ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
RAZORBACKS EYE PERFECT 8-0 SEC RECORD: No. 5 Arkansas will spend the day GAME 12 after Thanksgiving in search of their first 8-0 run through the Southeastern Conference. The Razorbacks (10-1, 7-0) clinched the outright SEC Western Division title with a win at Mississippi State last week. In the way is a 1:30 p.m. game with No. 9 LSU (9-2, 5-2) from Arkansas vs. LSU War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. The game will be broadcast nationally on CBS. Friday, Nov. 24, Little Rock, Ark. NOTING THE RAZORBACKS: 1:30 p.m. CT * Arkansas and LSU will meet for the 52nd time on the gridiron on Friday when the two War Memorial Stadium teams meet in Little Rock. LSU leads the series 32-17-2 including wins in four of the last five meetings. The Tigers have won nine of 14 meetings since the Razorbacks entered Rankings: LSU (9-2, 5-2 SEC) - 9-AP / 8-Coaches the SEC in 1992. Arkansas (10-1, 7-0 SEC) - 5-AP / 5-Coaches * For the 11th-consecutive year since its inception, Arkansas and LSU will be playing for The Coaches: "The Golden Boot," a trophy shaped like the two states combined. The trophy was intro- duced into the series prior to the 1996 game. It is believed to be the heaviest trophy Arkansas: Houston Nutt (Oklahoma State, 1981) awarded in a college football rivalry. It weighs approximately 175 pounds. Career Record: 103-63/.620 (14 years) Arkansas Record: 67-41/.620 (9 years) * The Hogs remained at No. 5 in this week’s Associated Press Top 25. It marks the sev- vs. LSU: 3-5 enth-straight week the Razorbacks have been ranked. This season’s stretch as a ranked team is the first since the middle of the 2003 season. Arkansas also moved up LSU: Les Miles (Michigan, 1976) one spot in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll this week to No. 5. Career Record: 39-23/.658 (6 years) * Whether rushing, passing, receiving or returning kicks, Darren McFadden is a threat School Record: 20-4/.833 (2 years) to take one the distance every time he touches the ball. The Southeastern Conference’s vs. Arkansas: 1-0 leading rusher has led the Hogs to a 10-1 record, 10-consecutive wins, the SEC TV: CBS Western Division title and a No. 5 national ranking. For more information on McFadden’s Play-by-Play: Verne Lundquist Heisman Trophy and All-America credentials and to view a video clip highlighting Analyst: Gary Danielson McFadden’s exploits, visit www.hogwired.com. Sidelines: Tracy Wolfson * The last time Arkansas was ranked as high as No. 5 was a No. 4 ranking prior to the Hogs’ game with Texas on Oct. 19, 1985. UA’s No. 5 ranking this week is the highest of Radio: ARSN the Houston Nutt tenure. The previous best was a No. 7 ranking during the 2003 season. Play-by-Play: Mike Nail Analyst: Keith Jackson * The sixth BCS rankings of the 2006 season were released on Sunday, Nov. 19 with the Sidelines: Quinn Grovey Hogs moving up one spot to No. 6. The BCS standings are derived from the Harris Interactive and USA Today polls along with the Computer Rankings Percentage. The Arkansas Rankings: BCS average is then calculated by averaging the percent totals of the three components. BCS: 6th UA is No. 6 in the Harris Interactive, fifth in the USA Today Coaches’ poll and ranked No. AP: 5th 7bby the computers. Coaches: 5th Harris Interactive: 6th * The Arkansas tailback duo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones are the second-most productive rushing teammates in the country (among the NCAA top 100 and still active) Internet: Live audio and stats at www.hogwired.com and the top tailback duo, averaging 193.36 yards per game. McFadden ranks ninth nationally at 118.45 ypg while Jones accounts for 74.91 ypg. The West Virginia combo of TB Steve Slaton (2nd; 157.80) and QB Patrick White (13th; 105.70) lead the way with 263.5 yards per game on the top rushing team in the country. ARKANSAS (10-1, 7-0 SEC) LSU (9-2, 5-2 SEC) Date Opponent (AP/Coaches) Site TV Time/Result Date Opponent Site TV Time/Result Sept. 2 Southern California (6/3) Fayetteville, Ark. ESPN L, 14-50 Sept. 2 Louisiana-Lafayette Baton Rouge, La. W, 45-3 Sept. 9 Utah State Fayetteville, Ark. W, 20-0 Sept. 9 Arizona Baton Rouge, La. ESPN2 W, 45-3 Sept. 16 *at Vanderbilt Nashville, Tenn LFS W, 21-19 Sept. 16 *at Auburn Auburn, Ala. CBS L, 7-3 Sept. 23 *Alabama (NR/22) Fayetteville, Ark. CBS W, 24-23 (2OT) Sept. 23 Tulane Baton Rouge, La. W, 49-7 Oct. 7 *at Auburn (2/3) Auburn, Ala. CBS W, 27-10 Sept. 30 *Mississippi State Baton Rouge, La. LFS W, 48-17 Oct. 14 Southeast Missouri St. (HC) Fayetteville, Ark. W, 63-7 Oct. 7 *at Florida Gainesville, Fla. CBS L, 23-10 Oct. 21 *Ole Miss Fayetteville, Ark. LFS W, 38-3 Oct. 14 *Kentucky Baton Rouge, La. W, 49-0 Oct. 28 #Louisiana-Monroe Little Rock, Ark. ESPNU W, 44-10 Oct. 21 Fresno State Baton Rouge, La. ESPN2 W, 38-6 Nov. 4 *at South Carolina Columbia, S.C. ESPN W, 26-20 Nov. 4 *at Tennessee Tuscaloosa, Ala. CBS W, 28-24 Nov. 11 *Tennessee Fayetteville, Ark. ESPN2 W, 31-14 Nov. 11 *Alabama Baton Rouge, La. ESPN W, 28-14 Nov. 18 *at Mississippi State Starkville, Miss. W, 28-14 Nov. 18 *Ole Miss Baton Rouge, La. W, 23-20 (OT) Nov. 24 *#LSU Little Rock, Ark. CBS 1:30 p.m. Nov. 24 *at Arkansas Little Rock, Ark. CBS 1:30 p.m.
# Little Rock, Ark. * SEC Game All Times Central * SEC Game All Times Central www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
ARKANSAS - LSU * Darren McFadden has reeled off 1,303 yards rushing this season, which is more yardage than 29 percent or 35 of the 119 Division-I teams. Two top 25 teams are among SERIES HISTORY those 36 teams, including Virginia Tech and Tennessee.
LSU leads 32-17-2 * Part of Darren McFadden’s success in 2006 has come from a package the Arkansas coaches call “Wildcat”. In the “Wildcat” package, McFadden lines up at quarterback in the YEAR RESULT SCORE SITE shotgun formation. Out of that formation, he is afforded a bevy of options that have kept 1901 L 15-0 Baton Rouge, La. opposing defenses on their heels. McFadden has lined up in the Wildcat package on 36 1906 T 6-6 Baton Rouge, La. 1907 L 17-12 Little Rock, Ark. plays this season, gaining 317 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. That averages out 1908 L 36-4 Little Rock, Ark. to 8.8 yards per play, while McFadden has a 423.6 quarterback rating for the season. 1909 W 16-0 Memphis, Tenn. * The Razorbacks are off to their first 7-0 start in the SEC since joining the league in 1910 W 51-0 Little Rock, Ark. 1911 W 11-0 Little Rock, Ark. 1992. The previous best was a 5-0 start in 1998. It is the best start in conference play, 1912 L 7-6 Little Rock, Ark. since the Hogs went 7-0 in the old Southwest Conference in 1988. 1913 L 12-7 Shreveport, La. *The Hogs have reeled off 10 straight wins for the first time since the first 10 games of 1914 W 20-12 Shreveport, La. 1915 L 13-7 Shreveport, La. the 1988 season. It ended with a 18-16 loss at Miami in the final game of the regular 1916 L 17-7 Shreveport, La. season. The 2006 streak of 10 games is tied for the fifth-longest in school history. 1917 W 14-0 Shreveport, La. * The Hogs’ 10-game winning streak is the third longest in the nation. Ohio State has 1919 L 20-0 Shreveport, La. 1920 L 3-0 Shreveport, La. won 19 straight while Boise State has won 11 in a row. 1921 L 10-7 Shreveport, La. * McFadden has six 100-yard rushing game of the season, which is tied for the second- 1922 W 40-6 Shreveport, La. most in a single season in school history. Only Cedric Cobbs’ seven 100-yard rushing 1923 W 26-13 Shreveport, La. 1924 W 10-7 Shreveport, La. games in 2003 ranks higher. He now has 11 career 100-yard rushing games, which ranks 1925 W 12-0 Shreveport, La. tied for third at Arkansas. 1926 L 14-0 Shreveport, La. * McFadden 1,303 rushing yards this season ranks as the third-best single-season total in 1927 W 28-0 Shreveport, La. 1928 W 7-0 Shreveport, La. school history. He needs 18 yards to pass Cedric Cobbs (1,320 in 2003) for second and 85 1929 W 32-0 Shreveport, La. yards to eclipse Madre Hill’s school record of 1,387 yards set in 1995. 1930 L 27-12 Shreveport, La. * McFadden became just the 12th player in school history to rush for 2,000 yards in his 1931 L 13-6 Shreveport, La. 1932 L 14-0 Shreveport, La. career and is the first sophomore to accomplish the feat. He reached the 2,000-yard bar- 1933 L 20-0 Shreveport, La. rier on just 324 carries, which averages out to roughly 6.2 yards per carry. McFadden is 1934 L 16-0 Shreveport, La. also just the third Arkansas running back to produce back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons. 1935 L 13-7 Shreveport, La. 1936 L 19-7 Shreveport, La. * Arkansas is now 3-0 this season in games decided by seven points or less. That is a 1947 T 0-0 *Dallas, Texas vast improvement from last year when the Hogs went 0-4 in games decided by the same 1953 L 9-8 Little Rock, Ark. margin. UA is 19-16 (.543) in games decided by seven points or less since 1998. 1954 L 7-6 Shreveport, La. 1955 L 13-7 Little Rock, Ark. * Arkansas has rushed for 200 or more yards in 14 of its last 26 games dating back to 1956 L 21-7 Shreveport, La. the eighth game of the 2004 season. The Hogs have rushed for 200-plus in five of the 1966 L 14-7 **Dallas, Texas last seven games. 1992 W 30-6 Fayetteville, Ark. 1993 W 42-24 Baton Rouge, La. * The Hogs rank second in the SEC and 21st nationally in scoring offense at 30.55 1994 L 30-12 Little Rock, Ark. points per game and have featured a quick-strike offense in 2006. Arkansas is tied for 1995 L 28-0 Baton Rouge, La. seventh nationally in scoring drives under two minutes with 18 and is second-most in 1996 L 17-7 Little Rock, Ark. the nation in touchdown drives of five or less plays with 25. 1997 L 31-21 Baton Rouge, La. 1998 W 41-14 Little Rock, Ark. * Arkansas has won the toss in every game this season except Ole Miss. The lone time 1999 L 35-10 Baton Rouge, La. the Razorbacks lost the toss, the Rebels deferred to the second half and Felix Jones 2000 W 14-3 Little Rock, Ark. took the opening kickoff back 100 yards for a touchdown. 2001 L 41-38 Baton Rouge, La. 2002 W 21-20 Little Rock, Ark. * Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt captured his 100th overall win as a head coach 2003 L 55-24 Baton Rouge, La. against ULM. Nutt boasts a career record of 103-63 (.620) in 14 years as a head coach. 2004 L 43-14 Little Rock, Ark. 2005 L 19-17 Baton Rouge, La. * Arkansas’ defense has allowed only eight touchdowns in its last 26 quarters of play. The Razorback defense kept Auburn out of the end zone in the second half, while allowing only *1947 Cotton Bowl one touchdown in a non-conference win against Southeast Missouri State, one vs. **1966 Cotton Bowl Louisiana-Monroe, two second-half TDs at South Carolina, two vs. Tennessee and two first-half TDs at MSU. Arkansas held Ole Miss without a touchdown in the Hogs’ 38-3 win. At Fayetteville: Arkansas leads 1-0 At Little Rock: LSU leads 8-5 * Arkansas allowed 50 points in the opener to Southern California. Since that time, the At Baton Rouge: LSU leads 7-1-1 Razorbacks have allowed only a total of 120 points in the next 10 games (12.0). At Shreveport: LSU leads 16-9 * Sam Olajubutu continues to climb up the tackles chart in the Hogs’ record book. He has six double-digit tackle performances and 93 stops this season. Olajubutu is sixth in school history with 350 career stops entering the LSU game. He is 58 stops shy of Tony Bua’s school record of 408. www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
* Olajubutu was a semifinalist for the 2006 Butkus Award®, and the Chuck Bednarik HIGHLIGHTING THE 2006 SEASON Award. He was also selected as a quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy. Olajubutu was also The USC Game named to the first-team College Football News.com (CFN) Midseason All-America team. Three Springdale, Ark. natives made their Razorback debuts against USC. Mitch Mustain, Ben Cleveland and Damian Williams’ * In what would appear to be a statistical anomaly, the Arkansas offense is leading the efforts fueled Arkansas’ scoring drives. SEC and ranks fourth nationally in rushing (230.6 ypg) while ranking next to last in the Darren McFadden, originally expected to miss the season open- SEC and 99th in the country in time of possession (28:25). Opponents have had the ball er, contributed on the offense with 42 yards of rushing. an average of 3:10 longer than the Hogs each game. All-American Sam Olajubutu and DT Marcus Harrison led the Hogs’ defense with 12 tackles. * Hogs’ head coach Houston Nutt has moved into second place on Arkansas all-time coach- The Utah State Game ing. He currently has 67 wins after surpassing Lou Holtz’s 60 career wins at Arkansas Arkansas pitched its first shutout since the 2002 season with a (1977-83). Frank Broyles is the Razorbacks all-time leader with 144 career wins. 20-0 win over the Aggies. The Hogs’ last shutout was a 23-0 win over South Carolina, a span of 42 games. * Darren McFadden has remained at the top of the SEC rushing charts for the past six Darren Mcfadden produced the third-best single-game rushing weeks after taking the lead from Auburn’s Kenny Irons following the Oct. 7 game with the effort of his career with 184 yards on 20 carries. Tigers on the Plains. McFadden is averaging 118.45 yards per game while Irons is third in All-American Sam Olajubutu led the Hogs’ defense 13 tackles the league at 81.2. The Hogs’ Felix Jones ranks fourth in the SEC with an 74.91 average. for his 11th career double-digit tackle performance. * Junior defensive end Jamaal Anderson has been more than most offensive lines could Mitch Mustain became the eight Razorback quarterback in school history to start as a true freshman. handle this season. Anderson has 10 sacks this season to lead the SEC and rank tied The Vanderbilt Game for 10th nationally at .91 per game. His 10 sacks also rank as the fifth most in a single Marcus Monk caught a pass in his 25th-consecutive game. The season in school history. Anderson’s three sacks against Tennessee two week ago are pass was a 56-yarder from Mitch Mustain and led to a touchdown tied for the second-most in a single game in school history. for the Hogs. He also went in a career-high 124 yards on five catch- * Sophomore Antwain Robinson and junior Jamaal Anderson are both on the watch list es, including a career-long 56-yard touchdown pass in the first for the Ted Hendricks Award given to nation’s top defensive end. quarter. All-American Sam Olajubutu led the Hogs’ defense with 14 tack- * Junior cornerback Chris Houston set a school record with 129 interception return yards les, his 12th double-digit tackle performance of his career and the against Mississippi State last week. He returned his first pick 87-yards for a touchdown, third this season which is tied for the ninth-longest in school history. His second pick was returned 42 Mitch Mustain threw for a career-high 224 yards and three yards before being knocked down by a teammate. touchdowns in the Razorbacks’ 21-19 win over Vanderbilt. The Alabama Game * Houston was named the SEC Defensive Player of the Week for his performance The Razorbacks improved to 6-1 in overtime games with their against Mississippi State. He picked off two passes and notched four tackles and a pass 24-23 win over Alabama breakup. Darren McFadden ripped off his seventh-career 100-yard rush- ing game with 112 yards against the Crimson Tide. * The Hogs have excelled at pass blocking in 2006, having allowed just six sacks all sea- Randy Kelly was named the SEC Defensive Player of the son, which leads not only the SEC but the country. That average of just 0.55 sacks Week after recording 16 tackles, half a sack, 1.5 TFL and a 39- allowed per game is better than Clemson’s 0.73 per game average and Rutgers .80. The yard fumble return for a touchdown. Hogs allowed 2.00 sacks per game last season, which ranked tied for 47th nationally. The Auburn Game * Felix Jones notched his second career kickoff return for a touchdown with both covering The Razorbacks dominated No. 2 Auburn from start to finish to 100 yards earlier this season against Ole Miss. Darren McFadden then notched the first earn a 27-10 win on the Plains. The Tigers were the highest ranked team an Arkansas team had beat on the road since knocking off kickoff return for a touchdown of his career against Mississippi State, covering 92 yards. No. 1 Texas, 14-13, in 1964. * Arkansas is one of 5 teams to have 2 kickoff returns for touchdowns and 1 of 3 (Kansas Arkansas improved to 3-0 in the SEC for the first time since State, Oklahoma State) to have kickoff returns for touchdowns by multiple players. KSU 1998. The win gave the Hogs sole possession of first place in the has three kickoff returns for touchdowns, while Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Middle SEC West. Tennessee State and Indiana all have two apiece. Darren McFadden ripped off his eighth-career 100-yard rushing game with 145 yards against the Tigers. * Jones is the second Razorback in school history to return two kicks for 100 yards in Defensive tackles Keith Jackson was named the Walter Camp their career. Boyd Cypert also notched two 100-yard kickoff returns in his career with Defensive Player of the week for his efforts against Auburn. both coming in the 1911 season against the Missouri School of Mines and Drury. Jones The SEMO Game 785 career kickoff return yards ranks fifth on the career list. The Razorbacks rolled up 530 yards of total offense including 381 yards on the ground in a 63-7 win over the Redhawks. It was * Arkansas ranks No. 1 in rushing offense in the SEC during Houston Nutt’s tenure (1998- tied for the eighth-most points scored in school history. 2005). The Hogs have averaged 188.81 yards (20,392 yards in 108 games) per game in Redshirt freshman Michael Smith (116) and sophmore Felix Nutt’s nine-year tenure. Jones (106) both ran for 100 yards. It marked he first time in school history that UA had two 100-yard rushers in consecutive games. SERIES HISTORY: Arkansas and LSU will meet for the 52nd time on the gridiron on The Ole Miss Game Friday when the two teams meet in Baton Rouge. LSU leads the series 32-17-2 includ- The Razorbacks improved to 4-0 in SEC action to remain the ing wins in four of the last five meetings. The Tigers have won nine of 14 meetings since only undefeated team in conference action. the Razorbacks entered the SEC in 1992. Darren McFadden racked up 65 yards on 17 carries and a LSU holds an 8-5 advantage in games played in Little Rock. Arkansas won in its first touchdown on the ground and 85 yards through the air with a TD. league contest in Baton Rouge by a score of 42-24 in 1993. The Hogs featured three His 70-yard, thrid-quarter reception was the longest of his career. 100-yard rushers in that win over the Tigers. The last Razorback win came in 2002 by a score of 21-20 at War Memorial Stadium. www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
The ULM Game From 2001-03, the winner of the game went on to represent the SEC West in the SEC The Razorbacks improved to 20-1 in Little Rock under head coach Championship Game. This week's game will mark the 11th time the two teams have met Houston Nutt. on the Friday following Thanksgiving. The post-holiday football tradition began in 1996. Darren McFadden and Felix Jones both rushed for 100 yards for the second time this season and the third time in their careers. OTHER SERIES NOTES: LSU has outscored Arkansas 760-681 in the series ... The The South Carolina Game teams first met in 1907 in Baton Rouge ... Between 1913 and 1936 the teams played 23 Darren McFadden (219 rushing), Marcus Monk (192 receiving) and times with all of those games played in Shreveport ... There has been 17 shutouts in the Casey Dick (228 passing) all set career highs vs. USC series including a scoreless tie in 1947 ... The last true shutout came in 1995 when LSU The Hogs turned in their most balanced game fo the season with posted a 28-0 victory in Baton Rouge ... There have been 17 games decided by a touch- 267 yards rushing and 228 in the air for 495 total yards down or less, with LSU holding a 14-3 advantage in those games ... The largest margin Arkansas improved to 5-0 in the SEC for the first time since 1998. of victory in the series was 51 points by Arkansas in a 51-0 win in 1910. The Tennessee Game Darren McFadden rushed for 181 yards and two rushing touch- BATTLE FOR THE BOOT: For the 11th-consecutive year since its inception, Arkansas downs while also throwing a 12-yard touchdown strike to Marcus and LSU will be playing for "The Golden Boot," a trophy shaped like the two states com- Monk bined. The trophy was introduced into the series prior to the 1996 game. It is believed Monk recorded his second straight 100-yard receiving game with to be the heaviest trophy awarded in a college football rivalry. It weighs approximately 137 yads on a career-high tying eight catches. He also had two touch- 175 pounds. down grabs to give him a career-high eight for the year. From 1998-2002, the trophy changed hands after every game. Since 2003, the Tigers Arkansas improved to 6-0 in the SEC for the first time ever. have won the trophy in three-straight match ups. The Razorbacks have never held on The Mississippi State Game to the Boot for more then four seasons in a row (1922-25). The last time UA has brought Arkansas clinched is first outright SEC Western Division title since the trophy back to Fayetteville in consecutive seasons was 1992 and 1993. 1995 and extended their winning streak to 10 games, matching the fifth longest in school history and the longest since the 1988 team won FAMILIAR NAME: Razorback fans are sure to recognize one name on the LSU football 10 straight. roster. Fullback Steven Korte is the son of former Arkansas All-America offensive line- It marked Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt’s first 10-win season man Steve Korte. Darren McFadden returned his first career kickoff for a touchdown The elder Korte lettered at Arkansas from 1981-82 and was a first-team All-American with a 92-yard jaunt. He also eclipsed the 1,300-yard (1,303) barrier at offensive guard in 1982. He earned All-Southwest Conference honors in both of his for the third-best single-season total in school history seasons with the Razorbacks. Following his collegiate career, Korte went on to play for Chris Houston picked off his first two career passes and set a the New Orleans Saints in the NFL from 1983-90. school record with 129 yards on interception returns, including a 87- yard return for a touchdown. WILDCAT: Part of Darren McFadden’s success in 2006 has come from a package the Arkansas coaches call ‘Wildcat’. In the Wildcat package, McFadden lines up at quarter- back in the shotgun formation. Out of that formation, he is afforded a bevy of options HOGWIRED PLAYERS OF THE WEEK that have kept opposing defenses on their heels. Southern California McFadden has lined up in the Wildcat package on 36 plays this season, gaining 317 Offense: Damian Williams yards and scoring seven touchdowns. That averages out to 8.8 yards per play, while Defense: Marcus Harrison McFadden has a 423.6 quarterback rating for the season. Below is a break down of how Special Teams: Jacob Skinner the Hogs have moved the football in the Wildcat formation.
Utah State Game Keepers Handoffs (to Jones) Passing Offense: Darren McFadden Ole Miss 3 (12 yds, 1 TD) 2 (17 yds) --- ULM 1 (7 yds) 1 (7 yds, 1 TD) 1-1 (9 yds, 1 TD) Defense: Sam Olajubutu South Carolina 3 (45 yds) 1 (21 yds) --- Special Teams: Jacob Skinner Tennessee 8 (59 yds, 2 TD) 5 (50 yds) 1-1 (12 yds, 1 TD ) Vanderbilt Offense: Marcus Monk BOWL APPEARANCES MOST HOME WINS Defense: Sam Olajubutu (1998-2005) SEC (1998-2006) SEC Special Teams: Brett Goode
Alabama Florida 8 Florida 47-9 .839 LSU 48-13 .787 Offense: Jonathan Luigs Georgia 8 Arkansas 47-14 .770 Defense: Randy Kelly Tennessee 7 Georgia 45-10 .818 Special Teams: Jacob Skinner Arkansas 6 Auburn 6 Tennessee 45-11 .804 Auburn LSU 6 Auburn 45-17 .726 Offense: Darren McFadden/Felix Jones Ole Miss 5 Alabama 43-20 .683 Defense: Jamaal Anderson Alabama 5 Mississippi 34-22 .607 South Carolina 32-26 .552 Special Teams: Jeremy Davis South Carolina 3 Miss. State 3 Mississippi State 29-26 .527 Southeast Missouri State Kentucky 2 Kentucky 27-29 .482 Offense: Michael Smith Vanderbilt 0 Vanderbilt 16-37 .302 Defense: Keith Jackson * Includes all games in Fayetteville and Little Special Teams: Jeremy Davis Rock www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
Miss. State 6 (25 yds) 2 (1 yd) 1-1 (16 yds) (McFadden) Ole Miss 1-1 (35 yds, 1 TD) (Dick) Offense: Peyton Hillis Totals 21 (148 yds, 3 TD) 11 (97 yds, 1 TD) 4-4 (72 yds, 3 TD) Defense: Weston Dacus Special Teams: Felix Jones McFADDEN & JONES FORM DYNAMIC DUO: The Arkansas tailback duo of Darren McFadden and Felix Jones are the second-most productive rushing teammates in the Louisiana-Monroe country (among the NCAA top 100 and still active) and the top tailback duo, averaging Offense: Felix Jones 200.50 yards per game. McFadden ranks 7th nationally at 121.90 ypg while Jones Defense: Michael Grant/Weston Dacus accounts for 78.60 ypg. The West Virginia combo of TB Steve Slaton (2nd; 151.44) and Special Teams: Chris Houston QB Patrick White (24th; 93.00) lead the way with 244.88 yards per game on the top rushing team in the country. The Razorbacks are one of 13 teams in the country to have South Carolina two players ranked in the top 100 in rushing nationally. Offense: Darren McFadden Defense: Darius Vinnett Rank Rushers (Individual Avg.) Team Combined YPG 1. Steve Slaton (157.80) / Patrick White (105.70) West Virginia 263.50 Special Teams: Anthony Brown 2. Darren McFadden (118.45) / Felix Jones (74.91) Arkansas 193.36 3. James Davis (101.36) / C.J. Spiller (69.00) Clemson 170.36 Tennessee 4. Terry Caulley (77.88) / Donald Brown II (69.40) Connecticut 147.28 Offense: The Offensive Line 5. Anthony Aldridge (73.17) / Jackie Battle (72.82) Houston 145.99 Defense: Jamaal Anderson Special Teams: Brian Vavra STREAKIN’ HOGS: Arkansas has reeled off 10 straight wins for the first time since 1988. The 10-game winning streak is tied for the fifth-longest in school history. The Mississippi State school record of 22 straight wins was set by Frank Broyles’ teams from 1963-65. The Offense: Darren McFadden 2006 team is the sixth Hog teams to reel off at least 10 consecutive wins. Defense: Chris Houston Special Teams: Reggie Fish Years Streak 1963-65 22 RAZORBACKS ON PRESEASON 1968-69 15 WATCH LISTS/HONORS 1978-79 *12 1977-78 11 Jamaal Anderson 2006 10 All-SEC Second Team - Lindy's Sports Annuals All-SEC Third Team - SEC Coaches 1988 10 All-SEC Fourth Team - Phil Steele's College Football 1970 9 No. 51 Defensive End in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football 1909-10 9 Freddie Fairchild All-SEC Third Team - SEC Coaches ARKANSAS IN OVERTIME Robert Felton All-SEC Second Team - Athlon Sports Record: 6-1 All-SEC Third Team - Phil Steele's College Football Year Opponent Score No./OTs All-SEC Third Team - SEC Coaches 1996 at Mississippi St. W, 16-13 OT All-SEC Third Team - SEC Media (Media Days) 2000 at Mississippi St. W, 17-10 OT No. 43 Offensive Guard in the Nation - Phil Steele's College 2001 at Ole Miss W, 58-56 7 OT Football 2002 at Tennessee L, 41-38 6 OT Michael Grant 2003 at Alabama W, 34-31 2 OT All-SEC Third Team - SEC Coaches 2003 at Kentucky W, 71-63 7 OT Marcus Harrison 2006 vs. Alabama W, 24-23 2 OT All-SEC Second Team - Athlon Sports No. 28 Defensive Tackle in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Arkansas’ NCAA Records in Overtime Football • Longest games in NCAA history: seven overtimes (Arkansas at Kentucky, 2003; Peyton Hillis Arkansas at Ole Miss, 2001) All-SEC Third Team - SEC Coaches All-SEC Third Team (PR) - Phil Steele's College Football • Third-longest game in NCAA history: six overtimes (Arkansas at Tennessee, 2002) No. 3 Fullback in the Nation - The Sporting News No. 3 Fullback in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football SEC's Best Blocking Back (Runner-Up) - Birmingham News • Most points scored in overtime: 47 at Kentucky, 2003
Chris Houston • Most points scored in an overtime game (both teams): 134, UA (71) at Kentucky All-SEC Second Team - College Football News.com (63), 2003 Keith Jackson Rotary Lombardi Award (nation's top defensive lineman or line- • Most points scored in overtime (both teams): 86, UA (47) at Kentucky (39), 2003 backer) Watch List No. 9 Defensive Tackle in the Nation - The Sporting News No. 15 Defensive Tackle in the Nation - Lindy's Sports Annuals • Most plays in an overtime game (both teams): 202, UA (199) at Kentucky (103), No. 23 Defensive Tackle in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football 2003 www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
six times 8 RAZORBACKS ON PRESEASON three times 7 WATCH LISTS/HONORS (cont.) * includes a tie All-SEC First Team - Blue Ribbon All-SEC First Team - The Sporting News QUICK-STRIKE HOGS: The Hogs rank second in the SEC and 22nd nationally in scor- All-SEC First Team - Phipps Football Magazines ing offense at 30.80 points per game and have featured a quick-strike offense in 2006. All-SEC First Team - Birmingham News All-SEC Second Team - Phil Steele's College Football Arkansas is tied for seventh nationally in scoring drives under two minutes with 18 and All-SEC Second Team - SEC Coaches second in the county with 25 touchdown drives of five or less plays. All-SEC Second Team - SEC Media (Media Days) All-SEC Third Team - Athlon Sports Scoring Drives Under Two Minutes All-SEC Team - Street & Smith's Annuals 1. Hawai’i 23 Ohio State 23 Felix Jones Second Team All-America - Athlon Sports 3. Houston 21 Second Team All-America - CBS Sportsline.com Texas Tech 21 Second Team All-America - Rivals.com 5. Nebraska 20 Fourth Team All-America - Phil Steele's College Football SMU 20 No. 4 Return Man in the Nation - The Sporting News 7. Arkansas 18 No. 5 Return Specialist in the Nation - Rivals.com No. 10 All-Purpose Player in the Nation - Lindy's Sports Annuals Louisville 18 No. 18 SEC Position Player - College Football News.com West Virginia 18 All-SEC First Team - Athlon Sports Scoring Drives of Five Plays or Less All-SEC First Team - Blue Ribbon All-SEC First Team - CBS Sportsline.com 1. Hawai’i 30 All-SEC First Team - College Football News.com 2. Arkansas 25 All-SEC First Team - Phil Steele's College Football 3. Clemson 24 All-SEC First Team - SEC Coaches 4. Nebraska 23 All-SEC First Team - The Sporting News West Virginia 23 All-SEC Second Team - Lindy's Sports Annuals All-SEC Second Team - SEC Media (Media Days) McFADDEN OFF TO THE RACES: Sophomore All-America candidate Darren Randy Kelly McFadden has asserted himself as a candidate for the Heisman Trophy with dazzling All-SEC Second Team - Birmingham News All-SEC Third Team - SEC Coaches performances throughout the 2006 season. He defied the odds to overcome a dislocat- ed and surgically repaired left toe in the preseason to start the USC game. He then Jonathan Luigs exploded for 184 yards on just 20 carries (9.2 yards per carry) and scored two touch- Rimington Award Watch List (nation's best center) All-SEC Second Team - Phipps Football Magazines downs against the Aggies. He ripped off a career-high 219 yards and two TDs two All-SEC Second Team - Birmingham News weeks ago at South Carolina and then torched No. 13 Tennessee for 181 rushing, two All-SEC Third Team - Athlon Sports rushing TDs and his second passing touchdown of the season. The 219 yards is the All-SEC Fourth Team - Phil Steele's College Football highest total in the SEC this season. He has a school record five career games with at No. 35 Center in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football least 180 yards rushing. Darren McFadden McFadden’s 145 yards on the ground against No. 2 Auburn vaulted him to the top of Maxwell Award Watch List (nation's best player) the SEC’s rushing charts. He leads the way with a 129.90 yards per game average with Walter Camp Watch List (nation’s best player) Second Team All-America - Phil Steele's College Football Ole Miss’ BenJarvus Green-Ellis second and Auburn’s Kenny Irons in third place in the Second Team All-America - Rivals.com league. Along with his status as the SEC’s top rusher, McFadden is currently ranked Third Team All-America - Athlon Sports ninth nationally. He is 3 for 3 passing on the season for 37 yards and two TDs and has Honorable Mention All-American - Street & Smith's Annuals a 70-yard reception for a touchdown and a 92-yard kickoff return for a TD. No. 3 Running Back in the Nation - Rivals.com No. 4 Running Back in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football McFadden also set a new personal best against USU with a career-long 72-yard touch- No. 5 Running Back in the Nation - Lindy's Sports Annuals down run in the third quarter. He had 70-yard runs last year at Alabama and UGA. No. 6 Running Back in the Nation - The Sporting News No. 9 SEC Position Player - College Football News.com ANOTHER C-NOTE FOR D-MAC: Darren McFadden ripped off the 11th 100-yard rush- No. 22 Heisman Trophy Candidate - College Football News.com SEC's Most Versatile Player (Runner-Up) - Birmingham News ing game of his 22-game Razorback career against Tennessee. He has six 100-yard SEC's Best Athlete - Birmingham News rushing games this season. His 11 career 100-yard rushing games are currently third SEC's Best Runner (Runner-Up) - Birmingham News all-time at Arkansas. Ben Cowins (1975-78) owns the school record with 16. His six All-SEC First Team - Athlon Sports 100-yard games this season is tied for the second-most in school history, just one off All-SEC First Team - College Football News.com All-SEC First Team - Lindy's Sports Annuals Cedric Cobbs’ seven in 2003. All-SEC First Team - The Sporting News Arkansas’ All-Time 100-Yard Rushing Games All-SEC First Team - Phil Steele's College Football 1. Ben Cowins, 1975-78 16 All-SEC First Team - Phipps Football Magazines All-SEC First Team - SEC Coaches 2. Dickey Morton, 1971-73 15 All-SEC First Team - SEC Media (Media Days) 3. Darren McFadden, 2005-present 11 All-SEC First Team - Birmingham News Cedric Cobbs, 1999-2003 11 All-SEC First Team - Scout.com Fred Talley, 1999-2002 11 6. Bill Burnett, 1968-70 9 www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
Oscar Malone, 1992-94, 96 9 RAZORBACKS ON PRESEASON 8. Matt Jones, 2001-04 8 WATCH LISTS/HONORS (cont.) Ike Forte, 1974-75 8 Marcus Monk James Rouse, 1985, 87-89 8 Biletnikoff Award Watch List (nation’s best wide receiver) Madre Hill, 1994-98 8 All-SEC First Team - Phil Steele's College Football All-SEC Third Team - SEC Media (Media Days) 180+ FOR McFADDEN: Sophomore tailback Darren McFadden’s 181 yards against No. 9 Wide Receiver in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football Tennessee marked his fifth career game of at least 180 yards. He rushed for 190 at Mitch Mustain Georgia last year and went for 187 vs. South Carolina, 184 earlier this season against No. 6 SEC Impact Newcomer - Athlon Sports Utah State and a career-best 219 at South Carolina. McFadden eclipsed the mark of No. 7 Incoming SEC Player - Lindy's Sports Annuals No. 10 Incoming Freshman in the Nation - Lindy's Sports Annuals Fred Talley for the most career games of at least 180 yards with four. McFadden is just No. 10 Incoming Freshman in the Nation - Athlon Sports the fifth running back in school history to record more than one game of 180-plus yards. SEC Newcomer of the Year - The Sporting News Madre Hill, Ben Cowins and Dickey Morton all have two games each. Sam Olajubutu Semifinalist Chuck Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player) FELIX THE CAT: Felix Jones has three 100-yard rushing games this season with 106 Semifinalist Bronko Nagurski Award (nation's top defensive player) yards vs. Southeast Missouri State, 104 yards at then-No. 2 Auburn and a career-high Lott Trophy (nation's top defensive player) 141 yards vs. ULM. Jones ranks fourth in the SEC and 50th nationally in rushing with Semifinalist Rotary Lombardi Award (nation's top defensive lineman 74.91 yards per game. He has a career-best 824 yards rushing on just 111 carries. Jones’ or linebacker) First-Team Mid-Season All-American (College Football News) 7.42 yards per carry average leads the SEC and ranks fifth in the country. Second Team All-America - Athlon Sports Second Team All-America - Rivals.com LEADING THE PACK: When it comes to rushing the ball, no team in the Southeastern Honorable Mention All-American - Street & Smith's Annuals Conference has done it more effectively in recent years than the Arkansas Razorbacks No. 4 Linebacker - Rivals.com and that trend continues in 2006. The Hogs have led the league in rushing yardage in No. 5 Outside Linebacker in the Nation - Lindy's Sports Annuals three of the last four seasons and are atop the rushing charts once again in 2006. The No. 7 Inside Linebacker in the Nation - The Sporting News No. 22 Linebacker in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football Razorbacks are averaging 230.64 yards on the ground this season to outdistance No. 11 SEC Position Player - College Football News.com everyone in the league by over 67 yards. Arkansas became the first school to lead the SEC's Best Outside Linebacker - Birmingham News SEC three times in a four-year span since Auburn turned the trick from 1983-85. All-SEC First Team - Athlon Sports The Hogs rank fourth nationally in rushing and second nationally in yards per carry as All-SEC First Team - Blue Ribbon a team with 5.89 yards per tote. Only West Virginia’s 7.16 ypc is better. All-SEC First Team - CBS Sportsline.com All-SEC First Team - College Football News.com UA tallied 200 or more rushing yards in 14 of its last 26 games dating back to the All-SEC First Team - Lindy's Sports Annuals eighth game of the 2004 season. In addition, the Hogs earned 190 or more yards in All-SEC First Team - The Sporting News two other games. All-SEC First Team - Phipps Football Magazines The Hogs also led the SEC in rushing in 2002, 2003 and 2005 with an average of All-SEC First Team - Birmingham News 218.9, 241.9 and 216.9 yards per game, respectively. All-SEC First Team - SEC Coaches Arkansas is attempting to become the first team to pace the SEC in rushing four times All-SEC First Team - SEC Media (Media Days) All-SEC First Team - Scout.com in five seasons since Alabama led the league in four-consecutive seasons from 1971-74. All-SEC Team - Street & Smith's Annuals Team Gms Att Net Avg. TDs Yds/pg Stephen Parker 1 Navy 11 651 3665 5.63 36 333.18 All-SEC Second Team - SEC Coaches All-SEC Third Team - SEC Media (Media Days) 2 West Virginia 10 461 3301 7.16 42 330.10 All-SEC Fourth Team - Phil Steele's College Football 3 Air Force 10 571 2451 4.29 20 245.10 4 Arkansas 11 431 2537 5.89 21 230.64 Desmond Sims All-SEC Second Team - Phipps Football Magazines 5 Clemson 11 437 2521 5.77 29 229.18
Jacob Skinner ENTIRE COUNTRY WATCHING MCFADDEN: Arkansas sophomore tailback Darren All-SEC Third Team - Phil Steele's College Football No. 15 Punter in the Nation - Phil Steele's College Football McFadden has been named to numerous national player of the year watch lists this preseason. Zac Tubbs All-SEC Second Team - College Football News.com His name has been brought up in conjunction with the Heisman Trophy numerous All-SEC Third Team - Athlon Sports times over the past two weeks. Sideline reporter Holly Rowe at the South Carolina All-SEC Third Team - SEC Coaches game ask the booth crew of Mike Patrick and Todd Blackledge if they had seen a play- All-SEC Third Team - SEC Media (Media Days) er better than McFadden this season, and both agreed they had not. All-SEC Fourth Team - Phil Steele's College Football The GameDay crew of Chris Folwer, Lee Corso and Kirk Herbstreit called Tony Ugoh McFadden the most complete running back in the country. All-SEC Third Team - Phil Steele's College Football McFadden won the Cingular All-America Player of the Week after his 219-yard, two- Damian Williams touchdown performance at South Carolina and was one of four candidates again after No. 76 Incoming Freshman in the Nation - Athlon Sports his all-around effort vs. Tennessee. No. 95 Incoming Freshman in the Nation - Lindy's Sports Annuals The Little Rock native has already been named to the watch list for the Walter Camp All-SEC Second Team - Phil Steele's College Football National Player of the Year and The Maxwell Award, an honor also recognizing the top college football player in the nation. He is a pre-season All-America selection and has garnered a spot on nearly every first-team All-SEC squad. www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
‘BUTU AMONG NATION’S BEST: Senior Sam Olajubutu is garnering 2006 Division I-A Consecutive Reception Streak national attention for his play at linebacker. Olajubutu has been named a Steve Odom, Sr., WR Toledo 48 semifinalist for both the Butkus Award and Bednarik Award and a quarterfi- Vincent Marshall, Sr., WR Houston 48 nalist for the Lott Trophy for the 2006 season. He is also on the watch lists Johnny Quinn, Sr., WR North Texas 46 for the Lombardi and Nagurski Awards Trent Shelton, Sr., WR Baylor 45 He is quickly making a statement in 2006, he has 93 tackles (coaches Brian Leonard, Sr., FB Rutgers 44 video) through 10 games (9.3 per game) with 9.0 TFLs (-27) and 52 solo Ryne Robinson, Sr., WR Miami (Ohio) 42 stops. Olajubutu has notched double-digit tackles in six of the 10 games he Shaun Herbert, Sr., WR Northwestern 36 has played season with 12 tackles vs. USC, 13 tackles against Utah State, Dwayne Jarrett, Jr., WR USC 35 14 stops at Vanderbilt, 13 tackles vs. Alabama, 14 at Auburn and 10 at Eric Deslauriers, Sr., WR Eastern Michigan 34 Mississippi State. He now has 15 career double-digit tackle performances. Marcus Monk, Jr., WR Arkansas 33 Olajubutu was just the 14th player in school history to record 300 career Craig Davis, Jr., WR LSU 33 tackles. His 350 career tackles rank sixth all time at Arkansas. He 58 tack- D’Juan Woods, WR Oklahoma State 32 les short of record holder Tony Bua (408). He is seven shy of fifth-place Dominique Zeigler, Sr, WR Baylor 32 Ronnie Caveness (357), 17 shy of fourth-place Cliff Powell (367) and 18 shy of third-place Caleb Miller (368). MONK CLIMBING CAREER TD CHART: Marcus Monk’s touchdown catch against at Mississippi State was his 22nd career TD reception. He ranks PROTECTION: The Razorbacks have excelled at pass blocking in 2006, second just one behind school record holder Anthony Lucas. having allowed just six sacks all season, which leads both the SEC and the country. That average of just 0.545 sacks allowed per game is ahead of Arkansas’ All-Time Touchdown Receptions List Clemson’s 0.73 per game average. The Hogs allowed more than twice as 1. Anthony Lucas 23 many sacks a season ago, averaging 2.00 sacks per game, which ranked 2. Marcus Monk 22 tied for 47th nationally. 3. Richard Smith 17 4. George Wilson 16 MARVELOUS MONK: At 6-6, Marcus Monk has stood out since the day he Anthony Eubanks 16 stepped foot on campus. He led all Southeastern Conference freshmen in Chuck Dicus 16 receiving in 2004 and set a school record for freshman receiving along the Derek Russell 16 way. Monk shattered Richard Smith's UA record (33) for receptions by a freshman when he hauled in 37 balls for 569 yards and six touchdowns. He MONK NAMED TO BILETNIKOFF WATCH LIST: Arkansas junior Marcus tied for the team lead in catches and garnered freshman All-SEC honors for Monk has been named to the watch list for the 2006 Biletnikoff Award pre- his efforts. As a sophomore in 2005, Monk caught 35 passes for a team- sented by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club Foundation, Inc. high 476 yards and seven touchdowns. The award named for legendary Florida State and Oakland Raiders’ wide In 2006, Monk has the best numbers of his career with 45 catches for a receiver Fred Biletnikoff, is presented annually to the nation’s top wide career-high 859 yards through nine games. He has caught nine touchdown receiver. Monk is one of 51 candidates for the award including one of seven passes and is averaging 19.1 yards per catch, which is second-best in the players from the Southeastern Conference. SEC. He is fifth in the league in yards per game (78.1). Monk’s 859 yards is the seventh-most in a single season in school history, while his nine TD grabs ROBINSON A TERROR OFF THE EDGE: Sophomore defensive end rank second. Antwain Robinson leads the SEC tackles for loss per game and is fourth in Monk has caught at least one pass in each of his 33 career games as a sacks per game. He is averaging 1.40 TFL per game and .65 sacks per Razorback. That mark ranks tied for 10th nationally. He has caught at least game. He is tied for seventh in overall sacks with 6.5 after sitting out the SEMO with a hip flexor and missing most of the Ole Miss game with a three passes in 22 of his 33 career games. sprained ankle. His 13.5 TFL are the fourth-most in the league. He ranks 14th nationally in TFL and 37th in sacks.
THE RAZORBACKS’ RECORD UNDER HOUSTON NUTT Leading At Leading After Trailing At Trailing After Tied At Tied After Halftime 3rd Qtr. Halftime 3rd Qtr. Halftime 3rd Qtr. 1998 7-1 8-2 2-2 1-0 0-0 0-1 1999 6-0 7-0 1-4 1-4 1-0 0-0 2000 4-0 4-0 1-4 2-6 1-2 0-0 2001 3-1 5-1 1-4 1-4 3-0 1-0 2002 8-1 8-0 1-4 1-5 0-0 0-0 2003 8-0 8-0 0-4 1-4 1-0 0-0 2004 5-3 5-0 0-3 0-6 0-0 0-0 2005 3-2 3-1 1-4 1-6 0-1 0-0 2006 9-0 9-0 1-1 0-1 0-0 1-0 Total 53-8 58-4 8-30 8-35 6-3 2-1 www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
TO THE HOUSE: Jones notched his second career kickoff return for a Zak Clark 2 (Ole Miss, Miss. State) 2000 touchdown (vs. Ole Miss) with both covering 100 yards. His first was last Casey Dick 4 (South Carolina, Ole Miss, Miss. St., LSU) 2005 season against Mississippi State. Jones is the second Razorback in school Mitch Mustain 8 (USU, VU, Ala., Aub., SEMO, OM, ULM, SC) 2006 history to return two kicks for 100 yards in their career. Boyd Cypert also notched two 100-yard kickoff returns in his career with both coming in the A HISTORY OF SUCCESS: It is no secret that Mitch Mustain has been a 1911 season against the Missouri School of Mines and Drury. Jones 929 successful starting quarterback at every level of his football career. The career kickoff return yards ranks fifth on the career list. true freshman from just up the road in Springdale, Ark., who was the Gatorade, USA Today and Parade Magazine National High School Player ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS: Arkansas’ 27-10 win over then-No. 2 of the Year last season, has continued that trend at Arkansas. Mustain is Auburn on the Plains on Oct. 7 marked the highest-ranked team the the first true freshman quarterback in school history to win his first eight Razorbacks have beaten since knocking off No. 1 Texas, 42-11, in starts. Brad Taylor (1981) won his first three starts. His eight wins and eight Fayetteville in 1981. It was also the best road win since a victory over No. starts are also the most ever for a true freshman at Arkansas. 1 Texas in Austin in 1964 (14-13). Mustain also has the numbers to back it up with a 60-2 (.968) record dat- The win at Auburn also completed a sweep of the Alabama schools for ing back to his first junior high game as an eighth grader. He went a com- just the third time in school history. The Alabama double was accomplished bined 27-1 at the junior high (8th-10th grade) level and then posted a 11-1 in 1995 and 1998 and both years the Hogs went on to capture at least a record as a junior at Springdale High School and a 14-0 mark as a senior share of the SEC West crown. en route to a state championship. A win at Auburn has also been a good omen for UA. The Hogs had won Mustain’s Record as a Starting Quarterback twice previously at Auburn - 1998 and 2002 - and both seasons captured a Junior High Record share of the SEC West title. 2001 - 8th Grade 9-1 2002 - 9th Grade 9-0 MITCH IS THE MAN: Freshman signal-caller Mitch Mustain was named 2003 - 10th Grade 9-0 the Razorbacks’ starting quarterback for the Utah State game after just one High School game as a backup. Mustain’s start was the earliest in the season for any 2004 - 11th Grade 11-1 true freshman in school history. He was also the first true freshman to win 2005 -12th Grade 14-0 his first start since Barry Lunney beat Tennessee in 1992. Arkansas With the Hogs’ win in his start at South Carolina, Mustain became the 2006 - Freshman 8-0 first true freshman quarterback in school history to win his first eight starts. 60-2 (.968) Brad Taylor (1981) won his first three starts. Mustain also has the most starts by a true freshman QB with eight. BIG DIFFERENCE: Against Southeast Missouri State, the Razorbacks Mustain was just the seventh true freshman quarterback in Razorback rushed for 381 yards while holding the Redhawks to just 31 yards rushing. history, since freshmen were made eligible in 1972, to make a start. The The 350-yard difference is the most for the Hogs in Houston Nutt’s tenure. last true frosh to take the first snap was Casey Dick last season against Arkansas has outrushed its last four opponents by 825 yards over the past South Carolina. Former Razorback quarterback Matt Jones played exten- four games. UA also outrushed Auburn by 219 yards. sively at quarterback as a true freshman, but never started a game in his freshman season. Hogs head coach Houston Nutt was the first true fresh- UP AND GOOD: Jeremy Davis’ 44-yard field goal against Ole Miss was man to start at quarterback when he led Arkansas against TCU in 1976. the longest by a Razorback since since David Carlton’s 47-yarder against UA True Freshman Starting Quarterbacks Tennessee in 2002. He is 5-of-8 (.625) on the season with misses of 41, Player GS Opponents Season 48 and 54 yards. He is 4-of-4 from inside 40 yards. Houston Nutt 3 (TCU, SMU, Texas Tech) 1976 Tom Rystrom 1 (Texas) 1976 HOUSTON WE HAVE LOCKDOWN: Junior cornerback Chris Houston and Brad Taylor 4 (Rice, Baylor, Texas A&M, North Carolina) 1981 the rest of the Hogs’ secondary have stepped up and locked down two of Barry Lunney 6 (Tenn., Ole Miss, Aub., Miss. St., SMU, LSU) 1992 the more high-profile wide receivers in the country. Houston held USC’s All-American Dwayne Jarrett to five catches for a 4TH QUARTER DEFICITS OVERCOME mere 35 yards. Jarrett responded his next week out by torching No. 19 TO WIN UNDER NUTT Nebraska’s secondary for 136 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions. Utah State then managed just 114 yards through the air against the 4th Qtr. Year Deficit Score Opponent Final Score THE HOGS UNDER NUTT 2003 14 31-17 Alabama 34-31 (2OT) 2002 10 17-7 LSU 21-20 In Games Decided By: 2000 7 10-3 Mississippi State 17-10 (OT) 3 points or less ...... 9-8 1998 7 20-13 Kentucky 27-20 7 points or less ...... 18-14 1999 3 24-21 Tennessee 28-24 10 points or more ...... 39-23 2001 3 10-7 UNLV 14-10 20 points or more ...... 31-9 30 points or more ...... 16-4 2005 3 17-14 Ole Miss 28-17 40 points or more ...... 3-1 2000 1 21-20 Alabama 28-21 50 points or more ...... 2-1 www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
Razorbacks. Houston lined up across Vandy’s All-SEC candidate Earl At the snap, Mustain deafly handed the ball to Fish and then proceeded to Bennett and held him to four catches for 31 yards. He also limited Auburn’s carry out a fake to the far sideline as Fish broke loose down the near side- Courtney Taylor to just five catches for 33 yards while the Tigers gained just line for a 28-yard gain to the Tiger six-yard line. 153 total yards through the air. In his most recent outing against Tennessee’s All-American wideout Robert Meachem, Houston held HOG WILD IN OVERTIME: Arkansas is now 6-1 in overtime games dating Meachem to just four catches for 65 yards. back to the 1996, which was the first season overtime was used to break For the season, Houston has 38 tackles - 32 solo - and a team-high 10 ties at the end of regulation. The six wins is tied for the second most over- pass breakups and two interceptions. He ranks tied for third in the SEC with time wins in NCAA history (Missouri is 8-3). The .857 winning percentage, 12 passes defended. He was also named the SEC Defensive Player of the among teams with at least five overtime games, ranks third to Nebraska Week for his play at Mississippi State. and Michigan’s 5-0 record. Louisiana-Monroe and South Florida are all 4- 0 in overtime games. 5 AND 85 BIG AT SOUTH CAROLINA: No. 5 Darren McFadden and No. 85 Marcus Monk’s performances at South Carolina were ones for the record Most Overtime Wins in NCAA History book. McFadden’s 219 yards equaled the fourth-best rushing performance in 1. Missouri 8 2. Arkansas 6 school history, tying James Rouse’s 1987 total against New Mexico. Monk’s Ole Miss 6 192-receiving yards were the fifth-most in school history, behind Mike North Carolina State 6 Reppond’s school record of 204 in 1971 vs. Rice. Northwestern 6 Oregon 6 JACKSON NAMED WALTER CAMP DEFENSIVE POW: The UA defense Tennessee 6 two weeks ago at Auburn was so impressive it was hard to pick the top indi- UCLA 6 vidual performance. Senior defensive tackle Keith Jackson was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week with eight tackles and Best Overtime Winning Percentage in NCAA History (minimum 5 gms) half a sack. But Hog coaches didn’t want defensive end Jamaal Anderson 1. Michigan 5-0 (1.000) let out and named him as the Hogwired.com Defensive Player of the Week. Nebraska 5-0 (1.000) Anderson made 11 total tackles, including five solo stops, 2.5 tackles for 3. Arkansas 6-1 (.857) loss, 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hurries. Northwestern 6-1 (.857) UCLA 6-1 (.857) NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK: Arkansas was the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl 6. Tennessee 5-1 (.833) National Team of the Week after a 27-10 win at then-No. 2 Auburn two 7. Northern Illinois 4-1 (.800) Ohio State 4-1 (.800) weeks ago. The Razorbacks were chosen by pollsters of the Football 9. Ole Miss 6-3 (.667) Writers Association of America (FWAA) Grantland Rice Super 16 Poll as Oregon 6-3 (.667) the top team performer for games of the weekend of Oct. 7. OVERTIME NOTHING NEW FOR NUTT: Overtime wins are nothing new NATION RECOGNIZES MCFADDEN: Darren McFadden was named the for Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt. He is 7-2 in his 14-year career as USA Today National Player of the Week following his 145-yard effort in the a head coach, dating back to his first overtime win at Murray State in 1993. Hogs’ 27-10 win at then-No. 2 Auburn. Fan balloting on USAToday.com com- He is 6-1 in overtime games as a head coach a the Division-I level (Boise prised one-third of the voting along with votes from USA Today college foot- State and Arkansas). Nutt’s teams have played a combined 28 overtime ball editor Erick Smith and Gannett columnist Mike Lopresti. McFadden won periods, including an NCAA record two seven-overtime games and a six- the fan balloting with 52 percent of the 11,832 votes and the vote of Smith. overtime game.
MALZAHN HONORED: Arkansas offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn was A RUSHING RARITY: Arkansas’ game at Vanderbilt marked just the named the Rivals.com National Coordinator of the Week following eighth time in the nine-year tenure of head coach Houston Nutt that the Arkansas’ win at then-No. 2 Auburn. Malzahn’s offense produced 366 yards Razorbacks won when they were outrushed by their opponent. The of total offense including 279 on the ground. Commodores gained 240 yards on the ground, compared to just 170 for the Hogs. The 70-yard differential for Vanderbilt is the fourth most for an TRICK PLAYS BIG FOR HOGS: A trick play in two of the Razorbacks’ opponent in a Hogs’ win in the Nutt era. The ninth time came at Mississippi games this season has helped propel Arkansas to victories. State when the Bulldogs outrushed the Hogs 154-128. The Hogs used the ‘Swinging Gate’ late in the fourth quarter against Alabama on a third down play that helped get the game into overtime PITCHING A SHUTOUT: The Arkansas defense recorded a shutout for the where the Razorbacks won 24-23. UA came out of a timeout and quickly first time in 41 games against Utah State. It was the first Hogs’ shutout setup a seven-man line near the Arkansas sideline. Quarterback Mitch since 2002 when they recorded back-to-back 23-0 blankings of Troy State Mustain sprinted to the ball and immediately tossed (snapped) it to Felix (Nov. 2) and at South Carolina (Nov. 9). The Razorbacks surrendered just Jones, who rushed up the Arkansas’ sideline for 10 yards and a first down. 249 total yards to the Aggies (135 rushing and 114 passing). Against Auburn, offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn broke out what he calls ‘Woody’ to set up the Hogs’ last touchdown in a 27-10 win over the INTERCEPTION HAT TRICK: Michael Grant intercepted three ULM passes No. 2 ranked team in the country. The Hogs broke the huddle and the offen- last week. He became the first Hog to intercept three passes in a game since sive linemen moved up to the line of scrimmage as close together as pos- current UA secondary coach Louis Campbell picked off three in the 1971 sible. At the same time, tiny 5-7 flanker Reggie Fish squatted down behind Liberty Bowl game. The three picks are tied for the second-most is school the line a hopped up to the line hidden behind the massive offensive front. history. Wear Schoonover intercepted five Texas A&M passes in 1929. ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
PESKY TURNOVERS: The Razorbacks have committed 18 turnovers in ON THE HOME FRONT: With two home stadiums, the Razorbacks have 11 games, including five against Southern California. The five turnovers proven to be tough to beat on both home fronts. Arkansas holds a 145-72- against Southern California led to 30 Trojan points. 2 (.667) mark at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, including a 28- Winning the turnover battle has proven extremely important in the nine- 13 (.683) record under Houston Nutt. Overall, Arkansas is 265-105-10 year tenure of head coach Houston Nutt. In Nutt’s 108 games at the helm, (.711) all-time in games played in Fayetteville. the Razorbacks are 38-5 when they win the turnover battle. The Hogs are At War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, the Hogs are 138-51-2 (.728) 18-12 when both teams commit the same number of turnovers and just 11- and are 20-1 (.952) under Nutt. In its history, UA is 156-64-4 (.705) in 22 when losing the turnover battle. games played in Little Rock.
THE SPRINGDALE CONNECTION: Three ballyhooed freshmen from just PROTECT THIS HOUSE: Home field advantage has been good to the 10 miles up the road in Springdale, Ark., have made their presence felt Razorbacks, especially during the Houston Nutt era. Arkansas is tied with quickly in a Razorback uniform. Quarterback Mitch Mustain, wide receiver Florida for the second-most SEC home wins since 1998 with 47. The Hogs Damian Williams and tight end Ben Cleveland have shined early in their are 47-14 (.770) in games played at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Razorback careers. Stadium in Fayetteville and War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock. Arkansas Williams has hauled in 17 passes for 221 yards and two touchdowns, is 20-1 in Little Rock and 24-13 in Fayetteville in that nine-year span. LSU including connections of 42- (vs. USC) and 46-yards (vs. Utah State) with leads the way with 48 home wins during that span. Mustain. He became the first true freshman to lead the Razorbacks in catches in his first game since Richard Smith in 2000. Williams caught his FULL HOUSE: Arkansas’ 2006 attendance through six games ranks sev- first touchdown pass on a four-yard pass play from Mustain vs. SEMO. enth nationally in percent of capacity. The Razorbacks are averaging Mustain, who against Utah State, became the seventh true freshman 102.63 percent in the 72,000 seat Donald W. Reynolds Razorback quarterback to start for the Hogs and is 8-0 as a starter. He is 64-of-122 for Stadium. UA has drawn 443,368 fans to average 73,895 per game. The 853 yards and 10 touchdowns in his first nine games. Mustain passed for Hogs have drawn five of the 10 largest crowds in Donald W. Reynolds 224 yards and three touchdowns at Vanderbilt. Razorback Stadium history this season: No. 1 vs. Tennessee - 76,758; No. Cleveland hauled in an 11-yard touchdown pass in overtime to beat 2 vs. USC - 76,564; No. 4 Alabama - 74,687; No. 8 vs. Ole Miss - 73,445; Alabama in just his fourth game. He caught two passes against Southern No. 10 vs. SEMO - 73,453. California for 24 yards, including a 22-yard connection with Robert Johnson in the second quarter that setup a Hog touchdown. He snagged his third pass SKINNER KICKS HIS WAY INTO NATIONAL SPOTLIGHT: Arkansas of the season against the Commodores with a 15-yard touchdown catch from punter Jacob Skinner has put himself in prime position to be one of the lead- Mustain. His 10 catches for 80 yards and two TDs are two catches and two ing candidates for the Ray Guy Award in 2006. The honor bestowed on the touchdowns more than any UA tight end produced last season. nation’s top punter has already spotlighted Skinner after a solid junior sea- son in 2005. He was on the Ray Guy Award watch list released in THE FEW AND THE PROUD: Arkansas is one of six schools in the nation September. that returns its leading rusher (Darren McFadden, 1,113 yards), passer Skinner is fourth in the SEC with a 38.5 yards per punt average on 44 (Robert Johnson, 876 yards), receiver (Marcus Monk, 476 yards) and tack- punts this season, including a long of 50 at Mississippi State. But he has le (Sam Olajubutu, 69, 49A, 118 total) from the 2005 season. Also return- placed an amazing SEC-best 22 punts (50 percent) inside the opponent’s ing their team leaders from the 2005 season are BYU, Buffalo, Ohio, Utah 20-yard line. Of those 22 punts inside the 20-yard line, six have been State and UTEP. downed inside the opponents five-yard line and four more inside the oppo- nents 10-yard line. 100 AND COUNTING FOR NUTT: The Razorbacks’ game against He has allowed just 11 punts to be returned this season and six fair Vanderbilt was the 100th in the nine-year career of Hog boss Houston Nutt. catches. Against Auburn, Skinner punted three times for a 45.3 yard aver- He owns a 67-41 (.620) career record at Arkansas. Nutt is just the third age and pinned the Tigers inside their 20-yard line twice. coach in school history to coach 100 games (currently 108) at the helm of the Razorback program. Fred Thomsen (1929-41) was the first, posting a REMEMBERING PAUL: When Arkansas and Vanderbilt met on the grid- 56-61-10 (.480) record while Frank Broyles (1958-76) is the school’s all- iron earlier this season, no doubt many people associated both programs time leader with 207 games coached (144-58-5 [.708]) in 19 seasons. and remembered the late Paul Eells, who was killed in an automobile acci- Coach Total Games Seasons dent on July 31, 2006. Eells spent the past 28 seasons (1978-2005) as the Frank Broyles 207 19 (1958-1976) football radio play-by-play voice of the Arkansas Razorbacks. He also host- Fred Thomsen 127 13 (1929-41) ed the UA football and basketball coaches' shows and called basketball Houston Nutt 108 9 (1998-present) games on television on the Arkansas Razorback Sports Network. He was the long-time sports director of KATV in Little Rock, Ark., and a familiar face Nutt’s nine year tenure at Arkansas is also a rare feat for any SEC and voice to Razorback fans everywhere. His signature phrases of "Oh coach. Only three coaches hired in the SEC since 1990 have enjoyed a My" and "Touchdown Arkansas" stint of 100 games at the same school. Nutt became the fourth against Prior to coming to Arkansas in time for the 1978 football season, Eells Vanderbilt on Sept. 16. served as the football radio play-by-play announcer for the Vanderbilt Coach, School (Years) Games Commodores (1967-77). As the sports director at WSM Radio/TV in Philip Fulmer, Tennessee (1992-current) 169 Nashville, Eells also called Vanderbilt basketball games in his tenure. Eells Jackie Sherrill, Miss. State (1991-2003) 153 began his broadcasting career in Iowa where he served years as the Voice Steve Spurrier, Florida (1990-2001) 150 of the Iowa Hawkeyes (1963-66). Houston Nutt, Arkansas (1998-current) 108 In memory of Paul, Arkansas is donning a sticker on the back of its hel- www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL mets with a microphone and the initials "PE." A tribute to Paul and a SPECTACULAR ROOKIE SEASON: It didn’t take long for tailback Darren moment of silence was observed at the Razorbacks' season opener McFadden to make his mark as a Razorback. The Little Rock native against Southern California. Vanderbilt observed a moment of silence rushed his way into the UA record books in his first season in Fayetteville. before the Arkansas-Vanderbilt game. Auburn also honor Paul prior to the McFadden, a consensus freshman All-America and first-team All-SEC start of the Hogs’ and Tigers’ game in Auburn. selection became the first Razorbacks freshman to rush for more than 1,000 yards when he racked up 1,113 yards in 2005. He destroyed the UA CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY FOR ‘06 OPPONENTS: Arkansas’ 2006 freshman rushing record by more than 200 yards and recorded the first, schedule features some of the most tradition-rich programs in the history of second, fourth, sixth and eighth-best rushing days by a Razorback fresh- college football. Six of the Razorbacks’ 11 Division-I opponents in 2006 man in school history. He also set a new UA freshman scoring record with have combined to claim 39 national championships. The Hogs, who also 11 touchdowns. captured a national title in 1964, face Alabama (12), Southern California The SEC Freshman and Newcomer of the Year became only the sev- (11), Tennessee (5), Auburn (5), Ole Miss (3) and LSU (3.). Alabama’s 12 enth Razorback to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Only Ben Cowins national titles are the most in college football history, while USC’s 11 is tied (1976) reached 1,000 yards with less carries in Arkansas history. for second all time with Notre Dame. Each school’s media guide was used McFadden finished fourth in the SEC last season and 31st in the nation to determine the total number of national championships. with an average of 101.2 yards per game. He was second in rushing yardage by freshman trailing only Northwestern’s Tyrell Sutton. Opponent National Championships Southern California 11 RARE COMPANY: Arkansas tailback Darren McFadden rushed his way Utah State 0 into some elite company in the history of the Southeastern Conference. Vanderbilt 0 McFadden became only the seventh freshman in league history to eclipse Alabama 12 the 1,000-yard rushing mark in his first season. He joined Herschel Walker Auburn 5 (Georgia), Emmitt Smith (Florida), Reggie Cobb (Tennessee), Chuck SE Missouri State 0 Webb (Tennessee), Jamal Lewis (Tennessee) and Justin Vincent (LSU) on Ole Miss 3 that exclusive list. McFadden recorded the sixth-best freshman rushing LA-Monroe 0 total in SEC history with 1,113 yards and became the first league freshman South Carolina 0 to accomplish the feat since Vincent earned 1,001 yards for LSU in 2003. Tennessee 5 Mississippi State 0 ALL-AMERICAN JONES: While freshman tailback Darren McFadden gar- LSU 3 nered most of the attention in 2005, it was another rookie that secured his Totals 39 own place in Razorback football history. Felix Jones became the first UA freshman to earn first-team All-America honors when he was selected as a DENTING THE SCOREBOARD: Arkansas has now scored in 132 consec- kickoff returner to the CollegeFootballNews.com squad for the 2005 sea- utive games, a school record for scoring in the most consecutive games in son. team history. Arkansas has not been shut out since a 28-0 loss to LSU in Jones finished second in the country with an average of 31.9 yards per Baton Rouge, La., on Nov. 18, 1995. kickoff return. He returned 17 kickoffs for 543 yards and one touchdown. The Hogs were shutout by Southern California, 17-0, in the season His 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Mississippi State vault- opener on Sept. 15, 1973, and went 125 games before being blanked by ed Jones into the national lead in that category and helped him earn All- SMU, 17-0, on Nov. 19, 1983. America honors. Only after TCU’s Cory Rodgers improved his average in UA ranks fourth among league schools in the longest active scoring streak. a bowl game did Jones slip to second in the national rankings. Florida ranks first in the SEC earning points in 226 consecutive contests. Jones became the 19th All-American in Arkansas history and the first since offensive tackle Shawn Andrews (2002) to garner the honors. STILL ATOP THE BOWL LIST: Despite missing out on postseason berths in each of the past two seasons, Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt’s team TAKING THE REIGNS: The Razorbacks have spoken and the squad’s is bowl eligible once agian this season. The Hogs find themselves atop the choices for the 2006 team captains are seniors DT Keith Jackson, WLB bowl appearance list for SEC Western Division teams since 1998. Sam Olajubutu, MLB Desmond Sims, RT Zac Tubbs, LT Tony Ugoh and The Razorbacks have made six bowl appearances since Houston Nutt CB Darius Vinnett. Jackson, Olajubutu and Sims are three-year lettermen took over the reins in Fayetteville and will make their seventh this season. while Tubbs has earned two letters and Vinnett has lettered one season Arkansas has made two appearances in the Cotton Bowl (2000 and 2002) with the Razorbacks after transferring from West Hill (Calif.) College. and one appearance each in the Citrus Bowl (1999), the Las Vegas Bowl (2000), the Music City Bowl (2002) and the Independence Bowl (2003). Although Arkansas has a rich bowl tradition, in the eight seasons prior to Nutt’s arrival the Razorbacks had earned only two bowl berths.
RACKING UP 20: The Razorbacks have made a routine of racking up 20 points since Houston Nutt arrived in Fayetteville. Arkansas has scored 20 points or more in 80 of Nutt’s 108 games (.741) as head coach. Arkansas is 62-18 (.775) when scoring 20 points or more including a 36-9 mark (.800) in the last six seasons. www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
- PIG TALES- LOCKS OF LOVE: Arkansas senior punter Jacob Skinner has always had one of the most recognizable haircuts on the Razorback football team. But he was growing his long wavy locks of hair for a good cause. Skinner was growing out his hair to use in the Locks of Love program. The program takes hair donated by individuals and uses them to make wigs for those cancer treatment patients that have lost their hair due to chemotherapy. Skinner recently dawned a freshly-shaved head during practice on Tuesday, Aug. 29, during the USC game week. It was estimated that he donated 10-11 inches of hair to the Locks for Love program.
EVERYONE KNOWS HIS NAME: It didn’t take long for ‘Woody’, the play where Reggie Fish hides behind the offensive line against Auburn, to get a little national attention. ‘Woody’ was the No. 2 Play on Sunday night’s SportsCenter. The 28-yard gain on the play set up the Razorbacks’ final touchdown of the day in a 27-10 UA win at No. 2 Auburn.
HELMET STICKERS: Arkansas got plenty of love from the ESPN Final crew Saturday night after its win at No. 2 Auburn. Analysts Mark May and former Hogs head coach Lou Holtz both gave out helmet stickers to the Hogs for their performance. May’s helmet sticker went to Gus Malzahn for the offensive game plan and Holtz’s went to Darren McFadden for his 145- yards rushing.
OFF TO THE RACES: Little Rock native Keith Jackson was ESPN’s No. 7 Play of the Day on Saturday, Oct. 14, with his 69-yard interception return.
CHANGE OF PACE: Andrew Davie spent his 2005 redshirt season reac- climating his body and mind to the game of football after spending three seasons playing Minor League Baseball. A graduate of Central Arkansas Christian high school, Davie was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 32nd round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.
ALL IN THE FAMILY: For sophomore John Aaron Rees, becoming a Hog was a rite of passage. Rees is a third-generation Razorback. His father, John Rees, lettered as a receiver in the late 1960s and his grandfather, Harold "Greasy" Rees, played fullback and middle linebacker at UA from 1931-32. A consistent contributor on special teams during the 2005 sea- son, the youngest Rees is looking to add depth to the new passing offense the Razorbacks have instilled during the off season.
WATCH OUT FOR WASHINGTON: Dallas Washington’s second-quarter takedown of USC’s Cary Harris on a kickoff return earned national acclaim Saturday night after the game. The play was named the No. 3 play of the day by ESPN’s SportsCenter.
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OTHER FACTS ABOUT THE BATTLE FOR THE BOOT
* Houston Nutt is 3-5 in BOOT games. Les Miles is 1-0 after a 19-17 win in the Battle for the Boot in 2005.
* Five of the last six BOOT games (Arkansas already has it wrapped up this season) have decided who represents the Western Division in the SEC championship game
* Since the first BOOT game in 1996, the winner has won or shared the SEC western division title 50% of the time (5 of 10 years). Arkansas has already captured the outright SEC western division title this season.
* Twice, the visiting team has won the BOOT. LSU won the inaugural trophy in 1996 (17-7) at Little Rock and again last season (43-14) in Little Rock.
* On Nov 27, 1996 at the initial press conference at the Arkansas State Capital announcing the Battle for the Boot, Governor Mike Huckabee repre- sented Arkansas and since Louisiana Governor Mike Foster (R) could not attend, Lt Gov Kathleen Blanco (D) represented LSU. Blanco is now the cur- rent Governor of Louisiana (D).
* The two most popular youth video football games in the country are produced by EAS. They are the Madden NFL game and the NCAA Football game. The Battle of the Golden Boot has been a featured game on NCAA Football for the past four years allowing for young video players to have an actual Arkansas vs LSU matchup with the winner receiving a digital version of the big trophy. There were only 23 trophy games featured in 2003, now there are 36.
1) Why the "Battle of the Boot"? LSU and Arkansas don't have the longtime rivalry or trophy game that other SEC teams have, ie Alabama-Auburn, Miss-Miss st, Fla-FSU/Tenn, Tenn- Fla/Ala/Kentucky, South Carolina-Clemson, Georgia-Georgia Tech/Fla. The lack of an annual rival or trophy game for Ark/LSU, the fact they play each other at the end of the season on national television, their location geographically,the intensity of each team's zealous fans and the expectation that both will hopefully be challenging for the SEC West annually, make this game a good spot for a trophy matchup regardless of records or standing.
2) Was the Boot designed to create a true rivalry game? Not necessarily. You can't create a rivalry that isn't really there. The "Battle for the Boot" simply creates a Trophy Game. If a rivalry develops from it that would be great. If not, at least it gives Arkansas and LSU players a little added motivation to win the game. Most competitive players like to play to win anything. A true competitor would lay it on the line for an empty coke can. There are currently several Trophy games per year around the country that are played between teams that have not been equally competitive for decades. Some teams actually have two "Trophy" games per year. These games are not considered rivalry games because they haven't been competitive, but the two teams can still have something to play for.
3) Why Arkansas and LSU? Beside the fact mentioned above, LSU and Arkansas do you have some similar football background. Both the Tigers and Razorbacks have had a rich and storied football history over the past 100 years. From National Championships for the Tigers in 1958 and the Razorbacks in 1964, to "The Great Runs" of Billy Cannon against Ole Miss and Ken Hatfield vs Texas, both schools have great gridiron legacies. Since their first matchup in 1901, some of those legacies were created when the two teams played each other. The 1946 Cotton Bowl that ended in a 0-0 tie and is remembered by many as the "Ice Bowl", featured such great players as Y.A. Tittle for LSU and Clyde "Smackover" Scott for Arkansas. The 1966 Cotton Bowl was the scene of a stunning upset as the 7-3 Tigers defeated the second ranked and 10-0 Hogs 14-7. Besides the great game history between LSU and Arkansas, both states even have a football connection off the field as LSU's first Bengal Tiger mascot, Mike 1, was purchased by the student body from the Little Rock Zoo in 1937.
4) What's behind the heavy and expensive trophy? Some trophy games have been around for many decades and their trophy value is founded in a long history and sometimes the oddness of the trophy itself. Since the Arkansas/LSU trophy game was going to be a new one, the best way to create value and significance is to make it more unique than any other trophy. The "Boot" is the most expensive trophy in all of college football and is one of the heaviest (weighs between 150-200 pounds). It requires teamwork to carry it off the field.
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1998 Ark. - Opp. Rushing 2003 Ark. - Opp. Rushing Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result SW Louisiana 249 - 85 +184 W, 38-17 Tulsa 294 - 212 +82 W, 45-13 SMU 180 - 97 +83 W, 44-17 Texas 265 - 62 +203 W, 38-28 Alabama 206 - 104 +102 W, 42-6 North Texas 143 - 116 +27 W, 31-7 Kentucky 132 - 8 +124 W, 27-20 Alabama 289 - 158 +131 W, 34-31 Memphis 105 - 51 +54 W, 23-9 Auburn 173 - 160 +13 L, 10-3 South Carolina 178 - 131 +47 W, 41-28 Florida 186 - 142 +44 L, 33-28 Auburn 80 - 101 -21 W, 24-21 Ole Miss 82 - 130 -48 L, 19-7 Ole Miss 207 - 84 +123 W, 34-0 Kentucky 334 - 180 +154 W, 71-63 Tennessee 81 - 222 -141 L, 28-24 South Carolina 248 - 123 +125 W, 28-6 Mississippi State 72 - 71 +1 L, 22-21 New Mexico St. 308 - 136 +172 W, 48-20 LSU 175 - 96 +79 W, 41-14 Mississippi St. 322 - 120 +202 W, 52-6 Michigan 116 - 204 -88 (547) L, 45-31 LSU 201 - 250 -49 L, 55-24 Missouri 300 - 252 +48 (1,104) W, 27-14 1999 Ark. - Opp. Rushing Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result 2004 Ark. - Opp. Rushing SMU 107 - 35 +72 W, 26-0 Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result Louisiana-Monroe 117 - 51 +66 W, 44-6 New Mexico St. 221 - 55 +166 W, 63-13 Alabama 64 - 193 -129 L, 35-28 Texas 175 - 259 -84 L, 22-20 Kentucky 97 - 91 +6 L, 31-20 Louisiana-Monroe 289 - 93 +196 W, 49-20 Middle Tennessee 333 - 37 +296 W, 58-6 Alabama 211 - 271 -60 W, 27-10 South Carolina 171 - 102 +69 W, 48-14 Florida 134 -118 +16 L, 45-30 Auburn 175 - 80 +95 W, 34-10 Auburn 128 -225 -105 L, 38-20 Ole Miss 105 - 159 -54 L, 38-16 Georgia 97 - 131 -34 L, 20-14 Tennessee 144 - 169 -25 W, 28-24 South Carolina 247 - 211 +35 L, 35-32 Mississippi State 80 - 75 +5 W, 14-9 Ole Miss 297 - 175 +122 W, 35-3 LSU 97 - 144 -41 L, 35-10 Mississippi State 167 - 150 +17 W, 24-21 Texas 191 - (-)27 +218 (585) W, 27-6 LSU 95 - 295 -200 (78) L, 43-13 2000 Ark. - Opp. Rushing 2005 Ark. - Opp. Rushing Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result SW Missouri State 183 - 47 +136 W, 38-0 Missouri State 483 - 178 +305 W, 49-17 Boise State 217 - 74 +143 W, 38-31 Vanderbilt 194 - 130 +64 L, 28-24 Alabama 151 - 226 -75 W, 28-21 Southern Cal 197 - 291 - 96 L, 70-17 Georgia 52 - 175 -123 L, 38-7 Alabama 237 - 128 +109 L, 24-13 Louisiana-Monroe 166 - 85 +81 W, 52-6 Louisiana-Monroe 321 - 177 +144 W, 44-15 South Carolina 100 - 174 -74 L, 27-7 Auburn 148 - 233 -85 L, 34-17 Auburn 166 - 113 -53 L, 21-19 Georgia 216 - 52 +164 L, 23-20 Ole Miss 212 - 194 -18 L, 38-24 South Carolina 219 - 45 +174 L, 14-10 Tennessee 118 - 290 -172 L, 63-20 Ole Miss 89 - 10 +79 W, 28-17 Mississippi State 149 - 68 +81 W, 17-10 Mississippi State 247 - 106 +141 W, 44-10 LSU 139 - 84 +55 W, 14-3 LSU 35 - 108 -73 (926) L, 19-17 UNLV 115 - 259 -144 (-163) L, 31-14 2006 Ark. - Opp. Rushing 2001 Ark. - Opp. Rushing Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result Southern Cal 130 - 192 -62 L, 50-14 UNLV 25 - 258 -223 W, 14-10 Utah State 279 - 135 +144 W, 20-0 Tennessee 19 - 183 -164 L, 13-3 Vanderbilt 170 - 240 -70 W, 21-19 Alabama 106 - 116 - 10 L, 31-10 Alabama 172 - 118 +54 W, 24-23 Georgia 85 - 161 -76 L, 24-23 Auburn 279 - 60 +219 W, 27-10 Weber State 322 - 112 +210 W, 42-19 SE Missouri St. 381 - 31 +350 W, 63-7 South Carolina 162 - 113 +49 W, 42-17 Ole Miss 141 - 102 +39 W, 38-3 Auburn 148 - 238 -90 W, 42-17 Louisiana-Monroe 331 - 114 +217 W, 44-10 Ole Miss 370 - 145 +225 W, 58-56 South Carolina 267 - 51 +216 W, 26-20 Central Florida 238 - 65 +173 W, 27-20 Tennessee 295 - 92 +167 W, 31-7 Mississippi State 329 - 65 +264 W, 24-21 Mississippi State 128-154 -26 (1,248) W, 28-14 LSU 146 -159 -13 L, 41-38 LSU Oklahoma 37 - 56 -19 (326) L, 10-3 2006 Rushing Margin: ...... +113.5 yards per game 2002 Ark. - Opp. Rushing Opponent Rushing Yards Margin Result 2005 Rushing Margin: ...... +84.2 yard per game Boise State 217 - 27 +190 W, 41-14 2004 Rushing Margin: ...... +7.1 yards per game South Florida 307 - 48 +259 W, 42-3 2003 Rushing Margin: ...... +84.9 yards per game Alabama 172 - 267 -95 L, 30-12 2002 Rushing Margin: ...... +123.8 yards per game Tennessee 238 - 162 +76 L, 41-38 2001 Rushing Margin: ...... + 27.2 yards per game Auburn 426 - 104 +322 W, 38-17 2000 Rushing Margin: ...... -13.6 yards per game Kentucky 293 - 73 +214 L, 29-17 1999 Rushing Margin: ...... +48.8 yards per game Ole Miss 257 - 36 +221 W, 48-28 1998 Rushing Margin: ...... +45.6 yards per game Troy State 65 - 95 -30 W, 23-0 All Games Since 2002: (4,714 in 60) ...... +78.6 yards per game South Carolina 200 - 144 +56 W, 23-0 All Games Since 1998: (6,228 in 108) ...... +57.7 yards per game La.-Lafayette 263 - 61 +201 W, 24-17 SINCE 1998 ARKANSAS’ RECORD WHEN Mississippi St. 237 - 125 +112 W, 26-19 LSU 245 - 150 +95 W, 21-20 Outrushing Opponents: 58-12 Georgia 65 - 124 -59 L, 30-3 Being Outrushed: 9-29 Minnesota 99 - 176 -77 (1,485) L, 29-14 ^ Includes Bowl Games www.hogwired.com www.houstonnutt.com ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS 2006 FOOTBALL
HOUSTON NUTT AT A GLANCE NOTING HOUSTON NUTT Guided the Razorbacks to SEC Western Division titles in 1998, 2002 and 2006. BORN: Oct. 14, 1957 FAMILY: wife Diana (Thomas); twin daughters Hailey and The Hogs’ 27-10 over then-No. 2 Auburn on Oct. 7, 2006, moved Nutt alone into sec- Hanna (9/26/88); daughter Haven (3/19/91); son ond place on Arkansas all-time coaching. He now has 67 wins, moving four past Lou Holtz (1977-83), who had 60 wins in his Arkansas career. Houston III (3/11/87) Six Razorbacks participated in graduation ceremonies in 2006, eight were named to Record at Arkansas: 67-41 (.616) the SEC Academic Honor Roll, 39 were named to UA’s Lon Farrell Academic Honor Roll Career Record: 103-63 (.620) and 44 were named to UA’s 2005 Hard Workin’ Hog academic award list.