FAYETTEVILLE — Here is what Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt doesn't want his players to fixate on: Florida International's 19-game losing streak is tops in the nation - by six games.
The Golden Panthers (0-7) offer little threat to Arkansas for today's 1 p.m. homecoming in terms of a potential upset, but they pose a problem for the Razorbacks (4-3) when it comes to maintaining focus and looking polished.
"What we're trying to convince our guys is don't look at the record," Nutt said.
"We can't take for granted what the schedule says about their record,"said tailback Felix Jones, running with his coach's theme like he did on his first-series touchdown at Ole Miss last week.
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Arkansas is favored by 40/2 points on what weather forecasters are projecting to be splendid fall day, with temperatures reaching the mid-60s with relatively low humidity and little chance for rain.
Surely Arkansas' players have been pummeled this week with tales of Florida International's myriad deficiencies.
"When you hear things like they haven't won a game in 19 games ... you just have to guard against that," Nutt said. "You have to work hard selling itthe other way. What you're trying to do is get the best out of them where we can get better and better and really build off the victory in Oxford."
The Razorbacks are suiting up for the first time since beating Ole Miss 44-8 on the road last weekend, but the truth is Arkansas has not put together back-toback impressive showings this season.
Witness the Razorbacks' 66-7 victory against North Texas followed by the laggard 34-15 victory against Tennessee-Chattanooga in their last nonconference game.
"These games challenge you more as a coach and more as a player because all [people say] is, 'Haven't won a game, they're not very good, cream puff schedule,'"Arkansas defensive coordinator Reggie Herring said. "So we're fighting all the dynamics of the environment.
"It goes back to North Texas State. We played basically flawless. We played like we're capable of. That's the end result. Then you play UTC back to back and [try] to sustain it two weeks in a row, we slopped around."
The Razorbacks would prefer not to slop around today. For starters, it's homecoming. Also, another lackluster effort would only sharpen the daggers of Nutt's critics. Arkansas is 2-2 in games played at Reynolds Razorback Stadium this season.
The Golden Panthers are young and reckless. They have the nation's third-worst turnover margin (minus 1.57), rank No. 118 in total offense and No. 104 in total defense. They also possess the worst pass efficiency offense in the land, which will match upwith Arkansas' No. 2-rated pass efficiency defense.
"We should play to our level," Arkansas defensive end Adrian Davis said. "Everybody has been working hard lately, trying to do their best."
Florida International Coach Mario Cristobal can look into his crystal ball and see trouble brewing.
"That's a team that could very easily be undefeated," Cristobal said of the Razorbacks. "There is not a phase of the game where they present a weak link. Their running game is as strong as it gets. The offensive line is extremely aggressive and physical and athletic."
Arkansas' tailback tandem of Darren McFadden and Jones will clearly have big-play opportunities against a Golden Panthers defense that ranks No. 102 in the country by allowing 201.6 rushing yards a game.
Jones has a breakaway run of at least 36 yards in all but one game this season, while McFadden's 133.1 rushing yards per game ranks first in the SEC and seventh in the nation.
McFadden, whose biggest output this season was a 195-yard effort at Alabama, needs 140 rushing yards to overtake former Auburn star Carnell Williams for ninth place on the SEC's all-time rushing chart.
"We've got a lot of confidence, going down there and beating Ole Miss," McFadden said.
Nutt just doesn't want confidence to breed complacency.
"We're telling our team, if you don't have the right frame of mind, anything can happen in this game," Nutt said. "We don't have time for that.
"Forget about their record. We've got to try to win the game. It's homecoming, and it's important for us to try and get better."
Sports, Pages 23, 26 on 10/27/2007