Hostile crowd expected for SEC finale
Harold McIlvain II
Issue date: 2/27/09 Section: Sports
Arkansas gymnastics co-head coach Rene Cook said there will be a fair share of distractions when the team competes on the road against No. 6 LSU 7 p.m. Friday.
The atmosphere will be similar to the team's last road meet against Auburn, but the Maravich Center has its own unique environment, Cook said.
"Against Auburn, it was definitely unsettling," Cook said. "But LSU won't be the same. It will be coming from the fans. They have rowdy fans in all their sports."
However, Cook said the team will take a similar approach to the one it took against Auburn to help stay focused.
"We will need to work hard on that," Cook said. "There are a couple different atmospheres. Sometimes fans cheer for the home team. But sometimes the fans cheer against the opposing team. And that's what happens against LSU."
No. 9 Arkansas (6-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) will look to improve its regional qualifying score with a good road performance, as the team is still counting a 195.400 score.
"We need to hit our routines and hit a good away score," Cook said. "We need to do well and replace one of our lowest scores. If we are able to do that, we should be right there with LSU."
Arkansas currently is only fractions of a point from moving up to a higher rank with teams tightly bunched.
"Every quarter tenth matters at this point," Cook said. "If we do a good job, it can solidify ourselves in the top part of the rankings and put us in a good position heading into the last couple meets."
The Razorbacks end Southeastern Conference play against LSU (10-2, 3-2 SEC), but Arkansas has already earned the highest conference win total in program history.
After posting a couple season-low performances on the road, Arkansas bounced back last week at home by scoring a 196.725, which was the second-best score in program history.
"Getting back on track was really important," Cook said. "It boosted our confidence and increased the energy level. Emotionally, you feel near the top of the mountain."
The atmosphere will be similar to the team's last road meet against Auburn, but the Maravich Center has its own unique environment, Cook said.
"Against Auburn, it was definitely unsettling," Cook said. "But LSU won't be the same. It will be coming from the fans. They have rowdy fans in all their sports."
However, Cook said the team will take a similar approach to the one it took against Auburn to help stay focused.
"We will need to work hard on that," Cook said. "There are a couple different atmospheres. Sometimes fans cheer for the home team. But sometimes the fans cheer against the opposing team. And that's what happens against LSU."
No. 9 Arkansas (6-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) will look to improve its regional qualifying score with a good road performance, as the team is still counting a 195.400 score.
"We need to hit our routines and hit a good away score," Cook said. "We need to do well and replace one of our lowest scores. If we are able to do that, we should be right there with LSU."
Arkansas currently is only fractions of a point from moving up to a higher rank with teams tightly bunched.
"Every quarter tenth matters at this point," Cook said. "If we do a good job, it can solidify ourselves in the top part of the rankings and put us in a good position heading into the last couple meets."
The Razorbacks end Southeastern Conference play against LSU (10-2, 3-2 SEC), but Arkansas has already earned the highest conference win total in program history.
After posting a couple season-low performances on the road, Arkansas bounced back last week at home by scoring a 196.725, which was the second-best score in program history.
"Getting back on track was really important," Cook said. "It boosted our confidence and increased the energy level. Emotionally, you feel near the top of the mountain."
Be the first to comment on this story