No amount of planning could account for all this

FAYETTEVILLE -- It was a perfect game for the Deuce.
Odd to say the least, but that's what late kickoffs on ESPN2 should be.
A very late flag that aided and abetted an Alabama touchdown, a missed pass interference call against Alabama and three high snaps that cost Arkansas an extra point and accounted for a blocked punt and a blocked field goal attempt.
Yet with 11 minutes to play the Razorbacks trailed only 21-20.
But Cedric Cobbs was on the way to the hospital for X-rays of his shoulder.
He and teammate Fred Talley, who was there for X-rays on his hand, could watch the game there.
After each team had to punt, the Hogs were in business at their own 20 with 4:54 to play.
The swirling rain and the loss of Cobbs, whose 10-yard touchdown was because of sheer determination, should have left spirits as damp as poncholess students who helped make an all-new argument over which stadium is the loudest.
A Robby Hampton scramble to the 35 kept the hopes alive, but after a forced pass that fell incomplete and one for 3 yards, the Hogs' backs were against the wall.
A bomb to Boo Williams was close, but no cigar and it appeared the team that came in here as cornered animals, had escaped.
Factor in the officials.
On fourth down, another errant pass. But another mystery flag fell. A very late mystery flag.
But this one went Arkansas' way. Holding Alabama.
Alvin Ray for 5 yards, an incomplete bomb and then with everyone in Reynolds Razorback Stadium on their feet, Ray broke two tackles before being hauled down at the Alabama 14. A 32-yard gain.
A loss of 2 by Ray, a pass to Richard Smith for 7 and it was becoming clear why Bama fans are ready to change their fight song to the death march.
Alabama had a plan for the game. Run, run and run some more. And when that didn't work, run again.
Break it gently to the Tide faithful. This is not the Alabama football that was feared when Arkansas joined the SEC.
Bama was fearful and with 1:04 to play Hampton lofted a 9-yard scoring pass to Marcellus Poydras to demonstrate why. The two-point conversion to Williams made it 28-21 Arkansas.
Regardless of the outcome, Mike Irwin did the right thing.
The sports director for Channel 5 in Fort Smith came by Alabama's scouting report on Arkansas honestly and he couldn't, wouldn't, give it to the Razorbacks.
The report was found at the airport where some knucklehead Tide assistant had left it in a seat.
The man who found it gave it to Irwin to return to Alabama.
Irwin made no copies and didn't let anyone look at it until 45 minutes before kickoff and then only because yours truly kept begging.
The report, some handwritten notes, some typed, was about as useful as apparently the volume control was on the Hog Eye.
Richie Butler might outkick his coverage.
Not exactly a shocking revelation.
If you come real hard you might get a block.
How did these guys lose to Southern Miss with this type of well-researched information?
If the fullback slaps his hip and drops his hand to the right, it will be a 5-yard stop pass to the right. If he drops to the left, a 5-yard stop to the left. If he drops both hands to sides, 5-yard stops to both sides.
Hmmm, sounds good but then came the next sentence.
They will do fake signals.
Holy cow, no wonder these guys opened the season at No. 3 and fell off the radar screen faster than a flaming pigeon.
If the fullback talks to the tailback, it is a run.
Obviously, Bama didn't think the fullbacks were much more than blockheads.
Which was why on Arkansas' first drive, fullback Rod Stinson ran for 7 yards on one carry, and Adam Daily caught two passes for 24 yards, including a 10-yarder for the first touchdown.
Arkansas' third score -- when the critical extra point was muffed -- came after a 16-yard pass reception by Daily.
Maybe Mike DuBose and his staff wouldn't feel like every game is their last ever against that opponent if they would find a way to get Freddie Milons the ball.
The speedball with legs, who did more to beat Arkansas (and Florida in the SEC Championship Game) than any one individual, had one catch for 9 yards, and that came on the first play of the game.
Other than on special teams, his next touch came on a reverse in the third quarter, good for 13 yards.
That's why you lose games that were within reach. It is good to have a game plan, but not one that doesn't include Milons.
Join Wally and Marcus Elliott live at 6 p.m., 374-9255, Comcast Cable Channel 18.

This article was published on Sunday, September 24, 2000

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