Razorbacks safety Jalen Catalon talked after the game about getting the interception in the end zone against Alabama taken away on penalty.
Pool on loss to No. 1 Alabama, but says bowl game for Hogs would be big
Arkansas linebacker Bumper Pool said after the blowout loss against the Crimson Tide going to any bowl game would be big boost for program.
HALFTIME REPORT: Hogs’ poor offensive execution digs 38-3 hole
If anybody asks Sam Pittman about the execution of Arkansas’ offense in the first half against Alabama, he might be in favor of it.
No, not really, but as the Crimson Tide offense has methodically put up 226 yards, the Razorbacks have a total of 70 so the 38-3 Bama lead shouldn’t be surprising.
The Hogs’ offensive line has piled up numerous procedure penalties (moving at the line) and Eric Gregory alone on the defensive side has been drawn offsides by Tide quarterback Mac Jones apparently getting away with some creative snap counts.
Arkansas was in this game for most of the first half. It was 3-3 with 2:16 left in the first quarter when DeVonta Smith returned a punt up the middle of the field for 84 yards for a score that opened the floodgates.
Alabama got a pair of touchdowns from Najee Harris (1 yard, 5 yards) and Brian Robinson, Jr. (1 yard, 4 yards) while the Hogs’ offense just basically stumbled around.
Feleipe Franks started at quarterback for the Hogs, but didn’t have a lot of success and K.J. Jefferson is finding the going a little more difficult than he did last week against Missouri.
Franks had 33 yards in lost rushing yardage on sacks or failed scrambles while Arkansas’ inability to convert on third down (just 1-of-7) has led to the Crimson Tide getting the ball back to set up drives.
The Hogs got a 26-yard field goal from Matthew Phillips (replacing A.J. Reed who wasn’t getting much consistency) with 7:18 left in the first quarter after getting a first-and-goal before bogging down.
There is still a half to go, so spring practice may start for the Hogs with the second-half kickoff.
Making this game competitive, though, probably isn’t going to happen.
PETE’S PICKS: Some redeeming qualities from fans for Crimson Tide
The Arkansas Razorbacks conclude their shortened, SEC Conference-only games when they host Alabama on Saturday.
While many fans have a strong hatred for the Crimson Tide, the thought of how many SEC fans cling to them as the tip of the arrow for the conference (especially during bowl season) made me wonder if there are any redeeming qualities to the consistent national championship contender.
So I began to ask around, and here are a few of the likes and dislikes of the SEC’s finest.
Head coach Nick Saban – Like
Competitive. Insatiable in his desire to win. Successful. Clean.
If you can say you have ever met or know someone who is MORE competitive than Nick Saban then you are completely unfamiliar with Alabama’s head coach.
It does not matter if his team is down 30 or up 70, his goal is perfection from his staff and his players on every single snap of the ball. Anything else would be unworthy of his kindness, and he is quick to let the guilty party know of their mistake.
He also has 161 wins and 23 losses with 12 bowl victories, 8 SEC West titles, 6 SEC championships, and 5 national champions as the head coach at Alabama. Read that again if you need validation he is not a proven winner.
As far as we can tell, he runs a clean program. More on that shortly.
Fans – Dislike
Upon initial submission of this week’s piece I was informed I cannot use the term “candyasses” in an article. I replied I sure would like to as its usage would completely summarize the majority of their pretentious, pompous, egotistical, self-centered…. Wait, I need to relax. We are all familiar with their fanbase.
Even some of their lower-tier columnists are appalled if a fan of another team cannot name which of their Crimson Tide offensive linemen will be the first selected in the upcoming NFL draft, yet when asked about their thoughts on an opposing head coach their response will be akin to “I have not given him any thought and am unfamiliar.”
No, not every person rocking the heavy slab serif circular text is a displeasure with which to socialize. Yet, as in most cases, the most vocal represent the majority, and, win or lose, Alabama’s loudest are those displaying the least class.
“Whooooooa, Nellie” – Like
Who doesn’t love to hear Keith Jackson’s (not ours – the nation’s) beloved catch phrase followed by his ability to morph “the Crimson Tide of Alabama” into a one word phrase?
Their bevy of unrelated mascots – Dislike
What is it with the state of Alabama’s “two flagship” schools? Tigers, Crimson Tide, War Eagle, Elephants, Plainsmen, Red Elephants. Their inability to align themselves to a singular mascot is that of a six-year-old loading up her parents’ backseat with her entire collection of stuffed animals for a weekend visit to grandma’s. Somewhere in the halls of these schools a conversation has taken place similar to this:
“You can only pick one animal.”
“I cannot decide, Momma.” [Insert puppy dog eyes.]
“Okay, fine, sweetheart, you can take them all.”
Yes, I’ve read the stories behind each of these, and yes, I understand one is a chant; however, it’s just too much, although I must admit, it would be kind of cool if they someday started using a rat as an additional mascot to pay tribute to one of Nick Saban’s comments.
“Sweet Home Alabama” – Like
Okay, this has nothing to do with the Crimson Tide, but the opening guitar riff from Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1974 hit is one for which very few can resist without at least a hipster head bob.
Roll Tide – Dislike
Do not get me wrong, there’s nothing totally wrong with the chant. It’s a tradition recognized by so many.
What irks most outside of the Yellowhammer State is how the fans of the top program in the nation somehow get a kick out of taking rolls of toilet tissue, gluing them to Tide detergent boxes, and either toting them around on a stick or even going as far to mount them as head gear.
You heard me right, head gear people.
I mean if a state ever wanted to separate itself from the stigma it is just a bunch of dog raising hillbillies, then toting around such and odd tribute to the very thing for which your state is known might require some more abstract thought. I have been to Alabama; they have bakeries there. Think about it.
Their hatred for Lane Kiffin – Like
Any organization who has public discourse regarding their disdain for current Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin is not 100% bad.
Remember when Nick Saban gave Kiffin an earful in 2016 while the Tide held a 35-point lead over Western Kentucky with less than a minute to play in the game.
Over what?
A playcall from offensive coordinator Kiffin which did not sit well with Saban. When asked about the incident the head coach was quoted as saying, “There are no arguments. Those are called ass-chewings.”
Speaking of memories, do you recall the time the Alabama bus left Kiffin at the stadium following their national championship victory over Clemson? Do you remember when they left him again a year later in Atlanta?
If the latter was not bad enough, the program informed him the following week he would no longer be privy to travel with the Tide prior to that season’s national championship game.
Kiffin was about as welcome at Alabama as Mel Gibson would be at a Harvey Fierstein birthday party.
They don’t recruit and they never cheat – Dislike
Okay, that’s a falsehood on my behalf. They do recruit, and Saban is a relentless pro at it. My point is they do not have to.
Remember when a former Arkansas basketball coach said something along the lines of “We don’t recruit. We pick.” Yes, that. THAT all year long at Alabama.
Top players will sit the bench for multiple seasons at Bama when they could be an early starter at another D-I school. This is one reason why so many fans from across the nation despise what Saban has done in Tuscaloosa.
Despite some anonymous allegations and other rumblings regarding Apple Watches to players to monitor their health during the covid-19 quarantining, nothing comes to a prominent light of infractions during the Nick Saban era at Alabama.
None. Zero. Correct me if I have missed something.
They make the SEC money – Like
Like a lot of conferences the SEC has revenue sharing.
Arkansas receives a full share even when Chad Morris had the responsibility to start every post-game press conference with “Little disappointed tonight. Things didn’t go the way we’d hoped.”
Guess who of the 14 conference teams most commonly brings in the majority of the SEC revenue for distribution purposes.
Before you go on a mad ‘Google’ hunt, know the difference between generated income for the school and revenue earned for conference dispersal.
Arkansas has not beaten Alabama since 2006 – Dislike
Remember Leigh Tiffin? If you were older than four and a Razorback fan in 2006 I can almost guarantee you do.
Arkansas defeated Alabama 24–23 in double-overtime.
I cannot recall ever feeling as much sympathy for the performance of an opposing player as I did for that young man on that day. The Alabama kicker missed a 33-yard field goal in the first half, one from 30 in the fourth, and what would have been a victorious 37-yarder in the first overtime.
But that wasn’t the end of his day on that beautiful September Saturday.
Tiffin no doubt further provided himself lament when he missed an extra point wide right in the second overtime in Fayetteville. In only a matter of minutes,
Arkansas’s Jeremy Davis showed him proper technique in kicking the winning extra point following Mitch Mustain’s 11-yard touchdown pass on third down to tight end Ben Cleveland.
For clarity, while we have not beaten the Tide since 2006, there have been opportunities in close games. One heartbreaker (I believe) was in 2010 when No. 10 Arkansas had No. 1 Alabama down by 17 at the half.
However, during what would be a late fourth quarter drive by Alabama, two Arkansas defensive backs both had the same opportunity to intercept a Greg McElroy pass to seal the victory.
As only fate would allow the two backs crashed into one another, thus the ball fell haplessly to the ground.
One might ponder what would have happened to at least the Razorbacks program had the final score that day stayed in their favor.
Motorcycle ride for lunch anyone?
Honorable mentions:
Their hatred of Auburn – Like
Gulf Shores being called the Redneck Riviera – Dislike
They represent the SEC well – Like
The girl holding the “This is Our Conference” sign – Dislike
Their Affinity for Mullets – Undecided
There you have it. While I did not list anything specific regarding the game, its strategy, nor the countless other things to dislike about Alabama, you can see what the experts have to say on HitThatLine.com.
Also, listen to what Houston Nutt stated he would tell the team the night before facing #1 ranked Alabama when he visited with the fine hosts of The Morning Rush.
Arkansas keeps it close: Alabama 42, Arkansas 31.
Be certain to listen to the game Saturday at 11 a.m. at HitThatLine.com and on the air at ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
Quick SEC picks for Week 15
(Editor’s notes: Pete’s picks this week were to fill out a complete schedule so as to not be compared to the Big Ten as he was technically out of the competition with Andy Hodges before Halloween.)
Alabama at Arkansas: Tide by 11.
(9) Georgia at (25) Missouri: Bulldogs by 24.
Tennessee at Vanderbilt: Vols by 10.
LSU at (6) Florida: Gators by 17.
Auburn at Mississippi State: Tigers by 20.
Ole Miss at (5) Texas A&M: Aggies by 24.
Enjoy your Saturday no matter where you go or what you do.
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS
Go HOGS!!!
Ten things you need to know as Arkansas hosts Alabama on Saturday
Arkansas will conclude a regular season that many questioned would even happen Saturday at Razorback Stadium against No. 1 Alabama.
Whoever coined the phrase saving the best for last didn’t have the Crimson Tide in mind.
The game is set for 11 a.m. and will be televised by ESPN.
You can also listen to the game at HitThatLine.com HERE. The game is broadcast on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
10 things to know before kickoff
1. Last week in the final road game of the season, Arkansas fell 50-48 at Missouri on a game-winning 32-yard field goal at the horn. The Razorbacks momentarily held a 48-47 lead after junior wide receiver Mike Woods made a 14-yard touchdown grab in the back of the end zone with 43 seconds remaining and converted the ensuing 2-point conversion, snaring the ball after it deflected off a Missouri defender. The offense posted a season-high 48 points and 566 yards of total offense, the most since recording 661 against Mississippi State in 2016. Arkansas scored at least seven touchdowns in an SEC game for only the 12th time in program history and the first time since 2015.
2. Despite the abbreviated 10-game conference-only regular season schedule, sophomore wide receiver Treylon Burks has compiled one of the best seasons by a Razorback receiver in program history. Burks was injured in the first half against Mississippi State and missed the entire game against Auburn the next week. Against Missouri, he had 10 receptions and scored a touchdown while recording 206 receiving yards, the third-most in school history and the program’s fifth 200+ yard game. For the season, Burks has hauled in 49 catches for 804 yards (16.4 ypc), the third-highest mark in the SEC, and seven touchdowns appearing in just eight games. He is only three grabs and 66 yards away from moving inside the school’s single-season top 10 for most catches and yards in a season. Burks’ seven touchdown snatches are eighth-most in a single-season in program history and the most by a Hog receiver since Keon Hatcher in 2016 (8).
3. Redshirt junior running back Trelon Smith joined Burks posting a career day against Missouri, running for a career-best 172 yards (6.6 ypc) and three touchdowns on 26 carries. He is the first Hog to rush for three scores in a game since Rawleigh Williams III’s four touchdown game against Mississippi State in 2016 and recorded the first 170+ yard rushing game against an SEC opponent since Williams’ 180-yard outing against Ole Miss in 2016. Over the last three games, Smith has posted 318 rushing yards (7.1 ypc), two 100+ yard rushing games and five touchdowns. For the season, he ranks ninth in the SEC with 641 rushing yards.
4. Filling in for regular starter Feleipe Franks at Missouri, redshirt freshman quarterback K.J. Jefferson made his second career start, completing 18-of-33 passes for 274 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions, while also rushing for 32 yards and a touchdown. He became the first Razorback QB to throw for 270+ yards and three touchdowns with at least one rushing score since Ryan Mallet in 2010 against ULM (400 yards, three passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown).
5. Franks has tossed 17 touchdowns this year, the most at Arkansas since Austin Allen’s 25 touchdown passes in 2016. Completing 155-of-228 passes for 2,017 yards, Franks ranks fourth in the SEC in passing yards, passing yards per game (252.1) and passing efficiency (161.3), while placing fifth in passing touchdowns and yards per completion (13.01). He is the first Arkansas QB since 2000 to throw for 200 or more yards in each of his first eight games of a season. The grad transfer’s 68-percent completion percentage is on pace to break the school’s single-season record (Kevin Scanlon, 1979, 66.2-percent).
6. Under the direction of first-year coach Sam Pittman, Arkansas has won three games, the school’s most SEC wins since 2016 and most wins overall since 2017. The Hogs’ three wins are the most for a team coming off a zero-win SEC schedule since Auburn in 2016. Pittman is also the only first-year Arkansas head coach to win three or more SEC games in his first season since Houston Nutt won six in 1998. He’s accomplished this facing one of the toughest schedules in FBS history, playing six games against AP Top 25 squads. Pittman and the Hogs are the only team to play the SEC’s top three teams, No. 1 Alabama, No. 6 Florida and No. 8 Texas A&M. First-year defensive coordinator and Broyles Award nominee Barry Odom has guided the defense to 13 interceptions, the most in the SEC and tied for third-most nationally.
7. First-year offensive coordinator Kendal Briles has helped the offense improve by an average of 59.0 yards and 5.5 points per game compared to the first nine games of 2019. A big reason for that is Arkansas’ explosiveness, recording a nation-leading 11 plays of 50+ yards, equaling the total of the last two seasons combined. Ten of those plays have come through the air, with Burks’ four such grabs tied for third-best in FBS. Smith took this season’s only rushing play of 50+ yards 82 yards to the house against Florida, the longest Hog run against an SEC opponent since 2011.
8. Redshirt freshman defensive back Jalen Catalon is the only player in FBS with 85+ tackles and at least three interceptions. His 89 total tackles lead all FBS freshmen, becoming the first SEC freshman since Tennessee’s Eric Berry in 2007 with at least 86 tackles and three picks. He made a career-high 16 tackles against LSU and has totaled five 10+ tackle games this season, including three straight against Tennessee, Florida and LSU. Catalon is also the first Razorback freshman to have over 50 tackles in a season since Dre Greenlaw in 2015 (95). Earlier this week, he was named one of 16 semifinalists – and one of two freshmen – for the Jim Thorpe Award, presented to the nation’s top defensive back. Catalon joined former Hog Steve Atwater, a 2020 Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, as the only Razorbacks to be semifinalists for the award.
9. Redshirt senior linebacker Grant Morgan leads the country with 111 total tackles and was named one of 16 semifinalists for the Dick Butkus Award, given annually to the nation’s best linebacker. Additionally, he was honored as a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy, which is awarded to the most outstanding player who began their career as a walk-on and named after former Arkansas walk-on and All-American offensive lineman Brandon Burlsworth. He’s made 19 tackles in a game twice this season, tied for second-most in an FBS game this year behind teammate Bumper Pool’s 20 at Mississippi State. Morgan, Catalon and Pool (88 tackles) account for 38.1% of Arkansas’ total tackles.
10. Arkansas takes on Alabama for the 31st time and trail in the all-time series, 8-22. The Hogs have not beaten the Crimson Tide since 2006, a 24-23 double overtime win in Fayetteville. Per ESPN, since 1993, Arkansas and Alabama have played four 1-point games, the most in a series history during that stretch. Alabama has been ranked No. 1 in the AP Poll each of the last four meetings.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Saban can’t win Saturday, Pittman can’t lose … but Tide score more
Let’s face it, if Alabama rolls through Fayetteville and beats Arkansas by the 32-point consensus spread, Nick Saban won’t really win anything.
Beating the Razorbacks won’t impress the College Football Playoff committee that much. Neither would a loss, by the way, if he left all of his first two teams in quarantine in Tuscaloosa.
In the NFL, that’s how it would be done but I doubt with the reduced number of games being played this year Saban wants to back off the throttle that much … at least for a half.
On the flip side of that, Sam Pittman can’t lose in this game. If the Hogs cover the spread that will be good enough for a lot of the fans.
You can bet, though, Pittman isn’t looking at just staying within five touchdowns of the Crimson Tide.
Maybe the biggest question is who will be lined up at quarterback and if Pittman knew Thursday he wasn’t letting on but he did have an interesting observation about Franks, who didn’t play against Missouri with a rib injury nobody knew about.
“Would you like to go out there and play hurt against Alabama?” he asked the media. “I wouldn’t. If he’s healthy, we’re going to put him out there. If he’s not, we’re not.”
The way he put that, I’m more than expecting K.J. Jefferson to trot out on the field with the first team.
It’s going to be cold (some of the weather talking heads say snow might be possible) and Alabama is probably coming in looking for the quick kill.
Honestly, it would be a good chance to evaluate Jefferson against the best program in the country. Maybe even put Malik Hornsby in there so he can get a taste of how it does. He’ll still be a freshman in eligibility next year either way.
On Thursday, Pittman had his best press conference since getting the job a year ago. He was relaxed and more at ease with the media than any other time.
If that translates to the players, the Hogs could show up ready to play and at least put up a good fight. Maybe even better than 2018 when they put up over 400 yards of offense against the Tide and put 31 points on the board, which was the most until Alabama reached the playoffs when they were steamrolled by Clemson for the title.
This time is different.
The two arguments are Alabama might be a little lackluster after two rivalry games with Auburn and Alabama or Saban will have them pushing towards the playoffs.
The guess here is the second option there is more likely.
But the Hogs will be able to move the ball.
Alabama 65, Hogs 42
Pete Morgan, trailing by three games coming into the final weeks of our annual predictions contest, has been in hiding more than some political candidates. I’m waiting on a concession text any minute now.
Georgia (13.5) at Missouri: The Bulldogs finally put J.T. Daniels at quarterback last time out and the offense actually improved. Too little, too late, but Georgia has not really improved much over the course of the season, but they should have enough to get past the Tigers. Georgia 31, Missouri 21
Tennessee at Vanderbilt: If the Vols do a faceplant in this one, Jeremy Pruitt will probably be fired between Nashville and Knoxville. Unless Phil Fulmer really doesn’t have a deal in place with Hugh Freeze to take over (and the SEC has quietly said Freeze is not frozen out of the league anymore, according to multiple sources within the league office). The only thing that will let Pruitt make the drive is Vandy is terrible and doesn’t have a coach. Tennessee 35, Vanderbilt 31
LSU at Florida (-23.5): The only thing that is crystal clear about this game is the Tigers just want this season to end. With the program in the biggest collapse of a defending national champion in recent memory, they’ve already said they aren’t going to a bowl game and they still have another game to play next week against Ole Miss that they might just haul off and forfeit. Florida 69, LSU 21
Auburn (-6.5) at Mississippi State: The Tigers may or may not be playing for Gus Malzahn’s job. Things have been strangely quiet on The Plains the last couple of weeks … which, historically, has been when things start happening with the program. But do they want to pull the plug in this crazy year? The Bulldgos have been playing better and it’s very tempting to have an upset special, but I’m not ready to pull the trigger on that one. Auburn 28, Mississippi State 27
Hogs host UCA on Saturday and you can listen to game here
Who: Arkansas Razorbacks (5-0) vs. Central Arkansas Bears (0-3)
What: The first meeting between the two schools since 1947
When: 7 p.m.
Where: Fayetteville, Ark. – Nolan Richardson Court at Bud Walton Arena
Broadcast information:
• TV: SEC Network Alternate (Brett Dolan and Manuale Watkins)
• Online: HitThatLine.com
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs, 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home (Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
• Sirius/XM: Streamed online only on channel 985
• Live Stats: Arkansas.StatBroadcast.com
For the first time since the 1946-47 season, Arkansas will play Central Arkansas in men’s basketball.
Game time is set for 7 p.m. and the game will now be televised on SEC Network Alternate.
You can listen to the game online HERE. It will be broadcast on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.
• The Razorbacks are 6-0 all-time versus the Bears, including a 3-0 record in games played in Fayetteville. Although technically, this is the first meeting with “University of Central Arkansas”. The school was known as Arkansas State Normal School in 1923-24 and Arkansas State Teachers College from 1925-67.
• The series dates back to Arkansas’ first season of basketball. The teams met on back-to-back days during the 1923-24 season (Jan. 11 and 12) in Fayetteville with the Razorbacks winning 62-27 and 34-14, respectively.
• Games three, four and five in the series were played in Conway, one coming in December 1933 (a 53-30 Razorback win) and the other two the following December (Arkansas winning 42-38 and 66-27, respectively).
• The last meeting in the series came on Feb. 1, 1947, in Fayetteville, a 59-39 decision in favor of the Razorbacks.
The last time:
• Arkansas hosted an in-state school for a regular-season game was Nov. 28, 1950 versus Arkansas Tech. (Razorbacks won 50-45)
• Arkansas hosted an in-state school overall was Mar. 13, 1987 versus Arkansas State in the first round of the NIT. (Razorbacks won 67-64)
• Arkansas did host UALR last season in an exhibition game as Razorback All-American Darrell Walker brought his squad to play the first contest on Nolan Richardson Court. (Arkansas won 79-64)
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
Halftime Pod Presented By Jeff’s Clubhouse — December 11, 2020
The guys talk to FOX Sports’ Aaron Torres, discuss the new SEC/ESPN TV Deal, Halftime GameDay picks, and how to turn unwanted Christmas gifts into a years supply of bacon. All that and more!
Olson previews another week of championships as playoffs near end
Friday Night Scoreboard’s Nate Olson talked about last week’s non-surprising champions, looked ahead to last weeks of state championships.
Torres doesn’t have issue with Big Ten changing ‘dumb rule’ for Ohio State
Fox Sports Radio’s Aaron Torres isn’t against the Big Ten changing the amount of games to help the Buckeyes because it was a “dumb rule.”
