TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Penalties problem for Hogs
Arkansas has been penalized nearly the length of two football fields in its past two games.
The Razorbacks were flagged 11 times for 98 yards in Saturday's 35-7 loss at No.
3 Alabama after having 11 penalties for 100 yards in last week's 52-41 loss to Georgia.
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Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said the penalty problems have been "harped on" a lot and that the 22 flags for 198 yards have been harmful the past two games.
"We've got to get better at that, no doubt about it," Petrino said.
Oddly, two of the Razorbacks' penalties Saturday were false starts on wide receiver Greg Childs, who scored Arkansas' only touchdown.
It's not unusual to have offensive lineman be called for a false start, but it doesn't happen often with a receiver.
Childs said he was bothered by the crowd noise and also made some mistakes.
No coordinators
For the first time in Bobby Petrino 15 games as Arkansas' coach, the coordinators - Paul Petrino on offense and Willy Robinson - did not come to the postgame interview room.
Kevin Trainor, Arkansas' associate athletic director for communications and media relations, wouldn't be specific when asked why the coordinators didn't speak with the media as they had in their 14 previous games with the Razorbacks.
Trainor would say only that the coordinators weren't made available, but wouldn't say whether that was a call made by Coach Bobby Petrino, the coordinators or the sports information department.
Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett spoke to the media, but questions were cut off after 2 minutes, 30 seconds.
The only other players made available to the media were defensive tackle Malcolm Sheppard, safety Elton Ford and receiver Greg Childs.
Struggles continue
Arkansas was 2 of 14 on third-down conversions against the Crimson Tide, dropping the Razorbacks to 8 of 38 on the season.
Going 80 again
Arkansas gave up an 80-yard touchdown play for the second week in a row.
Last week, it was an 80-yard run up the middle by Georgia tailback Richard Samuel. On Saturday, it was an 80-yard pass from Greg McElroy to Marquis Maze.
Oden starts
Anthony Oden became the first true freshman offensive lineman to start for Arkansas in nine years when he lined up at tackle forSaturday's game.
The last time a true freshman offensive lineman started for the Razorbacks was Shawn Andrews in 2001, when he also made his first start at Alabama.
Oden started in place of junior Ray Dominguez, who got on the field for the third series and played the rest of the way.
Tricky Wingo
Arkansas freshman tailback Ronnie Wingo had a 9-yard gain on his first carry of the game, but not how you would have imagined.
Wingo took the snap on a fake punt on fourth-and-6 from the Arkansas 25 and ran for a first down in the first quarter.
Arkansas then drove to the Alabama 30, but the drive stalled and the Razorbacks punted.
Ford plays
Arkansas safety Elton Ford played for the first time in seven games.
After starting the first game last season, he missed the final four because of a neck injury. He missed the first two games this season because of an ankle injury.
Quick healer
Arkansas' celebration on Ryan Mallett's touchdown pass to Greg Childs with 10:45 left in the third quarter was tempered by the sight of starting offensive tackle DeMarcus Love laying on the field.
But it wasn't a serious injury.
After a few minutes, Love was able to walk off the field, and he was back in for Arkansas' next series.
Overturned
It appeared Ryan Mallett had thrown his first interception of the season when Alabama cornerback Kareem Jackson made a diving play on a deep ball in third quarter.
But after the play was reviewed in the replay booth, it was ruled the ball hit the ground and Arkansas retained possession.
Mallett threw an interception in the fourth quarter - that Justin Woodall caught on a tipped pass - that did count.
Sports, Pages 33 on 09/27/2009