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warthog44
(208.189.4.27) on 10/15/2003 - 10:40 a.m. says: ( 4 views
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"And from our "Paul Finebaum"......"
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I too wish we would just drop it but....
Like it is : Hogs have no room for doom, gloom this week
Wally Hall
It took only a few seconds Saturday afternoon in the Arkansas Razorbacks’ dressing room to believe there will be no hangover after the sobering defeat by Auburn.
The Razorbacks were not wandering around the room staring into space.
There were few who stared at the floor.
None was crying.
This was definitely not similar to the scene in the Arkansas dressing room in 1998 after a late fumble by Clint Stoerner allowed Tennessee to score a touchdown and win the game. That night, while a steady mist fell outside, the Razorbacks’ dressing room was a steam bath of sadness.
That game was one that slipped away, as did the dream of a national championship, which is what the Volunteers went on to win.
It was one mistake by as gutsy a performer as the Razorbacks have ever had, and that night he sucked it up and faced the media, answering every question.
Stoerner was that type of man.
Last Saturday, after the Razorbacks spent 60 minutes without an official visit to the end zone and lost 10-3 to Auburn, there was little doom and dismay in the locker room.
There was outrage and disbelief over a holding call that brought a tying touchdown back.
Mark Pierce stood in the middle of the room and challenged the media to write about the officiating.
Tony Bua talked long and hard about it. So did George Wilson, who was called for the hold.
All around, players took on a look that bordered on focused anger.
And they had a right to be mad.
They were the better team.
A holding call should have never ended their hopes. In fact, they should never have gotten into the fourth quarter needing another miracle.
They were better than Auburn.
(Yes, Auburn fans, the better team lost, and you already have my e-mail address, so go for it.) The problem was, Arkansas didn’t execute on offense.
It was not just Matt Jones, who has taken the brunt of the blame for what was not his best performance.
It was not any one person.
It was a team loss.
Yes, the defense put it on the line on every play and, except for a pathetic final minute of the first half, would have played an exceptional game.
True, Cadillac Williams got his yards, but as it was noted here before the game, all he needs is a crease somewhere on the line and he’s going to get his.
Some, not all, though, of the offensive unit opened the game like Auburn was Vanderbilt.
Normally, Houston Nutt waits until Sunday to review the film, but he was so sick about the entire game that after entertaining a couple of recruits, he found himself back in the Broyles Complex late Saturday night.
He’s not saying exactly what he saw, but he wasn’t happy.
A guess is guys who have raised the bar almost yearly since arriving on campus did not play their best.
They did not put out the intense effort he and the rest of the team have become accustomed to seeing week after week.
The lack of early effort destroyed most of the hope of a shot at Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl.
Take nothing away from Auburn’s defense, especially its front seven, who stopped the run the majority of the time.
If there was a way for Arkansas to move the ball it was through the air, but it struggled there too.
Someone, maybe LSU in Baton Rouge or Georgia in Athens, will get Auburn. Maybe both.
Ole Miss and Eli Manning could present some problems for the Tigers, too.
So the season and hopes for the SEC championship have not really disappeared for the Razorbacks.
If they bring that postgame of last Saturday to the field for Florida, the ship will be headed back in the right direction, maybe even the muddy Mississippi.
It is up to the seniors to make sure everyone is on the same page from now on.
If they don’t, then this Saturday the Razorbacks’ dressing room will be flooded with doom and gloom.
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