Last Two Seasons as Good as It Will Get Without Defense and Running Game
Robert Shields
Arkansas may actually be the No. 3 team in the nation. Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, they had to play No. 1 and No. 2 this season.
After Arkansas took a 14-0 lead against No. 1 on Friday, the Razorbacks were outscored 41-3 the rest of the way and that’s all you really need to know.
Amazingly the score was only 24-17 going into the fourth quarter. The Hogs were within a touchdown with only a quarter to play. Before the game, I would have taken that scenario. Arkansas had been very dominant in the fourth quarter all year, but not this game.
Predicated on the fact the Hogs might win, I told lots of people to not worry about the BCS. I said that LSU was clearly the best team in the nation and if Arkansas actually beat them in Baton Rouge everything else would take care of itself. In the end, the Razorbacks never had to worry about any of it. LSU took care of it all and all the hand-wringing over a three-way tie was nonsense.
I wrote the same thing after the Alabama game. The SEC is a defensive league. You win with defense. Some might call Arkansas’ defense average, but what it is certainly is not great.
You can take this to the bank – you win in the SEC by running the ball and playing great defense. Time and again, you see that great defenses beat great offenses in the SEC. All this has come to pass twice for the Hogs this year in its losses.
Some wonder if Bobby Petrino has accepted this fact yet or if he still thinks his system is superior to what has won the SEC the last five (soon to be six) national championships. This isn’t Conference USA or the Big East. Petrino is a great coach, but he has to accept this fact about the league.
The Hogs have an exceptional offense. But great defenses in the SEC will always find ways to beat it and probably dominate it.
With Arkansas’ current formula, the last two years is probably as good as it will get, which is still quite good, and better than fans have been accustomed. The Hogs were the third best team in the SEC this season, but without finding a dominating defense it will struggle to get to the pinnacle of the conference.
The Razorback defense plays really hard. It came up with crucial stops during the season and is greatly responsible for winning 10 games. But the defense is not on the same level as LSU and Alabama, which are faster and bigger and create a chasm of difference on the field. Arkansas may be a 9, but LSU and Alabama are a 10.
Arkansas has a record of 20-5 over the last two years. All five losses came to teams that were ranked No. 1 at some point during that season. The Razorbacks are a top 10 team, but they still have a lot of work to get into that very top group. Arkansas needed this win against LSU in a bad way to earn national respect. But Arkansas has folded in these big matchups time and again. Why did we expect anything different this time?
The biggest disappointment was how the Razorbacks lost their composure and became very frustrated. Championship teams respond to adversity, and those only striving to become one get frustrated when failing. After falling down by 14, LSU immediately responded with a long drive and a touchdown. The Tigers never panicked or showed frustration.
This was Tyler Wilson’s worst game. It was the only time this season that he appeared frustrated, and it even looked like he was talking to his receivers in a different way than he had all season. He was sacked four times and pressured almost on all other passing downs. His interception was out of desperation.
The coach was not far behind in his frustration, and he’s the one guy who has to be in control. The gesture caught on camera toward the end of the game was not one of Bobby Petrino’s finer moments. This was a bad example to set for the players and did not reflect well on the university at all. I am hopeful that he regrets it, and anyone can lose their temper especially under the stress he had been under all week with the death of a player.
So on to a bowl game for the Razorbacks, who desperately need to win it to end a great season on a better note. Arkansas has not won 11 games in a long time. It would be a great way to end the season and erase the losses with more than likely a top 10 finish, which also has not happened in a long time.
Robert Shields is the bestselling author of “Scarlet Fever: A Razorback House Divided” and “The Economics of Sex” and has written the weekly “From the Bench” sports column for the last 14 years. His upcoming novel, “Daphne and Her No. 2 Ticonderoga,” will be part one in “The Mysterious Girls’ Secret Bathroom Society” series. He can be reached at fromthebench@yahoo.com.
YOu can also follow me on Twitter @rsfromthebench
end
Monday, November 28, 2011
Monday, November 21, 2011
From the Bench
LSU Stands in Way of Magical Scenario for Razorback Football
Robert Shields
Any scenario that you want to dream about starts with a victory at Death Valley against No.1 LSU. The task will be Herculean. LSU beat Oregon and West Virginia early in the season on the road and Alabama late at Tuscaloosa. Rightfully so, they are the undisputed No. 1 gathering all the first place votes, which seldom happens.
But Arkansas’ dream season continues for another week and into what will be the biggest regular season game since the 1969 Big Shootout with No. 1 Texas. The 1998 game against Tennessee was big, but not this big. The Hogs had a series of games in 1977 through 1980 with Texas with both teams being in the top 10. In 1977 in Fayetteville, the No. 9 Hogs lost to No. 2 Texas. In 1978 in Austin, the No. 3 Hogs lost to No. 8 Texas. In 1979 in Little Rock, the No. 10 Hogs beat No. 2 Texas. In 1980 in Austin, the No. 6 Hogs lost to No. 10 Texas.
This will be No. 3 Arkansas versus No. 1 LSU. This does not happen very often for the UA. Make sure your children watch it with you because it is history for our state.
This season as the Razorbacks won, the pretenders fell by the wayside. Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State in double overtime. Oregon missed a field at the end of its game against USC and had its hopes dashed. And lastly, Robert Griffin III (#RG3 to the hipsters, he deserves the Heisman) beat Oklahoma with eight seconds remaining to crush the Sooner’s hopes of another national title. The previous week, it was Boise State and Stanford.
LSU’s defense will be as good as Alabama, which will make the Razorback offense sputter some. But, there is a reason that the Hogs have won the last three out of four with the Tigers. LSU’s defensive strength is its secondary as exhibited in the key interception at the goal line against Alabama. For whatever the reason, the excellent secondary has at times had matchup problems with the Razorback receiving corps. We will see if that continues on Friday.
Arkansas will have to have a running attack to control the game, and the Razorback rushing attack keeps looking better every week as the offensive line has grown into its role. The change to Jason Peacock at left tackle made a difference.
When LSU has beaten the Hogs of late in 2006 and 2009, it was with special teams play with long touchdown returns. The Hogs cannot allow a bust in the special teams or give up an easy six in that phase of the game and have any hope of winning on the road in Louisiana.
I can’t do justice what this game means to the Razorback Program. It’s the biggest stage for the Hogs to ever be on and it’s what all fans have been hoping and waiting for. Regardless of the outcome, you need to be thankful this Thanksgiving to reach this point where your team still matters. Your team is in the conversation. Your team is relevant even if it’s just for one more week. It doesn’t happen very often.
The most bizarre scenario to me is if Arkansas beats LSU, and the Associated Press votes Arkansas No. 1. Many years ago, the AP got out of the BCS because it did not want a say in crowning the BCS national championship. The SEC sends Alabama to the SEC championship game based on its tiebreaker rules. Alabama beats Georgia. The BCS pits Alabama against LSU. Arkansas goes to the Sugar Bowl and plays a conference champion such as Virginia Tech. The AP leaves Arkansas No. 1. LSU beats Alabama again. The Hogs beat Virginia Tech. The AP is not going to rank an LSU team that lost at home to Arkansas above the Hogs. BCS gives crystal ball to LSU. AP gives it to Hogs. A crazy scenario that I freely admit is way out there, but how the last two weeks have played out, I can’t rule anything out.
So remember, there is a chance Arkansas could claim the national championship even if it does not get the BCS version.
In many ways, the SEC championship is irrelevant and actually having to go to the SEC championship game is full of risks. The team from the West that goes has to play an emerging Georgia team that has a very good quarterback and has won nine games in a row. It is very possible that Georgia wins and ruins the West representative’s hopes of planning for a national title as the other two SEC teams watch and probably pull for Georgia.
If Alabama goes to the SEC championship game and loses to Georgia, you could have an LSU and Arkansas rematch in the BCS title game. This is the year more than any -- especially if the Hogs win at LSU -- that a playoff format is needed.
If you’re going to stick with bowl games, the BCS does not need to exist. Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas all need to go to separate bowls and play conference champions from other regions of the country and see who emerges.
-
The Golf Course Experience
As Arkansas kept its hopes alive beating a decent Mississippi State team in Little Rock, the tailgating was hot as usual. One of the more fun moments on the golf course came when a group of revelers tried to hit a piñata blindfolded. It provided many laughs if you were drunk.
The new thing on the golf course (which I don’t know if it’s a good idea) is bringing your dog. I saw puppies in wagons. Little dogs dressed as Santa. A massive mastiff wearing a large man’s T-shirt.
The reserved scholarship tailgating west of the creek needs to be moved off Markham if that group continues to arrive two hours before the game. They are not as worthy as the group that arrives before 5 a.m. to get their spots on the golf course.
Robert Shields is the bestselling author of “Scarlet Fever: A Razorback House Divided” and “The Economics of Sex” and has written the weekly “From the Bench” sports column for the last 14 years. His upcoming novel, “Daphne and Her No. 2 Ticonderoga,” will be part one in “The Mysterious Girls’ Secret Bathroom Society” series. He can be reached at fromthebench@yahoo.com.
You can follow me on Twitter @rsfromthebench
end
Robert Shields
Any scenario that you want to dream about starts with a victory at Death Valley against No.1 LSU. The task will be Herculean. LSU beat Oregon and West Virginia early in the season on the road and Alabama late at Tuscaloosa. Rightfully so, they are the undisputed No. 1 gathering all the first place votes, which seldom happens.
But Arkansas’ dream season continues for another week and into what will be the biggest regular season game since the 1969 Big Shootout with No. 1 Texas. The 1998 game against Tennessee was big, but not this big. The Hogs had a series of games in 1977 through 1980 with Texas with both teams being in the top 10. In 1977 in Fayetteville, the No. 9 Hogs lost to No. 2 Texas. In 1978 in Austin, the No. 3 Hogs lost to No. 8 Texas. In 1979 in Little Rock, the No. 10 Hogs beat No. 2 Texas. In 1980 in Austin, the No. 6 Hogs lost to No. 10 Texas.
This will be No. 3 Arkansas versus No. 1 LSU. This does not happen very often for the UA. Make sure your children watch it with you because it is history for our state.
This season as the Razorbacks won, the pretenders fell by the wayside. Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State in double overtime. Oregon missed a field at the end of its game against USC and had its hopes dashed. And lastly, Robert Griffin III (#RG3 to the hipsters, he deserves the Heisman) beat Oklahoma with eight seconds remaining to crush the Sooner’s hopes of another national title. The previous week, it was Boise State and Stanford.
LSU’s defense will be as good as Alabama, which will make the Razorback offense sputter some. But, there is a reason that the Hogs have won the last three out of four with the Tigers. LSU’s defensive strength is its secondary as exhibited in the key interception at the goal line against Alabama. For whatever the reason, the excellent secondary has at times had matchup problems with the Razorback receiving corps. We will see if that continues on Friday.
Arkansas will have to have a running attack to control the game, and the Razorback rushing attack keeps looking better every week as the offensive line has grown into its role. The change to Jason Peacock at left tackle made a difference.
When LSU has beaten the Hogs of late in 2006 and 2009, it was with special teams play with long touchdown returns. The Hogs cannot allow a bust in the special teams or give up an easy six in that phase of the game and have any hope of winning on the road in Louisiana.
I can’t do justice what this game means to the Razorback Program. It’s the biggest stage for the Hogs to ever be on and it’s what all fans have been hoping and waiting for. Regardless of the outcome, you need to be thankful this Thanksgiving to reach this point where your team still matters. Your team is in the conversation. Your team is relevant even if it’s just for one more week. It doesn’t happen very often.
The most bizarre scenario to me is if Arkansas beats LSU, and the Associated Press votes Arkansas No. 1. Many years ago, the AP got out of the BCS because it did not want a say in crowning the BCS national championship. The SEC sends Alabama to the SEC championship game based on its tiebreaker rules. Alabama beats Georgia. The BCS pits Alabama against LSU. Arkansas goes to the Sugar Bowl and plays a conference champion such as Virginia Tech. The AP leaves Arkansas No. 1. LSU beats Alabama again. The Hogs beat Virginia Tech. The AP is not going to rank an LSU team that lost at home to Arkansas above the Hogs. BCS gives crystal ball to LSU. AP gives it to Hogs. A crazy scenario that I freely admit is way out there, but how the last two weeks have played out, I can’t rule anything out.
So remember, there is a chance Arkansas could claim the national championship even if it does not get the BCS version.
In many ways, the SEC championship is irrelevant and actually having to go to the SEC championship game is full of risks. The team from the West that goes has to play an emerging Georgia team that has a very good quarterback and has won nine games in a row. It is very possible that Georgia wins and ruins the West representative’s hopes of planning for a national title as the other two SEC teams watch and probably pull for Georgia.
If Alabama goes to the SEC championship game and loses to Georgia, you could have an LSU and Arkansas rematch in the BCS title game. This is the year more than any -- especially if the Hogs win at LSU -- that a playoff format is needed.
If you’re going to stick with bowl games, the BCS does not need to exist. Alabama, LSU, and Arkansas all need to go to separate bowls and play conference champions from other regions of the country and see who emerges.
-
The Golf Course Experience
As Arkansas kept its hopes alive beating a decent Mississippi State team in Little Rock, the tailgating was hot as usual. One of the more fun moments on the golf course came when a group of revelers tried to hit a piñata blindfolded. It provided many laughs if you were drunk.
The new thing on the golf course (which I don’t know if it’s a good idea) is bringing your dog. I saw puppies in wagons. Little dogs dressed as Santa. A massive mastiff wearing a large man’s T-shirt.
The reserved scholarship tailgating west of the creek needs to be moved off Markham if that group continues to arrive two hours before the game. They are not as worthy as the group that arrives before 5 a.m. to get their spots on the golf course.
Robert Shields is the bestselling author of “Scarlet Fever: A Razorback House Divided” and “The Economics of Sex” and has written the weekly “From the Bench” sports column for the last 14 years. His upcoming novel, “Daphne and Her No. 2 Ticonderoga,” will be part one in “The Mysterious Girls’ Secret Bathroom Society” series. He can be reached at fromthebench@yahoo.com.
You can follow me on Twitter @rsfromthebench
end
Monday, November 14, 2011
From the Bench
Dream of a Razorback National Championship Continues for Another Week
Robert Shields
The dream of the best season ever in Razorback football history continues for another week.
Other teams in the BCS standings keep falling as the end of the season approaches, but the Hogs keep surviving. And make no mistake, every week it is a game of survival. The Hogs did it in style this past week putting a 49-7 beat down on the once-mighty Tennessee.
There is no telling how long it will take Tennessee to recover from firing Phil Fulmer. He did nothing but win for them and was fired one season after taking Tennessee to the SEC championship game. It’s another great example of why you never fire a guy who has won you a national championship because it takes a decade to recover, as Razorback basketball fans now know.
Teams such as Boise State and Stanford did not survive this past weekend, and their hopes of a national title were dashed. But Arkansas continues its ascent up the polls now climbing to No. 6. Things will continue to work out for the Hogs if they keep winning, although they are running out of weekends to find a way into the top two.
Arkansas cannot look past Mississippi State in Little Rock. State has always played the Hogs tough, and this game will be no different. The Razorbacks have to keep pace, and a slip against State would dash all hopes of a national championship.
As the team maintains focus week after week, the fans keep dreaming of the impending matchup in Baton Rouge the day after Thanksgiving against the No. 1 LSU in a difficult challenge at Death Valley.
Fans have a long list of reasons to be hopeful right now. Tyler Wilson keeps getting better with every game. He would look even better if the receivers held on to everything that he is delivering on the money. Dennis Johnson is providing the Hogs with a substantial running game that was again lacking like it has every year against Alabama. The special teams keep breaking other teams’ backs. Arkansas’ group of receivers have matched up well in the past against this LSU secondary, which is the strength of the Tiger defense. And lastly, the Hogs have won three out of the last four matchups against LSU.
If they reach Baton Rouge at 10-1, Arkansas will have everything to gain and LSU literally everything to lose.
The list that brings Razorback fans back to reality to make them realize the game will be difficult to win is just as long. The LSU defense is equal to that of Alabama, and we all know how the Hogs have done against that good of a defense. Traditionally, great defenses beat great offenses. Death Valley is probably just as tough as playing in Bryant Denny Stadium, and the Hogs never looked comfortable in that hostile environment.
The Razorback defense can give up time-consuming drives like no other team. But on the positive side, this defense never gives up the big play. They make other teams earn everything. The defense is the master of giving up a third and long time and again for a first down. It struggles to get off the field. And then the quick-strike offense often sticks them back out on the field. The defense seems to live on the field at times.
Tennessee had one of those classic drives this Razorback defense is notorious for allowing. The drive went 90 yards, but in the end Tennessee came away with nothing. Instead of being down only 21-14 at the half, it was 21-7. As it has all year, the defense came up with the stop and this time it was Tramain Thomas grabbing an interception deep in Arkansas territory.
This Razorback defense has to be one of the best conditioned in the country. I wonder how LSU’s and Alabama’s defense would fair if they were on the field as much. What’s amazing about this defense is that even after being on the field virtually the entire first half in a lot of games you would expect them to be worn out, but instead the defense often improves in the second half.
And in defense of the defense, it has had to play a significant portion of the season with some of its better players sidelined. All should be full speed for LSU.
So talk big because your team has bought you another week of dreaming and fewer and fewer teams have that luxury at this point in the season.
Robert Shields is the bestselling author of “Scarlet Fever: A Razorback House Divided” and “The Economics of Sex” and has written the weekly “From the Bench” sports column for the last 14 years. His upcoming novel, “Daphne and Her No. 2 Ticonderoga,” will be part one in “The Mysterious Girls’ Secret Bathroom Society” series. He can be reached at fromthebench@yahoo.com.
You can also follow me on Twitter @rsfromthebench
end
Robert Shields
The dream of the best season ever in Razorback football history continues for another week.
Other teams in the BCS standings keep falling as the end of the season approaches, but the Hogs keep surviving. And make no mistake, every week it is a game of survival. The Hogs did it in style this past week putting a 49-7 beat down on the once-mighty Tennessee.
There is no telling how long it will take Tennessee to recover from firing Phil Fulmer. He did nothing but win for them and was fired one season after taking Tennessee to the SEC championship game. It’s another great example of why you never fire a guy who has won you a national championship because it takes a decade to recover, as Razorback basketball fans now know.
Teams such as Boise State and Stanford did not survive this past weekend, and their hopes of a national title were dashed. But Arkansas continues its ascent up the polls now climbing to No. 6. Things will continue to work out for the Hogs if they keep winning, although they are running out of weekends to find a way into the top two.
Arkansas cannot look past Mississippi State in Little Rock. State has always played the Hogs tough, and this game will be no different. The Razorbacks have to keep pace, and a slip against State would dash all hopes of a national championship.
As the team maintains focus week after week, the fans keep dreaming of the impending matchup in Baton Rouge the day after Thanksgiving against the No. 1 LSU in a difficult challenge at Death Valley.
Fans have a long list of reasons to be hopeful right now. Tyler Wilson keeps getting better with every game. He would look even better if the receivers held on to everything that he is delivering on the money. Dennis Johnson is providing the Hogs with a substantial running game that was again lacking like it has every year against Alabama. The special teams keep breaking other teams’ backs. Arkansas’ group of receivers have matched up well in the past against this LSU secondary, which is the strength of the Tiger defense. And lastly, the Hogs have won three out of the last four matchups against LSU.
If they reach Baton Rouge at 10-1, Arkansas will have everything to gain and LSU literally everything to lose.
The list that brings Razorback fans back to reality to make them realize the game will be difficult to win is just as long. The LSU defense is equal to that of Alabama, and we all know how the Hogs have done against that good of a defense. Traditionally, great defenses beat great offenses. Death Valley is probably just as tough as playing in Bryant Denny Stadium, and the Hogs never looked comfortable in that hostile environment.
The Razorback defense can give up time-consuming drives like no other team. But on the positive side, this defense never gives up the big play. They make other teams earn everything. The defense is the master of giving up a third and long time and again for a first down. It struggles to get off the field. And then the quick-strike offense often sticks them back out on the field. The defense seems to live on the field at times.
Tennessee had one of those classic drives this Razorback defense is notorious for allowing. The drive went 90 yards, but in the end Tennessee came away with nothing. Instead of being down only 21-14 at the half, it was 21-7. As it has all year, the defense came up with the stop and this time it was Tramain Thomas grabbing an interception deep in Arkansas territory.
This Razorback defense has to be one of the best conditioned in the country. I wonder how LSU’s and Alabama’s defense would fair if they were on the field as much. What’s amazing about this defense is that even after being on the field virtually the entire first half in a lot of games you would expect them to be worn out, but instead the defense often improves in the second half.
And in defense of the defense, it has had to play a significant portion of the season with some of its better players sidelined. All should be full speed for LSU.
So talk big because your team has bought you another week of dreaming and fewer and fewer teams have that luxury at this point in the season.
Robert Shields is the bestselling author of “Scarlet Fever: A Razorback House Divided” and “The Economics of Sex” and has written the weekly “From the Bench” sports column for the last 14 years. His upcoming novel, “Daphne and Her No. 2 Ticonderoga,” will be part one in “The Mysterious Girls’ Secret Bathroom Society” series. He can be reached at fromthebench@yahoo.com.
You can also follow me on Twitter @rsfromthebench
end
Monday, November 07, 2011
From the Bench
BCS National Championship in Sight for Razorback Fans
Robert Shields
Arkansas’ win over South Carolina Saturday night coupled with LSU’s victory against Alabama leaves the Razorbacks in the hunt for a national title. Albeit a small chance, fans can still dream of possibilities, and that is a luxury most schools don’t have this late in the season.
The Razorbacks crushed South Carolina everywhere but the scoreboard. The Hogs kept South Carolina dangerously close with the lead at a perilous two points at 30-28 in the fourth quarter when the Hogs could have been up 41-7 at the half.
The defense has become masterful at giving up time-consuming drives. Yet, time and time again, it continues to come up with critical stops. At the end of the game against Texas A&M, the defense held on fourth down. After an on-side kick at the end of the game against Ole Miss, the defense got an interception. It stopped the Vanderbilt offense to force a kick that was missed. Even Saturday night, the defense came up with crucial turnovers to finally dash any hopes the Gamecocks had of an upset.
Arkansas enters November with two winnable games against Tennessee and Mississippi State -- both at home. This sets up the possibility of a 10-1 Razorback teams meeting No. 1 and undefeated LSU.
The Hogs needed LSU to beat Alabama to keep this dream alive. An Alabama win would have put a potential BCS national championship to rest with a trip to some bowl game with lesser significance. But now the Hogs are still in the discussion with a high BCS ranking, and if they keep winning they will start climbing.
If a team from the SEC West wins the SEC championship game, it will almost certainly be in the BCS national championship game.
The least complicated route for Arkansas is to win out and beat No.1 LSU on the Friday after Thanksgiving to finish the regular season at 11-1. The Razorbacks then need Auburn to upset Alabama the next day in the Iron Bowl. It’s a long shot, but possible.
Another route, which gets even stranger, is if Arkansas wins out and ends up with an 11-1 record tied with Alabama and LSU. The tiebreaker will come down to BCS rankings with the two highest-ranked teams then being subjected to another tiebreaker by head-to-head competition. This scenario does not favor the Hogs.
I agree with one ESPN analyst who said that the deciding factor if all three teams go 11-1 should be based on the strength of schedule. In his scenario, it goes to Arkansas because the Hogs had to play the two top teams in Alabama and LSU on the road. Alabama got to play the tough games at home. LSU got to play one on the road and one at home. It’s logical and it makes sense, but it won’t govern unless it enters the psyche of the pollsters.
You have to hope pollsters are more into what is happening now than what transpired months ago, and that is usually the case. Arkansas needs LSU to win out and remain No. 1. As Ric Flair always said, “To be the man, you have to beat the man.” LSU right now is the man. By beating the Tigers, the Razorbacks might become the man.
If LSU loses before playing the Hogs, and that scenario is unlikely with the teams it has remaining on its schedule, the LSU game loses its significance. It also puts Alabama and Arkansas in a two-way tie instead of a three-way dance, and in that two-way tie Alabama holds the tiebreaker having beaten Arkansas soundly back in September.
I like the chances against LSU. The Razorbacks are 3-1 against them during the last four years, and the one loss was questionable with the clock being stopped when it should have run out allowing LSU to tie the game. Arkansas lost in overtime mainly because all its receivers were injured. Bobby Petrino has fared well against Les Miles, which again makes this game an intriguing match-up. Hopefully for the Hogs, LSU won’t take the game seriously and will be looking forward to the next week’s SEC championship game.
Regardless, all this is to say that you can still dream for another week, Razorback fans.
Robert Shields is the bestselling author of “Scarlet Fever: A Razorback House Divided” and “The Economics of Sex” and has written the weekly “From the Bench” sports column for the last 14 years. His upcoming novel, “Daphne and Her No. 2 Ticonderoga,” will be part one in “The Mysterious Girls’ Secret Bathroom Society” series. He can be reached at fromthebench@yahoo.com
You can follow him on Twitter @rsfromthebench
end
Robert Shields
Arkansas’ win over South Carolina Saturday night coupled with LSU’s victory against Alabama leaves the Razorbacks in the hunt for a national title. Albeit a small chance, fans can still dream of possibilities, and that is a luxury most schools don’t have this late in the season.
The Razorbacks crushed South Carolina everywhere but the scoreboard. The Hogs kept South Carolina dangerously close with the lead at a perilous two points at 30-28 in the fourth quarter when the Hogs could have been up 41-7 at the half.
The defense has become masterful at giving up time-consuming drives. Yet, time and time again, it continues to come up with critical stops. At the end of the game against Texas A&M, the defense held on fourth down. After an on-side kick at the end of the game against Ole Miss, the defense got an interception. It stopped the Vanderbilt offense to force a kick that was missed. Even Saturday night, the defense came up with crucial turnovers to finally dash any hopes the Gamecocks had of an upset.
Arkansas enters November with two winnable games against Tennessee and Mississippi State -- both at home. This sets up the possibility of a 10-1 Razorback teams meeting No. 1 and undefeated LSU.
The Hogs needed LSU to beat Alabama to keep this dream alive. An Alabama win would have put a potential BCS national championship to rest with a trip to some bowl game with lesser significance. But now the Hogs are still in the discussion with a high BCS ranking, and if they keep winning they will start climbing.
If a team from the SEC West wins the SEC championship game, it will almost certainly be in the BCS national championship game.
The least complicated route for Arkansas is to win out and beat No.1 LSU on the Friday after Thanksgiving to finish the regular season at 11-1. The Razorbacks then need Auburn to upset Alabama the next day in the Iron Bowl. It’s a long shot, but possible.
Another route, which gets even stranger, is if Arkansas wins out and ends up with an 11-1 record tied with Alabama and LSU. The tiebreaker will come down to BCS rankings with the two highest-ranked teams then being subjected to another tiebreaker by head-to-head competition. This scenario does not favor the Hogs.
I agree with one ESPN analyst who said that the deciding factor if all three teams go 11-1 should be based on the strength of schedule. In his scenario, it goes to Arkansas because the Hogs had to play the two top teams in Alabama and LSU on the road. Alabama got to play the tough games at home. LSU got to play one on the road and one at home. It’s logical and it makes sense, but it won’t govern unless it enters the psyche of the pollsters.
You have to hope pollsters are more into what is happening now than what transpired months ago, and that is usually the case. Arkansas needs LSU to win out and remain No. 1. As Ric Flair always said, “To be the man, you have to beat the man.” LSU right now is the man. By beating the Tigers, the Razorbacks might become the man.
If LSU loses before playing the Hogs, and that scenario is unlikely with the teams it has remaining on its schedule, the LSU game loses its significance. It also puts Alabama and Arkansas in a two-way tie instead of a three-way dance, and in that two-way tie Alabama holds the tiebreaker having beaten Arkansas soundly back in September.
I like the chances against LSU. The Razorbacks are 3-1 against them during the last four years, and the one loss was questionable with the clock being stopped when it should have run out allowing LSU to tie the game. Arkansas lost in overtime mainly because all its receivers were injured. Bobby Petrino has fared well against Les Miles, which again makes this game an intriguing match-up. Hopefully for the Hogs, LSU won’t take the game seriously and will be looking forward to the next week’s SEC championship game.
Regardless, all this is to say that you can still dream for another week, Razorback fans.
Robert Shields is the bestselling author of “Scarlet Fever: A Razorback House Divided” and “The Economics of Sex” and has written the weekly “From the Bench” sports column for the last 14 years. His upcoming novel, “Daphne and Her No. 2 Ticonderoga,” will be part one in “The Mysterious Girls’ Secret Bathroom Society” series. He can be reached at fromthebench@yahoo.com
You can follow him on Twitter @rsfromthebench
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