It’s not a word anyone else seems to use anymore for whether or not a football team has emotion for a game, but it’s still my go-to thought as I watch the early happenings each fall Saturday.
Which team has its stinger? Who can forget last week and play at a peak level? Both Arkansas and Ole Miss were stomped last week.
It doesn’t take long to figure it out. No, it’s not obvious in pregame, because both teams can jump around in a crazy way just after coming out of the locker room. A good pregame speech will do it.
But that wears off. Whether or not there is true enthusiasm for the opponent — both in preparation and for a 60-minute competition — reveals the team that came to play with a mean stinger.
I was reminded this week during a conversation with Brad Dunn, the sales manager at Hawgs Illustrated and a former assistant coach for Nolan Richardson, that there is a limit on emotion. It’s not a 12-game reserve.
There are just some days there’s not much in the tank and perhaps that was the case last Saturday in Athens, Ga., when the Hogs laid an egg in a 37-0 loss to No. 2 Georgia. The Bulldogs played with emotion, encouraged by 93,000 fans who also had their stinger. Alas, the Hogs did not.
“I made a trip with Coach (Frank) Broyles years ago to Conway,” Dunn said. “I was driving and he was in the passenger’s seat. Somewhere along the way we began to talk about emotion.
“Coach Broyles was clear on this point, you don’t always have a full tank week to week. You get maximum effort and emotion about three or four times per season. Then, there are three or four times you are at low tide. Then, there are three or four times it’s somewhere in the middle.”
Along those same lines, Broyles indicated that he didn’t worry about games like Texas. Players motivated themselves. They were attentive in practice, focused throughout the week and ready on game day. They played like Fighting Razorbacks.
Revenge was always a good indicator of emotion. You remember the teams that beat you the previous season. Playing at home was another factor, Broyles said. Your fans can encourage enthusiasm and lift the team in a key moment.
So what does that tell you about this week’s trip to Ole Miss? Actually, it explains a lot.
First, it’s not a trophy game. David Bazzel doesn’t need to come up with something. Ole Miss has its trophy game with Mississippi State, the Egg Bowl. The Hogs have three already with Texas A&M, LSU and Missouri.
But make no mistake, Ole Miss is a rivalry game. It may not be the chief rival for either team, but it’s a game with meaning. Ask anyone in east Arkansas. They would rather beat the Rebels than anyone else. They do business with Ole Miss folks. They want bragging rights.
This week at the Hawgs Illustrated Sports Club meeting, former Razorback defensive end/outside linebacker Jeb Huckeba spoke on the emotion that he felt for certain foes. He mentioned the victory over Ole Miss his freshman season in 2001 as the No. 1 highlight of his career, a game that he didn’t even enter.
“I think I was on the sideline for all of it, but that was an incredible game,” said Huckeba about the seven-overtime game the Hogs won 58-56.
It’s been much talked about this week after the Little Rock Touchdown Club featured Matt Jones and Eli Manning, the two quarterbacks who dueled after they were deadlocked 17-17 after regulation play.
Much was rehashed about that game, but little was said about the play of the game, the final tackle, a beautiful form tackle at the 2-yard line by inside linebacker Jermaine Petty.
That was the biggest play of Petty’s career, but the converted defensive end was unbelievable all season. He made 150 stops, 85 unassisted. That still ranks as the sixth-best tackle total in UA history. Petty earned first-team All-America, first-team All-SEC and was the SEC player of the week after the Ole Miss victory.
One of my favorite places to sit at one of my favorite restaurants in Fayetteville is near a Petty jersey at Herman’s Rib House. I think about that hit by Petty on the two-point play that ended the game. Never has there been a better tackle.
Every time I sit down, I explain to my wife the significance of that jersey, the man who wore it and the play he made at Ole Miss to end the seven-OT game.
It was worth a call to John Thompson, inside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator for Houston Nutt in 2001. Told the topic of the conversation, Thompson said, “I love me some Jermaine Petty. I did then and I still do.”
I asked only one question: Has there ever been a better form tackle in the history of football?
“Not that I’ve seen,” Thompson said. “He came off his man — he had the running back — when he saw the tight end open. He hit him in the numbers and drove his helmet back toward the other goal line.”
The best stuff from Thompson came after the play. No one could catch Petty to celebrate.
“I don’t know where the energy came from, but you saw how fast he was after the tackle,” Thompson said. “He took off for the other end of the field like a jet air plane. It was impressive. We couldn’t catch him.”
There was finally a celebration on the bus ride from Oxford to Tupelo, where the UA charter plane was waiting.
“It was really quiet on our bus, just exhaustion,” Thompson said. “There was some music playing somewhere and a song came on, “Ain’t Gonna Bump With No Big Fat Woman.” Jermaine got up in the aisle and started dancing. I got up and we bumped and danced. The entire bus got up and sang and danced. Two minutes later, we were all asleep.”
The tackle was pure instinct, Thompson said.
“Never has there been a more instinctive middle linebacker,” he said of Petty. “We played a 3-3, sort of what Arkansas is playing now. He had the fit outside the nose guard. On that play, he was supposed to have the back, but when he saw the back block, he just instinctively went to the tight end, not his man.
“It was an incredible play. The tight end had made a bunch of plays that night and Jermaine just played him by instinct.”
Petty played with incredible energy that season. It smacks of the kind of effort the Hogs are getting from a three-man rotation at inside linebacker with leading tacklers Bumper Pool (49), Hayden Henry (40) and Grant Morgan (37).
It leads into the first keys to victory for the 11 a.m. Saturday matchup at Vaught-Hemmingway Stadium.
Linebackers
The running game is important to both teams, but in a hard to read run-pass option system. It’s the kind of play that forces a linebacker to hold his reaction for a split second. Is it a run or a pass?
Both teams run a similar system. The play callers (Kendal Briles for Arkansas and Jeff Lebby for Ole Miss) are brothers-in-law.
The Arkansas linebackers have to slop an Ole Miss running game that averages 243.5 yards per game. Ole Miss’ leading tackler, middle linebacker Chance Campbell, has to slow a UA attack that averages 224.6.
The linebackers who can play downhill to stop the running game — if the defensive lines can keep blockers away from their feet — will probably give their team the edge in the game.
It’s interesting that Pool is the leading tackler for the Hogs, but does not start. He subs for both linebackers and plays almost as many snaps. Pool did not play in the Ole Miss game last year. He was rehabbing shoulder and rib injuries.
The Trophy
As already mentioned, there is no trophy, but the Arkansas golf teams might have some extra hardware that can be borrowed for this game. The Blessings Collegiate Invitational awarded six trophies this week. The Hogs won all six.
As far as the Ole Miss series being a rivalry game, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman seemed to think it is fast becoming just that.
“To be honest with you, Arkansas-Ole Miss ought to be a rival game….It’s working its way into that more and more,” Pittman said.
In the golf tournament, the Hogs won the men’s team, the women’s team, a combined men’s and women’s trophy, both individual trophies and a unique mixed best ball trophy.
Brooke Matthews, the redshirt senior from Rogers, won her second medalist trophy of the year. She set what is believed to be an NCAA record at 25-under in September. She apologized for a final round 74 on Wednesday when she said she didn’t have her “A-game.”
Luke Long, a senior graduate transfer, won the men’s medalist trophy. He shot a 67 in the first round and held off teammate Mateo Fernandez de Oliveira on the back nine. Fernandez de Oliveira scored a hole-in-one – picking up three shots on Long on the 13th – to make it tight before Long eagled the 15th.
Matthews and Fernandez de Oliveira teamed for the UA best-ball entry. They combined to shoot 25-under par for the three days.
Kudos for John Tyson, the founder of the Blessings Golf Club, for coming up with a remarkable tournament format that matches a remarkable course. The tournament was broadcast live all three days by the Golf Channel, replayed each evening.
It provided just another glimpse of what has developed into a great golf program. The women’s team is No. 1, the men No. 10 in the early season rankings. Nothing they did this week will hurt those rankings.
Penalties
As much as Arkansas struggled with penalties against Georgia – the Hogs had 13 – they are meeting a foe that is just as bad in that department.
Arkansas averages 9.8 penalties per game with an average yardage lost of 83.2. Ole Miss is worse. The Rebels have been flagged 10.8 per game for 95 yards.
Both teams have been plagued by linemen downfield calls. That’s the nature of the RPO offense. They also tend to challenge pass receivers and pass interference calls have been common.
The Hogs had trouble with false starts against Georgia. Crowd noise was a problem. The Hogs worked against loud noise in practice this week.
Turnovers
Ole Miss quarterback Matt Corral threw six interceptions last year against Arkansas. He was often confused by the way the Hogs dropped eight men in the secondary. That has not been a problem this season. Corral has yet to throw an interception in 125 throws.
Turnovers haven’t been a problem for either team this season. The Hogs have not lost a fumble. Ole Miss has lost only three. Arkansas quarterback KJ Jefferson has thrown only two interceptions.
Is this the week that all of that changes? The odds would indicate that both teams are due to have an untimely turnover. The game might hinge on one or two such mistakes.
The quarterbacks must take care of the ball. Jefferson has extra motivation, playing near his home of Sardis. He'll be motivated, but he has to stay within himself and not try to do too much.
Fourth Down
When you play against Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin, expect a few gambles. Kiffin loves to go for it on fourth down.
Ole Miss went for it nine times on fourth down last year against Arkansas, converting five.
This year, the Rebels lead the nation in fourth-down tries per game at 4.75. They are 14 of 19 on the season after making only 2 of 5 against Alabama.
The Hogs have only gone for it on fourth down four times this season, making two. They failed on a fourth-down try against both Rice and Texas A&M.
The Hogs have made at least one big fourth-down stop this season, a key play in the victory over Texas. Linebackers Henry and Morgan both got to the play for a loss. They failed on a fourth-down play at Georgia last week in a first-quarter TD march. Jalen Catlon slipped off the ball carrier in the backfield.
Alignment
Does either team change defensive formations? Both have played a three-man front and dared the other team to run the ball.
That didn’t seem to work for the Hogs last week at Georgia. The Bulldogs pounded the soft spots the Hogs offered between the tackles.
Pittman has indicated all week that he likes the Hogs plan, but would not reveal specifics, only noting they won’t do the same thing.
But he knows that Ole Miss is dangerous throwing the ball with Corral, but Kiffin has always established a strong running game.
“You think about Lane and Ole Miss, and you think about throwing the football,” Pittman said, “but they’re rushing for almost 250 a game. We have to make them one-dimensional.”
Arkansas defensive coordinator Barry Odom had the Hogs work on four-man line schemes in spring and August, but has rarely showed them. This might be the week that the Hogs unveil their new toys on defense.
Backfield Depth
Both teams feature a good stable of running backs. They may have the deepest group of running backs in the SEC.
Ole Miss three runners with at least 26 carries, but the leading ball carrier in attempts is Corral with 43. He’s the top choice on the goal line with six touchdowns.
Trelon Smith is clearly the top Arkansas threat with 62 carries for 302 yards. Jefferson, perhaps a bit hobbled last week and not used much as a runner, is next with 40 carries.
Can either quarterback establish something with the running game? It might be one of the big keys in the game. It’s hard to focus on quarterback draws and keepers in the RPO game because both teams have so many other threats.
Pittman said earlier this week that Jefferson is 100%. If that’s the case, this might be a break-out game for the quarterback. He’s from nearby Sardis, Miss.
On stopping Corral’s running, Pittman said the goal of the UA defense is to “push the pocket and set the edge to where there is nowhere to go.”
Line Games
Will the Hogs change their offensive line? Pittman wouldn’t say when that came up twice this week, but he has mentioned that Jalen St. John (330 pounds) and Ty’kieast Crawford (350) are working at guard.
St. John is listed on the depth chart as the backup at left tackle, but he’s moved to right guard. Crawford is listed as the backup at right tackle, but is working in practice at left guard.
Pittman prefers to have beefy guards. He liked Denver Kirkland and Sebastian Tretola at guard when they were the beefiest on his lines in the Bret Bielema era.
St. John might be the closest to getting on the field in meaningful action. Pittman said he’s better on the guard assignments than Crawford. He said that’s why St. John moved to right guard, to challenge Beaux Limmer and Ty Clary, neither who has much bulk.
“For what we’re doing offensively, having those big guards in there, I’ve always been a favorite of having huge guards and moving those guys in I think will help us in the long run,” Pittman said. “We have to get better at that position. The other kids worked hard this week, as well, but I think St. John … is a little ahead of where Ty’Kieast is, as far as assignment goes.”
Tight Ends
The Hogs have lacked productivity from their tight ends this season. Starter Blake Kern has just five catches. Backup Hudson Henry has yet to catch a pass this season.
Pittman said Henry has battled injuries all season. With little practice time, Henry has seldom played. That might change this week. He’s still not 100%, but has practiced more.
The Hogs have worked Nathan Bax and Trey Knox in the practice rotation at tight end. Knox is a converted wide receiver. He’ll try to gain weight, but that likely won’t come until the offseason.
“I think Trey Knox could be a really good tight end for us if he can put on 25-30 pounds, which I think he’ll be able to do in the offseason,” Pittman said. “He’s a willing blocker. He’s got good leverage. He’s really good with his hands. And, of course, we know he would be a fast tight end.”
There was praise for Kern. Pittman said his blocking has been solid.
“I think Coach [Dowell] Loggains is doing a good job with them,” he said. “I want all of them to be more physical, but they’re working toward that. I’ve been pleased with the tight end group. They haven’t caught a lot of balls but I’ve been pleased with the way they’ve been blocking.”
Be a Goldfish
This may be lost on some, but anyone who has watched Ted Lasso, a comedy series on AppleTV that dominated the Emmy Awards, will know that the animal with the shortest memory is the goldfish.
Who can be a goldfish this week? No. 2 Georgia thrashed Arkansas while No. 1 Alabama stomped Ole Miss, 42-21.
Kiffin said it took the Rebels about two days to flush the Alabama loss. Pittman said he tried to get his squad to change its focus to Ole Miss in a hurry.
“What I decided was we need to move on,” Pittman said. “We’ve got good coaches and they went over what we need to improve on from the game. Our players, there were a lot of tears — it was tough on us Saturday. That’s what you want to see; you want to see it means something to them, and I knew it did.
“At some point you can’t let that loss end up being two. You can’t let Georgia beat you when we play Ole Miss. We moved on.”