Former Longhorn Has Strange Recollection of Mistake Against Arkansas

Former Razorback star will be surprised to know he apparently faced Texas that year also

Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones tries to get around Minnesota linebacker Terrance Campbell in the first half. Minnesota defeated No. 25 Arkansas 29-14 before 39,183 in the Music City Bowl in Nashville Dec. 30, 2002. / Randy Piland / The Tennessean, Nashville Tennessean via Imagn Content Services, LLC

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Former Texas Longhorn Derrick Johnson is one of few players or fans from that side of the fence talking about the Arkansas Razorbacks, but even his memory seems to be a little foggy despite playing in the game he attempted to describe.

He begins his recollection by setting the table. It's 2004. Texas is in Fayetteville for a big game in front of what he is expecting to be an especially hostile crowd.

He looks across the way way and there's future two-time Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden. Next to him is a player who should generate a record scratch for anyone who followed the Razorbacks around this time as Johnson struggles to remember the name.

"Who's that tall quarterback that they had?" Johnson asks before the rest of the 3rd & Longhorn room replies immediately with "Matt Jones."

Derrick Johnson reveals a never before heard piece of information about the 2004 Texas vs. Arkansas game. You have to hear it to believe it!

Check out the full episode now previewing #3 Texas’ matchup at Arkansas #LinkInBio#Texas #TexasFootball #CollegeFootball #TexasLonghorns… pic.twitter.com/FxPLnWEVwr

— 3rd & Longhorn (@3rdandlonghorn) November 14, 2024

It's not that Jones didn't play in that game. He was indeed the quarterback leading what would become a 5-6 Arkansas team in a 22-20 loss to No. 7 Texas. It was McFadden, the star running back Johnson easily remembers as the first Razorback he mentions who wasn't in the backfield that day.

While Peyton Hillis, whom Johnson name drops later in his story, was a freshman fullback that season, he wouldn't join the three-headed monster with McFadden and Felix Jones in putting up over 2,000 yards until the following season. Had McFadden been in that game, that two-point Texas lead likely wouldn't have held.

Arkansas Razorbacks tailback Darren McFadden (5) carries against the LSU Tigers in overtime at Tiger Stadium. The Arkansas Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 50-48 in triple overtime. / John David Mercer-Imagn Images

Especially considering the story Johnson was attempting to tell. The atmosphere had him so riled up before the game, he wasn't thinking clearly when he went out for the coin flip.

Arkansas threw things for a loop by choosing to defer until the second half. Rather than realizing he needed to elect to receive, Johnson had it so drilled into his head what he expected to happen on the coin toss that he accidentally opted to kick off to Arkansas in the first half also.

"We won the game 22-20 and I gave them an extra possession," Johnson said. "I'll always remember. I'm glad we won that game. When I was going to the sideline they was like 'They won the toss? They deferred? Why are we kicking?' I'm like 'I thought you said kick it.'"

HOGS FEED:

• Sarkisian taking lessons from rest of SEC on Arkansas

• REACTION: Strong Second Half, Big Z Lead Hogs to Victory

• Can Razorbacks continue defensive dominance? | Locked on Razorbacks

• Three storytelling stats from Arkansas' win over Troy

• Ivisic catches fire to bail out Hogs against Troy

• Subscribe and follow us on YouTube
• Follow HogsSI on X and Facebook