FAYETTEVILLE — Hogs rise to review, rejuvenate
How will Arkansas bounce back from Saturday's 52-41 loss to Georgia, considering the investment of time and energy the Hogs put into preparing for the 23rdranked Bulldogs.
On Sunday, at least, Coach Bobby Petrino said the Hogs had a good day, as they began preparing for No. 3 Alabama on Saturday.
"When I first went into the team room, the players were obviously hurting, the coaches were hurting," he said. "That's what happens when you put great effort into something and didn't come out with the result that you want.
"I like the attitude of our team. It's a hard loss. I can't tell you that it isn't because we put a lot into it. ... The bottom line is we have to bounce back and get ready for this game, and I know we'll do that." Heads up, D
Arkansas' defense yielded 530 yards during Saturday's 52-41 loss, which is bad news considering the next four opponents on the Razorbacks' schedule all rank in the top 10 nationally in total offense.
Arkansas plays Alabama (No. 9, 512.3 yards per game); Texas A&M (No. 1, 589.5);
Auburn (No. 8, 515) and Florida (No. 4, 536.7).
The Razorbacks, with 538 yards per game, rank second nationally.
Tube talk
Arkansas' game against Texas A&M, dubbed the Southwest Classic, will be broadcast nationally on ESPN2 at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 3.
It will be the first matchup between the old Southwest Conference rivals since 1991, the first year of a 10-year agreement to play in the new Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Fans can purchase tickets by contacting the Razorbacks' ticket office at 1-800-982-HOGS (4647) or online at ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
Cox honored
Georgia quarterback Joe Cox not only was named SEC offensive player of the week for his performance against Arkansas, he also earned the Walter Camp Football Foundation national offensive award.
Cox completed 18 of 26 passes for 375 yards and tied a school record with five touchdown passes, from distances of 21, 25, 50, 44 and 28 yards, as the Bulldogs outlasted the Hogs 52-41. Every one of Cox's 18 completions went for a first down.
Worth noting
The Hogs fell to last in the SEC in rushing offense (110.5 yards per game) after Saturday's 77-yard showing against Georgia.
But Arkansas' 427.5 passing yards per game leads the conference by 176 yards per game over Auburn.
Arkansas leads the SEC in total offense with 538 yards per game.
Tailback Michael Smith will be held out of contact work Tuesday, then reevaluated for Wednesday's work, Coach Bobby Petrino said. Smith hurt his shoulder on the first play against Georgia, but returned late in the second quarter and finished with 59 yards on eight carries.
Junior receiver Carlton Salters did not play against Georgia and does not have a reception this season. This after Salters had a productive fall camp.
Senior wideout Lucas Miller has been cleared to play against Alabama on Saturday. Miller suffered a broken collarbone Aug. 20.
Frosh action
Safety Ross Rasner took to the field Saturday against Georgia, bringing the total of Hogs true freshmen to play to 13.
Rasner is one of 11 scholarship freshmen to play this season for Arkansas, but the only one to debut last week, seeing action mostly on special teams. Punter Dylan Breeding and special teamer Michael Villegas are walk-on freshmen who have played.
Scholarship true freshmento have played: receiver Cobi Hamilton, tailbacks Ronnie Wingo and Knile Davis, tight end Colton Nash, offensive tackle Anthony Oden, defensive lineman D.D.
Jones, linebackers Austin Moss and Terrell Williams, cornerbacks David Gordon and Darius Winston, and Rasner.
"Ross is going to be a real good player for us," Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said.
"Unfortunately when he got here this summer, he was coming off a fracture in his groin area. It took him a while to really come along and get in shape and go full speed. But, boy, we really like what we see from him."
Sports, Pages 18 on 09/22/2009