UA plays through the pain

Arkansas cornerback Carroll Washington walks off the field following a 45-32 loss to Georgia on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014 at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock.

FAYETTEVILLE -- The SEC losses have been closer this year for the Arkansas Razorbacks, but that hasn't made them any less agonizing.

"I mean, last year when we were losing, we weren't even competitive," tailback Jonathan Williams said. "But this year, it's more of a heartbreak. We really feel like we'll come out with the victory, but we don't. So it's definitely more of a heartbreak this year."

Arkansas (4-5, 0-5 SEC) has battled all five of its conference opponents on nearly even terms -- save the second half in the season-opener at Auburn and a 31-0 second-quarter blitz by Georgia. But the Hogs have nothing other five gut-punch losses against teams that were in the top 10 at the time of their game.

"It feels good to be competitive, but you know the end result is that we keep getting losses, and that's not a good feeling," Williams said.

Sophomore tight end Hunter Henry has played through 13 of the Razorbacks' 17 consecutive SEC losses since arriving in Fayetteville in time for the 2013 season.

"I mean, it definitely can wear on you after the game and it can wear on you the next day, but you have to have the mentality now to put it behind you," Henry said.

Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema, who has endured 13 of the SEC losses since taking over the Razorbacks, said he's been pleased with the way team has persevered.

"I'm amazed that they're playing as hard as they have with as many socks to the stomach as they've gotten," Bielema said.

The losing has tested Bielema's assistants, including first-year defensive backs coach Clay Jennings, who has been praised by Bielema for his teaching style and demeanor.

Jennings said everyone in the program is searching for the answers that will lead to an SEC victory.

"Is it one more call? Is it one more drill during the week? Is it another 15 minutes of film study? Is it providing a cut-up for them to watch on their own?" he said. "Not only are the kids searching for answers, but we are also as coaches to help them. The great thing about it is they believe. As long as they believe, we're going to be OK."

Offensive coordinator Jim Chaney said he thinks it's imperative for the coaches to remain positive with the players.

"I think this team understands what this conference is all about," Chaney said. "You've got about 24 hours to feel good or feel bad, and you've got to move on."

Quarterback Brandon Allen was asked how the Razorbacks have managed to come back game after game and stay competitive during the losing stretch.

"I think it's just the fact that we know we can beat any team any given week," Allen said. "It just hasn't fallen our way. We've made too many mistakes to win games. But we know we're right there. It's just going to take every single one of us putting it together for one game.

"Once we get that game, I think we'll continue to roll. We've just got to understand that the little things we're doing to lose the games need to be cleaned up to win."

Bielema said he's confident in the management of the team's psyche through the rough streak.

"I think if your team wasn't being managed very, very well, you would not see the results that you're seeing," he said. "You would see teams that just get handed one-sided losses very, very routinely.

"These guys never quit. I think they've shown that all year long. It's not an option in our program. I think last year there were times when things got a little lopsided, I just don't think we had the right dogs in the fight. We didn't have guys that physically could answer some of the things we were asking them to do."

This year, it's been different.

"I just kind of said to our guys in there ... 'Listen, we've got the personnel. We want better depth and everything else, but the things that are costing us right now are some mental miscues.' Whether it's one a game or two a game ... those are the things that prohibit you from winning against good competition in close games."

Bielema stood beside Trey Flowers as the senior defensive end sobbed after last week's near-miss in Starkville, Miss., against No. 1 Mississippi State, and the coach said he determined to push the right buttons in the Hogs' final three games, starting Saturday against LSU.

"Nobody will attack these last three games ... harder than the Arkansas Razorbacks," Bielema said.

Henry said there is no doubt the Razorbacks will make Bielema proud.

"I think we see how close we are," Henry said, "and we just have to get over that hump and finish a game or something like that. That would be huge for us."

Sports on 11/09/2014