The Arkansas Razorback’s (2-1, 1-0 SEC) return home (Sept.23) from a narrow 21-19 football win at Vanderbilt last Saturday to host a CBS nationally televised game versus the 22nd ranked Alabama Crimson Tide, (3-0, 1-0 SEC) in a 3:30 p.m. (EDT) kickoff at Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. The Tide is coming to Arkansas after a lopsided 41-7 win in Tuscaloosa over Louisiana-Monroe. The match-up will mark the first home SEC game of the season for Arkansas.
Since Arkansas came into the SEC in 1992, the series between the teams is tied 7-7. The Hogs are 2-1 against Alabama since Mike Shula took over the Crimson Tide program prior to the 2003 season.
Last winter the Alabama and Arkansas football teams were having a different kind of battle. They were locking horns over the recruitment of the best high school quarterback in the land, Parade All-American and High School Player of the Year, Mitch Mustain of Springdale (Arkansas) High school. The Hogs even brought in Mustain’s high school coach Gus Malzahn, a coach who was reaching legendary status in Arkansas’ prep ranks as Offensive Coordinator.
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Four of Mustain’s teammates at Springdale were also heavily recruited nationally but by December 2005 only one had committed to the Hogs, receiver Nathan Norman. Wide receiver Damian Williams and tight end Ben Cleveland committed to Florida and Offensive Lineman Webb Bartley committed to Notre Dame. Moments prior to the February signing date, Mustain called a press conference and announced Arkansas was his choice. Teammates Williams and Cleveland changed their commitment to Arkansas upon Mustains announcement. While Norman will probably red-shirt in 2006, Mustain, Williams and Cleveland have become solid contributors to the Hog’s offense.
Traditionally one of the nations leaders in rushing, Arkansas is attempting to bring more aerial support to its solid running game by bringing in Malzahn as offensive coordinator who is an expert on the spread offense and has authored a book on the subject. Helping Malzahan coordinate the offense is new quarterbacks coach Alex Wood who returns to coaching after spending a year out of the profession. Wood mentored Miami Dolphins quarterback Duante Culpepper in his development as a pro while at the Minnesota Vikings. His last coaching stint was in a similar position with the Arizona Cardinals.
Mustain’s main go to guy is junior wide receiver Marcus Monk who’s 56-yard touchdown reception at Vanderbilt was his 15th career touchdown catch of his career. He now needs just two more touchdown catches to move into a tie for second place on the Hogs’ all-time chart.
Arkansas leads the SEC in rushing offense at 193 yards per game, over 20 yards more than any other SEC school. They rushed for a season-high 279 yards against Utah State (Sept 9). Two Razorbacks are ranked among the top-five in rushing this season. Sophomore All-SEC running back Darren McFadden is second at 99 yards per game and sophomore Felix Jones ranks fifth at 64.7 yards per game.
Alabama’s offense rolled up a season-high 444 yards of total offense in a 41-7 win over Louisiana-Monroe last week. The Tide had 225 passing yards and 219 rushing yards in the win over the War Hawks. The 444-yard effort marked the 12th time in the Shula era that the Alabama offense has surpassed 400 yards of total offense.
The Razorbacks have been installed as 2 ½ point favorites by most sportsbooks.
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