There Is Path to Razorbacks Getting Win in Arlington

Of course, it probably involves lots of answers for many questions around this team

Author:
Andy Hodges
Publish date:
Sep 29, 2023 11:46 PM EDT

In this story:

Arkansas Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Maybe what has become a wasted game in Arlington is coming close to a finale. Saturday's game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington likely is the next-to-last in a game that was a good idea back in 2009 when it started.

Rules changing, eliminating any positive of playing there is gone. Arkansas and Texas A&M both probably want to play as many home games on campus as possible for the recruiting benefits and revenue. That check from what is truly a grand and magnificent place doesn't mean as much as it once did.

For the Razorbacks, the underdog in the betting odds, there is a way they can come out of this game with a win. Mainly it's pretty simple. Sam Pittman and the Hogs will just have to find a lot of positive answers to the myriad of questions still lingering for this season.

Most of those are involving mistakes and penalties. Often, they are the types of errors coaches tend to call "fixable," but on the other hand it's frequently an under-matched player looking for any edge he can find to accomplish his job on a play.

Nobody wants to hold a block too long jump offsides. Those are unforced errors created by trying to make a play more often than poor technique. You don't often get to coach at the SEC level if there's not some sort of belief you don't know football or how to teach it.

Most of college sports these days is depending on the players. The greatest horse trainers in the world have never been able to train a plow mule into even being in the money at the Kentucky Derby. It takes about 44 almost interchangeable players these days to compete for any kind of championship these days.

If the Hogs find out they have that and all they needed was a little experience, that should start to emerge in the fifth game of the year. About the only other option is the other team just not being able to catch a break in any category.

For the Hogs to even have a shot at getting a win, they are going to have to find some answers ... and fast. With a third of the season already in the dumper, they should be starting to get some of those answers or just start developing for next season.