FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas old-timers know what it means to play Texas again.
The current Razorbacks, who will take on Texas on Dec. 29 in the Texas Bowl in Houston, have never faced the Longhorns, but they're hearing how important the bowl game looms for Arkansas fans.
"We know how big it is for everyone, and the older guys, how big of a game it was for them," junior quarterback Brandon Allen said. "We want to honor them by playing our butts off and coming away with a win."
"I just recently learned about the hatred Arkansas has on Texas," senior defensive end Trey Flowers said. "Everybody really hates them. I bleed Arkansas red, so I guess I've got to hate them, too."
The Arkansas team captains -- Flowers and safety Alan Turner on defense, Allen and tackle Brey Cook on offense -- echoed the excitement of Coach Bret Bielema in having a chance to play Texas as they conducted media interviews Monday.
"I think we were all kind of pulling for it when it was on the table," said Allen, of Fayetteville. "I think it's huge. It just adds a little more fire to us and our bowl prep."
Turner said he was watching TV at home Sunday in the lengthy period between the announcement of the four-team playoff and the rest of the SEC's bowl berths.
"I saw a few predictions where we could play, and to be honest, of all the predictions, I was hoping this would be the one," Turner said. "I found out on Twitter. Somebody had tweeted it, and then I saw the official one, and I'm just happy to be playing Texas in Texas and for us to be part of the tradition. It's a big rivalry."
Arkansas first played Texas in 1894, the first season of football for Arkansas. They were Southwest Conference rivals until the Razorbacks left the SWC after the 1991 season. Texas leads the all-time series 56-21.
The Longhorns won the last meeting 52-10 in 2008 at Austin, Texas. The other previous postseason meeting came in the 2000 Cotton Bowl, which Arkansas won 27-6.
Cook, a native of Springdale, said he has heard about the Hogs-Horns rivalry a little longer than most of the other Razorbacks.
"We were scrolling through Twitter, trying to figure out where we were going, and once we heard we were going to play Texas, we kind of all freaked out," Cook said. "We were so excited, because we're all Arkansas guys, and to be able to play Texas in our final game is very cool."
Playing in a bowl game of any sort is cool for Arkansas, which rebounded from posting 4-8 and 3-9 seasons to qualify for the postseason at 6-6.
"The past two years have been a letdown not being in a bowl game and just watching the bowl games, so I think this team is really excited," Allen said.
Cook said Texas would be one of two schools he considers top rivals.
"I feel like between them and LSU, that's two teams that you're not really fond of," Cook said. "So it'll be a fun game."
The Razorbacks were scheduled to begin watching film on the Longhorns later Monday, then resume practicing on Wednesday.
Arkansas is slated to travel to Houston on Dec. 26 to finish up their practices for the game, which will kick off at NRG Stadium at 8 p.m.
"I saw a letter on Twitter that a fan sent me, but he was talking about the whole Razorback team," Flowers said. "Just the deep rivalry, the deep hatred for Texas, I just realize that and understand that this is a big-time game for Razorback country and all. So to go out and help lead this team to victory would be big for me."
Sports on 12/09/2014