Hogs itching to see if new turf pays off

Posted: September 18, 2009 at 5:07 a.m.

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FAYETTEVILLE — While Arkansas fans have long invested money, anticipation and thought into the Razorbacks SEC opener against Georgia Saturday night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, the Hogs have been investing in themselves.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino made that point after Thursday's practiceon the artificially turfed Frank Broyles Field at Reynolds Stadium. The Hogs completed two weeks of preparations since last playing their Sept. 5, 48-10 seasonopening rout of Missouri State in Little Rock.

Petrino was asked if the players realize how excited Arkansas fans are about this ESPN 6:45 p.m. televised game.

"I don't know if they realize that," said Petrino, "but our players are excited. This is something that they have invested a lot in since January. All the workouts, all the spring ball, all the summer, getting up at 6 in the morning is to play games like this. We are excited to see what kind of football team we are."

And what kind of special teams they are.

Arkansas started with a bang on special teams against Missouri State as Dennis Johnson returned the game-opening kickoff for a 91-yard touchdown.

Alex Tejada also went two for two on field goals.

However, the Hogs also fumbled a punt, though they did recover it, and they let the ball hit the ground on another punt return of minus-2 yards and kicked three kickoffs out of bounds.

That won't do against Georgia. Considerable improvement in special teams was deemed a must in the intervening weeks between Missouri State and the SEC opener.

"We'll find out in a hurry," Petrino said regarding the Hogs' special teams play improving as he prescribed. "[The Georgia Bulldogs] are good on special teams. They've got experienced guys. They play their starters. We'll find out real quick how much improvement we have made."

Georgia began the season ranked 13th nationally and is now 23rd after opening with a 24-10 loss at Oklahoma State followed by its 41-37 SECopener over South Carolina at home.

Against South Carolina, the Bulldogs' Brandon Boykin went end zone to end zone for a 100-yard kickoff return, and Branden Smith returned a kickoff 48 yards.

So maybe it's not so bad after all if the Hogs continue misfiring kickoffs out of bounds.

Better to start the opposition on its 40 than with a touchdown or at its own 48.

Petrino and special teams coordinator John L. Smith, however, demand much better field position than starting Georgia on its 40 and a much better punt return game than was exhibited against Missouri State.

Whether it would be Tejada or Cameron Bryan kicking off; or Joe Adams, Jerell Norton or Michael Smith returning punts, Petrino did not reveal.

"We know who we are going to put in there but we are going to wait untilwe line up and play," Petrino said.

Media was urged by the UA sports information staff to be ready to talk to Petrino before 5 p.m. at the conclusion of Thursday's closed practice but it was pushing 5:45 before practice was done.

Did Petr ino extend practice beyond his Thursday norm?

"No," Petrino said. "It's exactly what we normally do. We started a little later because we go longer inthe meetings Thursday."

Petrino said he always strives to end game weeks' short Thursday workouts with a perfect practice.

"Never perfect, unfortunately," Petrino replied when asked if Thursday's practice met perfection. "But we strive for that. And it's OK to strive for that. We had one ball hit the ground and a couple of substitution problems on offense. Defensively, the parts I watched we we were sharp."

Sports, Pages 8, 10 on 09/18/2009

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