HOOVER, Ala. — Welcome to a different dose of random observations, a set of all of the ideas that popped into my thoughts whereas taking in an early morning serving of Razorback baseball.
Florida Athletics
Shady from the beginning
The sport began with controversy as Arkansas lead-off hitter Braydon Webb stepped out of the batter’s field pondering he had a timeout whereas Florida’s Nick Pogue threw a flat, hittable fastball proper down the center of the plate.
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The umpire referred to as strike three, sending Webb right into a match of rage.
Watching it reside, it regarded like Webb simply stepped out whereas Pogue began his wind-up.
Nonetheless, the replay clearly confirmed Webb calling trip earlier than the pitch began, hesitating for a second, after which stepping out.
Cayden Wallace then made it a degree to shout a trip throughout his at-bat, ensuring the whole stadium may simply hear the sass in his voice whereas leaving little question time had been referred to as.
It was a second that may have drawn previous groups collectively in an “us in opposition to the whole SEC” seething anger that may result in a stream of stick this in a daylight poor area innings leading to an announcement mercy rule sport.
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Nonetheless, that is not how this staff is constructed. These aren’t killers.
We lastly noticed within the sixth inning what was anticipated whereas issues have been nonetheless uncooked within the first couple of innings as Cayden Wallace and Michael Turner took out their frustration with back-to-back solo residence runs after falling behind 5-0.
This staff misplaced its edge again when it allowed a bunch of truthful climate followers persuade a Prime 4 staff that it wasn’t worthy of their love as a result of they have been such a horrible staff. They began believing keyboard warriors who in all probability could not hit a dart board with a baseball from 10 yards away as a substitute of trusting in themselves and their coach.
In addition they misplaced their capacity to have enjoyable. Groups that notice they’re taking part in a children’ sport and have enjoyable alongside the way in which are those that win.
Suppose again to the Main League World Sequence groups at Texas and Anaheim with their antlers and rally monkey respectively. Check out the Arkansas softball staff at all times laughing, dancing, making loopy objects out of Powerade cups and carrying a rally squirrel on their head.
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Now consider the physique language of this Arkansas staff the previous two weeks. They appear depressing more often than not and so they’re so tight it seems to be like a fence put up has been run up their bottom to the highest of their shoulders.
The look on their faces is that of a person who works at a job that has crushed him down and he desires nothing greater than to by no means report back to work once more, however has no selection. Arriving on the ballpark is figure for these younger males, which isn’t good at any stage, a lot much less throughout event play when enjoyable ought to be best to come back by.
This staff does not have a expertise downside. The distinction between probably profitable a School World Sequence championship and going out in two video games on the street in a regional is 100% psychological.
Arkansas Communications
Unhealthy to worse
When a sport turns south in a rush, the aim is to get all gamers by way of safely and switch focus to the regionals, very like Mississippi State did final yr.
Sadly, that did not occur. Brady Tygart, who had flashes of greatness all through the season was not having his finest outing, and it will definitely grew to become clear why.
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Tygart gave up a house run adopted by successful batter. He then tried a choose at first base and almost threw it into the stands.
His day closed with a breaking ball that was to this point off that it went manner behind the batter, then took a tough break and hit him on the again proper shoulder. As coaches got here out to fulfill with Tygart, it regarded prefer it is perhaps an harm scenario.
Thankfully for the Hogs, Tygart was battling dizziness and was light-headed. He ought to be obtainable for the regionals.
There are individuals who suppose this a lot about sausage
Early within the sport, there was a Johnsonville sausage business that reminded us there’s somebody on this planet whose job it’s to do nothing however suppose as deeply about sausage as a pastor ought to be enthusiastic about the Lord each day.
The business identified that you may’t have sausage with out the USA. That is when the individuals at residence begin spelling sausage of their heads, and those who have been born earlier than spelling was eliminated as a topic at school notice the individuals at Johnsonville are proper.
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SaUSAge. America of America is correct there within the title.
Somebody get me a grill. It is time to make the most of the cool climate whereas honoring my nation.
Not all commercials have a lot thought
There’s a automobile insurance coverage business that has run all through the event the place a child his a house run that presumably hit a automobile and broke the entrance glass of a automobile parked within the outfield.
Nonetheless, the child is being falsely blamed for the injury. The automobile is parked with its trunk and again glass going through the outfield fence.
The ball comes from in entrance of the automobile to interrupt the glass, so it could not have come from the house run. What seems to have occurred is the insurance coverage spokesman snatched up the house run ball and threw it into the windshield of this poor particular person’s automobile simply to attempt to persuade him/her of the necessity to purchase his insurance coverage.
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If insurance coverage gross sales do not work out, perhaps this shady fellow may have a future as an SEC umpire.
Probably the most unsacrificing sacrifice of all time
Apparently a part of the situation of getting Jalen Battles to come back again was that Van Horn had to surrender his No. 2 jersey to the celebrated brief cease.
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The SEC announce crew tried to promote this as a heart-warming story of sacrifice, however even they could not maintain this pressured angle collectively for various seconds.
There’s nothing extra unconsequential on this world than the quantity a baseball coach wears on his uniform. The reward of a manger’s quantity is on par with giving somebody the leftover pizza crust in your plate after you’ve got tapped out.
It is nonetheless arduous to grasp why baseball coaches put on participant uniforms.
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Softball does not do it. Courtney Deifel is not on the market rocking skin-tight baseball pants whereas sprinting to residence plate to high-five one other residence run hitter.
Jordyn Weiber is not working round Barnhill Area in a leotard and splashes of chalk powder.
We might see Sam Pittman differently if he needed to strap on a set of lineman shoulder pads and a helmet whereas he labored the sidelines of Razorback Stadium.
If Eric Musselman needed to throw on a basketball jersey and shorts whereas scowling at referees in entrance of a packed crowd at Bud Walton he would appear to be a disgruntled four-year-old carrying his massive brother’s hand-me-downs. He’d by no means get one other name once more.
It is a custom for the sake of custom that should go away.
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Arkansas Communications
Can Connor Noland nonetheless throw a soccer?
Seeing the form Connor Noland has gotten himself into this yr makes one surprise if he can nonetheless spin a soccer.
He was as soon as the longer term at quarterback for the Razorbacks, however he was sensible sufficient to acknowledge that Chad Morris had a bag of nothing and opted to maneuver completely into baseball.
Sadly, prospect rankings present Razorbacks dropping like a rock, and Noland does not present up within the Prime 400 rankings.
Nonetheless, with Arkansas having such a necessity at quarterback for the upcoming season, perhaps it is a good time to make use of that COVID yr and see what may need been.
Get that child an NIL deal
There was a ball boy alongside the third baseline who demonstrated the best of integrity.
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He promised a younger man sitting close by that he would get him a ball if the chance got here. When a foul ball went to left discipline, he grabbed it up with a gaggle of younger males making an attempt to stress him into give one among them the ball.
Nonetheless, the ball boy caught to his promise and gave it to the younger man who had initially requested. When the grateful fan tried to slide the ball boy a bit of money, he was shaken off.
There are lots of people on the market getting NIL offers who do not carry worth equal to what they’re being paid. It is a younger man who could be price each penny.
Sure Sir!
That rowdy group of foul ball chasers deep alongside the left discipline line did finally get a shot at a collectable.
When the younger man who got here away with it after beating out a big group charging all the way down to the underside of the hill, he shouted out “Sure sir!” as he held the ball excessive.
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He was instantly echoed by these round him with Sam Pittman’s signature “Sure sir!” of their very own.
HOGS FEED
HOGS ONE WIN OVER TEXAS AWAY FROM MAKING HISTORY
COUNTDOWN BEGINS TO ARKANSAS VS. CINCINATTI
WHEELS ON RAZORBACKS’ WAGON IS WOBBLING AFTER OPENING SEC TOURNAMENT WITH LOSS TO ALABAMA
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LANE KIFFIN IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT ABOUT NEW WORLD OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL MAY BE ON SLIPPERY SLOPE TO DRASTIC CHANGE IN ARKANSAS
IS GREG SANKEY, SEC, LOOKING BIGGER THAN ANY OF US WOULD GUESS?
HAVING ONE PERMANENT OPPONENT IN SEC MIGHT BE AWKWARD FOR HOGS
ESPN ANALYTICS SAYS HOGS NEXT TO LAST IN SEC WEST FOOTBALL RACE
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Tennessee (4-0, 1-0 SEC) will return to action in Week 6 after an open date.
The Vols will next play at Arkansas (3-2, 1-1 SEC). The game will be contested at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
A kickoff time has been determined for the Tennessee-Arkansas Southeastern Conference matchup. The Week 6 contest is slated for 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday and ABC will televise the game.
READ: Updated SEC football power rankings after Week 5
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Tennessee has two open dates in 2024. Josh Heupel discussed having two off weeks this season.
“It’s different, it’s been a long time since I have had two during the course of the year, early part of it,” Heupel said. “Certainly need to continue to improve fundamentals and technique, and as you get to the second one I’ll probably look a little bit more at the health of your roster. Being intentional and making sure you are ready for that last run.”
ARLINGTON, Texas — The University of Arkansas special teams went 1 for 2 on fakes involving Devin Bale in Saturday’s 21-17 loss to No. 24 Texas A&M on Saturday at AT&T Stadium.
In the first quarter Bale — who punts, kicks off and holds on field goal and extra point attempts — rushed for a first down on fourth-and-15 from the Arkansas 46 when he gained 25 yards on a fake punt.
Bale’s run set up a touchdown that put the Razorbacks ahead 14-7.
After Bale fielded the ball from long snapper Ashton Ngo, he took a few steps as if getting ready to rugby kick, then took off running when he saw an opening.
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“The fake punt was just a green light for Devin,” Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman said. “We had seen that they turn their back and I trust the guy.
“So we just said, ‘Hey, if they turn their back and you feel like you can get 15 yards, take off,’ and he did.
“And, man, he did a phenomenal job with that. Big play.”
Bale also was involved in a fake field goal attempt in the third quarter with the game tied 14-14.
The Razorbacks lined up for what would have been a 50-yard attempt by Kyle Ramsey on fourth-and-6 from the Texas A&M 32 when Bale took the snap from Ngo and got up to run.
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Instead of getting the first down, Bale was tackled for a 5-yard loss by safety Marcus Ratcliffe and defensive end Shemar Stewart.
Pittman said the Aggies initially showed the same look on field goal defense as they have this season, but they reacted differently.
“The problem was, they normally drop the two outside guys,” Pittman said. “We were trying to run Landon (Jackson) on a fake pass and we knew the guy would go with him if we could run him into the middle linebacker, and then kick out the outside guy because he always just came up and stopped.
“It was the exact same look, except they rushed off the edge, which they hadn’t shown this year. On a tackle-over situation to the boundary, they rushed and they got us on it.
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“Obviously, I felt like we’d make it or I wouldn’t have called it. But we didn’t.”
Back issue
Arkansas starting tight end Luke Hasz came out of the game with 11:26 left in the third quarter and didn’t return. He caught a pass from Taylen Green for a 2-yard gain, got up and grabbed his back, then motioned that he needed to come out. He went to bench and didn’t return.
“He came into the game with a back (issue),” Razorbacks Coach Sam Pittman said. “We felt like he could get through the game. He obviously could not.”
Hasz suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against Texas A&M last season in the fifth game.
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First loss
Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino suffered his first loss in six games in which he’s coached at AT&T Stadium. He had been 5-0 in Arkansas-Texas A&M games with both teams.
Petrino was 3-0 as Arkansas’ head coach when the Razorbacks beat the Aggies three consecutive years, winning 47-19 in 2009, 24-17 in 2010 and 42-38 in 2011.
Petrino won again at AT&T Stadium when Arkansas beat Kansas State 29-16 in the Cotton Bowl to cap the 2011 season.
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Last season, when Petrino was Texas A&M’s offensive coordinator, the Aggies beat the Razorbacks 34-22.
In a rush
Arkansas running back Ja’Quinden Jackson has as many rushing touchdowns as the Razorbacks did all of last season.
Jackson’s 8-yard touchdown run with 4:50 left in the first quarter to put Arkansas ahead 14-7 was his ninth rushing touchdown in five games.
The Razorbacks had nine rushing touchdowns last season in 12 games with KJ Jefferson, Raheim Sanders and AJ Green sharing the team lead with two each.
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Arkansas has 17 rushing touchdowns this season.
First sacks
Landon Jackson, Arkansas’ senior All-SEC defensive end, finally got his first sacks of the season to make sure the Aggies didn’t get a score late in the second quarter to take a halftime lead.
Jackson broke through double-team blocking to sack Marcel Reed for a 9-yard loss to push the Aggies back to their 43.
With 25 seconds left before halftime and the scored tied 14-14, Texas A&M faced third-and-19 and chose not to run another play.
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Jackson was credited for another sack in the third quarter, when Reed was called for intentional grounding.
Arkansas sophomore defensive end Quincy Rhodes got the first sack of his career when he tackled Reed for a 7-yard loss in the third quarter.
60,000-plus
Announced attendance for Saturday’s game — with the contract expiring for the Arkansas-Texas A&M to be played at AT&T Stadium — was 60,928.
It was a slight increase over last season’s attendance of 59,437.
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The largest crowd at AT&T Stadium for an Arkansas-Texas A&M game was 71,872 in the teams’ first meeting there in 2009.
Going long
Taylen Green’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Isaac TeSlaa to cap Arkansas’ first possession was the longest play of the season for the Razorbacks.
The previous long play was Green’s 58-yard touchdown pass to Isaiah Sategna in Arkansas’ 24-14 victory at Auburn last week.
Green’s touchdown pass to Sategna was on third-and-19. His touchdown pass to TeSlaa was on third-and-10.
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Injury report
Arkansas starting cornerback Jaylon Braxton missed his third consecutive game because of a knee injury. Marquise Robinson started in Braxton’s place.
Hogs safety Hudson Clark dressed out but didn’t play because of a back injury that has sidelined him the last three games.
Tight end Andreas Paaske missed his second game in a row because of concussion protocol.
Guard Patrick Kutas still hasn’t played this season because of a back injury. Wide receiver Monte Harrison was out with an undisclosed injury.
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Running back Rashod Dubinion missed the game because of a suspension.
Texas A&M quarterback Conner Weigman missed his third consecutive game because of a shoulder injury and again was replaced in the starting lineup by Marcel Reed.
Vs. Aggies
Arkansas leads its series against Texas A&M 42-36-3, but the Aggies have been dominant in SEC matchups.
Since Texas A&M joined the SEC in 2012, the Aggies are 12-1 against the Razorbacks, including 10-1 at AT&T Stadium.
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Arkansas’ only victory in its last 13 game against Texas A&M was in 2021 when the Razorbacks won 20-10 at AT&T Stadium.
Quick score
Arkansas took a 7-0 lead on Taylen Green’s 75-yard touchdown pass to Issac TeSlaa with 13:49 left in the first quarter.
It was the second-earliest score in the history of the Southwest Classic, which started in 2009 with the game played in Arlington.
The earliest score came in Texas A&M’s 35-28 overtime victory in 2014 when the Aggies took a 7-0 lead on Brandon Williams’ 13-yard touchdown run with 13:55 left in the first quarter.
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Honorary captains
Fred Marshall, a senior quarterback on Arkansas’ 1964 team that won a share of the national championship, served as an honorary captain along with R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M’s coach for 14 seasons from 1989-2002.
Marshall was an Arkansas teammate of Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones. The two sat together at Saturday’s game in Jones’ private box. The 1964 Razorbacks finished 11-0, capped by a 10-7 victory over Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl.
Slocum led Texas A&M to a 124-47-2 record overall and three consecutive Southwest Conference championships from 1991-93.
For starters
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Arkansas opened in a two-tight end set as Luke Hasz — who has started every game — was joined in the lineup by Ty Washington. It was Washington’s first start of the season.
Quarterback Taylen Green kept the ball on a rushing attempt and was dropped for a 2-yard loss by defensive end Nic Scourton.
Rankled
Arkansas fell to 0-2 against ranked teams this season with its loss to No. 24 Texas A&M.
It was the second loss for Arkansas to a ranked team this season along with Oklahoma State’s 39-31 victory in double overtime on Sept. 7.
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The Cowboys were ranked No. 16 for their game against the Razorbacks and rose to No. 13 in the subsequent Associated Press poll.
After a 22-19 home loss to Utah last week, Oklahoma State fell to No. 20.
The Cowboys’ 42-20 road loss at Kansas State on Saturday likely will drop them out of the poll.
Few college football rivalries can match the excitement of Texas A&M and Arkansas in the Southwest Classic, and the game’s final installment at AT&T Stadium Saturday was a testament to that. The Aggies beat the Razorbacks, 21-17, for their 12th win in the programs’ last 13 meetings.
Here are five takeaways from A&M’s victory:
A fitting end to the Southwest Classic in Arlington
In the Southwest Classic’s final season before returning to campus sites, there couldn’t have been a more appropriate ending to a 13-year run at the home of the Dallas Cowboys. The game was neck-and-neck throughout, and it came down to a flurry in the fourth quarter.
Redshirt sophomore quarterback Marcel Reed’s five-yard touchdown keeper with nine minutes left in the second quarter knotted the score at 14 until a 45-yard field goal by Arkansas redshirt senior kicker Kyle Ramsey with 13:24 remaining in the game.
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Fresno State transfer tight end Tre Watson’s first score as an Aggie couldn’t have come at a more opportune moment as he reeled in a five-yard touchdown with nine minutes left. A&M’s defense tightened from there on out, peaking with Purdue transfer defensive end Nic Scourton’s strip-sack of Boise State transfer QB Taylen Green to put the victory to bed.
Here’s hoping the rivalry’s excitement makes the trip to College Station and Fayetteville, Ark.
Photos: Aggies hang on to down Arkansas in Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium
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Le’Veon Moss breathed life into the Aggies’ offense
A&M’s offensive attack looked stale through most of the second quarter and throughout the third quarter, with the Aggies’ five complete drives ending in punts each time. Donning voltage green cleats, junior running back Le’Veon Moss was the Energizer Bunny for A&M as he put a spark into the scoring drive.
With just under 11 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Moss broke off three consecutive runs of 23, 8 and 15 yards before Reed found Watson for the go-ahead touchdown. Moss continued his fourth-quarter surge on the Aggies’ next possession, charging 30 yards down the sideline before a facemask penalty added 15 more yards.
Two additional 7-yard gains raised Moss’ total to a season-high 117 yards and an average of nine yards per carry. His performance came against the SEC’s fourth-best rush defense, with the Razorbacks allowing just 82.3 yards on the ground entering Saturday.
Moss has just three touchdowns this season, but his offensive impact with over 100 yards in each conference matchup is undeniable.
A&M’s turnover prowess was on display
Elko has discussed the conduciveness of winning the turnover battle in games to success in the SEC. That gameplan worked for A&M in Sept. 14′s win over Florida, when the Aggies reeled in three interceptions while committing no turnovers themselves.
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A&M again came out on top in the turnover battle by a 3-0 margin. Florida transfer linebacker Scooby Williams recovered a fumble and Alabama transfer cornerback Dezz Ricks intercepted a pass in the first half, while the Aggies held on to the ball themselves with no turnovers.
Yet, no turnover was bigger than Scourton’s strip-sack of Green with a minute and a half remaining. Florida transfer nickel back Jaydon Hill flew in for the recovery, effectively sealing an A&M victory as the Aggies took over in Razorback territory.
Junior defensive end Shemar Stewart forced the second-quarter fumble by breaking up a handoff from Green to Jackson, paving the way for a 5-yard score two plays later. A&M didn’t get points off of Ricks’ pick, but it prevented Arkansas from scoring before halftime in a tightly-contested game.
Tyler White was the Aggies’ most valuable player
It was one of those games where A&M’s most impactful performer was the punter, and why not? White booted the ball nine times for 388 yards, an average of 43.1 yards per kick. That’s not an eye-popping statistic, but the redshirt freshman from Southlake seven punts inside the Arkansas 20-yard line ensured the Razorbacks were never gifted easy field position.
White’s stats won’t be as sexy as those of Moss, Scourton and junior wide receiver Noah Thomas, but his performance played just as big a role, if not bigger, in the Aggies escaping Arlington with a victory. Elko’s emphasis on special teams success is already paying dividends.
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A&M’s run defense continues to show improvement
The Aggies held their third opponent in a row to 100 rushing yards or less, and the Razorbacks’ 100 yards looks even more impressive with Arkansas previously averaging 240 rushing yards per game. The dual-threat Green was limited to 12 yards on 12 carries, while Utah transfer RB Ja’Quinden Jackson managed just 37 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries.
A&M’s run defense looks better with each week after surrendering 198 and 180 rushing yards to Notre Dame and McNeese State, respectively, through the first two weeks of the season. Scourton and Hill each came up with sacks, with Scourton accounting for three of the Aggies’ nine tackles for loss.
Elko and defensive coordinator Jay Batman won’t be fans of the 279 yards and a touchdown allowed through the air, but it’s a testament to A&M’s elimination of the run game for Arkansas.
Find more Texas A&M coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
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