Victory proving even more elusive than Talley

ROBERT TURBEVILLE
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

FAYETTEVILLE -- Fred Talley is playing more like an All-SEC running back than the Arkansas Razorbacks' backup tailback. But he still hasn't gotten the thing he's wanted most since becoming a starter -- a victory.
One week after rushing for 161 yards and a touchdown in a loss at Auburn, Talley ran for 214 yards and 2 touchdowns on 29 carries in Arkansas' 38-24 loss to Ole Miss.
"I feel good about that, but I'd trade it in any day for the win," Talley said.
His career-best rushing performance Saturday at Reynolds Razorback Stadium ranks fifth all-time on the Razorbacks' single-game rushing yardage list. His carries also were a career high.
It was the second career start for Talley, a 5-9, 190-pound sophomore who entered the season as Arkansas' No. 2 tailback, then broke his hand and missed the Georgia and Louisiana-Monroe games.
Thanks to Talley, the loss of highly touted tailback Cedric Cobbs to a season-ending shoulder injury doesn't seem all that big for Arkansas now.
Talley's 214 rushing yards were the most by a Razorback since Ike Forte rushed for 215 yards against Texas Tech in 1974. Dickey Morton holds the Arkansas record for rushing yards in a game with 271 on 28 carries against Baylor in 1973.
"He has a real tough-guy mentality," Razorbacks center Josh Melton said of Talley. "He's a little big man. You know he's going to give it all he's got."
Talley, the fourth tailback to start for Arkansas this season, scored on runs of 30 and 69 yards Saturday and wasn't touched by a defender on either run. He had an 80-yard touchdown run against Auburn.
His 30-yard touchdown run Saturday was the first score of the game, coming with 7:37 left in the first quarter. It was a simple run up the middle, but Talley bounced through the hole made by guard Kenny Sandlin and fullback Rod Stinson, then bounced outside again off a block from receiver Gerald Howard.
His second touchdown run was a draw play that pulled Arkansas within 38-17 with 5:44 left in the game.
"It was a great job by the offensive line getting me to the second level," Talley said. "When I get to the second level and it's 1-on-1, I'll win that battle most of the time."
Talley, who had 93 yards on 18 carries in the first half, was the focal point of the Ole Miss defense in the opening half. Arkansas started freshman Zak Clark at quarterback. The Rebels stacked the line in an attempt to stop the run and force the quarterback to beat them.
In the second half, the Rebels were, "playing a little more backup [concentrating on stopping the pass] because they got a big lead," Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said.
But Nutt wasn't taking anything away from Talley's performance.
"Fred Talley just gets better every week," Nutt said. "Very, very tough. You know how fast he is getting to the secondary. And you know that he can take it the distance."
Opposing defenses now know Talley can it take the distance, too, and they'll probably key on him for the rest of the season.
"I think I handle pressure pretty well, especially when the offensive line is blocking the way they are," Talley said. "They make the job a lot easier. I couldn't do anything without those guys.
"This is the second week in a row we've had the same starting offensive line. Those guys are jelling and working as a group.
"Now we've got to keep our heads up, come back next week with the same intensity we had in practice and just try to steal one in Tennessee."
Then Talley will have what he really wants.

This article was published on Sunday, November 5, 2000

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