LITTLE ROCK — It was not, repeat not, a choke job.
Alabama was the best team Saturday, and until someone beats the Crimson Tide, which hasn’t happened in the past 18 games, they are the No. 1 team in the country.
In the most electric atmosphere in the history of the Arkansas Razorbacks, the Hogs proved without a shadow of a doubt that they have improved.
That Bobby Petrino’s plan is working.
That in three years the Razorbacks have gone practically from ground zero to a place where they had the top team in the country on its heels.
A vibrant record crowd of 76,808 - which doesn’t include the more than 1,000 who found a spot on the grass in the northeast area outside the stadium - was treated to 60 minutes of exciting football.
For the first time in too long, Razorbacks fans know that barring some crazy injuries they have a shot at a major bowl game.
On CBS they showed much of the country they are a contender not a pretender.
True, they didn’t have an answer for Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson, Alabama’s version of the pony express, but there might not be a defense in college football that can handle the 1-2 punch of those running backs.
They have incredible strength, balance and desire. Ingram has good speed, Richardson great speed.
Ingram probably put his name back close to the top of the Heisman Trophy ballot by rushing for 157 yards on 24 carries and scoring 2 touchdowns. He also had 2 receptions for 27 yards and accounted for 7 of the Tide’s 23 first downs.
And Richardson might have paid notice for next season. He had 85 yards on 8 carries,2 catches, 1 for a touchdown, and 117 yards on 4 kickoff returns.
Where does that leave Ryan Mallett for this year?
He might not have moved up the charts, but he shouldn’t have slipped much either. He had a solid game completing 25 of 38 for 357 yards. Yes, he had three interceptions but a lot of that had to do with Alabama’s relentless pursuit of his body and soul.
Ingram could make his Heisman case in the next two weeks when the Crimson Tide host No. 7 Florida and then go to No. 19 South Carolina. He missed the first two games with an injury but that will not be a factor.
Richardson’s kickoff returns were as big as anything he did Saturday. Not including the interception that was returned to the Arkansas 12 that led to the game-winning touchdown, the Crimson Tide averaged starting at their 30-yard line. Arkansas’ was their 21. That’s almost one full first down per possession.
Alabama’s big, strong and athletic line controlled the line of scrimmage in the second half and picked up 13 first downs to 7 for the Hogs. The difference in time of possession was 19:09 to 10:51.
Football games are won in the trenches, and the Crimson Tide were better on both sides of the football. Again, though,the Hogs have improved.
Petrino used 60 players, including true freshmen Byran Jones, Eric Bennett, Julian Horton, Zach Hocker, Darrell Smith, Jarrett Lake, Maudrecus Humphrey and Jeremiah Jackson.
Those guys didn’t just get experience, they got big-time SEC exposure.
Obviously, the Razorbacks need to find a way to move the ball on the ground, but Knile Davis had 42 yards on six carries, including one that set up a touchdown.
Bottom line, it was a team loss, but one with great effort, and that’s not a choke job.
Sports, Pages 17 on 09/28/2010