LITTLE ROCK — Airplane delivers message
Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt has long professed his love of taking his teams to Little Rock.
It's his hometown. He's lost at War Memorial Stadium twice in 23 games over 10 years.
Nutt loves Little Rock and Little Rock loves Nutt, right?
Perhaps not.
A small plane circled War Memorial Stadium approximately 20 times during a 45-minute stretch before Saturday's game, carrying a banner that read "There's Nuttin' Like Being 0-2 In The SEC." Including this season, the Razorbacks have started conference play 0-2 five times in 10 seasons under Nutt.
The plane, reserved for a cost of just less than $700, initially flew over the stadium from the south as a handful of Arkansas players and coaches were on the field for warmups. It circled well before the stadium was full, but it was visible to the many tailgaters who gathered outside the stadium.
Nutt would not talk about the banner when he was asked about it in the Arkansas locker room.
"No. No. No," Nutt said when he was asked if he saw the plane. He had the same response when he was asked if it disappointed or hurt him.
Fan discontent wasn't limited to the skies. Several times fans in the crowd of 54,836 booed decisions by the Arkansas coaching staff, including once when the Razorbacks went for it on fourth down, and another time when they didn't go for it on fourth down.
Fullback Peyton Hillis defended Nutt when he was asked about the banner and boos. He said fans had crossed the line with their protests.
"There is only so much one man can take," Hillis said.
"Coach Nutt is a good man.
He's a Christian man. He may not do everything right, but who does? Give the man support. Give this team support and let's see what happens.
...
"I see his family. I know it upsets his family. When you hurt a man like that where it hits at home, that's a little bit over the line." Bad start
Talk about a sign of things to come.
Arkansas began the game with a safety, spotting Tennessee-Chattanooga two points in what turned out to be a 34-15 victory. The Razorbacks muddled their way through the game and were leading by only nine with just under 14 minutes remaining.
Quarterback Casey Dick was not prepared for the ball when center Jonathan Luigs snapped it. The ball bounded over his head and though he had time to get rid of it - either by throwing or punting - Dick instead ran around in the end zone until he was tackled.
Offensive coordinator David Lee was not pleased with the mistake.
"Obviously something was missing inside the players' minds and hearts from a preparation standpoint because you just don't start the game like that when you're ready to play," Lee said.
Fresh face
Arkansas got a good look at freshman offensive linemanWade Grayson.
Grayson started the game for Arkansas at left guard in place of Mitch Petrus. Grayson, a native of Harrison, alternated snaps with Petrus throughout the game.
"He's been doing some good things and the kid deserved to play," offensive line coach Mike Markuson said. "We needed to get him some snaps and tonight was a good night to do it." That's impressive
Coach Houston Nutt is using every word imaginable to describe freshman kicker Alex Tejada.
"Alex Tejada is just awesome," Nutt said.
Tejada improved to 10 of 11 for the season on field goals with his performance against Tennessee-Chattanooga. He kicked a 47-yarder with a little more than 33 seconds left until halftime, pushing the Razorbacks up 17-9. He added a 32-yarder to set the final margin with 10:39 remaining.
Did you notice?
Arkansas cornerback Jerell Norton returning punts? His 45-yard return was the longest by a Razorback since 2003 when Marvin Jackson returned one 73 yards.
Arkansas shuffled its defensive line again. Malcolm Sheppard and Antwain Robinson started at the ends, with Marcus Harrison and Ernest Mitchell at the tackles.
Sheppard began the year at tackle and Harrison originally was slated to play end.
Darren McFadden blowing up a Chattanooga defender on a second-quarter pass from Casey Dick to Reggie Fish for 10 yards. We'll say it again: He's not just a great running back, he's a football player.
Arkansas' versatile offensive lineman Robert Felton moving to tackle in the absence of Nate Garner. Felton's guard spot was filled by DeMarcus Love.
Felton has played center, tackle and guard this season.
Tennessee-Chattanooga safety Chris Camacho all over the field. The transfer from Hawaii totaled 18 tackles, including 12 unassisted.
Thumbs up
To Chattanooga cornerback Brandon Golder for absorbing a helmet-first hit from Darren McFadden on first-quarter run. McFadden went 10 yards and leveled Golder at the end, but the Mocs junior bounced right back up like nothing happened.
To Chattanooga quarterback Antonio Miller for his 25-yard run to keep a second-quarter drive alive on fourth-and-6 from the 33. The Mocs scored one play later on a pass from Miller to fullback Brent Hayes.
To Arkansas punter Jeremy Davis for sending a punt to the sideline. His 36-yarder in the third quarter pinned Chattanooga inside the 10, giving the Razorbacks defense some needed help.
Thumbs Down
To Razorbacks coaches for waiting so long to get Jerell Norton on the punt-return unit. Were the first three options really that much better than a guy who averaged 12.4 yards per return on his first stab at the job?
To the Razorbacks passing game for coming up with only 116 yards. Failing to establish a consistent threat through the air against a lower-subdivision opponent can't be a good sign with six SEC games remaining.
To Arkansas for failing to hang on to the ball in the first half. The Razorbacks fumbled three times, lost two and found themselves in a surprising first-half struggle against Chattanooga.
Sports, Pages 35 on 10/07/2007