FAYETTEVILLE — The possibility of rain in today’s forecast shouldn’t concern the Arkansas Razorbacks nearly so much as their falling barometer, because the Arkansas vs. South Carolina barometer doesn’t appear to be falling Arkansas’ way.
Today’s 11:20 a.m. homecoming game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium marks the final installment of an annual SEC East vs. SEC West rivalry that began when both entered the SEC in 1992.
Missouri replaces South Carolina next season as the one SEC East team that Arkansas will play annually. The Razorbacks’ other East vs. West opponents are scheduled in a rotation.
Arkansas and South Carolina commenced their SEC tenure in mediocrity or worse.
However, upon Danny Ford’s 1995 Razorbacks team winning the SEC West, every Arkansas team that beat South Carolina advanced to a bowl.
Every Arkansas team but one that lost to the Gamecocks stayed home for the holidays.
Houston Nutt’s 2000 Hogs lost 27-7 to the Gamecocks in Columbia, S.C., but at 6-5 eked into the Las Vegas Bowl, where they lost to UNLV.
After the other losses to South Carolina - whether coached by Ford, Nutt, Bobby Petrino or John L. Smith - the Hogs stayed home under .500 in 1996, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2008 and 2012.
Arkansas went to a bowl after defeating the Gamecocks in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, under Nutt and in 2009, 2010 and 2011 under Petrino.
Given that first-year Coach Bret Bielema’s Razorbacks are 3-3 with three consecutive losses, including their first two SEC games, the barometric pressure is being exerted on Arkansas. Steve Spurrier’s Gamecocks are 4-1, 2-1 in the SEC, and are ranked 14th nationally.
Of course, the barometer means nothing once these teams kick off.
South Carolina will still be concerned with getting its so far shaky defense and nationally trumpeted but ailing defensive end Jadeveon Clowney on the same page, while offensively it will rely on veteran run-pass quarterback Connor Shaw to continue to play turnover-free while running back Mike Davis pounds away.
Bielema’s rebuilding Razorbacks look to revive what had been a fine running game until it was so squashed last week at Florida that Arkansas, no longer a primarily passing team, launched an uncharacteristic 43 passes. Arkansas lost 30-10 as the 18th-ranked Gatorspressured and battered Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen.
Arkansas’ defense actually held Florida to its lowest rushing total (115 yards) of the season, but poor tackling on short passes to elusive receivers - also a staple of South Carolina’s offense - ultimately undid the Hogs.
“It’s a glaring problem,” Arkansas defensive coordinator Chris Ash said. “We’re playing against better teams and better athletes out in space, and open-field tackling is at a premium.”
Bielema said Arkansas’ effort is there on both sides of the ball but that it must translate into executing assignments.
Execution will decide today’s game on the field, but a postgame 3-4 record with five SEC games to play - including both top-ranked national champion Alabama and 10th-ranked LSU on the road - would be a barometer indicating that the Hogs will likely spend the holidays at home.
Sports, Pages 20 on 10/12/2013