FAYETTEVILLE -- Offensive in so many ways, former Arkansas Razorbacks football coach Bobby Petrino would likely be surprised by how this Arkansas senior class -- with his recruiting stamp still on it -- goes into today's home final more known for its defense than its offense.
Twenty Arkansas seniors will be introduced today before playing Ole Miss in their final game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Along with offensive tackle Brey Cook, defensive end Trey Flowers, safety Alan Turner and linebacker Braylon Mitchell are among the seniors that Coach Bret Bielema mentions most as team leaders. All were signed by Petrino.
NFL scouts also mention Flowers and linebacker Martrell Spaight, a second-year junior college transfer who was signed by Bielema. Both have been invited to the Senior Bowl, the all-star game in Mobile, Ala., that the NFL scouts more than any other.
Bielema has an appreciation for the resilience of the entire senior class. They endured much, including a 17-game SEC losing streak and heartbreakingly close losses this season to Alabama, Mississippi State and Texas A&M -- all of which were ranked among The Associated Press' top 10 at the time they played the Razorbacks. Arkansas ended its SEC skid last Saturday with a 17-0 victory over LSU.
"Seniors always graduate. Their legacy never does," Bielema said. "It doesn't happen by chance these guys are playing the way they are. They're doing it because they've handled their business."
NOT LIKE OLD TIMES
Lance Harter has led Arkansas' women's track/cross country teams since 1990 and has coached three NCAA runner-up cross country teams during that time, but he says his fourth-ranked Razorbacks -- who compete today at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind. -- "would whip those teams."
No disrespect, Harter said, to the great times that Arkansas enjoyed while winning 15 SEC championships with the likes of Amy Yoder, Deena Drossin, Tracy Robertson and Jessica Koch.
But their college times don't stand up to the elite college times of today, Harter said.
"We had Amy and Jessica that could run sub 16:00 in the 5K, and they were top five in the nation in cross country," Harter said. "Now we have four running those times and they are struggling to stay in the top 25.
"The women's side has just gone nuts. People say, 'Did you think 20 years ago women would be running this fast?' No. Deena Drossin as a freshman got invited to the Olympic Trials and ran 16:35. She couldn't make our team with that now."
Arkansas' SEC champion women are among a half-dozen teams with a chance to upset No. 1 Michigan State today, Harter said, adding that Arkansas Dominique Scott. the SEC champion, is among a dozen who could win the individual title today.
Coach Chris Bucknam's SEC champion men's team will shoot for a top 20 team finish today.
Arkansas senior Stanley Kebenei, the SEC champion and a cross country All-American in 2013, also has a shot to win the men's individual title, although defending champion Edward Cheserek of Oregon is heavily favored to repeat.
Sports on 11/22/2014