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Williams big target in Arkansas attackROBERT YATESARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE LAS VEGAS -- Fitz Hill knows the way to San Jose and that his wide receivers are still part of Arkansas' game plan for the Las Vegas Bowl against UNLV on Thursday at Sam Boyd Stadium. Emphasis on receivers. "No question about it,'' Hill said, referring to senior Michael Snowden, sophomore Sparky Hamilton and freshman Richard Smith. "They've never been taken out of the game plan.'' Maybe not, but there's no question who sophomore quarterback Robby Hampton's main man was in the final three games of the regular season. It was senior Boo Williams. Williams caught 17 passes against Tennessee, Mississippi State and LSU. Smith, Hamilton and Snowden combined for five catches over the same span. Snowden, who had two touchdown receptions as a junior in 1998 against Alabama, hasn't caught a pass in almost two months. Hamilton seemed poised for a breakout stretch run after catching four passes for 65 yards in a 21-19 loss at Auburn on Oct. 28. He caught one pass in the final three regular-season games. Even Smith, who set an Arkansas freshman single-season record for receptions with 33, saw his production take a hit during the final three weeks with only four catches. Hill's explanation for the late-season distribution is sound. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. The Razorbacks won two of their last three and are bowling for the third consecutive season. "I think our quarterbacks favor Boo, and why not?'' said Hill, who becomes San Jose State's full-time head coach after Christmas. "He's done it, and so you have that comfort level in knowing, hey, you've got a great opportunity to get him the ball and letting him do something with it. "I don't see it as much as those guys have disappeared as much as the opportunities to do so.'' Hill said extreme weather and a rejuvenated running game were other major reasons why Smith, Hamilton and Snowden had their touches limited in the final three games. Snow and sleet fell against Mississippi State, while the conditions against LSU were better suited for retrieving ducks than footballs. Besides, the Razorbacks found a winning formula against Mississippi State and LSU with freshman tailback Brandon Holmes' bulldozing style of running and Hampton throwing mainly safe passes to Williams on short out routes along the sideline. "Our offense is based around, probably, Boo,'' said Hamilton, who finished the regular season with 16 receptions for 205 yards. "Coaches think he's the playmaker, but I think we have other receivers who are just as good as him. If Robby sees the field, I think we'll all get passes this week. "The object is to still the win the game. I got some catches here and there, but I'll wait my time. It's Boo's time right now. When Boo leaves, or even for this game, Robby's going to have a feel [for who to throw to]. Whoever's hot, he's going to go to.'' Snowden is confident, if given the chance, that he also will deliver against the Rebels. His 18 receptions during the regular season ranked third behind Williams (52) and Smith. "I think it's going to go the same way as it has been in practice this week, getting other guys involved with the ballgame,'' Snowden said. "I'm looking forward to it. I think I've had good preparation, gotten more balls thrown to me in practice time. All that does is carry over to the game.'' An Arkansas victory, stamped by a strong performance from Snowden, Hamilton and Smith, would be the perfect send-off for Hill, who also doubled as recruiting coordinator and was responsible for getting the three players to Fayetteville. "I think given the opportunities for them to make plays, they'll do it,'' Hill said. "Hopefully, we'll have great weather conditions here. I'm hoping so for those young guys, so they will have some momentum going into next year for spring ball.'' UA RECEIVING LEADERS
This article was published on Wednesday, December 20, 2000RETURN to main page
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