Lady Luck Shines On The Razorbacks
How does it feel to be a fan of the Razorbacks? In the words of Bret Bielema, “Well obviously it feels really good.” The Hogs win over Tennessee, in what has been labeled the “desperation bowl”, was huge for Arkansas. It’s very easy to get stuck on all the firsts for the Razorbacks after this game. It was the first road win in the SEC under Coach Bielema. It was the first win when Arkansas was tied at the half. Though I won’t go through the entire list, it’s easy to see why the Hogs, especially Bielema, needed this. As a fan I find myself asking, “What did the Razorbacks do differently in this game than all the others that led to this win?”
Oct 3, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; The Arkansas Razorbacks celebrate after beating the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Arkansas won 24-20. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
They finally got lucky.
Yes, I am aware they have come back to their identity with the run game, and the defense during the second half looked reminiscent of the last 4 games of last season. The penalties went from 11 last week to 3 this week and no turnovers. Drew Morgan and Rawleigh Williams have come to be like a double-headed phoenix rising from the ashes of a dumpster fire of injuries.
Mix all these together, and it contains the ingredients for success without a doubt. Is that all that is needed to win against another team such as oh, Alabama? What about the main ingredients like the savory flavor of good play calling? Or the delectable sensation of scoring in the red zone and especially during the 4th quarter? It looks like if we plan on cooking a real win, we need to go grocery shopping.
“Sometimes as a man, you gotta take what the world is trying to give you” – Bret Bielema
That’s just what the Razorbacks did on Saturday. It was a game of 2 teams melting down in the 4th quarter, as they are both commonly known to do, and one team figuring out a way to not implode so badly. Brandon Allen did help this game – there is no mistaking that. As a matter of fact, on a third down conversion throw on the run complete to Hunter Henry, the announcers used the word “clutch”. Just how clutch was he over all though? Allen went a 11/24 with 219 yards and 1 touchdown, earning a 66.4 QBR for the night. Going into the game, he said in an interview “I know I have to do better.”, so surely he wouldn’t miss his 6 foot 5 inch open tight end in the end zone to seal the game AGAIN, right? Just as he has done throughout not only this season, but his entire time at Arkansas, he did just that. It’s the same song playing on a broken record for the Razorbacks every week.
Oct 3, 2015; Knoxville, TN, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Brandon Allen (10) during the second half against the Tennessee Volunteers at Neyland Stadium. Arkansas won 24 to 20. Mandatory Credit: Randy Sartin-USA TODAY Sports
I am not a hater of Allen, like so many calling for him to be benched to let his younger brother take his job. I know he isn’t the one making the play calls that get the Razorbacks into these situations in the first place. As I said in an article on Tuesday after the A&M game, everyone knew what play was coming. As a few of you know I am on twitter basically the whole game. My whole timeline during the first half was different people saying the same thing, “Enos, your play calling is so predictable.” So again, if three guys and all their twitter followers know what’s coming, I am really sure that some guy sitting in a booth getting paid to figure it out knows. If Arkansas plans on beating ANYONE ELSE in SEC play left on their schedule, this has got to get better.
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There was a lot of improvement from A&M, and I am sure there will be coming off this win at Tennessee. If that learning and change will be enough to beat Alabama this coming Saturday remains to be seen, but there is plenty of room for improvement going into this game for the coaching staff at Arkansas. After watching what Bama did to Georgia, I will be happy if the Razorbacks just play a good game.
Bielema said after the game, “We’ve been wearing these little red bracelets all week just to teach our guys a win on the road is a big deal. We call it a “Code Red”. You gotta persevere, you gotta be locked in.” Later in the interview he says, “Obviously we are going into the toughest atmosphere in probably college football that I’ve been around, is to go to Alabama. So are going to need to probably put on 2 red wrist bands this week.” In my opinion, it can’t hurt.