Arkansas chimes in after cowbells hush

 Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin had 20 tackles in the Razorbacks’ 38-31 double overtime victory at Mississippi State on Saturday.
Arkansas linebacker Jerry Franklin had 20 tackles in the Razorbacks’ 38-31 double overtime victory at Mississippi State on Saturday.

— Cowbells may still be ringing in the ears of Arkansas’ football players.

That’s what happens when you hear thousands of them clanging for several hours, from warmups until the end of a double-overtime SEC game.

But as the Razorbacks’ walked up the stairs to their locker room at Mississippi State’s Davis Wade Stadium, the cowbells finally had fallen silent.

The only ringing heard was from the Razorbacks’ big victory bell, as players gave it a tug in celebration of Arkansas beating the Bulldogs 38-31.

“It felt real good to let them hear our bell for once,” Arkansas receiver Jarius Wright said. “They rung their cowbells all night, and cowbells get annoying.”

After winning performances - whether in a game or the weight room - it’s become a tradition for the Razorbacks to ring a large cast-iron bell, which strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp said used to be atop a school house.

It was bought by Arkansas off the internet from an antique dealer. For games the bell is always set up outside the locker room.

Third-year Razorbacks Coach Bobby Petrino began using the bell as a motivational tool when he coached at Louisville.

“On Saturday Coach Petrino will talk to the kids about ringing the bell,” Veltkamp said in the spring of 2008 shortly after joining Petrino at Arkansas. “The last thing they will see as they leave the locker room is the bell mounted on a big ‘A,’ and they’re going to know to go out and have their best performance.”

The Razorbacks (9-2, 5-2 SEC) have been ringing their bell a lot this season,and on the road as well as at home.

Arkansas’ victory at Mississippi State improved the Razorbacks’ SEC road record to 3-1. They also won at Georgia and East champion South Carolina. Their only road loss was at West champion and undefeated Auburn.

It’s a turnaround from Petrino’s first two seasons, when the Razorbacks were a combined 1-8 on the road, winning only at Auburn in 2008.

“We’ve grown up since last year,” Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett said. “We were still a young team, and now we’’re maturing and getting better. We know how to travel.”

It appeared the Razorbacks would beat Mississippi State in regulation after they scored 17 consecutive points - including Mallett’s 89-yard touchdown pass to Wright - to take a 31-21 lead with 10:06 left in the fourth quarter.

But the Bulldogs (7-4, 3-4) came back and tied it 31-31 on a 25-yard field goal by Derek DePasquale on the final play of regulation.

Arkansas freshman Zach Hocker, whose 32-yard field goal in the third quarter made him 12 of 13 on the season, then missed a 39-yard attempt wide left to end the first overtime.

“We were getting ready to celebrate, but those things happen,” Arkansas defensive end Jake Bequette said. “It’s football.

“I still think Zach’s the best kicker in the SEC. Sometimes you just miss them.”

Mallett’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Knile Davis put Arkansas ahead 38-31 in the second overtime, but the Razorbacks hung to win when defensive end Tenarius Wright sacked Chris Relf on fourth-and-7 from the Arkansas 12.

It was the 100th offensive play for the Bulldogs compared to 61 for the Razorbacks.

“Usually you lose those types of games, but we were able to come out on top,” Bequette said. “I can’t really explain it.”

The Razorbacks were able to overcome mistakes that gave the Bulldogs extra plays, including a successful fake punt, a penalty on a punt that kept alive a drive, and three turnovers.

“That’s what we call holding the rope,” Mallett said of the defense’s perseverance. “They did their part at the end of the game.”

Linebacker Jerry Franklin led Arkansas with 20 tackles and the Razorbacks combined to make 12 tackles for losses totaling 37 yards and force three turnovers.

Arkansas also won thanks in large part to Davis rushing 30 times for 187 yards and 2 touchdowns and Mallett completing 17 of 26 passes for 305 yards and 3 touchdowns.

“It’s just a great feeling to win,” Wright said. “Because any given day you can lose in the SEC, home or away.”

Arkansas takes a five game winning streak into Saturday’s regular-season finale against BCS No. 5 LSU (10-1, 6-1) at Little Rock.

“We’re definitely hot,” Davis said. “I hope we can carry this momentum to the LSU game and get another victory.”

Sports, Pages 13 on 11/22/2010

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