FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' senior class was at its best during the football team's open week, when much of the state was expecting the Razorbacks to fall apart.
The Razorbacks were coming off a 56-3 loss at Auburn and were playing Florida -- who they were 0-9 against since joining the SEC -- the next game.
"I think that was a critical point in our season," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "We could have had our team splinter if the seniors weren't all in. Instead, we went the other way."
Enos said the seniors pulled the team together.
"They were saying, 'Hey, we're not going to let this thing get away from us. We're better than that,' " Enos said. "Obviously, you can't guarantee if you're going to win or lose, but you can certainly guarantee how hard you play and how tough you play, and I think those guys all set the tone for that."
The Razorbacks played plenty tough in pounding Florida 31-10.
"I think our senior leadership really displayed itself last week," defensive coordinator Robb Smith said. "Guys that are willing to go out and prepare and do things the right way regardless of what the situation is.
"I think they've really shown the way on that, and we're counting on them to do that the rest of the way."
Linebacker Brooks Ellis said the seniors weren't going to let the season slip away after the Auburn loss.
"The seniors had experienced rough losses like that before," Ellis said. "We came back and kept pushing forward to help the younger guys get through it and let them know things will get better."
Arkansas' 23 seniors -- including 16 on the depth chart and 12 listed as starters -- have their final home game tonight against LSU at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
"It feels like we just got in here yesterday," Ellis said. "It's going to be weird walking off that field for the last time.
"There are mixed emotions. Sad it's our last game in the stadium, but it's been a good four years that we went through together. I wouldn't want to be around any other group of guys."
Tailback Kody Walker is a sixth-year senior who earlier this season suffered a career-ending foot injury. He was a freshman on the Razorbacks' 2011 team that won the Cotton Bowl and finished 11-2 before Bobby Petrino was fired as coach the next spring because of off-the-field issues.
Arkansas' fifth-year seniors who signed expecting to play for Petrino endured a 4-8 record in 2012 under interim coach John L. Smith as true freshmen.
The Razorbacks finished 3-9 in Coach Bret Bielema's first season in 2013 before beating Texas and Kansas State in bowl games the next two seasons. Beating Florida made Arkansas (6-3) bowl eligible for a third consecutive year.
"It's been a roller coaster ride," said senior Dan Skipper, who has been a starting offensive lineman since his true freshman season in 2013. "A huge learning experience.
"Losing nine games our freshman year, that's a beast. Having the ability to grow from that I think is something that we've all used to fuel us this past couple of years.
"Now we've got the opportunity to keep building on the successes we've had with Coach B here."
The seniors will be honored before tonight's game, with each being introduced along with his family members.
Bielema, known for showing his emotions, is sure to shed plenty of tears.
"When I first took over, I got emotional in our first team meeting," Bielema said. "I didn't even know these guys. I think that when you're a man and you care enough to cry, it shows a side of you that you shouldn't be ashamed of.
"I don't want to be known as a Betty Boo-hoo, but on the same account, I don't find anything wrong with it if you feel emotional or strong about something to wear it on your sleeve."
Just thinking about tonight's ceremony has been tough for Bielema.
"We did the list three weeks ago on our seniors, just putting them in order, and I got emotional writing their names down," Bielema said. "My wife will give me a box of hankies and put them in my back pocket, and we'll start that senior introduction and give them all a hug and tell them how much they mean."
Defensive lineman Deatrich Wise said the seniors have endured a lot.
"I've seen the lows of the lows -- going 3-9 and with an 0-8 conference season my redshirt freshman year -- and I've seen us turn it around game after game, year after year," Wise said. "It's been very memorable."
The Razorbacks seniors are from nine states: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee and Texas.
"We come from all different backgrounds, all different walks of life, but we all have a high respect level for each other," Skipper said. "We're a close-knit group."
Sports on 11/12/2016