands of tweets yet never once alleged that he's been hacked as an excuse for a bad tweet. That's awesome. I have noticed some recruits and athletes in the past even retweet his tweets. Long won this last year and looks to be a one-man dynasty with a lock on this award for years to come unless he takes another job somewhere that leads to a Twitter meltdown.

"New Jack City Award" – Jason Henry
"Are you my brother's keeper?" It's OK if you don't get the early 1990s reference. And if that is the case, you probably also don't get the rivalry with Texas, which is not OK. Two years, this award went to Dakota Mosely and last year to Josh Melton. When you get charged with human trafficking... well, never mind.

"Hero Award" – Dominique Reed
Two years ago this award went to Alex Collins, and last year it was Bijhon Jackson. The award has typically gone to an incoming freshman with the most pressure on him to perform at an All-American level. Rafe Peavey was a close runner up last year. This year it goes to a junior college transfer who is not even on campus yet.  The award goes to Dominique Reed as the team needs his big-play potential. Collins and Jackson did not disappoint, so the bar is high for Reed to perform.



What are your awards? Send them to fromthebench@yahoo.com.

[Boardon Hamsay]

"Did Not Read Award"- Doug, Iceman, Ricepig, Inhogswetrust, zane, Harry Rex Vonner, Calling All Hogs, onebadrubi, duckman, Dwight K Shrute, HoginTennessee, and LSUFan for being among the best at "Did Not Read" pic and gif mockery.  My hat's off to you, fellas.






P.S. Did Not Read

[Boardon Hamsay]

Obligatory From the Bench gif.


No offense.

[Inhogswetrust]

Did not read...................................sorry no gif. Cue em up if you've got em.

[ricepig]

"Did Not Read Award"- Doug, Iceman, Ricepig, Inhogswetrust, zane, Harry Rex Vonner, Calling All Hogs, onebadrubi, duckman, Dwight K Shrute, HoginTennessee, and LSUFan for being among the best at "Did Not Read" pic and gif mockery.  My hats off to you, fellas.






P.S. Did Not Read

Thank you, thank you very much....

[CattleCorn]

[The_Iceman]

I am trying to create new ones, here is my first of many to come:

[Calling All Hogs]

In the spirit of the "Hogspy Awards" that the University of Arkansas athletic department hands out every year to recognize the most memorable moments in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service, if you buy that, From the Bench awards its own version, the "Benchies," to recognize those who have made their mark in the past year in the athletic kingdom. 

[Bigdavis]

You gotta hand it to ole Robert Shields. He sure is persistent. He's been writing these crappy columns and getting made fun of for like a decade now. Still keeps coming back for more every week.

[Calling All Hogs]

[Hog_Swanson]

[Hogfaniam]

I would give the disappointment award to the softball team. I mean, 1-23 in the SEC?

Robert, Not bad, for a change, other than the proofing

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

You gotta hand it to ole Robert Shields. He sure is persistent. He's been writing these crappy columns and getting made fun of for like a decade now. Still keeps coming back for more every week.

I'd buy the bastage a beer...

[MissippHog]

[Seebs]

The Narcissism award goes to, and is presented by, and being accepted by - Robert Shields.
Because Robert Shields is in his dressing room adoring himself, Robert Shields will accept on Robert Shield's behalf.

[Mr. Porkleone]

Missed out on one:

Worst Poster Award: Robert Sheilds

[Robert Shields]

You gotta hand it to ole Robert Shields. He sure is persistent. He's been writing these crappy columns and getting made fun of for like a decade now. Still keeps coming back for more every week.

Hard to believe but I started back in 1997 and its been in syndication since 2000.

[Robert Shields]

I would give the disappointment award to the softball team. I mean, 1-23 in the SEC?

Wow, I will take that as a friendly amendment.

[Inhogswetrust]

Robert, Not bad, for a change, other than the proofing

Maybe he needs a "Didn't Proofread GIF"..................

[The_Iceman]

Hard to believe but I started back in 1997 and its been in syndication since 2000.

Wow, I will take that as a friendly amendment.

[Dwight_K_Shrute]

"Did Not Read Award"- Doug, Iceman, Ricepig, Inhogswetrust, zane, Harry Rex Vonner, Calling All Hogs, onebadrubi, duckman, Dwight K Shrute, HoginTennessee, and LSUFan for being among the best at "Did Not Read" pic and gif mockery.  My hat's off to you, fellas.






P.S. Did Not Read

It's an honor just to be nominated.

[Porked Tongue]

[Oklahawg]

I must admit - at night when I am struggling to fall asleep and nothing seems to help I remember HV and Robert Shields. I log on and go find the latest pearl of wisdom to read.

Then, before I start, I bludgeon myself over the head for even considering wasting one breath of my life reading From the Bench. The bludgeoning usually produces unconsciousness.

[DeltaBoy]

Cute article Robert.

[tusksincolorado]

Why.....just why.

[zane]

[Doug]

A camera's view of what happens to us as we attempt to read a RS post (AKA, why we DID NOT READ. We're holding the camera here...)



That being said... obligatory DNR GIfs...



I was going to include more, but after finding this one... I can't... I just can't.

[duckman]

[supersaint]

Time to write another article.

[hoglady]

I liked it.
Don't know why ya'll give him such a hard time.

[duckman]

I liked it.
Don't know why ya'll give him such a hard time.

[Calling All Hogs]

[Porked Tongue]

[Boardon Hamsay]

.

[Doug]

SJL&ASFP, not too many people are gonna get that last one... but EPICALLY DONE, Sir!

If you don't understand the last image, look up "Jimmy McMillan" and "Rent is too damn high".

[duckman]

[urkillnmesmalls]

Hard to believe but I started back in 1997 and its been in syndication since 2000.

It seems almost unfathomable that it took a full three years of you writing this to yourself every day before you were picked up by the Guy-Perkins Tribune and the Possum Hollow Herald.  Please remind us again, who puts this in their newspaper?  I could use a good chuckle in addition to the one where you profess to be "syndicated."

BTW...if your ploy is to write this and come back a day or two later to laugh at the "Did Not Read, LOL" GIF's, then I completely understand.  That would be a clever ploy on your part.  In that regard, I really do enjoy you being around Hogville.  Some of them are priceless.           

[Bigdavis]

SJL&ASFP, not too many people are gonna get that last one... but EPICALLY DONE, Sir!

If you don't understand the last image, look up "Jimmy McMillan" and "Rent is too damn high".

Uh? What? That's a super famous skit and has become an even more famous meme.

[Harley_Hawg]

.

[PORKULATOR]

I must admit - at night when I am struggling to fall asleep and nothing seems to help I remember HV and Robert Shields. I log on and go find the latest pearl of wisdom to read.

Then, before I start, I bludgeon myself over the head for even considering wasting one breath of my life reading From the Bench. The bludgeoning usually produces unconsciousness.

or you could just walk outside and see how ugly Oklahoma and all its people are, hide your meth and pass out from disappointment.

[Nipsey Mussle]

In the spirit of the "Hogspy Awards" that the University of Arkansas athletic department hands out every year to recognize the most memorable moments in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service, if you buy that, From the Bench awards its own version, the "Benchies," to recognize those who have made their mark in the past year in the athletic kingdom. 

Hey, I finally made it through an entire paragraph of this drivel! Sadly, it was a disaster and one agonizing, never-ending sentence.
Otherwise, it's very awesome work, Robert!

[FelixJonesorDMAC?]

[josh_sec33]

"Disappointment Award' – Razorback Football Team

I disagree. I thought RS earned this one for this year's season of FTB.

Which of course, I didnt read. I skimmed the headings.

[sowmonella]

Sigh....................

[Ex-Trumpet]

I actually read this...up until the "Disappointment Award."  Then I stopped and realized that the drivel you typed trumped anything relevant that may have come before or after.  Moron.  Maybe get away from the computer and start using your pencil again.

[NaturalStateReb]

Presenting the 2015 Benchies to Recognize Outstanding Accomplishments in Sports

Robert Shields

In the spirit of the “Hogspy Awards” that the University of Arkansas athletic department hands out every year to recognize the most memorable moments in athletics, academics, leadership, and community service, if you buy that, From the Bench awards its own version, the “Benchies,” to recognize those who have made their mark in the past year in the athletic kingdom. 

We all know the most important award to Razorback athletics is fundraising, but here are the rest. So let’s award some Benchies for the more “memorable” moments of the last 12 months.

“Trending Award” – The Boot
Photos of the aftermath of the Razorback victory over LSU with the team and fans celebrating the return of the Golden Boot left a lasting imprint from the season. After shutting out LSU in Fayetteville, the team streaked across the field to seize the Boot from the LSU sideline and then lofted it high and took it out onto the field. It was a jubilant moment and it played out on Facebook and whatever your favorite social media outlet is.

“Improved Award” – Bret Bielema
Mike Anderson could have won this award again by making the NCAA tournament and winning a first-round game. It very well may have been the best team in basketball since 1999 with Derek Hood and Kareem Reid. But in the end, it goes to Bret Bielema, who more than doubled his number of wins and won a bowl game against the Texas Longhorns curb stomping them. That’s always a great way to end your season. 

“Karma Award” – Steve Spurrier
We all know who won this award last year and is responsible for the name, but this year it goes to Steve Spurrier. A year after putting a beatdown on Arkansas and saying the Razorbacks will have to recruit their way out of this mess when they were going 3-9, the Gamecocks were terrible while the Hogs just kept getting better and better. For Bielema, the success he enjoyed last year was more than just good recruiting -- it was good coaching and preparation, unlike Spurrier’s season.

“The Newbie Award” – Jimmy Dykes
With no head-coaching experience, Dykes was inexplicably given the women’s basketball job at Arkansas. He won this award last year also, but he is still the newbie. Some told me he turned the women’s basketball season around. I have no reason to doubt them.

“Disappointment Award’ – Razorback Football Team
I know this seems odd since I have done nothing but praise the football team, which finished strong winning three out of its last four games and shutting out two ranked opponents in back-to-back games. The disappointment comes from losing so many tight games. The team lost a heartbreaker to Texas A&M in overtime. It was a game where the Razorback outplayed the Aggies most of the game and was the superior team. The Hogs then went on to drop other very close games including one to Alabama where a fumble out of the back of the end zone cost the Razorbacks seven points and to compound it they also missed an extra point and lost the game 13-14. The losses to Mississippi State and Missouri were almost as equally as painful. The more I am typing the more I am beginning to wonder why we are all so optimistic about next season.

“Tweeter Award” – Jeff Long
Love him or hate him, this guy knows how to work Twitter. Maybe he should teach a class for student athletes and famous people how to do it appropriately. He has many loyal followers and has composed thousands of tweets yet never once alleged that he’s been hacked as an excuse for a bad tweet. That’s awesome. I have noticed some recruits and athletes in the past even retweet his tweets. Long won this last year and looks to be a one-man dynasty with a lock on this award for years to come unless he takes another job somewhere that leads to a Twitter meltdown.

“New Jack City Award” – Jason Henry
“Are you my brother’s keeper?” It’s OK if you don’t get the early 1990s reference. And if that is the case, you probably also don’t get the rivalry with Texas, which is not OK. Two years, this award went to Dakota Mosely and last year to Josh Melton. When you get charged with human trafficking… well, never mind.

“Hero Award” – Dominique Reed
Two years ago this award went to Alex Collins, and last year it was Bijhon Jackson. The award has typically gone to an incoming freshman with the most pressure on him to perform at an All-American level. Rafe Peavey was a close runner up last year. This year it goes to a junior college transfer who is not even on campus yet.  The award goes to Dominique Reed as the team needs his big-play potential. Collins and Jackson did not disappoint, so the bar is high for Reed to perform.



What are your awards? Send them to fromthebench@yahoo.com.

I just knew I was getting a Benchie for Best Hogville Poster.

The disappointment is palpable.  I will now soothe my wounds in the healing balm of Busch Light.

[Grag T]

...

[thirrdegreetusker]

.........turn around, son, you're missing the important stuff...........

[Oklahawg]

or you could just walk outside and see how ugly Oklahoma and all its people are, hide your meth and pass out from disappointment.

Glad to see Robert has a dance partner at the end of the evening.

[sowmonella]

Please stop.