Arkansas had another collapse in the fourth quarter against Auburn on Saturday as the No. 11 Tigers put 20 points on the board to run away with a 51-10 win, dropping the Hogs to 2-5 on the season (0-4 in the SEC).
McFadden on being named to football foundation Hall of Fame
Former Arkansas running back Darren McFadden met with the media regarding his upcoming induction into the National Football Foundation’s Hall of Fame,
Auburn blowing out Hogs may be just one of several lopsided games
It’s not a farfetched notion that if Auburn’s team bus gets lost and ends up in Kansas City before the game that many Arkansas fans would still expect a close game.
That is the state of affairs these days with Razorback football.
The Tigers, ranked No. 11 in the country, have only lost to LSU, are starting a freshman quarterback and are a 19.5-point favorite. The ESPN Power Index gives the Hogs just a 6.6 percent shot at winning.
Spare me the memes about “so you’re saying we have a chance.” Please.
As we said, Auburn is starting a freshman quarterback. Arkansas will likely start one of two graduate transfer quarterbacks who have under-performed spectacularly at times this year while the one who put the team in the end zone the most in fall camp and the most promising freshman in years continue to sit on the bench without a second of playing time.
Apparently, Chad Morris’ method of development is to improve in practice, but a lot of coaches who have won games in the SEC have told me over the years there’s only so much you can find out there.
Sooner or later, you have to just roll the dice and put ’em in.
It’s probably not a longshot that Morris simply doesn’t have the whatever to roll that dice, which is why the Hammer Down mantra he proclaimed when hired has become the butt of jokes with many fans.
Has he fallen into the trap of trying to avoid a loss so much he’s killing the chances of winning? You got the feeling the previous coaches fell into that rut, too.
Morris is coaching like someone who has a five-year contract and has been assured by folks who have a vote that he will get that … regardless.
Ignore any comments made by anybody for at least 48 hours. I sat in the press box one time listening to Frank Broyles and and Wilson Matthews fire Kenny Hatfield about six times in a 1989 game. He wasn’t, of course, but left for Clemson just over a month later.
That’s a guess, though. A lot of the big-money folks aren’t going to quit writing a check because their ego won’t let them. Oh, they can say whatever they want, but it’s a good bet when push comes to shove, they’ll keep writing it.
Because of the lucrative money that’s coming in from other places, they don’t have the leverage they once had.
On paper, this one is almost laughable. Maybe not as bad as next week against Alabama will be, but still good for a few giggles.
The only way to change that is for the Hogs to play like they haven’t in years.
And Auburn to help out a little.
Don’t expect either.
Auburn 42, Arkansas 10
In our picks contest, poor ol’ Peter Morgan didn’t make up any ground last week as we both went 3-4 … thank you Mississippi State, Vanderbilt, Georgia and the Hogs.
He probably won’t gain any this week as it’s tempting to put every SEC game into the Easy Pickings segment of this thing. Yes, it’s that bad of a week.
Florida (-5.5) at South Carolina
The Gamecocks won an emotional overtime game last week as much by what Georgia messed up as what they did. The Bulldogs’ kicker missed a field goal in overtime, which hasn’t happened all year.
The Gators put the up the good fight against LSU last week, but folded at night in Baton Rouge against what may be the best team in the country.
Things return to normal this week.
Florida 24, South Carolina 20
LSU (-17.5) at Mississippi State
Bulldogs fans are as upset with Joe Moorhead as a lot of the Hogs fans are with Morris.
The Tigers come in ranked No. 2 in the country, with a quarterback in the running for the Heisman Trophy against a team that has played more quarterbacks than Arkansas and has juggled personnel all year with the NCAA suspensions.
It’s going to be another long day for the ‘Dogs.
LSU 42, Mississippi State 21
Missouri (-21) at Vanderbilt
If the over-rated Derek Mason was anywhere else, he’d be on the hot seat but in Nashville he can skate for awhile.
Let’s face it, seven wins in a season buys you a few years of job security there.
The Tigers are rolling and in a position to actually win the SEC East.
Missouri 45, Vanderbilt 14
Kentucky at Georgia (-25)
Seriously, the Wildcats may not get a score until the second half when the Bulldogs are playing every backup on the team. Nothing like an unexpected loss to get everybody’s attention.
Georgia 42, Kentucky 6
Texas A&M (-6) at Ole Miss
It is sooooo tempting to pick an upset here, but I simply am resorting to feeling like Chad Morris and playing it safe. I don’t believe the Aggies are that good, but I’m relatively certain the Rebels aren’t.
Although it’s interesting to see the second best player in Mississippi last year is starting at quarterback for Ole Miss while the best player hasn’t played a snap at Arkansas.
This may be the best game in the league this week.
Texas A&M 35, Ole Miss 31
Tennessee at Alabama (-35.5)
Nick Saban’s biggest concern in this one will be how many fans are still hanging around after halftime, despite his “rat poison” comments this week and the Vols surprising Mississippi State last week.
Talk about bad luck for Tennessee and former Saban assistant Jeremy Pruitt.
Alabama 51, Tennessee 9
Razorback football fans don’t owe football program a single thing
There are plenty of people to blame for Arkansas’ football struggles. Arkansas coach Chad Morris, the coaching staff and administration.
And on that note, it’s important to point out that current athletic director Hunter Yurachek did not hire Chad Morris. That distinction belongs to Julie Cromer Peoples, who is now at Ohio.
Why an interim AD was allowed orchestrate that search, I’ll never know, but that’s a column for another day — maybe sooner rather than later.
You know who isn’t to blame? You. The average fan who spends hard-earned money to travel to games and root on the home team.
You are not one of the one percent who donates enough money to hold any leverage on hiring and firing. You aren’t attending any Board of Trustees meetings. How in the world can you be blamed for this mess of a football program?
Simple. You are not positive enough. (Insert eye roll Emoji here). I have watched as multiple members of the media have chastised fans for their behavior.
They were targeting the trolls who have apparently engaged with Arkansas recruits and current players, which I agree is stupid. However, that is a small segment of the fan base. The blanket message was targeted at all Hogs fans. Be positive and unite.
That was also surely the message Yurachek wanted to convey in an awkward press release sent out this week that was a mix of “vote of confidence” for Morris and a scolding of fans who have been frustrated with recent events.
That release and other things written this week may suggest if you share negative thoughts or don’t attend games, you aren’t being loyal or not uniting.
That’s bologna.
The fans are not part of the program. Boosters are but average fans are on the periphery. Fans can add atmosphere and attract recruits, but it isn’t “their job” to be ambassadors of the program and always be full of sunshine and rainbows.
I appreciate loyal fans, and there are some programs that pack out stadiums even in lean years. If you’ve followed me long enough, you know I have been critical of this fans base as a whole.
It started when I noticed throngs of people leaving Bud Walton Arena early before games were over. It continued with the nonsense that occurred with the lawsuits and airplane messages trying to derail former coach Houston Nutt.
Again, those actions don’t characterize the entire group, but the longer I have lived here, the more I think Hogs fans probably expect too much from their football program and aren’t nearly as loyal to the basketball program as some fan bases.
Still, as I wrote a few weeks ago, I feel for fans going through this football season. It’s tough and not something fans, especially older ones, have dealt with very often.
I can’t blame you if you don’t want to take your family of four a great distance to watch bad football or any of the sports. I have a family of four, and I know how much that costs. Being loyal is one thing, suffering is another.
That’s the state the football program. It’s rough when you get ready to watch a game knowing there is a good chance the team will lose. In some cases a very big chance like tomorrow against Auburn.
Players should know that fans don’t like to lose. It’s not personal, or at least it shouldn’t be.
If Morris is worried about “outside noise” he should ban players from social media. Nothing really good can come of it these days.
At the very least, they may be upset by what they see. It could also cause them to react which are even worse. The best policy is to ignore the mainstream and social media. It’s not a new concept. Plenty of coaches have that policy.
So, for the second time this season, I am defending Hogs fans.
Vent on the message boards, throw stuff at the TV … whatever it is you need to do. Go to the games or don’t. Watch them or not.
It’s your right as a fan, and you don’t owe the program anything.
Fans need to get Razorback Stadium rockin’ like it used to be
“We were in our break area, and we could feel the stadium vibrating. That’s how loud you guys are tonight.”
This, my friends, was a direct quote from an extremely stormy night on Sept. 8, 2001.
The game: No. 8 Tennessee at Arkansas.
The venue: Razorback Stadium.
My point: Our Fayetteville home use to be rockin’!
Who amongst you home game attendees (especially since the 2001 expansion) does not miss the raucous crowds creating havoc for each and every opponent who dared come onto “The Hill” in an attempt to defeat our beloved Razorbacks?
Beloved. There’s an overused word I actually miss. Arkansans used to LOVE our HOGS no matter what — no matter the score, no matter the record, and no matter the coach.
Here’s a simple request from a desperate Hogs fan: Let’s PACK THE STADIUM against Auburn. And following are some reasons as to why:
• Recruiting. I have said this before, and I will say it again, recruits loved packed stadiums. Yes, Dan, we know, they also love a winning program. However, they often want to be a part of creating a champion, and sitting in a crowd watching 25,000-fans scattered amongst 76,000-seats is not a selling point for any FBS team.
• Common sense. If we cannot convince the fans, then how are we going to win over any recruits. If we cannot sign these coveted athletes, how are we going to begin to launch ourselves to anything remotely close to our glory days.
As much as we may hate it, if we want future success, we have to spend our own money and attend games despite the current end results.
Furthermore, it’s no secret Razorbacks commit Ty’kieast Crawford will be in attendance this Saturday. He is no doubt looking for some sign to keep him onboard as a future Hog.
• Pride. Whether we like it or not, there are young men on that field giving it their all to represent our state every weekend.
If we cannot support them, imagine how they feel about playing a game on our behalf. Love your state and everything standing up for it. Rah, rah.
• Gus Malzahn. Let’s not give that son of … Let’s not give Auburn’s head coach the satisfaction of feeling he did the right thing that fateful night as contracts “sat upon his desk.”
I have honestly arrived at the point where hearing his name reminds me I forgot to pay the sanitation bill.
• Charity. Have a sense of it, and if you have tickets but do not desire to brave the possible thrashing we may receive against number 11 Auburn, give your tickets away.
This weekend may not be as cool as it was to watch the eyes of a young child walking into a packed DWRRS, but the excitement for a child to see the big boys from television play will still be as great for them as an SEC Title would be for us.
• Hunter Yurachek asked us to … Okay, stop laughing, but at least hear the guy out. I’m not a plagiarist, so you can see his pleas to us as fans here: From the Desk of Your AD.
• Nolan Richardson wants the place packed. You heard it here first (and there’s probably a good reason for that). Congrats on YOUR court, Coach. It is far beyond well-deserved.
• We can win this weekend. We won’t, but we can. We have been so close lately losing by one score in all four losses outside of our SEC-opener versus Ole Miss. I dare you all to show up and see what magic even 60,000 screaming fans can conjure.
In case you were wondering, we lost the twice weathered-delayed game against Tennessee 13–3 2001 evening. We won over some top recruits. I have no doubt as we created many successful team in the seasons following.
Unfortunately, we may not be able to turn a page this weekend, yet it will be closer than most predict. Auburn over Arkansas 28-24.
Be sure to listen to the game at 11 a.m. via 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.
Andy Hodges continues his winning ways in our weekly duel. Unfortunately for him, there is plenty of time for me to make a comeback that would make Macaulay Culkin stand up and applaud.
(9) Florida at South Carolina: The Gamecocks surprised me, they surprised ESPN, and they surprised Georgia last week in what I believe is the upset of the season. They will not surprise Florida this weekend. Gators by 20.
(11) Auburn at Arkansas: Please see above… and please attend. Andy might buy you a $24 set of pom-poms. Additionally, I am calling an upset here, but only off the record. Tigers by 4.
(2) LSU at Mississippi State: Surely I am not the only one pleased by how irate Clemson and Ohio State Fans are about LSU leaping over them in the rankings. Surely. LSU has to verify the jump is legit. Tigers by 18.
(22) Missouri at Vanderbilt [SLOPFEST OF THE WEEK]: Have you noticed (so far) all of the ranked SEC teams are on the road this weekend? Missouri will most likely win this game, but if Bryant’s knee does not hold up, it will not be pretty. Tigers by a messy 28.
Kentucky at (10) Georgia: No short analysis. Georgia shows Arkansas how you defeat a fourth string quarterback. Bulldogs by 40.
Texas A&M at Ole Miss [GAME OF THE WEEK]: Why GOTW honors you ask? Because this game will be the most competitive, especially since Ole Miss has the homefield advantage. Rebels by 5.
Tennessee at (1) Alabama: The Vols remind me of the kiddie roller coaster at a state fair – up and down, up and down, exciting for a second, but knowing no one takes it seriously. This is a bad year for the SEC East member to travel to Alabama.
A very, very bad year. So disheartening for Tennessee faithful I would venture to say “MySpace” has had a better 2019. Tide by 30.
No matter what happens, we are Razorbacks through and through? Besides this goldfish, who is with me?
Find me on ‘Twitter’: @PeterMorganWPS
Go HOGS!!!
Fantasy Football Friday with Mike Woellert of 4for4football
Tye & Mike on the independent defensive players in fantasy football, if AB plays again, and more!
Don’t expect big changes, which will only fuel fire around Hogs’ football
Regardless whether fans on message boards, radio yakkers and talking heads or writers agree or not, you’re probably not going to see Chad Morris fired at the end of however this season unfolds.
Most of the above have fallen into the depths of despair while some have just flat given up. Don’t look for a packed house at Razorback Stadium on Saturday when Arkansas hosts Auburn.
Even with Darren McFadden in the house. Sorry, D-Mac, but about the only way you could draw a crowd is if you could put on a uniform and go like you did over a decade ago.
It has fallen to that level.
It’s a good bet, based on a very unscientific gauge of listening to fans, is Morris should be gone and the coaching staff with him.
Okay, that’s your opinion and while I may agree or not none of it matters. The folks that do have a vote really aren’t that worried one way or the other what rank-and-file fans think.
As usual, it’s probably going to come down to financial matters. The Razorbacks’ problem has always been that while there are some folks that rank in the nation’s wealthiest, they either aren’t THAT big of fans and they aren’t going to write a huge check for somebody to NOT coach here.
All of that means Morris probably isn’t going anywhere, regardless of what happens. There probably won’t be sweeping staff changes, either.
In this day and age of college football, when you get down as as far as the Hogs have fallen with an entire program, you’re not going to get it overhauled quick.
Are there things on the field that should be better? Absolutely, in my opinion. Placing the blame, though, is a little more difficult.
On offense, Morris has got to figure out the quarterback and offensive line situations. I’m not convinced the two don’t go hand in hand.
For reasons that I don’t particularly agree with, he’s trying to save the redshirt year on freshman K.J. Jefferson. What he’s waiting on to see what redshirt freshman John Stephen Jones can actually do under live fire remains a mystery.
Jones might be one of those guys that may show better in a game situation than he does in practice. It was that way with Matt Jones and it’s a good bet every fan reading this would take him back today.
As for the offensive line, the guess here is they need about 2-3 more warm bodies.
At times listening to Hog fans, they almost think the right coach could get a mule to win the Arkansas Derby. Especially when you have a program that has undergone three head coach changes with three completely different systems in less than a decade.
Throw in a goofball placeholder and a completely lost recruiting year and you have the makings of big time problems.
With the biggest difference these days being the shift in recruiting to a signing period in December add in there that Morris really has had one full recruiting season.
He’s really not the only coach dealing with issues. Chip Kelly, the coach who guided Oregon to the national title game against Auburn after the 2010 season, is exactly 4-14 at UCLA after failing miserably with two teams in the NFL.
But, some will point out, he did beat Mike Leach’s Washington State team. Yeah, the same Leach many believe is dying to coach the Hogs because he made a comment once about Little Rock being so loud in a game over 20 years ago.
There’s no evidence he wants the gig, although he’ll probably listen to anybody. The Arkansas job isn’t exactly the envy of coaches across the country.
It’s a different world. Money’s not as big of a deal anymore because, quite simply, the top assistants aren’t exactly living on Ramen noodles these days. Most wait for the right opportunity where they can have success.
Which isn’t with the Razorbacks.
None of this explains the no excuses in the coaching mistakes that have contributed mightily to at least three losses this year and a couple last season.
But if you add it all up it might be why Morris isn’t going anywhere this year.
And that will stoke the flames of his hot seat hotter for a full year.
Musselman previews exhibition game with Little Rock on Sunday
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman talked Thursday afternoon about the exhibition opener against Little Rock when the court will officially be named Nolan Richardson Court.
