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Ex-Hog points out flirting with cheerleaders

Arkansas cornerback Ryan Pulley is shown during a game against Mississippi State on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018, in Starkville, Miss.

STARKVILLE, Miss. -- The problems for the University of Arkansas football team against Mississippi State started before kickoff Saturday, said D.J. Williams, a former All-America tight end for the Razorbacks.

Williams, who works for Little Rock TV station KARK-Channel 4, said he saw Arkansas defensive backs Ryan Pulley and Kamren Curl taking photos and talking with female members of Mississippi State's spirit squad before the Razorbacks went through warmups.

Arkansas Coach Chad Morris, asked in his postgame news conference about players socializing with cheerleaders, said it was unacceptable.

Razorbacks senior linebacker Dre Greenlaw said he wasn't aware of any teammates talking to cheerleaders.

"That's not something I would do," Greenlaw said. "I surely wasn't doing it.

"Some people have got different focuses. Obviously, you could see this game we weren't in the right mindset.

"I just hope everybody considers the seniors for this last game and goes out there and plays with their all, and gives it their all."

Chavis on sideline

Arkansas defensive coordinator John Chavis came down from the press box -- his preferred spot to call a game -- and was on the field for the second half.

"We made the decision for him to come down, more so than anything for ... them to see the urgency in his eyes and in his voice," Coach Chad Morris said.

Linebacker Dre Greenlaw said it was good to have Chavis on the sideline for the first time this season.

"He came out there because he felt like he wanted to be on the battlefield with us," Greenlaw said. "He felt like we could have given more than what we're giving.

"His presence definitely makes you want to go harder. I felt like his presence was needed on the field. By the time he got on the field, though, I think it was just a little too late."

Saturday marked the first time Chavis has been on the sideline for a game since last season when he was Texas A&M's defensive coordinator.

Kelley ill

Arkansas redshirt sophomore quarterback Cole Kelley didn't make the trip for the Mississippi State game because he was ill, according to UA officials.

Kelley started against Eastern Illinois and North Texas and had played off the bench in the other eight games before missing the trip to Mississippi State.

Skinner dies

Gerald Skinner, an All-Southwest Conference offensive lineman on Arkansas' 1975 SWC championship team, died unexpectedly, Harold Horton confirmed Saturday.

Horton -- a former Arkansas player, coach and administrator -- said Skinner died in his sleep Friday night when he was at deer hunting camp.

Skinner, who was 64, came to Arkansas from Malvern. He was a four-year letterman from 1973-76 and earned All-SWC honors in 1975 and 1976. He lived in Fort Smith.

After Skinner's senior season at Arkansas, he was a fourth-round NFL Draft pick (No. 109 overall) by the New England Patriots. He also played for the Green Bay Packers in 1978.

For starters

Junior defensive lineman Dorian Gerald made his first start and had a season-high eight tackles.

Gerald, a transfer from College of the Canyons in California, started at defensive end with McTelvin Agim moving to tackle in place of T.J. Smith.

Agim started the opener against Eastern Illinois at tackle, then moved outside and had started the last nine games at end.

Rankled

Arkansas lost to a nationally ranked team for the 11th consecutive time going back to 2016.

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 21 in the College Football Playoff poll, No. 23 in the USA Today coaches poll and No. 25 in The Associated Press poll.

Arkansas is 0-4 against ranked teams this season, including losses to No. 9 Auburn 34-3, No. 1 Alabama 65-31 and No. 7 LSU 24-17.

Auburn is not ranked in any current polls.

LSU began Arkansas' losing streak against ranked teams in 2016 when the No. 24 Tigers beat the No. 25 Razorbacks 38-10.

The Razorbacks closed the 2016 season with a 35-24 loss to No. 22 Virginia Tech in the Belk Bowl.

Last season, Arkansas went 0-5 against ranked teams, losing to No. 23 TCU 28-7, No. 1 Alabama 41-9, No. 21 Auburn 52-20, No. 24 LSU 33-10 and No. 16 Mississippi State 28-21.

The Razorbacks' last victory against a ranked team was 31-10 over No. 11 Florida on Nov. 5, 2016.

Bryant at game

Kelly Bryant, the former Clemson quarterback who will be eligible to play next season as a graduate transfer, attended his second Arkansas game Saturday.

This time Bryant was the guest of Mississippi State, which also hopes to add him to the roster.

Bryant, who was recruited to Clemson by Razorbacks Coach Chad Morris, visited Arkansas for the Razorbacks' 23-0 victory over Tulsa on Oct. 20.

Arkansas and Mississippi State are among four SEC schools recruiting Bryant, along with Auburn and Missouri. He also is considering North Carolina and Miami. Bryant has set his announcement date as Dec. 4, which is Morris' 50th birthday.

Whaley back

Junior running back Devwah Whaley played off the bench after missing the past three games while recovering from ankle surgery. Whaley had four carries for 16 yards.

Red on the road

With the Bulldogs wearing special silver uniforms -- or maybe they were gray? -- as a tribute to Mississippi State alumnus and World War II hero G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, the Razorbacks wore red jerseys along with white helmets and pants.

It was the second time the Razorbacks have worn that uniform this season, and third time since 2012.

Arkansas also wore white helmets, red jerseys and white pants in a 37-33 loss to Ole Miss in Little Rock on Oct. 13 and in a 35-26 loss to Rutgers in Fayetteville on Sept. 22, 2012.

Bulldogs bite

Mississippi State cut Arkansas' lead in the all-time series to 16-12-1.

The Bulldogs have dominated the Razorbacks recently with a 6-1 edge since 2012.

Since Arkansas joined the SEC for the 1992 season, the Razorbacks are 16-10-1 against Mississippi State, including 7-7 in Starkville.

Fun while it lasted

One of the loudest cheers at Davis Wade Stadium occurred because of something that happened 83 miles to the east in Tuscaloosa at Alabama's Bryant-Denny Stadium.

During a break in play, the giant video boards at each end of Davis Wade Stadium showed Jacob Godek hitting a 48-yard field goal for The Citadel on the final play of the first half to pull the Bulldogs into a 10-10 tie with Alabama.

The Mississippi State fans went nuts cheering and ringing their cowbells.

Alabama pulled away to beat The Citadel 50-17. The Crimson Tide shut out Mississippi State 24-0 last week in Tuscaloosa.

Sports on 11/18/2018