The biggest storyline for Arkansas entering Saturday’s game against Texas is the health of their starting quarterback. Taylen Green went down with an injury against Ole Miss, nearly two weeks ago. Having a bye has certainly helped and now, Green is listed as probable per the latest injury report.

But in a world where Green cannot play, Malachi Singleton is the backup for Arkansas. Thankfully, there is a ton of confidence in Singleton from his head coach. Sam Pittman was impressed with what he did against Ole Miss after Green’s injury. If Arkansas has to play Singleton, there is “belief” in him.

“Great job of throwing the football,” Pittman said of Singleton’s performance vs. Ole Miss. “Throwing it early. Very accurate and ran over some people. Malachi played extremely well. We’re glad we have him and have a lot of belief in him when he goes in the game. That certainly helped.”

The snaps Singleton took were not too competitive as Ole Miss ran away with a 63-31 win. Even so, the stats back up what Pittman was saying. Singleton threw for 207 yards and a touchdown while completing 11 of 14 throws. Ground game was not too shabby either, having 44 yards and a score on just eight carries.

Before the Ole Miss game, Singleton’s last real stretch of play was in the opener against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He threw for 120 yards on 10 attempts and rushed for a touchdown.

Right now, the hope is for Green to be available for Saturday. The Texas game means a lot to the people of Fayetteville, just think about the scene there after the win back in 2021. Green has been Arkansas’ guy all season and will start if completely healthy.

Having a quality backup quarterback is a major plus in today’s college football, though. Singleton is more than capable of moving the ball well in Bobby Petrino‘s offense. The numbers from limited playing time this season show as such.

CAVE CITY — Mention Cave City and many Arkansans immediately think of the immensely popular watermelons grown here. But those big green-striped watermelons with the authentic Cave City watermelon seal are not the only claim to fame for this northeast Arkansas town.

Located in a historic rock building in downtown Cave City, Bailey’s Family Restaurant is drawing locals and visitors to try its home-style cooking, including its most famous offering — The Caveman Burger, which was recently named Arkansas’ Best Burger by the Arkansas Beef Council.

To check out this monster burger — the single has a 2-pound patty with a 9-inch bun — my sister and I headed to Cave City on a recent Saturday, arriving near the lunch peak. Most of the restaurant’s 20 or so tables were occupied with folks enjoying a variety of dishes from the extensive menu, including the daily specials, which included a brisket plate ($13.99), an open-faced roast beef plate ($11.99), a half-rack rib plate ($16.99) and vegetable beef soup ($6.99). Although the specials sounded very good, especially after having only yogurt for breakfast before our two-hour drive from Little Rock, I was there on a mission — to check out the state’s best burger.

When the waitress arrived to take our order, she smiled as she issued a warning about the Caveman’s unusual size. Unfazed, I told her I would take what I didn’t finish home in a box. My sister, a fried catfish aficionado, ordered a fried catfish dinner with plans to also sample my burger. For drinks, we each ordered sweet tea.

As we waited for our order, a waitress brought food to the customers at the table next to us.

    Papa Bills two-piece fried catfish dinner comes with fries, hushpuppies, coleslaw, tartar sauch, onion, pickled tomatoes and pinto beans. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)  

“Oh my God,” one person said as a Caveman Burger order was delivered to their table, complete with a large steak knife planted in the middle of the sesame-seed bun. It is hard to imagine just how big they are until your order arrives.

I ordered mine with a single patty and American cheese ($24.99). You can also add bacon, and if you are really ravenous and/or brave, there is the double patty version ($31.99). I added an order of fries. My sister got the Papa Bill’s two-piece catfish dinner ($12.99), which came with fries, hush puppies, pinto beans, coleslaw, onions, pickled tomatoes and tartar sauce.

I asked for all the fixings and the waitress suggested I get them on the side so that the burger wouldn’t get too “mushy,” especially if there were leftovers for the trip home. My order was delivered on a platter with the giant burger on one side and a plate with mustard, mayonnaise, onions, dill pickles lettuce and tomato on the other. The handmade patty, made daily from fresh, not frozen, ground beef, was covered with what appeared to be at least four, maybe five, melted cheese slices.

I used the knife to cut the burger in half, and then cut each half into thirds. Each third was about the size of a regular burger. I could have easily cut the thirds into slider-size and fed three or more people.

Does anyone finish the Caveman in one sitting, I asked? Yes, there have been a few, including two young girls, ages 8 and 9, who managed, much to the restaurant staff’s amazement, to polish one off at the restaurant.

My burger was truly grilled to perfection — well done throughout but not overcooked. The combination of the moist burger, toasted bun and fresh fixings created the perfect traditional cheeseburger. While I am not opposed to trying burgers with exotic seasonings and toppings, just give me an old-fashioned burger like the Caveman, and I will be completely satisfied.

What about the catfish? My sister gave it a thumbs up, noting that it was among the best she has had. She especially enjoyed the side of pinto beans, which reminded both of us of those made by our mother. I sampled the fish, which was straight out of the fryer. The traditional cornmeal-based breading was just right — not too thick or too thin — while the fish was moist and flaky.

    Shelly Bailey (left), Andi Bailey (center) and McKee Bailey proudly hold their Arkansas Best Burger poster. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)  

BEST BURGER CONTEST

Although the Caveman and the restaurant’s other dishes have been a hit for a while now, their popularity has gotten a big boost since the Arkansas Beef Council, which promotes research and market development for the beef industry, named the Caveman burger the state’s best burger last month.

It was the first year for the contest, which got more than 2,400 nominations for more than 410 different burgers, according to a news release from the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Ten finalists were named.

“The Caveman burger received the highest score among the finalists from an anonymous panel of judges with evaluations based on the taste of the burger patty, appearance and presentation, proper cooking, and overall impression,” the news release said.

    The Caveman burger is made with two pounds of ground beef and a nine-inch bun. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)  

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Bailey’s Family Restaurant is owned by Andi Bailey and operated by her sister McKee and her parents, Scott and Shelly, who “work together alongside a staff that feels like part of the family,” according to the news release.

In addition to catfish and burgers, Bailey’s offers:

Granny Marlene’s Baskets of hand-battered chicken tenders, chicken fritters and butterfly shrimp served with fries, slaw and roll. ($9.99 to $11.99)

Papa Frank’s Burgers and Sandwiches, including regular-size burgers ($7.99 to $13.99), a patty melt ($9.99), grilled chicken sandwich ($8.99), fried bologna sandwich ($6.99) and several more.

Appetizers such as battered mushrooms ($5.99), cheese curds ($5.99), fried pickles ($5.99), chips and queso ($5.99) and chips and salsa ($3.99)

Bailey’s also offers daily lunch specials such as those mentioned above, and a list of desserts far too long to name here, including the restaurant’s bestseller, strawberry delight, and in season, the city’s famous watermelon. We bought a piece of triple-chocolate cheesecake and an order of strawberry delight, which was made with vanilla cake, whipped cream and strawberries, to go. After returning home, we enjoyed those desserts, as well as our leftovers, and agreed that our trip to Cave City and Bailey’s was certainly worth the drive.

    Bailey’s Family Restaurant in Cave City. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)  

    The Caveman burger can easily feed more than one person. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)  

    The triple chocolate cheesecake is a chocolate-lover’s delight. (Special to the Democrat-Gazette/Sheila Yount)  

Bailey’s Family Restaurant

• Where: 207 S. Main St.
• Cave City
• (870) 916-2195
• facebook.com/baileyscountrycookin/
• Hours: Wednesday-Saturday: 11 a.m. to 7:45 p.m.
• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Shirley Stewart is the new assistant director at Arkansas Tech Career Center.

“I am thrilled to join the ATCC team, where every day presents an opportunity to support and empower students in the pursuit of growth and success, said Stewart. “I believe that all education is relevant, especially when it directly connects individuals to the skills and knowledge they need to thrive both inside and outside the classroom. The relationships we build — whether with students, parents, faculty, high schools or industry partners — are the cornerstone of meaningful growth and a stronger community. Together, we are not just preparing individuals for careers. We are helping elevate the state of Arkansas by building a skilled, resilient workforce. It is both humbling and inspiring to be a part of this journey.”

Stewart has previously served Arkansas Tech University as assessment coordinator at ATU-Ozark Campus from 2021-24 and as an administrative specialist III at ATU-Ozark from 2018-21. Through those roles, she gained experience in leadership and supervision, team management, program development, educational workshop design and implementation, mentorship, student success initiatives, stakeholder engagement, online learning content creation, event planning, budget management and regulatory compliance.

She has also provided tecnhnological and academic support for faculty and students through admissions, registration and career development processes.

“We are pleased to welcome Shirley Stewart to the ATCC team,” said Arron DeGracia, ATCC director. “With her extensive experience at ATU-Ozark Campus, where she served in multiple roles, she brings invaluable knowledge in the alignment of our programs. Her expertise in curriculum development, assessment and instruction will be instrumental in elevating program quality and enriching the educational experience for our students”.

Stewart holds a Master of Education degree in instructional technology and design from Arkansas Tech and a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational leadership from Rogers State University.

ATCC is serving approximately 815 students from 21 area school districts and K-12 entities during the fall 2024 semester. The main ATCC location is on the Russellville High School campus.

For more information about Arkansas Tech Career Center and its programs, visit www.atu.edu/careercenter.