Crimson Tide not taking Hogs lightly

BOB HOLT
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- When Arkansas joined the SEC, Alabama may not have noticed much difference between the Razorbacks and Vanderbilt, which the Crimson Tide has beaten 16 consecutive years.
Alabama welcomed Arkansas to its new conference by outscoring the Razorbacks a combined 81-14 in 1992 and 1993.
But since then, a rivalry has begun to develop between the SEC's flagship program and the new kid on the block in the Western Division.
"We're not underestimating Arkansas at all," Alabama senior guard Griff Redmill said. "They've definitely got our attention."
The Razorbacks have gotten the Tide's attention by beating Alabama three times in the past five years, including 42-6 in 1998 at Fayetteville. Arkansas will try to make it 4 of 6 when the Tide rolls back into Fayetteville for Saturday night's game at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
While Alabama is 1-0 in SEC play with a 28-10 victory over Vanderbilt on Sept. 9, Redmill said Saturday night's game is a conference opener of another sort.
"This is our first real test in the SEC," Redmill said. "Vanderbilt plays us tough, but Arkansas is always our first real head-knocker, so to speak, in the conference.
"It's a test of how good we're going to be as far as conference play goes."
Alabama's 36-point loss at Arkansas two years ago was its most lopsided since losing 40-0 to Auburn in 1957, the year before Bear Bryant arrived to coach the Tide.
"That 1998 game definitely sticks in my mind because of the way we lost it," Alabama senior free safety Tony Dixon said. "We got whupped up and down the field. Maybe the younger guys don't remember that loss, but the old guys lived it and we want to redeem ourselves up there in Arkansas.
"It's our job is to instill in our younger players, 'Hey, this game is important and these Arkansas guys are coming to play, and if you don't prepare yourself the best you can this week, you're going to get embarrassed.' "
While the Arkansas game has become bigger to Alabama in recent years, the Razorbacks -- or any other team -- could never surpass the Tide's two greatest rivals, Auburn and Tennessee.
"With all due respect to Arkansas, when you ask 'Bama fans about their biggest games of the year, it's Auburn, then Tennessee, then everybody else in the SEC West," said Eli Gold, the Tide's longtime radio play-by-play announcer. "But, hey, there's no question Alabama is aware and respectful of Arkansas."
The Tide players have been made aware of the fact Arkansas is 14-0 in home games under third-year Coach Houston Nutt.
"That's a big challenge to our whole team, and we're looking forward to going there and playing hard and hopefully getting the win," Alabama junior wide receiver Freddie Milons said. "But we know it's an intimidating place.
"The things I really remember [from the 1998 game] are that sooey call and that big warthog they had on the sideline.
"He's bigger than the average pig. ... He really got my attention."
Like the Razorbacks have gotten the Tide's attention in what's become an annual SEC head-knocker.

This article was published on Wednesday, September 20, 2000

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