Razorback report

— Arkansas dealing with hype

There’s a developing theme around the Arkansas campus with the No.

10 Hogs gearing up for Saturday’s game with No. 1 Alabama.

Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee voiced the mantra of “focus” on Tuesday, the day after Coach Bobby Petrino talked it up.

“What we’ve got to do is just make sure we’re not distracted during the week,” McGee said, pointing out extra interviews and added hype.

“What we’ve got to do is make sure we’re still spending the same time preparing that we would if it wasn’t such a big game.

We’ve got to really manage our time right and prepare the right way.”

Offensive tackle Ray Dominguez pointed out he’s getting bombarded with Facebook postings and Twitter messages about the big game.

“It’s really hyped up,” Dominguez said. “At the end of the day, we have to stay focused.”

Learning curve

Coach Bobby Petrino said the Razorbacks lacked the belief to win on the road at Alabama last season. There’s a new attitude this week.

“Enjoy the journey of the week of preparation and preparing for a big game and understanding what that’s like, and go out and put everything on the field Saturday,” Petrino said.

Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee referred to the process it has taken the Hogs to get here.

“Back when we were young, we had all these freshmen ... we went down to the University of Texas and we got killed,” McGee said. “They were much more mature as a team.

“Last year we went down to Florida, they were the No. 1 team in the nation and our team hung in there with them. I just think those games will help us in this type of situation because we’ve been there before.”Red Out

In case Razorbacks’ fans didn’t already have it planned, the Arkansas athletic department is asking fans to wear red for Saturday’s game against Alabama to create a Red Out when the No. 10 Razorbacks take on top-ranked Alabama.

The first 7,000 Arkansas students who pass through the gates will receive a red rally towel.

Tide all over

Arkansas tight end D.J.

Williams said it’s tough to go anywhere on campus and get away from talk about the Arkansas-Alabama game.

“It’s unbelievable,”Williams said. “I was sitting in my physics class, and people just kept asking me about the Bama game - Bama game this, Bama game that.

“I just try to figure out what inertia means.

Something about making something move.”

That sounds like it applies to the game, too.

Worth noting

Students have set up tents on the east side of Reynolds Razorback Stadium as the wait begins for them to pick up tickets on game day.

Offensive tackle Anthony Oden has been diagnosed with mononucleosis, thus his absence at the Georgia game and in practice since last Tuesday.

Sports, Pages 24 on 09/22/2010

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