Comeback Cliches Plentiful
Saban almost outsmarts self
Last updated Monday, September 17, 2007 12:55 PM CDT in Columns
By Harry King
THE MORNING NEWS
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - Alabama 41, Arkansas 38, begged for the cliche about a 60-minute game and Nick Saban quickly obliged.
It was wildly outrageous. No, it was more than that with emotional swings that were difficult to comprehend. And, it was so all-square that each team finished with 450 yards Ñ Arkansas on 78 plays, Alabama on 79.
If SabanÕs regime goes on to accomplish great things at Alabama, fans will recall the night that Alabama lost a 31-10 lead to Arkansas and then came back to win.
They will forget that their $4 million man might have outsmarted himself with a timeout and nobody will admit to booing his decision to kick a field goal at the 4-minute, 25-second mark. Of course, it was deliciously ironic that the 42-yard boot by Leigh Tiffin was the difference. He was the goat in Fayetteville a year ago with three missed field goals and one extra point.
In the end, Arkansas was done in by the same suspect secondary that put the Razorbacks in an early bind. Jamar Love just happened to be the defender that Matt Caddell beat for the game winner. Most everybody who was involved in the pass coverage was victimized, some of them more than once.
From the Arkansas standpoint, the shame of it is that the Alabama comeback Ñ 73 yards in nine plays and 2:05 Ñ will wipe away 20 frantic minutes of highlights. Time after time during the winning drive, Wilson was able to find a receiver in the middle of the field.
Until the Arkansas comeback, the biggest compliment for the Razorbacks was going to be a back-handed one about Jeremy DavisÕ snag of a short-hop snap and his punt with the notation that Javier Arenas returned the kick 58 yards.
Considering the Arkansas rally, there is reason to defend the RazorbacksÕ play calling. For starters, there was the fourth-quarter moment when the Razorbacks faced third-and-8 at the Alabama 24.
With Chris Baker split left, Robert Johnson to the right, Casey Dick under center and Darren McFadden behind him, who would you trust to make the play?
McFadden, of course.
Just prior to the play, Saban called a timeout. At the Alabama 24, the Razorbacks had lined up in a tight formation before Reggie Fish and Baker high-tailed it to the left. Maybe guessing that Arkansas was trying to run the tackle eligible, Saban raced down the sideline and got the timeout.
Later, Houston Nutt confirmed that Arkansas had called a trick play.
When play resumed, the formation was normal and Dick handed to McFadden who made the first down without a measurement.
He will make runs that are more scintillating, but that one was so important and three plays later, he scored from the 5 on the quarterback draw.
The next time Arkansas got the ball, it looked as if the Alabama defense was worn down from tackling McFadden.
Compliments for the RazorbacksÕ play selection late in the game should include the go-ahead touchdown pass that was caught by Peyton Hillis who does not qualify as a wide receiver.
I did not think Arkansas could beat Alabama without wide receiver Marcus Monk or a monstrous night by McFadden. Monk was back in Fayetteville and McFadden was more workmanlike than wow. The Razorbacks needed every one of his hard-earned 195 yards.
Early on, ArkansasÕ man-up secondary was turned every which way but loose by WilsonÕs receivers, particularly DJ Hall. McFadden was unable to break a big one because some of his blockers were in his lap. Dick missed Monk more than weÕll ever know. Once, he did find London Crawford running free across the middle and Crawford, inexplicably, dropped the ball.
For those who love historical trends, the victory bodes well for Alabama. During the previous eight years, Alabama and Arkansas are 4-4. Three of those times that Alabama won, the Crimson Tide went on to win 10. Three of those times that Alabama lost, the Crimson Tide finished below .500.
Fortunately for Arkansas, the trend is not as strong with the Razorbacks.
Harry King is a sports columnist for Stephens Media's Arkansas News Bureau. His e-mail address is hking@arkansasnews.com.
About this columnist
The dean of Arkansas sports writers, Harry King updates his column five days per week with the latest on the Razorbacks. A 35-year veteran of The Associated Press, King joined the Arkansas News Bureau in May of 2002. He's covered the Razorbacks since the Arkansas-Texas game dubbed the Big Shootout in 1969.
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sigpooie wrote on Sep 17, 2007 6:09 AM: