FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema doesn't need to be reminded the Razorbacks are the lone SEC West team not in this week's top 25 polls.
SEC West teams take up six of the top 17 spots in The Associated Press poll with No. 3 Alabama, No. 5 Auburn, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 10 Ole Miss, No. 14 Mississippi State and No. 17 LSU. All six teams are also in the top 18 in the coaches poll.
"I'm very well aware that we're the only team in the SEC West that's not ranked," Bielema said Monday. "I get that, and deservedly so. We haven't done anything to deserve that.
The Razorbacks -- who since losing 45-21 at Auburn have beaten Nicholls State 73-7, Texas Tech 49-28 and Northern Illinois 52-14 -- figure to join their division rivals in the national polls if they beat Texas A&M on Saturday in Arlington, Texas.
"We will earn what we get this Saturday by what we do this week," Bielema said.
Bielema said having six SEC West teams ranked doesn't surprise him.
"I think it's safe to say that it might blow someone's minds that aren't involved in it, but for those that see it on a daily basis, it isn't that amazing," Bielema said. "What's fun for me is that you really grow fond of that stuff."
Bielema said he's not a big rankings guy, but that it's "very disturbing" the Razorbacks aren't in the national polls.
Injury update
Bret Bielema said receiver Demetrius Wilson, linebackers Brooks Ellis and Randy Ramsey and safety Rohan Gaines should be ready to play against Texas A&M.
Wilson (ankle) didn't dress out against Northern Illinois, while Ellis (head), Ramsey (ankle) and Gaines (shoulder) came out during the game.
Bielema said he traded text messages with Ellis after the game and doesn't believe his injury is severe. Ellis took concussion tests Monday that are part of standard protocol. Bielema said he would probably withhold Ellis from contact in practice until Thursday as a precaution if he passes the tests.
Safety Davyon McKinney, who missed the first four games with a heel injury, may be ready to play this week, Bielema said. It's possible McKinney will require surgery, but Bielema said that would take six to eight weeks of recovery, so there's no reason to take that step yet considering McKinney has already redshirted.
SEC honor for Flowers
Arkansas senior end Trey Flowers was named SEC defensive lineman of the week by the conference office after he had nine tackles and forced a fumble -- which Darius Philon recovered for a touchdown -- against Northern Illinois. Flowers had two tackles for losses.
Hog tracking
Arkansas is receiving nine votes in this week's Associated Press poll. The Razorbacks were voted No. 23 by Josh Kendall of The State in Columbia, S.C., and No. 24 by Chadd Cripe of the The Idaho Statesman, Eric Hansen of The South Bend (Ind.) Tribune and Garland Gillen of WVUE-TV in New Orleans.
Congrats, Gus
Bret Bielema reached out to Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn after the Tigers won 20-14 at Kansas State last Thursday.
"I coached at Kansas State, so I appreciate how difficult that is," said Bielema, who was the Wildcats' co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2002-2003. "Some of you may faint, but I shot Gus a congrats text and just said 'Hey, I know how tough that place is -- congrats.' "
Stick it to 'em
Stickers with a forward facing Razorback are starting to appear on Arkansas players' helmets.
Bret Bielema said initially a player could earn a sticker through academic achievement and that now stickers are awarded -- after victories only -- for big plays such as scoring a touchdown or getting a sack or a pass breakup. Some players, including quarterback Brandon Allen, had stickers for academic achievement on their helmets for the season opener.
Offensive linemen and other players can earn stickers for blocking. All 11 players on the kickoff team got a sticker for Korliss Marshall's touchdown return against Northern Illinois on Saturday.
"Korliss did it, but it really wouldn't have happened without those 10 other guys," Bielema said.
Bielema said he had an idea of having a sticker design with a Razorback inside an outline of a player's home state, but that one "got kiboshed by a higher power and was let go."
Bielema said Athletic Director Jeff Long didn't want to have other states on the Razorbacks' helmets.
"There was a concern that people from Arkansas wouldn't want to see [other states]," Bielema said. "But let me know your opinion. We've always got next year. I was a marketing major and I'm always trying to think of things."
Smithey honored
The White County Razorback Club will host a re-naming ceremony and watch party for Arkansas' game on Saturday at the First Community Bank University Branch in Searcy at 1:30 p.m.
The club is being renamed for former Razorback Claude Smithey, who died after suffering an injury in a game in 1966. The admission charge of $10 is to help raise funds for the club's pledge to the Razorback Foundation.
Smithey's daughter, Kim Gower, will be presented with a plaque honoring the re-naming of the club to the Claude Smithey White Country Razorback Club.
Because seating is limited to about 50, RSVP to brian@brianmaddox.net to reserve a spot.
Unbeaten
Arkansas is 4-0 at AT&T Stadium, formerly Cowboys Stadium, in Arlington, Texas, with three victories over Texas A&M and a 29-16 victory over Kansas State in the 2012 Cotton Bowl after the 2011 season.
Arkansas plays Texas A&M at AT&T Stadium on Saturday.
The Razorbacks beat Texas A&M 47-19 in 2009, the first year of the stadium, 24-17 in 2010 and 42-38 in 2011, all before the Aggies joined the SEC in 2012.
Sports on 09/23/2014