FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ football accomplishments in 2010 will quickly lose their luster this fall if the Razorbacks can’t back up big expectations with a fantastic follow-up in 2011.
The Razorbacks, ranked No. 14 in the preseason USA Today coaches poll released Thursday, are projected by members of the media to finish third behind Alabama and LSU in the SEC West, a spot below where they finished last season behind national champion Auburn.
But the Razorbacks, who opened fall camp Thursday with split workouts for newcomers and veterans, are eyeing more than a middle-tier finish in their own treacherous division.
“We had a great season last year, and we did a lot of great things, but this is a new year,” guard Alvin Bailey said. “This is a new team. We still have the same goal: We want to win that championship.”
Arkansas has 14 players on the preseason All-SEC teams and a total of 17 players on the combined preseason watch lists for national awards.
“We appreciate all of the national standings and all of the accolades we’re receiving, but we know it takes a lot of hard work to win in the SEC,” defensive end Tenarius Wright said.
Coach Bobby Petrino has stressed in various media sessions that last year’s achievements entitle the Razorbacks to zilch this season, outside of respect and a bigger target on their backs.
“We’ve already forgotten about the Sugar Bowl last year,” receiver Cobi Hamilton said. “Everybody’s ready to play.”
Center Travis Swanson said the team has done a great job of leaving the laurels of last season behind.
“We keep talking about the things we need to do to make this season a better one than it was last season,” Swanson said.
“We know there are high expectations,” safety Elton Ford said. “We’re just ready to go show it. We’re ready to go play Arkansas football, go do what we do as a defense, as an offense, as special teams, the whole thing. We’re all amped and ready to go.”
Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson said last week that if the Hogs can string together performances similar to the one they showed in last season’s 41-20 rout of SEC East champion South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., they could be pointed toward their goals.
“I agree with that, because we dominated the game,” Ford said. “If we play with energy and have fun, I feel we can beat anybody in the country.”
Sports, Pages 21 on 08/05/2011