Hogs clearly enjoy rolling in the slop

The weather outside was frightful, but the Razorbacks considered it delightful.
In the cold, rainy, miserable conditions at Scott Field in Starkville, Miss., Arkansas snapped a four-game losing streak and won their first SEC road game in more than two years.
Temperature at game time was 37 degrees. The wind-chill factor was a blustery 28.
"I think we really got into it," Arkansas quarterback Robby Hampton, who did not play until the third quarter of the Razorbacks' 17-10 overtime victory over Mississippi State. "It was a fun atmosphere. The fans were hostile, which makes it even more fun. The conditions, you don't get to play too many games like that."
It was the second game this season Arkansas played in not-so-perfect weather. The Razorbacks won the other one, Sept. 23 against Alabama, in a downpour.
A steady rain, mixed with some sleet and snow, fell for most of Saturday's contest.
"This is great weather for us," said freshman running back Brandon Holmes, who scored both of Arkansas' touchdowns. "When we played Alabama, we beat Alabama in the pouring-down rain. We play great in adverse weather."
If this trend continues, the Hogs may wish for more rain on Friday when they play LSU in the regular-season finale.
"This is old-school football weather," junior right guard Kenny Sandlin said. "Rain, sleet, mud, not being able to pass the ball. I'm sure Boo [Williams] and them will hate me for saying this, but that's the kind of football I love. Where you're just running the ball and where it's just mano a mano, see who's the better man. You stop me and I'll stop you. It's a lot of fun."

SNOUTING OFF
WHO LET THE 'DAWGS OUT?
The Baha Men's song is quite popular in Starkville, Miss. "Who Let the Dogs Out?" was played no fewer than eight times during Saturday's game, but not once after the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter.
"We're used to hearing that," Hogs offensive guard Kenny Sandlin said. "It's a popular song, so you knew we'd hear it a lot. I'll tell you, the cowbells got on my nerves more than that song."
"Actually we really weren't thinking about it," freshman running back Brandon Holmes said. "We turned it around, because we turned it around. 'Who let them Hogs out?' We came out with the win today."

WHO LET THE FLAGS OUT?
There were 19 combined penalties called on Arkansas and Mississippi State on Saturday for a combined 191 yards.

RUN, RUN, RUN
During the overtime, Brandon Holmes ran five consecutive times, with receivers coach Fitz Hill his biggest cheerleader, yelling "Run the ball, run the ball, run the ball."
Hill said: "When the receivers coaches say that, you better believe they need to run the ball."

NOT MUCH BOO
Boo Williams, Arkansas' leading receiver for the season, was stopped for most of Saturday's game, and Mississippi State senior cornerback Fred Smoot was quick to take credit for it.
"Williams likes to play physical," said Smoot, who made one of three Mississippi State interceptions and was involved in seven tackles. "And he likes to talk, too. When you talk the talk, somebody's got to walk, too. That didn't bother me. Boo Williams didn't do too much. He wasn't a threat to me."
Williams was held without a reception in the first half and finished with two catches for 24 yards.

HAIL TO THE CHIEF
Former President Bush was in attendance for Saturday's game at Scott Field. He was there for a halftime tribute to former Mississippi Rep. G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery, a 1943 Mississippi State graduate who was the chief architect of a peacetime GI education bill that his legislative colleagues named in his honor.
It was Bush's second visit to Scott Field. He was the commencement speaker in May 1989.
It was not known if Mississippi State asked for a recount after Saturday's game.

INJURY UPDATE
Fred Talley suffered a right knee injury and will undergo an MRI today.
Talley, who carried a streak of three consecutive 100-yard rushing efforts into Saturday's game, finished with 91 yards on 25 carries. He was injured with 12:30 left in the fourth quarter after a 9-yard run, his longest of the afternoon.
Talley was carted to the Arkansas dressing room a few minutes later.
Arkansas' longest carry of the afternoon was a 13-yarder by Brandon Holmes with 8:10 left in regulation.

THE GOOD
PUNTING Arkansas sophomore Richie Butler got a workout Saturday, punting seven times for a 43.0-yard average. Two of his punts were downed inside the Mississippi State 10, one at the MSU 1. Butler came into game averaging 44.4 yards per punt. Mississippi State punter Prentiss Cole punted nine times for an average of 37.8 yards.

THE BAD
OFFENSE Mississippi State was held to 206 yards, with 44 coming on one play. Dicenzo Miller's 44-yard reception to the Arkansas 25 set the Bulldogs on the Arkansas 25 with 44 seconds remaining. Arkansas' first four possessions were three and out. Adam Daily's 13-yard reception with 14:08 left in the second quarter gave the Razorbacks their first first down.

THE UGLY
FLAGS Of Arkansas' 10 penalties, five of them were personal fouls. Two came on Mississippi State's opening drive and led to Scott Westerfield's 34-yard field goal. Two more came on MSU's final drive of regulation and set the Bulldogs on the Arkansas 5 with :04 remaining. Westerfield's final attempt, however, was blocked.

This article was published on Sunday, November 19, 2000

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