Caller Gets Former Razorback QB Matt Jones to Reveal Ole Miss Streaker Was Friend of His

Summer promise ended with pat on the backside, opportunity to wear chancellor's trench coat

Author:
Kent Smith
Publish date:
May 17, 2023 3:30 PM EDT

In this story:

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Just over 20 years ago, Brenton Poole ran onto the field at Razorback Stadium in the midst of a homecoming game against Ole Miss and patted Arkansas quarterback Matt Jones on the backside before eventually being tackled by security.

On Tuesday, after being asked by a caller about what the streaker said to him on the field during an ESPN radio show he hosts with Phil Elson in Fayetteville, Jones revealed the culprit was actually a friend of his.

"That summer [after my freshman year], me and one of my buddies, we were all out at the lake and he said I am going to streak during the Ole Miss game, and we're like whatever, and sure enough he did it," Jones said. "It was a group we were hanging with that summer. I don't remember where we were. It was 20 something years ago in college."

The Razorbacks were up 27-14 in what would be a 20-point win against the Eli Manning led Rebels and running back Fred Talley had just reeled off seven yards on the opening carry of the half. As Jones gathered his team to call the next play, unbeknownst to him, his buddy sprinted onto the field from the north end zone sporting a Hog hat and a red thong with an Ole Miss Rebels doll dangling off the front, and the word "Hogs" scrawled across his chest. He also remembered to keep on a quality pair of shoes.

Jones told the caller that he couldn't remember what Poole said to him on the field, but he did recall a rather threatening statement by future NFL draft pick Bo Lacy as the 300-pound offensive lineman steadied himself to protect his teammates from potential harm.

"[Lacy] was about to knock him out," Jones said. "The players, we were all in the huddle, right? Before I knew [Poole] was on there [and] Bo Lacy was saying something to me about it. He's lucky he came up to me because if he had come up to one of those linemen he would have caught one in my chest. That's Bo Lacy, from Newport. He was one of my favorites."

Lacy did manage to get a bit of a shove on Poole before he started walking between the huddles, setting up a tackle by Sgt. Bill Carver of the Arkansas State Police, drawing a loud roar from the crowd. Several other officers swarmed Poole off the field and was eventually provided a trench coat to cover himself by former Arkansas Chancellor John White.

."After the fan came out, we got back in the huddle and said `Let's get back focused,"' Talley said after the game. "Ole Miss could have got caught up in that a little bit. We just stayed mentally focused. It kind of got me fired up a little bit because it was a crucial point in the game."

The moment apparently rattled Ole Miss more than the Razorbacks. Talley responded by breaking a couple of tackles behind the line of scrimmage and cutting off blocks by Shawn Andrews and Jason Peters for a 64-yard run up the right side. That set up a 5-yard touchdown by fellow running back De'Arrius Howard where Andrews, Peters and fullback Mark Pierce plowed a hole so wide he literally walked in. The Rebels fumbled the ensuing kickoff and Thomas Crowder recovered it in the end zone to extend the lead to 41-14 in the blink of an eye.

While Poole was charged with disorderly conduct and eventually released on a $250 from the Fayetteville jail, Jones said he appreciated that his friend was a man of his word despite interrupting a Razorback win.

"It was [just after] my freshman year," Jones. "He's like I'm gonna streak and we're just like whatever dude. You just go on about your way and sure enough he did it. If only more people would tell the truth and be honest."