Sept. 29, 1999
One week after a loss to Alabama knocked it from the ranks of theunbeaten,Arkansas will try to rebound Saturday when it travels to Lexington to take onKentucky and its high-flying offense.
The 20th-ranked Razorbacks (2-1, 0-1 SEC) fell short in their attempt tomatch last season’s 3-0 start, losing 35-28 to Alabama last week.
Arkansas quarterback Clint Stoerner, playing despite a slightly separatedshoulder, was 24-for-52 for 316 yards and a touchdown and became the school’scareer passing leader.
But the Razorbacks were unable to take advantage of six Alabama turnoversand rushed for a mere 64 yards in the game.
“I probably didn’t give the run as much of a chance as I should have,”coach Houston Nutt said. “We asked our line to protect 50 times, and Alabamaonly got a couple of sacks.”
As a result, Nutt promised to change his game plan a bit this week.
“We need to have more balance. I believe the one that can run thefootballand stop the run will win the game.”
If that proves to be the case, the Razorbacks will have a very goodchanceto beat a Kentucky (2-2, 0-1) team that is renowned for its passing game. Lastweek, that “Air Raid” attack was quieted by Florida in a 38-10 Wildcats loss.
Coach Hal Mumme said his squad is still looking for a big-play threat toreplace the departed Craig Yeast, who is now in the NFL. Wide receiver QuentinMcCord was specifically mentioned as a player who needs to step up.
“To be a great receiver, you’ve got to make great catches,” McCordsaid ashis team began preparations for Saturday’s game. “I guess right now I’m just agood receiver.”
Mumme doesn’t feel that ‘good’ will be enough against an Arkansas defensethat has surrendered just 41 points in three games this season.
With veterans McCord and Garry Davis struggling, the coach will movefreshmen Brad Pyatt and Ernest Simms into the receiver rotation. McCord hasjust six catches for 119 yards and three TDs on the year, while Davis hascaught 16 passes for 197 yards with no scores.
The Wildcats will also need to improve on a running game that producedjusteight rushing yards in a 27-20 loss to the Razorbacks last year. In thatcontest, Madre Hill rushed for 106 yards on 23 carries while Tim Couchcompleted 47-of-67 passes for 499 yards with three TD passes.
