FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks learned their lesson. They weren't going to get Chattanooga-ed again.
Arkansas came out focused Saturday afternoon and looked like the far superior team against a sub-.500 team from a smaller, weaker conference, beating the Sun Belt Conference's Florida International 58-10 at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
In other words, the Razorbacks played exactly as they didn't against their previous such opponent, Tennessee-Chattanooga.
Arkansas played a flat, sloppy game three weeks ago against Chattanooga, which plays in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly Division I-AA), and the subdued Razorbacks locker room after that game had the feel of a loss despite the 34-15 victory.
The locker room was full of chatter and laughter Saturday,mainly because the players said they didn't overlook their opponent and played the way they felt they should against a nonconference team.
"We didn't want to get yelled at again," linebacker Weston Dacus said. "We wanted to get the coaches off of us. The coaches did a great job of letting us know we're not going to be able to come out here and flop around. We came out and executed with focus, and got it done.
"Lesson from Chattanooga has been learned."
The game against Florida International started as well as the game against Chattanooga began poorly for Arkansas.
Chattanooga got a safety on the game's first play from scrimmage after a bad Arkansas snap. The Razorbacks recovered a Golden Panthers fumble on the second play from scrimmage Saturday.
Arkansas' first seven drives against Chattanooga ended in 1safety, 2 fumbles, 2 punts and 2 touchdowns.
Against Florida International, the Razorbacks started the game with 1 field goal, 4 touchdowns and 2 turnovers. The defense was playing even better, getting three turnovers on the Golden Panthers' first four possessions.
"Our mind-set was we're playing against a nonconference team and we don't want to play on their level, like we did against Tennessee-Chattanooga," safety Matt Hewitt said. "Everybody did a great job and played Arkansas football. That's what the coaches expect. We have four SEC games [in the next four weeks], so we have to play at that level all the time."
Several Arkansas players said it was important to not just beat Florida International, but beat the Golden Panthers in a way that would instill a confidence that would carry into next week when the Razorbacks play South Carolina.
"We were happy. We were having fun, and we knew we were going to put this one away early today," fullback Peyton Hillis said. "We had the mind-set of going in and winning, and winning big. That carries on to next week, so this was big."
"[The Chattanooga game] was a big lesson, and we showed we learned it as a team."
The statistics do not show the level of dominance the Razorbacks displayed Saturday, since for only the second time this season no Arkansas running back rushed for 100 yards. But seven turnovers turned the game into a rout, and from the first snap it was clear Arkansas wasn't taking any chances against a team that has now lost 20 consecutive games to extend the longest streak in the nation.
"It's hard sometimes to get up for games when you step outside SEC play, so we knew we had to stay focused and take [Florida International] seriously," tailbackDarren McFadden said.
"They never looked past us, and that's a credit to their coaching staff," Florida International Coach Mario Cristobal said. "They did a great job of focusing on the game and doing what they had to do."
Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee said the key in practice this week, and the game, was concentrating on how Arkansas executes and not the level of play of its opponent.
It worked, but now Arkansas won't play another nonconference team in the regular season just when it appears the Razorbacks have figured out the right approach to take in those games.
"Our guys, against Chattanooga, just thought we could show up and they would roll over and play dead," Lee said. "They didn't, and we weren't ready to play. It was a frustrating win.
"I feel like [today] they were focused, ready to go. I can't wait for the South Carolina game."
Sports, Pages 36 on 10/28/2007