FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas’ players had the Halloween tables turned on them after Thursday’s practice.
As players entered the Fred W. Smith Football Center, the young children of Arkansas’ coaches, dressed in their Halloween costumes, handed out treat bags to the players.
“Wanted to perk our players up and give them a little upbeat, so they all made individual packets for our players,” Coach Bret Bielema said. “A little trick-or-treat for those guys because I canceled Halloween on everybody.
“I don’t need them out and about tonight. They’ll have their own little Halloween tonight.” Headed out
Bret Bielema has referenced a few times in the past couple of weeks that there are players who will be leaving the program after the season.
“There are some people that aren’t really playing or aren’t even with the team right now that obviously will transition out that aren’t seniors,” Bielema said. “Not a lot of them, just two or three.
“I think if you’re on the roster today and you’re practicing today, I’m planning on you being there.”
‘Low’ on talent
ESPN.com’s Chris Low, speaking to the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club on Wednesday, said Bobby Petrino’s staff had concerns about sustaining the success of 2010 and 2011 because of defensive issues.
“I got to know several of the guys on Bobby’s staff when he was here, and I can tell you that they were worried, even before the whole motorcycle deal … if the personnel was going to be good enough on defense to sort of sustain what they had,” Low said. “I think they sort of saw this coming.
They just hadn’t recruited well enough on that side of the ball, and you’re sort of seeing it. You saw it last year. You’re seeing it this year.”
The Razorbacks went 21-5 during the 2010-2011 seasons, peaking at No. 3 in the Bowl Championship Series standings during Thanksgiving week of the 2011 regular season.
“Make no mistake,” Low said, “if they’re going to get back to where they have a chance to win an SEC title and contend, they’ve got to do it on the recruiting trail.”
Who’s coming?
Arkansas’ senior day game against an Auburn club teeming with connections to Arkansas has attracted a variety of fans to Fayetteville this weekend.
Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn said his parents, his wife Kristi’s parents and a lot of friends will be in attendance.
The Tigers have a large number of staff members, including assistants Tim Horton, J.B. Grimes, and Rhett Lashlee, and support staffers Kodi Burns and Wes Murphy who have strong Arkansas ties.
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema said five of his college buddies from Iowa will be in town, as well as a large group of loyal fans led by Dale Hackbart, a Wisconsin player who was on the same Minnesota Vikings team as Razorback great Jim Lindsey.
Receiver Javontee Herndon said his family is making a rare trip to Northwest Arkansas.
“They haven’t been up here in three years,” said Herndon, who is from Jacksonville, Fla.
4x100
Auburn, which leads the SEC with 315.4 rushing yards per game, has had four different 100-yard rushers this season, a first-time accomplishment for the Tigers.
The group is led by Tre Mason, who has three 100-yard games, including a season-high 178 yards in a victory at Texas A&M.
Cameron Artis-Payne has two 100-yard efforts, including 133 yards against Western Carolina.
Corey Grant rushed for 146 yards on nine attempts in the season opener against Washington State for his only 100-yard game. Quarterback Nick Marshall ran 14 times for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns in Auburn’s 30-22 victory over Ole Miss.
SATURDAY’S GAMES All times Central
Miss. State at South Carolina, 11:21 a.m.
Florida at Georgia, 2:30 p.m.
Auburn at Arkansas, 5 p.m.
Tennessee at Missouri, 6 p.m.
Alabama State at Kentucky, 6:30 p.m.
UTEP at Texas A&M, 8 p.m.
Sports, Pages 22 on 11/01/2013