ARKANSAS’ MOST IMPORTANT GAMES : Texas remains Hogs’ most important rival
Posted on Sunday, July 20, 2008
Editor's Note: The Arkansas Razorbacks will face one of the toughest football schedules in the nation in 2008. The sports staff of the Northwest Arkansas Times ranked Arkansas'12 upcoming games from least important to most important based on fan fervor, storylines and the effect a win or loss would have on the Razorbacks'season. This is the Hogs'most important game and final installment of a 12-part series profiling the Razorbacks'2008 opponents. BY BRANDON MARCELLO Northwest Arkansas Times Any time the word "Texas"lines the Arkansas schedule, Razorback fans' eyes light up in anticipation. Accustomed to domination by the Longhorns in the Southwest Conference, the Southeastern Conference era Razorbacks have since broken that stretch with a 2-1 record against the Big 12 school. But that stretch run, which included one loss by two points in 2004, and anticipation led by a coach who understood the rivalry, Houston Nutt, seemingly came to an end after the loss in 2004. Now, with a new coach in Bobby Petrino that may not fully understand the fan fervor entering the Sept. 13 matchup, the Hogs get another chance to rekindle bad blood and nostalgia. More importantly, the game presents Petrino his first opportunity at Arkansas to knock off a big-name program that has been the winningest in the nation since the arrival of head coach Mack Brown in 1998. Plenty of preparation and scheming will be needed as the Longhorns return 10 starters from a 10-3 team that's lone weakness may have only been its defensive secondary.
OFFENSE Junior quarterback Colt McCoy returns to an offense that hit a few stumbles last season. McCoy threw 22 touchdowns but also had 18 interceptions, the worst of his career.
He'll look to improve on those numbers and make a repeat of a 3, 303-yard year through the air last season in his third season as the Longhorns' starter.
What doesn't help McCoy's bid for a comeback year is the loss of powerful running back Jamaal Charles, who rushed for 1, 619 yards and 18 touchdowns. The Longhorns also lost five receivers, but the good news is that a solid receiving corps returns with senior Quan Cosby leading the charge after catching for 680 yards and 4 touchdowns last season.
Without Charles in the backfield, the Longhorns will have to rely on sophomore Vondrell McGee and freshman Fozzy Whittaker as McCoy (492 yards ) enters fall camp as the team's leading rusher from last season.
The offensive line had its fair share of troubles last year, which may have altered McCoy's decisionmaking at times. Four linemen return from a more mature group this season with the lone senior, Cedric Dockery, manning right guard. Texas was ranked 14 th in the nation in scoring (37. 2 ) and 13 th in overall offense (462. 9 yards per game ) last season, but a No. 39 ranking in passing proved to be the weak point.
DEFENSE Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp, who held Arkansas to a seasonlow in points while in the same position at Auburn last year, comes to Austin, Texas looking to improve a secondary that ranked 109 th in pass defense last season.
A strong defensive front, which ranked sixth-best in rush defense last season at 93. 4 yards per game, returns with junior Lamarr Houston at defensive tackle. At the ends, Muschamp's aggressive pass rush will be on the shoulders of seniors Aaron Lewis and Brian Orakpo. Orakpo led the team in sacks (5. 5 ) last season and Houston had 66 tackles, 12 for loss and 4. 5 sacks last season.
A young group in the secondary proved to be the weak point for the Longhorns last season, which was mainly the reason for a porous defense that allowed 4, 825 yards (a school-record worst ) and 371. 2 yards per game. Senior Ryan Palmer will get a shot at redemption as the team's top returning tackler with 80 last season.
An improvement of the secondary is still very much in the air entering twoa-days as well because of the loss of the Longhorns'starters at free and strong safety.
• • • The difference-maker: Texas may be better in the defensive secondary compared to last season just because of new faces, but that won't stop UA head coach Bobby Petrino from throwing the ball. If Texas'Colt McCoy can find a rhythm, the game could be a long one for the Hogs, who must play a near-perfect game in all facets to have a chance against a more-talented Longhorns squad.
The deal-maker: This game will be the first huge road test for the Hogs and whether they can run their offense in a hostile environment. And you can bet Arkansas fans'voices will be at a fever pitch if the Hogs are 2-0 entering this game, especially if Petrino's offense racks up huge numbers to start the season.
The deal-breaker: The lone worry from old-school Razorback fans will be that Petrino and the players do not understand the rivalry. The good news for Hog fans, though, is that Petrino was a perfect 4-0 against rival Kentucky, which led the series 10-5 in the fight for the Governor's Cup, while coaching at Louisville. But with the game a non-conference matchup and the Hogs an obvious underdog, the early season game really won't have much of an effect on what matters most - the Southeastern Conference.
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