The Blog Hawgs

In advance of the Southwest Classic, we’re going to engage in a little email exchange leading up to the game.  Both schools are coming off hugely disappointing losses.  Both schools entered the year with BCS expectations and a legitimate hope of making a run to the BCS National Championship game.  It looks like the latter of those is off the table, but the winner of this game keeps its hope alive for playing in one of the biggest games of the football postseason.

We asked Ol’ Sarge ’98 about the 2011 Southwest Classic yesterday, and today it’s his turn to ask a few questions.  Here’s a link to Part I if you’re behind.

OS98 - How do you think the Arkansas defense stacks up against the Aggie offense?  What is the biggest concern when it comes to stopping the Aggies?  Will both of your starting DEs be out this game, or will they be able to go?

BK – The Aggies provide multiple looks and do several things well, but what scares me most is their ability to run the football.  Better said, I’m worried about their ability to run the football on Arkansas.  The Aggies haven’t gotten on track yet rushing the football, at least statistically, but the talent is clearly on hand for Mike Sherman.  If the Razorbacks were at full speed on the front line, I’d be less concerned.  Losing Tank Wright (out with a broken arm) weakens the thinnest position on the defense.  With Jake Bequette’s status still up in the air, Arkansas will have very little experience on the edge.  While the defensive tackle spots are strong, teams will attack the Razorbacks on the edge.  The Hogs failed to keep Alabama linemen off our linebackers, and the ends couldn’t stand up to the beating the Tide inflicted.  I think Arkansas handled itself reasonably well on defense given circumstances and time on the field, but a week to gameplan an attack on the edge worries me.

OS98 – What is the outsider’s overall view of the Aggie Football Program and Mike Sherman as a head coach?

BK – As an SEC school, it’s hard not to look down our noses at anyone from another conference.  During the Franchione Era at College Station, it was particularly easy to do so when talking about Texas A&M.  I thought Sherman was a very surprising hire, but on balance I’m impressed with what he has done.  The Aggies are relevant again, which is the first step towards annual contention.  Arkansas made that turn a couple years ago, and I see the Aggies catching up quickly.

For me I keep wondering why the Aggies aren’t better.  They have facilities and athletes in their back yard.  The fanbase is extraordinarily loyal, and the legacy from the early-to-mid ‘90s was that of a fierce defense and powerful rushing attack.  What happened after R.C. Sclocum left?  It’s as if the Aggies shut down the program for a few years.  It is mystifying to me that a school with that much tradition, money, and location cannot create a perennial winner.  Perhaps moving to the SEC will up the Aggie street cred, giving Sherman and his coaches some additional swagger while battling for high school athletes in the state of Texas.

OS98 – What is the overall reaction by most Hog fans to the SEC adding Texas A&M to their ranks?

BK – While I’d say the overall reaction has been positive-to-lukewarm, I for one do not like it from a competitive point of view.  I think it makes a ton of sense, I like the addition of another SWC expatriate, and it’s nice to have a true rival for Arkansas in the league.  But I think this move ultimately hurts the Arkansas program.

The Hogs have always found success recruiting Texas, telling those bluechip athletes that they’d get to play on the biggest football stage in America.  Texas and Texas A&M have a lot to offer, but neither play in the SEC.  Well, that weapon is gone from the arsenal.  The Aggies now have the chance to get first crack at Texas prep stars that want to play in the SEC.  This will do nothing but hurt Arkansas recruiting in Texas.

It’s overlooked, but this recruiting problem presents itself in basketball and baseball, too.  The Aggies have nationally competitive programs in both of those sports – more so than football lately – and go head-to-head with the Razorbacks on the recruiting trail there, too.  While far from a death blow, the addition of Texas A&M to the SEC makes the jobs of Bobby Petrino, Mike Anderson, and Dave Van Horn that much more difficult.  A great league just got a lot better – and more competitive both on and off the field.

Here’s a look at the 1986 matchup between #17 Arkansas and #7 Texas A&M.