Which team will be a thorn in your side next year

[crawfish]

These teams don't have enough in the bag to win their respective leagues, but they're going to ruin the dreams of several favorites, or give a far tougher game than expected.

According to Pete Fiutak of Fox Sports, the pain in the butt in each conference race will be ... (http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/7928666/20-questions:-They'll-be-a-thorn-in-your-side)

ACC: Duke

Big East: Connecticut

Big Ten: Minnesota

Big 12: Kansas State

Conference USA: SMU

MAC: Kent State

Mountain West: UNLV

Pac-10: Arizona

SEC: Ole Miss

Sun Belt: North Texas

WAC: San Jose State

[NiKka]

This year i'd say we ought to be more than just a thorn...
but we will see what happens

[GatorBait15]

Duke will not finish last in the ACC mark my words!


just my suprise pick of the season...

[crawfish]

For LSU, I think it could be Ole Miss or possibly Arkansas (again). Ole Miss is certainly primed to be that team due to the dominace we had over them since 2001. They always give us a great game, but next year they worry me and could be our thorn in the flesh!

[PuddingTime]

The same damn team that's been a thorn in our side since we last beat 'em in 1984....Tennessee.

[cocky4ever]

I dont see how Duke can be given the ranking of thorn yet....havent they only won one game in the last 2 years? Cutcliffe isnt that good. In the ACC I would pick UNC. They'll be good enough to mess up a few peoples post-seasons. In the SEC I would pick Ark. I know you generally like to think of a team thats been down when thinking of the "thorn in the side" team, but I dont think they'll be very good next year...but they could mess up someones chance at a division title.

[zartan]

wrong. it'll be South Carolina.

[the Prodigy]

It seems like almost every season Arkansas has an upset Victory over someone. And I'm talking BIG upsets. In general I think it is a case of Arkansas always being downplayed. People don't want to believe they are that good, so they rank them lower. When the teams they beat really aren't that much better, or better at all. In simple terms it's a case of general national disrespect for a program that is "supposed to be small time" or a "basketball school."

2007 - LSU #1
2006 - Auburn #2
2003 - Texas #5
2002 - LSU # 18
2001 - South Carolina #9
2000 - MSU #13
1999 - Tennessee #3
1998 - Well, we won't talk about 1998.

In each of these victories Arkansas has been unranked. If it isn't disrespect on a national scale, Arkansas is just the best Underdog of all time....

[FightinTiger71]

I think the state of Mississippi qualifies for the thorn in the side honor. I think Ole Miss and Mississippi State might play spoiler to some SEC teams big ambitions. I think you can throw in South Carolina because it seems they always win one really big game a year.

[The Ramp]

I think the state of Mississippi qualifies for the thorn in the side honor. I think Ole Miss and Mississippi State might play spoiler to some SEC teams big ambitions. I think you can throw in South Carolina because it seems they always win one really big game a year.

i agree with the ole miss comment. we've owned ole miss, MSU, and bama for long now that we're bound to lose one eventually (could be this year)

[mr_mann]

i agree with the ole miss comment. we've owned ole miss, MSU, and bama for long now that we're bound to lose one eventually (could be this year)


Theres not many teams in the SEC West you havent owned for awhile now...
I am going with MSU this time :D they've got a burning desire not to suck.

[The Ramp]

Theres not many teams in the SEC West you havent owned for awhile now...
I am going with MSU this time :D they've got a burning desire not to suck.


well you got us last year. we're bound to lose another. MSU is as good as any (i think they've beaten us once since 86)

[mr_mann]

well you got us last year. we're bound to lose another. MSU is as good as any (i think they've beaten us once since 86)

Then I guess it would be time for MSU to beat you...
arent they talking about naming the game between you guys?

1. its been along time since they've been good..
2. a named game..


sounds like a good mixture for an upset to me.

[The Ramp]

Then I guess it would be time for MSU to beat you...
arent they talking about naming the game between you guys?

1. its been along time since they've been good..
2. a named game..


sounds like a good mixture for an upset to me.

no...our stupid SGA president wants us to name the Ole Miss "rivalry"

[mr_mann]

wanna put some Vcash on this? :D

[Sabanocchio]

Georgia is going to be tough at home, but I really think Florida is the team that will make us look bad this year.

[Tider27]

Auburn...going on 7 years now...

[Sabanocchio]

The same damn team that's been a thorn in our side since we last beat 'em in 1984....Tennessee.


W
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Just wanted to see what all those "W"s looked like. :D

[Bulldogs16]

i'd like to have LSU as a rival.. they have stomped our ass for so long!.. with our team gettin better.. and LSU still winning (damnit) .. should be a good game.. as long as a QB named henig isnt on the field.. miss state has a chance this coming up yr.. OLE MISS could be a thorn.. i give them 5 wins this yr.. they will upset someone!.. and alabama is my pick to get upset.. i personally seeing Miss State and UM beating bama this yr!..

[lacene]

It very well could be Ole Miss for the Gamecocks this year. USC has yet to beat Miss. in 4 tries. One loss was a blow out, the other 3 were by a total of 8 points. It should be a very good game.....

[OleMissPike]

Lately, Vandy has been a thorn in our side. We've lost our last 2 trips to Nashville and had to steal a win at our last home game. Then again, when you are 0-8, there are a lot of thorns

[raptorcox]

ACC will be UNC
SEC will be a team from the East yet again

[Fadeproof]

Well it could be either UT,UAT,SC, or ASU for us since each of them are catching us fairly early in the year. Since UT has had our number the past 2 years it very well could be them again.:brick:

[zartan]

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Just wanted to see what all those "W"s looked like. :D
i thought it was the informal SEC Talk presidential election ballot from 2004.:laugh:

[GeauxTo]

i'd like to have LSU as a rival.. they have stomped our ass for so long!.. with our team gettin better.. and LSU still winning (damnit) .. should be a good game.. as long as a QB named henig isnt on the field.. miss state has a chance this coming up yr.. OLE MISS could be a thorn.. i give them 5 wins this yr.. they will upset someone!.. and alabama is my pick to get upset.. i personally seeing Miss State and UM beating bama this yr!..

You make some good points. Miss State is very likely to beat Alabama again, and Ole Miss may beat them, too. Also, don't cut Henig short. He's a gutsy guy and can throw the ball.

[The Ramp]

You make some good points. Miss State is very likely to beat Alabama again, and Ole Miss may beat them, too. Also, don't cut Henig short. He's a gutsy guy and can throw the ball.

he WAS a gutsy kid. he quit the team due to injuries. too small 4 the sec

[GeauxTo]

he WAS a gutsy kid. he quit the team due to injuries. too small 4 the sec

Wow! I didn't realize that he had quit. He was injury prone.
His family has a successful fur business in Montgomery, AL, so he probably has it made financially anyway.

[Tider27]

You make some good points. Miss State is very likely to beat Alabama again, and Ole Miss may beat them, too. Also, don't cut Henig short. He's a gutsy guy and can throw the ball.

Much like Arkansas is very likely to beat your Tigers. :thumpsup:

I'll never say never, but I seriously doubt that one...its almost laughable.

[zartan]

Much like Arkansas is very likely to beat your Tigers. :thumpsup:

I'll never say never, but I seriously doubt that one...its almost laughable.
ULM says hi....

[timNem]

ULM says hi....
that team that got beat by ULM, aren't they the same team that thrashed UT? :laugh:

[zartan]

that team that got beat by ULM, aren't they the same team that thrashed UT? :laugh:
one could be forgiven for thinking otherwise. did you know that 'crimson tide' rhymes with 'jekyll and hyde'. someone should write a song about it...

[cocky4ever]

Wow! I didn't realize that he had quit. He was injury prone.
His family has a successful fur business in Montgomery, AL, so he probably has it made financially anyway.

Yeah, I hated to see him get hurt. He definitely had more heart than his physical body could sustain. I will never forget him opening the season against us in 2006. He broke his collar bone and got right up and tried to run the next play. After realizing his body wouldnt work right he called a timeout. It never seemed as though he was crying because of the pain...but because he had worked so hard to lead his team and was now unable to do so. It definitely demanded me to respect him. Even if he didnt have the best seasons I wish he could've played ball like he wanted to. A person with all heart will get my respect ten times more often than someone who is blessed with natural physical talent. I was sad to hear that he had quit the team...but I guess sleeping on a pillow stuffed with money will help him sleep at night :D

[GeauxTo]

A person with all heart will get my respect ten times more often than someone who is blessed with natural physical talent.

Agreed. I admired Henig for the same reasons.
Poor ole Croom has always seemed to have QB problems. I hope he has someone that can do the team justice because on both offense and defense, MSU seems pretty talented and balanced. They are definitely well coached.

[bulldawg]

We have alot of big games but the LSU/UF back to back combo is going to be the ball breaker.

[The Ramp]

i definately give much props to Henig for being a trooper

[Bulldog Bry]

Auburn.

When no one is paying attention, Auburn will beat us. Plus it's like, their turn or something.

[bulldawg]

Auburn.

When no one is paying attention, Auburn will beat us. Plus it's like, their turn or something.


Agreed, you can only beat a rival so many times before they turn around and bite back. With that said we are due to whip up on UT this year. Three in a row is enough.
:brick:

[GeauxTo]

Always, always, always, these teams are thorns in our side:

Florida > they always give us hell on the field, whether we win or lose.
Auburn > our games with Auburn have been some of the best and closest in the SEC.
Alabama > we must always take Bama seriously; they can whip us anytime.
Ole Miss > never, never, never underestimate the Rebs when it comes to the Rebs & Tigers.
Arkansas > the Razorbacks always play us with ferocity and are always dangerous, as the past season indicates.

[Tider27]

one could be forgiven for thinking otherwise. did you know that 'crimson tide' rhymes with 'jekyll and hyde'. someone should write a song about it...

It also rhymes with the 3rd Saturday in October 2007 = Orange Butt-Whoopin.

Well not really but it sounds good to me. :ph34r: :D

[GetEmGamecocks]

It's not exactly a thorn in our side, but I've got a bad feeling that Florida will whoop-up on us once again. Hopefully Jasper Brinkley will be healthy enough to put fear into the heart of Tebow.

[the Prodigy]

Always, always, always, these teams are thorns in our side:


Arkansas > the Razorbacks always play us with ferocity and are always dangerous, as the past season indicates.

I'll post this again:
The top ranked teams Arkansas has beaten since 99 as an unranked team

2007 - LSU #1
2006 - Auburn #2
2003 - Texas #5
2002 - LSU # 18
2001 - South Carolina #9
2000 - MSU #13
1999 - Tennessee #3

Make no mistake, we play just about any team ranked higher than us like that. Arkansas "upsets" are a direct result of being perennially UNDERRATED! Arkansas is usually 10 to 20 spots higher than they are ranked in reality. Nutt knew how to use that as a motivational tool. I just hope Petrino can do the same in that department.

[The Ramp]

Homer Alert!!!!homer Alert!!!

[the Prodigy]

Homer Alert!!!!homer Alert!!!

If it isn't a national problem it's an Arkansas magic.... They just beat highly ranked teams because they are the BEST underdog ever I guess.

I think Arkansas' stigma hurts them in the ranking every season, and they end up "upseting" a bunch of teams that they should be ranked ahead of to begin with.

[The Ramp]

what was ark's overall record under Nutt? i think they're ranked about right. sugar coat it all you want...

[the Prodigy]

what was ark's overall record under Nutt? i think they're ranked about right. sugar coat it all you want...

Yeah, you're right. Arkansas sucks. Their beating that many nationally ranked teams plus more as an unranked team is just an unexplainable phenomenon.


why do I even try?:brick:

[The Ramp]

Yeah, you're right. Arkansas sucks. Their beating that many nationally ranked teams plus more as an unranked team is just an unexplainable phenomenon.


why do I even try?:brick:

big deal...they beat LSU. they still finished with 5 losses. let's give them the crystal trophy. it's so hard to talk to you with your THICK homer glasses.

[the Prodigy]

big deal...they beat LSU. they still finished with 5 losses. let's give them the crystal trophy. it's so hard to talk to you with your THICK homer glasses.

Name another team that started the season unranked with that many wins over teams ranked in the top 20. I'm not even counting all of them, those are just the ones that I bothered to mention. Face it, I'm right. Arkansas is perennially underrated. Their stigma as a small time school who couldn't beat Texas in their hayday hurts them.

[The Ramp]

so beating top ranked teams is better than having a GOOD record?

[the Prodigy]

so beating top ranked teams is better than having a GOOD record?

Two bad years of probation and talent not panning out turned Nutt from a .65-.78 coach into a .500 (in-conference) or abouts coach. I don't care what you say, you aren't addressing the core issue I'm presenting to you. How do you do THAT as many times as they did and not be considered underrated?

[The Ramp]

you're right. 8-5 teams should be ranked in the top ten

[the Prodigy]

you're right. 8-5 teams should be ranked in the top ten

Not what I am saying. I'm saying they should get the respect a team who is ranked in the top 25 gets. They don't. But they've won the games to prove they should. They are underrated most of the time.

respect is the name of the game. That is what it is all about. Arkansas should be respected and considered a better program than what it is considered now. And it all has to do with the population of the state and the number of televisions.

[The Ramp]

name a team in america that doesnt play the "respect" card? u want respect? win more than a couple of big games a year. every underdog in every game screams that overplayed word. it's tiresome

[the Prodigy]

name a team in america that doesnt play the "respect" card? u want respect? win more than a couple of big games a year. every underdog in every game screams that overplayed word. it's tiresome

Ah, but there is ONE team. ONE, that has done it more times against better competition than any other.... guess who? I think Arkansas has a legitimate complaint in this dept.

[The Ramp]

Ah, but there is ONE team. ONE, that has done it more times against better competition than any other.... guess who? I think Arkansas has a legitimate complaint in this dept.

congrats....that and 7 wins will get u 2 the indy bowl.

[the Prodigy]

congrats....that and 7 wins will get u 2 the indy bowl.

Really, even now, after an unranked Arkansas beat the team that won the national title. You still don't give them credit where credit is due. One of these days, Arkansas is going to be more than just talented. They, much like LSU was last season, will be lucky. And they will do all the crap that the supposed top 5 teams do, and all you people who think Arkansas is nothing more than a doormat will have to shut the hell up.

And Arkansas should have been ranked when they won all those games. The only reason they weren't was because of the name on the jersey and you know it.

[GetEmGamecocks]

Most teams respect Arky I think. And you guys have the same chances of getting ranked as all the other teams that start out unranked.

[zartan]

i still think R-Kansas got screwed in the Heisman voting.

[ColonelKurtz]

Pink lemonade, son, when are you going to accept the FACT that so long as you post exaggerations, you're going to be called out?

To wit, your insistence that your boyz are consistently underrated is as bogus as your claim to hold significant victories over Elites. If such were so, then Arky would have more West banners and Dome appearances for whipping the true contenders.

Here's another great bookmark for the real fan that can settle many arguments with the cold, hard, TRUTH:

2007 Overrated/Underrated Teams (http://preseason.stassen.com/over-under/2007.html)

As you can clearly see, Arky was slightly overrated last season! Once again, the Dawgs were the SEC's most UNDERRATED team and you can go back in time to see how your team and others finished.

[The Ramp]

Really, even now, after an unranked Arkansas beat the team that won the national title. You still don't give them credit where credit is due. One of these days, Arkansas is going to be more than just talented. They, much like LSU was last season, will be lucky. And they will do all the crap that the supposed top 5 teams do, and all you people who think Arkansas is nothing more than a doormat will have to shut the hell up.

And Arkansas should have been ranked when they won all those games. The only reason they weren't was because of the name on the jersey and you know it.

what credit do you want? you guys won the game. congrats. and you also LOST 5 games. i guess beating LSU is much better than having a good season? u just don't get it. ark is consistently a 4-6 loss team every year. you guys are underdogs because of that simple fact. win games and you get respect. end of story

[the Prodigy]

There are a lot of teams that are 8-4. Year after year after year Arkansas continues to beat teams ranked in the top 20 and top 10. It is a regular occurrence. I think after it keeps happening some of these people should start to say, "you know, maybe we need to give them a little bit more credit that we do." You obviously don't, you are a fan of the Ohio St theory, you don't need to beat great teams, you need to just win a lot of games. I guess you are right, it works for Ohio State doesn't it?

[bulldawg]

There are a lot of teams that are 8-4. Year after year after year Arkansas continues to beat teams ranked in the top 20 and top 10. It is a regular occurrence. I think after it keeps happening some of these people should start to say, "you know, maybe we need to give them a little bit more credit that we do." You obviously don't, you are a fan of the Ohio St theory, you don't need to beat great teams, you need to just win a lot of games. I guess you are right, it works for Ohio State doesn't it?



Ohio State doesn't produce 5 loss seasons. Arky can pull a few upsets but tend to lose games they are supposed to win. Put a few 1 or 2 loss seasons together back to back, win the SEC, or make a BCS bowl appearance once in a while and your team might get more respect.

Arky is not a bad team but you have to win with more consistency before you can pull the respect card and actually have someone pay attention to it. Getting to the SEC championship and losing badly or getting blown out by USC in back to back years is not getting it done.

[The Ramp]

LMAO...last i checked you guys play in the same conference as us and same division as us

i respect every team. it just makes me chuckle when 8-4 teams scream "respect". win the sec every now and then and see what happens. you've beaten us once in how many years? you want us to bow down to your feet? LMAO..i respect every team, but a underdog is a underdog for a reason. u come in tiger stadium with 4 losses and you want to be the favorite and scream "respect"? give me a break. earn it. a couple of big wins against bigger opponents and then lose to a couple of lesser teams don't really impress me.

[The Ramp]

Ohio State doesn't produce 5 loss seasons. Arky can pull a few upsets but tend to lose games they are supposed to win. Put a few 1 or 2 loss seasons together back to back, win the SEC, or make a BCS bowl appearance once in a while and your team might get more respect.

Arky is not a bad team but you have to win with more consistency before you can pull the respect card and actually have someone pay attention to it. Getting to the SEC championship and losing badly or getting blown out by USC in back to back years is not getting it done.

that's exactly what i'm trying to say:thumpsup:

[the Prodigy]

I'm not asking for top 10 respect, they haven't earned it at this point. But I do think that Arkansas has a stronger case to be consistently ranked in between 15 and 25 than any other team ahead of them.

I get what you are saying and I agree, what I don't think you guys get is that teams rated where they are supposed to be, outside the top 25, don't beat that many top ranked teams year after year. It just doesn't happen. Unless you are Arkansas.

[The Ramp]

beat the teams you're supposed to beat consistently and then you'll be ranked. and THEN beat teams you're not supposed to beat and bam...you get respect. simple as that.

[bulldawg]

I'm not asking for top 10 respect, they haven't earned it at this point. But I do think that Arkansas has a stronger case to be consistently ranked in between 15 and 25 than any other team ahead of them.

I get what you are saying and I agree, what I don't think you guys get is that teams rated where they are supposed to be, outside the top 25, don't beat that many top ranked teams year after year. It just doesn't happen. Unless you are Arkansas.

Thats the thing Arkansas doesn't beat alot of ranked teams every year. They are good for an occasional upset at best. Even your earlier post only showed 7 upsets in 8 years. Not exactly a trend.

As for your rankings comment your preaching to the choir. Alot of teams don't play a hard schedule (cough "tOSU" cough) and still get big rankings. This is more of a popularity contest unfortunantly than anything. The key is when you get a big win you must follow it up with more wins and a good season record, and even a big bowl apperance.

[the Prodigy]

Thats the thing Arkansas doesn't beat alot of ranked teams every year. They are good for an occasional upset at best. Even your earlier post onlt showed 7 upsets in 8 years. Not exactly a trend.

As for your rankings comment your preaching to the choir. Alot of teams don't play a hard schedule (cough "tOSU" cough) and still get big rankings. This is more of a popularity contest unfortunantly than anything. The key is when you get a big win you must follow it up with more wins and a good season record, and even a big bowl apperance.

Well I didn't show all of them, those are just he HIGHEST ranked teams Arkanas has beaten as an unranked team. Arkansas has also beaten top ranked teams as a ranked team as well as an unranked team that I didn't show on the list. The number is more like 15 or higher.

[bulldawg]

Well I didn't show all of them, those are just he HIGHEST ranked teams Arkanas has beaten as an unranked team. Arkansas has also beaten top ranked teams as a ranked team as well as an unranked team that I didn't show on the list. The number is more like 15 or higher.



What you have to understand though is when Arky gets a big game they need to win it. Ya'll had miserable showings against USC and lost two SEC championship games bad over the last few years. The LSU game in IMO is the biggest win Arky has put together in quite awhile. Much like Uga in the 90's Arky has a way to go before they are considered one of the top teams in the SEC. I know as a fan its a hard pill to swallow but it is just the facts.

[the Prodigy]

You now understand the frustration of most Arkansas fans. We can beat these supposed GREAT teams, and then we will lose to someone like Miss St. Or Arkansas will lose to a Highly ranked opponent on a fluke play. It's happened twice of note (Tennessee in '98, Texas in '05) In 06 Arkansas lost 4 games, to 4 of the top 5 teams in the country. Does that mean they are 6th? No it means they are 18th. That makes sense right? It doesn't really make sense to me. Because Arkansas will lose one game, ONE and they are out of the top 25. LSU can lose 2 and still get into the title game, in a year Arkansas beat them.

It's the reason Nutt was fired (or whatever happened there) and it's the reason so many Arkansas fans are so bitter about a great many things. They have been victims of circumstance, media bias, and outright disrespect far too often.

This season most are predicting Arkansas to fall into the SEC cellar. It won't happen. Because Arkansas is always better than people think they will be. I can't count the number of times I've heard people say, "Wow, I really didn't expect you guys to be that good." The last time Arkansas was predicted to finish last in the SEC West, they won it.

[the Prodigy]

Ya'll had miserable showings against USC and lost two SEC championship games bad over the last few years.
USC is a tough game to open up with.

And The Florida game really hinged once again on a fluke/boneheaded play by reggie fish, which turned a 4 and out into a Fla TD.


The LSU game in IMO is the biggest win Arky has put together in quite awhile.
The year before they beat no.2 Auburn BAD, the only team to beat the eventual National Champion Gators. They beat no.13 Tennessee on ESPN Gameday, BAD. Until Tennssee's last drive Arkansas has ahead in every statistical category.

So, no, LSU was not the biggest win we've had in a while. Of those three maybe the biggest upset, but Arkansas has had several BIG victories over the past few seasons. And MANY MANY more before the two year probation.

[bulldawg]

2005
Date Opponent Location Result
Sept. 3 Missouri State Fayetteville 49-17 (W)
Sept. 10 Vanderbilt Fayetteville 24-28 (L)
Sept. 17 USC Los Angeles, Calif. 17-70 (L)
Sept. 24 Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. 13-24 (L)
Oct. 8 Louisiana-Monroe Little Rock 44-15 (W)
Oct. 15 Auburn Fayetteville 17-34 (L)
Oct. 22 Georgia Athens, Ga. 20-23 (L)
Nov. 5 South Carolina Fayetteville 10-14 (L)
Nov. 12 Ole Miss Oxford, Miss. 28-17 (W)
Nov. 19 Mississippi State Little Rock 44-10 (W)
Nov. 25 LSU Baton Rouge, La. 17-19 (L)

2006
Date Opponent Location Result
Sept. 2 Southern California Fayetteville 14-50 (L)
Sept. 9 Utah State Fayetteville 20-0 (W)
Sept. 16 Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn. 21-19 (W)
Sept. 23 Alabama Fayetteville 24-23 (W)
Oct. 7 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 27-10 (W)
Oct. 14 Southeast Missouri State Fayetteville 63-7 (W)
Oct. 21 Ole Miss Fayetteville 38-3 (W)
Oct. 28 Louisiana-Monroe Little Rock 44-10 (W)
Nov. 4 South Carolina Columbia, S.C. 26-20 (W)
Nov. 11 Tennessee Fayetteville 31-14 (W)
Nov. 18 Mississippi State Starkville, Miss. 28-14 (W)
Nov. 24 LSU Little Rock 26-31 (L)
Dec. 2 Florida (SEC Championship) Atlanta, Ga. 28-38 (L)
Jan. 1 Wisconsin (Capital One Bowl) Orlando, Fla. 14-17 (L)

2007
Date Opponent Location Result
Sept. 1 Troy Fayetteville 46-26 (W)
Sept. 15 Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. 38-41 (L)
Sept. 22 Kentucky Fayetteville 29-42 (L)
Sept. 29 North Texas Fayetteville 66-7 (W)
Oct. 6 UT-Chattanooga Little Rock 34-15 (W)
Oct. 13 Auburn Fayetteville 7-9 (L)
Oct. 20 Ole Miss Oxford, Miss. 44-8 (W)
Oct. 27 Florida International Fayetteville 58-10 (W)
Nov. 3 South Carolina Fayetteville 48-36 (W)
Nov. 10 Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn. 13-34 (L)
Nov. 17 Mississippi State Little Rock 45-31 (W)
Nov. 23 LSU Baton Rouge, La. 50-48 (W)
Jan. 1 Missouri (Cotton Bowl) Dallas, Tex. 7-38 (L)


Over the last 3 seasons Arkansas is 13/12 against SEC teams. Thats barely over 50% in your own conference. Add in two bowl losses and USC beatdowns and your not going to get alot of respect. Nor should you really expect that much. 06 was one of the better years Arky has had in a long time.

Arkansas is being judged by that percentage alone in the SEC. Yes you had a nice upset of LSU who went on to win the NC but you lost to Sc, Ken, and Tenn. Arky is not gonna get the ranking respect you think they deserve until they compete better in the SEC on a regular basis and become one of the jauggernauts of the conference. Once that happens then maybe they will be predicted to be better, but not until they prove it MORE on the field.


Trust me I know UGA had a big hole to climb out of once Richt took over. They are just now starting to get some of the respect they deserve and its 08.

[bulldawg]

USC is a tough game to open up with.

And The Florida game really hinged once again on a fluke/boneheaded play by reggie fish, which turned a 4 and out into a Fla TD.



The year before they beat no.2 Auburn BAD, the only team to beat the eventual National Champion Gators. They beat no.13 Tennessee on ESPN Gameday, BAD. Until Tennssee's last drive Arkansas has ahead in every statistical category.

So, no, LSU was not the biggest win we've had in a while. Of those three maybe the biggest upset, but Arkansas has had several BIG victories over the past few seasons. And MANY MANY more before the two year probation.



06 was a good year for Arkansas but you lost too much in the SEC in 07. And then lost back to back bowl games. Those big wins are just considered a fluke until you step up and do it on a regular basis.

[bulldawg]

Sept. 2 Southern California Fayetteville 14-50 (L)

Games like this are what makes people step up and really look at your team. Beginning of the season or not USC was a game Arky needed to set a standard with and didn't. You keep talking about ranking respect and this is how you get it. As far as i'm concerned that embarrasing game ya'll had and then going on to win the SEC west just made the SEC look weak. We need a SEC powerhouse to put it on USC and question their dominance. I think UGA would have been that team in the Rose Bowl last year. just my $.02

[the Prodigy]

2005
Date Opponent Location Result
Sept. 3 Missouri State Fayetteville 49-17 (W)
Sept. 10 Vanderbilt Fayetteville 24-28 (L)
Sept. 17 USC Los Angeles, Calif. 17-70 (L)
Sept. 24 Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. 13-24 (L)
Oct. 8 Louisiana-Monroe Little Rock 44-15 (W)
Oct. 15 Auburn Fayetteville 17-34 (L)
Oct. 22 Georgia Athens, Ga. 20-23 (L)
Nov. 5 South Carolina Fayetteville 10-14 (L)
Nov. 12 Ole Miss Oxford, Miss. 28-17 (W)
Nov. 19 Mississippi State Little Rock 44-10 (W)
Nov. 25 LSU Baton Rouge, La. 17-19 (L)

2006
Date Opponent Location Result
Sept. 2 Southern California Fayetteville 14-50 (L)
Sept. 9 Utah State Fayetteville 20-0 (W)
Sept. 16 Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn. 21-19 (W)
Sept. 23 Alabama Fayetteville 24-23 (W)
Oct. 7 Auburn Auburn, Ala. 27-10 (W)
Oct. 14 Southeast Missouri State Fayetteville 63-7 (W)
Oct. 21 Ole Miss Fayetteville 38-3 (W)
Oct. 28 Louisiana-Monroe Little Rock 44-10 (W)
Nov. 4 South Carolina Columbia, S.C. 26-20 (W)
Nov. 11 Tennessee Fayetteville 31-14 (W)
Nov. 18 Mississippi State Starkville, Miss. 28-14 (W)
Nov. 24 LSU Little Rock 26-31 (L)
Dec. 2 Florida (SEC Championship) Atlanta, Ga. 28-38 (L)
Jan. 1 Wisconsin (Capital One Bowl) Orlando, Fla. 14-17 (L)

2007
Date Opponent Location Result
Sept. 1 Troy Fayetteville 46-26 (W)
Sept. 15 Alabama Tuscaloosa, Ala. 38-41 (L)
Sept. 22 Kentucky Fayetteville 29-42 (L)
Sept. 29 North Texas Fayetteville 66-7 (W)
Oct. 6 UT-Chattanooga Little Rock 34-15 (W)
Oct. 13 Auburn Fayetteville 7-9 (L)
Oct. 20 Ole Miss Oxford, Miss. 44-8 (W)
Oct. 27 Florida International Fayetteville 58-10 (W)
Nov. 3 South Carolina Fayetteville 48-36 (W)
Nov. 10 Tennessee Knoxville, Tenn. 13-34 (L)
Nov. 17 Mississippi State Little Rock 45-31 (W)
Nov. 23 LSU Baton Rouge, La. 50-48 (W)
Jan. 1 Missouri (Cotton Bowl) Dallas, Tex. 7-38 (L)


Over the last 3 seasons Arkansas is 13/12 against SEC teams. Thats barely over 50% in your own conference. Add in two bowl losses and USC beatdowns and your not going to get alot of respect. Nor should you really expect that much. 06 was one of the better years Arky has had in a long time.

Arkansas is being judged by that percentage alone in the SEC. Yes you had a nice upset of LSU who went on to win the NC but you lost to Sc, Ken, and Tenn. Arky is not gonna get the ranking respect you think they deserve until they compete better in the SEC on a regular basis and become one of the jauggernauts of the conference. Once that happens then maybe they will be predicted to be better, but not until they prove it MORE on the field.


Trust me I know UGA had a big hole to climb out of once Richt took over. They are just now starting to get some of the respect they deserve and its 08.

Alabama not SC, give us some credit here....:laugh:

And I know that 04 and 05 were bad seasons for Arkansas. But outside of those two years, Arkansas has been pretty solid in SEC play. Solid enough to be considered a better program than they are considered. They should be up there with Wisconsin, Clemson, Oregon etc. And people tend to think of them as a lesser team than those teams.

[bulldawg]

Alabama not SC, give us some credit here....:laugh:

And I know that 04 and 05 were bad seasons for Arkansas. But outside of those two years, Arkansas has been pretty solid in SEC play. Solid enough to be considered a better program than they are considered. They should be up there with Wisconsin, Clemson, Oregon etc. And people tend to think of them as a lesser team than those teams.

Those teams don't play the caliber of opponents that Arky does being in the SEC so thats why they are expected to win more games. Its just an SEC curse. We kill each other. Let one of our teams loose in another conference one year and it would be blood shed to say the least.

[the Prodigy]

Sept. 2 Southern California Fayetteville 14-50 (L)

Games like this are what makes people step up and really look at your team. Beginning of the season or not USC was a game Arky needed to set a standard with and didn't. You keep talking about ranking respect and this is how you get it. As far as i'm concerned that embarrasing game ya'll had and then going on to win the SEC west just made the SEC look weak. We need a SEC powerhouse to put it on USC and question their dominance. I think UGA would have been that team in the Rose Bowl last year. just my $.02

You and I both know that better athletes most often win those games. 6 turnovers inside their own 50 turned into 34 points really hurt Arkansas in that game. And like I said before, USC was a top 5 team that whole season. They had better athletes, and better athletes win early games. Why do you think BIG teams usually like to start the season off against someone like Troy or Missouri State?

[bulldawg]

You and I both know that better athletes most often win those games. 6 turnovers inside their own 50 turned into 34 points really hurt Arkansas in that game. And like I said before, USC was a top 5 team that whole season. They had better athletes, and better athletes win early games. Why do you think BIG teams usually like to start the season off against someone like Troy or Missouri State?

I understand that but when you talk about respect concerning rankings you need to step up and play your game when your on that big of a stage. Imagine with the year Arky had in 06 how high they would have ranked if you would have beat USC in back to back seasons while they were on the BCS lovefest list.
I reallt wan't USC to get beat down by an SEC team. That whole "greatest team ever crap" made me sick. I think LSU would have completely embarressed them if they had played a +1 when they split the championship.

[the Prodigy]

I understand that but when you talk about respect concerning rankings you need to step up and play your game when your on that big of a stage. Imagine with the year Arky had in 06 how high they would have ranked if you would have beat USC in back to back seasons while they were on the BCS lovefest list.
I reallt wan't USC to get beat down by an SEC team. That whole "greatest team ever crap" made me sick. I think LSU would have completely embarressed them if they had played a +1 when they split the championship.

I don't know about Embarrassed. In 06 USC made Michigan look like App. St.... oh wait.

And in 05 they had to deal with Vince Young.... his Fing KNEE touched the ground!

On a sidenote: Pete Carrol was an assistant coach at Arkansas.

[bulldawg]

USC was overrated, best team ever my ass. Who did they play. A power house ND?
LSU was kicking ass and taking names that year.

And Texas beat them fair and square, I won't even listen to that BS argument.

[the Prodigy]

It was fair - sort of.

They certainly weren't the best team ever.

[bulldawg]

It was fair - sort of.

They certainly weren't the best team ever.

Now we agree on something. I was so tired and offended hearing that crap all of the time. Now we all know that their players were payed well to play there and Bush isn't the second coming in the NFL that everyone said he would be.

[the Prodigy]

I think Leinhart will end up being the better player when it is all said and done. Leinhart has talent around him to make him better. Bush is kind of on an Island there in NO. And he thinks too much about getting hit. That's why McFadden is better than Bush. McFadden is like two IQ points away from being an actual Razorback. He just plows forward, doesn't think about it. Run Forest Run. He and Hershel were real similar in their interviews. You can tell neither of those guys are exactly thinkers. They are Uber Football smart though.

[bulldawg]

McFadden still has to prove himself in the NFL. Not alot of backs make that transition well. I expect a good first season from him and after that we will have to see. Alot of RB's fall off after there is some tape of them for others to watch or a big injury. It should be interesting to see.

The jury is still out on Matt in IMO. The Cardinals have alot of talent they do nothing with. I feel they should be better. Maybe its the coaching.

[the Prodigy]

All I know is that McFadden has been doubted at every level and has ended up being the best at every level. I don't really see that trend changing.

Here is what I'm talking about

In HS, McFadden was a virtual unknown his Junior season. His Coach didn't think he was fast enough. At a Junior Camp, McFadden requested that he be paired with the fastest players in the camp. He didn't lose a 40 race. At the end of His senior year he was considered the no.2 RB in the country. And even then, because he was in Arkansas and committed early, he was a virtual unknown on the national stage. As a Freshman he was 3rd string, both RB's ahead of him, one of which is current starter Micheal Smith, got injured. And McFadden torched just about everyone, giving great individual efforts in all games that season. The next season, Every SEC fan outside of Arkansas just about said that both Ken Darby and Kenny Irons were better RB's. At the end of the season, McFadden was considered the best RB in the SEC, led the SEC in rushing and placed second in the Heisman voting as a sophomore. The next season, many outside of the south felt like Ray Rice (or mike hart) and Steve Slaton were both better backs, often declaring that McFadden had great power, but didn't possess great breakaway speed. By the end of the season, McFadden had more yards than both of the other running backs was again a Heisman Finalist and tied the SEC record for most yards in a single game, in said game he outran several SC defenders who had posted sub 4.4 times in the 40 on an 80 yard run. Now he was once again expected by most to hurt his draft stock by competing in the combine. He bested Adrain Peterson's combine performance and was considered to have the best workout of any athlete at the combine. Next season, most will say that McFadden is not as good as Adrian Peterson, that he hasn't proven himself, that he lacks great vision or quickness, take your pick. At the end of the season I think that everyone will be singing quite a different tune. There is no other reason for me to think otherwise.

The comments, not the situation, perfectly describes what McFadden is in my opinion.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yq7bHsoml0s

[bulldawg]

Like I said there have been many great RB's that have not transitioned well to the NFL. I'm not doubting Mcfadden, he's not a little running back with speed he has good size. He will just need to make it past his rookie season with good numbers and keep going. Alot of great college players make an immediate spash and then fizzle out. Hopefully MF won't be one of them.

[*bama boy*]

eh ole miss would be a small thorn. I think they will pretty much be a speed bump for most teams this year. the thorn will be Arkansas.

[bulldawg]

I think Alabama isn't quite the powerhouse they think they are yet. Ole Miss will probably beat Bama this year.

[The Ramp]

now darren macfadden's not getting "respect" and is "under-rated"? when will it ever stop?

[mr_mann]

now darren macfadden's not getting "respect" and is "under-rated"? when will it ever stop?

No, it most likely won't stop..
you know when you start a fire and keep throwing wood in it?
the damn damn thing never goes out...

[The Ramp]

No, it most likely won't stop..
you know when you start a fire and keep throwing wood in it?
the damn damn thing never goes out...

you're right....i guess i need an analogy to get it

:thumpsup:

[*bama boy*]

I think Alabama isn't quite the powerhouse they think they are yet. Ole Miss will probably beat Bama this year.


wow!!! that would suck, i think that one is a long shot tho, although they have played us very close the last few years, i think that this will be a down year for them tho,even for ole miss. I dont think Bama is a powerhouse......yet, but give us time and we will be.

[Tider27]

I think Alabama isn't quite the powerhouse they think they are yet. Ole Miss will probably beat Bama this year.

Which Alabama fan indicated we're a powerhouse? I hope you haven't been listening to BP. :lol:

We're at least 2 years away from being close to that term, and one has to think its a stretch even then. We will certainly be moving in the right direction next season, mainly because there is only one way to go after a 7-6 record.