Hogs try to keep spirit high FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas players are determined to show they’re a better team than the one that has taken two consecutive beatings.
“We’re [ticked ] off,” tight end Andrew Davie said Tuesday. “That’s a simple way to put it. We haven’t come out and performed like we can, and we’re trying to change that. We’re working our [rears ] off.” The Razorbacks staged nice comebacks to win their first two games but have been trampled early and often by top-five teams Alabama and Texas in the past two games.
“It’s tough, especially when you look at the last two losses and the way we’ve lost them,” senior center Jonathan Luigs said. “It’s embarrassing to be on the field, very embarrassing for us as a team and for the state of Arkansas.” After Saturday’s 52-10 loss at Texas, tailback Michael Smith said: “It’s extremely frustrating, and it’s hard to hold your head up right now, but you’ve to regroup and come back tomorrow.” First-year Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said he was worried about the potential effect of lopsided losses.
“Yeah, certainly you worry about it in recruiting, and the attitude, the psyche of your players,” he said. “It’s something we talk to them about.
“ It is very, very important that we stick together, that we all understand we’re 2-2. It’s not pretty the way we got beat, but there’s a heck of a lot of football ahead of us. That we are a young team and we need to build and get better each week. So, yeah, it’s something you’re concerned about.” Luigs thinks a rebound is in order. “There’s really only one way to go, and that’s up,” he said. “We’ve seen the lowest of the low.” Grind the ground After being held to a seasonlow 11 rushing yards by Texas, the Razorbacks recognize they have to be able to establish something on the ground in the coming games.
Junior tailback Michael Smith averaged 124 yards against Louisiana-Monroe and Alabama, but the Longhorns limited him to 42 yards on 13 carries as the Razorbacks had trouble creating creases and virtually abandoned the run after falling behind early.
“We tried to get a little package that we definitely think we can execute in this game,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “We worked hard on that. That’s something we need to improve.” The Razorbacks rank last in the SEC and 109 th nationally with 90. 5 rushing yards per game.
Personnel update Defensive end Damario Ambrose and tight end Lance Thompson worked on the sidelines with injuries, along with linebacker Jelani Smith (hand ). Offensive lineman Kareem Crowell, who is recovering from shoulder surgery, appears to have hit a milestone by pulling a one-man sled behind him. Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said the status of Smith is still up in the air. Smith, a true freshman, sustained his hand injury in Week 2 and has not played since, making him eligible for a medical redshirt request.
Gator goofs Florida was the last team in the country to commit a turnover this season, but when the Gators did give it up, they were costly.
Florida had three turnovers, including fumbles on back-toback third-quarter snaps by offensive stars Percy Harvin and Tim Tebow, last week against Ole Miss. Those errors allowed the Rebels to score 10 consecutive points and tie the Gators at 17.
Tight end Aaron Hernandez lost a fumble after a 29-yard reception into Ole Miss territory at the 4: 45 mark of the second quarter, the Gators’ first turnover of the season.
Florida has zero turnovers in five of its past six games. Its plus-7 turnover margin is tied for fifth nationally.
Tough ‘D’ ahead It appears Arkansas will have to win shootouts this season, as the Razorbacks are allowing an SEC-worst 38 points per game, a figure that ranks 113 th among the 119 FBS teams. Holding its own in a shootout might be difficult for an Arkansas offense that ranks 96 th nationally at 20 points per game. Another item to consider is the national ranking in scoring defense for Arkansas’ next few opponents: No. 10 Florida (12. 5 ppg ), at No. 5 Auburn (10. 6 ) and at No. 1 Kentucky (5. 5 ).
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