Hog Calls

Sequels never quite as good as originals

Arkansas' Jared Cornelius reacts to an over thrown pass late in the 4th quarter as Toledo's Cheatham Norrils defends during their game at War Memorial Stadium Saturday September 12, 2015.
Arkansas' Jared Cornelius reacts to an over thrown pass late in the 4th quarter as Toledo's Cheatham Norrils defends during their game at War Memorial Stadium Saturday September 12, 2015.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Misery on Markham.

Make that Miseries on Markham: The Sequels.

The Razorbacks now wallow 1-5 at War Memorial Stadium on Little Rock's Markham Ave. since Houston Nutt then Bobby Petrino last coached there. Each coached teams performing finals seconds upsets over LSU in 2002 and 2008. Both were called Miracle on Markham at Arkansas' home away from its Fayetteville campus home.

The latest, and now still to be determined whether it will wield the worst or second worst impact among the Miseries on Markham, comes with Bret Bielema's nationally No. 18 Razorbacks losing, 16-12 Saturday to the 21-point underdogs Toledo Rockets of the Mid-American Conference.

Misery replaced Miracle when interim coach John L. Smith took the nationally No. 8 Razorbacks to War Memorial for the 2012 season's second game. They were upended 34-31 in overtime by 30-points underdog Louisiana-Monroe.

That shocker exited Smith at the season's end and began 4-8 and 3-9 tailspins under Smith in 2012 and Bielema in 2013. Bielema seemed to right the ship closing last year 7-6 with winning 3 of its last 4.

Arkansas surged nationally 18th to start this 2015 season.

Now just two games played and it almost seems Square One back to 2012 Louisiana-Monroe.

Almost, because there is too much invested in Bielema off his Wisconsin seven successful seasons and the Arkansas stability he brought since the Petrino firing amid scandal and subsequent Smith debacle.

However even Bielema's confident command didn't reflect Saturday. Customarily he has coached teams that either were or at least on their way to playing tough, physical, smart football approaching penalty free.

So much for nearly penalty free with 15 penalties in two games. Nine were called on Arkansas Saturday including a holding penalty voiding what would have been Jared Cornelius' 59-yard touchdown punt return.

That physical part didn't reflect with Alex Collins' 21-yard touchdown run not only Arkansas' lone touchdown among five possessions in the Toledo red zone, but leaving the Razorbacks netting but 82 yards net for rushing for their other 30 combined carries.

Quarterback Brandon Allen completed 32 of 53 passes for a career high 412 yards but no touchdowns thrown with the running game mostly red zone stifled.

Even while netting a 5.4 average and 182 rushing yards in the 48-13 Sept. 5 season-opener over Texas-El Paso in Fayetteville, the Razorbacks relied mostly on Allen's then career high 308 passing yards.

Bielema admitted post Toledo that Arkansas' mirror physically doesn't reflect what he expected.

"From what I had seen and what I believed and what I thought was there we were a team that could play physically," Bielema said. "But you take the first two games, especially our inability to run the football, and the answer would be no."

Should Bielema answer "no" again Saturday night in Fayetteville, chances significantly increase Arkansas loses to the Texas Tech Raiders that Arkansas ran over, 49-28 last year with 438 yards rushing in Lubbock.

Sports on 09/14/2015

Upcoming Events