Next two weeks hold the key to Razorbacks' season
Big Time
Brandon Harris
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: Sports
- Page 1 of 2 next >
They won't tell you all you need to know, but the next two weeks of Arkansas football should paint a pretty good picture of what the 2007 season will bring the Razorbacks.
Arkansas will play its first two Southeastern Conference games of the season starting Saturday at Alabama and Sept. 22 at home against Kentucky.
Is Alabama a great team? Eh. They're a good team, at least so far. But there will be added difficulty in that the Razorbacks' trip to Tuscaloosa Saturday will also be one of the most long-awaited games the SEC has seen in a long time, for it marks Alabama's first conference home game under first-year coach Nick Saban.
The Crimson Tide isn't chock full of All-Americans, but Week One and Two have shown that Alabama is proficient in the ground game and solid defensively. And, yes, Leigh Tiffin is still the kicker. Escaping Bryant-Denny Stadium with a victory would be a big step for Arkansas and would show that the Razorbacks can compete in what will surely be one of the more hostile environments in the conference.
The home date against Kentucky might be the most dangerous game on the schedule. The words "Kentucky" and "football," don't seem to go together, and there's plenty of reason why. But that's starting to change, and there's a reason for that, too - his name is Andre Woodson.
The Wildcat quarterback is one of the conference's top quarterbacks and has led Kentucky to a 2-0 start in which it's scored 106 points and in a passing attack that will try to exploit Arkansas' biggest defensive liability - the secondary.
These two games - the Alabama game and the game against the eastern division opponent, which happens to be Kentucky this year - have repeatedly given a solid glimpse into the rest of the season. This year will be no different.
Arkansas' 2006 SEC opener against Vanderbilt was a narrow 21-19 road victory followed by a 24-23 double-overtime win over Alabama. Two victories spelled well for the rest of the season, and the Razorbacks finished 10-4 overall, 7-1 in the SEC.
Arkansas will play its first two Southeastern Conference games of the season starting Saturday at Alabama and Sept. 22 at home against Kentucky.
Is Alabama a great team? Eh. They're a good team, at least so far. But there will be added difficulty in that the Razorbacks' trip to Tuscaloosa Saturday will also be one of the most long-awaited games the SEC has seen in a long time, for it marks Alabama's first conference home game under first-year coach Nick Saban.
The Crimson Tide isn't chock full of All-Americans, but Week One and Two have shown that Alabama is proficient in the ground game and solid defensively. And, yes, Leigh Tiffin is still the kicker. Escaping Bryant-Denny Stadium with a victory would be a big step for Arkansas and would show that the Razorbacks can compete in what will surely be one of the more hostile environments in the conference.
The home date against Kentucky might be the most dangerous game on the schedule. The words "Kentucky" and "football," don't seem to go together, and there's plenty of reason why. But that's starting to change, and there's a reason for that, too - his name is Andre Woodson.
The Wildcat quarterback is one of the conference's top quarterbacks and has led Kentucky to a 2-0 start in which it's scored 106 points and in a passing attack that will try to exploit Arkansas' biggest defensive liability - the secondary.
These two games - the Alabama game and the game against the eastern division opponent, which happens to be Kentucky this year - have repeatedly given a solid glimpse into the rest of the season. This year will be no different.
Arkansas' 2006 SEC opener against Vanderbilt was a narrow 21-19 road victory followed by a 24-23 double-overtime win over Alabama. Two victories spelled well for the rest of the season, and the Razorbacks finished 10-4 overall, 7-1 in the SEC.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Joe Miller
posted 9/12/07 @ 1:05 PM EST
If the Hogs lose the next two games, they will be in really BIG trouble and they could have a losing record again, but I think they will win both games. (Continued…)
Robert Woods
posted 9/12/07 @ 9:25 PM EST
I'm an Auburn man so naturally I want to beat the BACKS when we play.But I've allways liked Arkansas and followed the team since the SWC days (Allways pulled for the BACKS in the SWC). (Continued…)
Post a Comment