2001 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
Encyclopedia
The 2001 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas
in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season
. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
in Fayetteville, Arkansas
and two home games at War Memorial Stadium
in Little Rock, Arkansas
. The Razorbacks reached the 2001 Cotton Bowl Classic in Houston Nutt
's fourth season as head coach.
Source: Arkansas Football History, Honors, and Lettermen
. Running back
Cedric Cobbs
ran in from one yard away to give the Hogs a 14–10 win. Arkansas had only 114 total yards, 49 of those coming on the final scoring drive, as Cobbs had 29 yards on 13 carries. Four Razorback QBs
played. Lawrence Richardson returned an interception for a touchdown for the other Razorback touchdown.
, the Razorbacks had a 3–0 lead until the fourth quarter, when Tennessee roared back for 13 points and the win. Cedric Cobbs
broke the thousand yard milestone with a forty yard dash, setting up the only Razorback points of the contest, a 24-yard Brennan O'Donohoe field goal. The Hogs would gain −3 yards offensively from that point, and Tennessee would not score until a 33-yard field goal with 9:44 to play. An Arkansas punt and seven Volunteer plays later produced another field goal, giving Tennessee a 6–3 lead. Travis Stephens of Tennessee would later spin in from three yards out, producing the first and final touchdown in the final minute. Freshman Stevens would have 206 yards, leading #8 Tennessee to a win.
Ryan Sorahan, who had to leave the game due to a back injury, was 14 of 19 for 139 yards. Zak Clark and later Tarvaris Jackson
(who would later transfer to Alabama A&M
and later play for the Minnesota Vikings
) would spell him.
David Greene finished two yards short of 300 and RB
Musa Smith
finished five yards shy of 100 as Georgia handed Arkansas its third straight SEC loss. Back-up Hog QB Zak Clark started the game between the Hedges
for the injured Sorahan, and RB Brandon Holmes left the game after spraining his left shoulder.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a 2 yard Verron Hayes run, countered by the Hogs with a Holmes TD run. The SEC foes then swapped field goals, before Greene hooked up with Terrence Edwards
for a seven-yard TD strike. After another field goal by each squad, Georgia took a 20–13 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Razorback Marvin Jackson returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown, the first since 1992, but Georgia's Musa Smith responded by diving two yards for a score. After a third Razorback field goal by O'Donohoe, the Dogs put the game away with a four TD pass from Greene.
then electrified the homecoming crowd with a 59-yard touchdown run to cap the Arkansas scoring at 42–13. Weber State would add another score with less than a minute remaining, but Arkansas would take a 42–19 final.
, giving the Hogs their first SEC win. Carlos Hall blocked a game-tying field goal attempt with less than a minute to play to preserve the victory.
Neither team penetrated the endzone in the first half, with the only scoring being a first quarter Brennan O'Donohoe field goal for the Razorbacks. Coming out of halftime, the Gamecocks used a reverse on a kick return to start their lone scoring drive. Back-up QB Corey Jenkins would finish the drive with a 41 yard scramble into the endzone. Arkansas responded on the next possession with a Zak Clark to Richard Smith 10-yard TD pass, giving the Razorbacks a 10–7 lead. With 6:23 left to play, the Gamecocks drove and set up a game-tying field goal.
South Carolina Kicker Daniel Weaver kicked the ball, and Razorback Carlos Hall leapt and deflected the kick with both hands, giving the Gamecocks their first loss and the Hogs the 10–7 win.
With the win, the Razorbacks moved to 11–0 in Little Rock under Nutt.
scored two touchdowns, including a passing TD on his first collegiate pass, as Arkansas defeated Auburn 42–17. Arkansas took advantage of Auburn miscues, including eleven penalties and three turnovers. Tony Bua
intercepted a pass with thirty seconds before halftime, which resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass as the half came to a close. Jermaine Petty capped the Arkansas scoring with an 88-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
. Razorback fullback Mark Pierce ran in from one yard away to take a 17–10 Arkansas lead in the fourth quarter, but Eli Manning connected with Jamie Armstead to send the game into overtime.
Razorback RB Cedric Cobbs
scored from 16 yards out to start the overtime scoring. Eli Manning responded with an 11 yard touchdown pass, sending the game to a second overtime, in which neither team would score. Matt Jones
scrambled all 25 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, but the two point run failed. Ole Miss drove to the one yard line, where Joe Gunn ran in. Given a chance to end the game by completing the two point conversion, Eli Manning
threw the ball, but it was incomplete, sending the game to its fourth extra frame. Rebel receiver Bill Flowers hauled in a 21 yard pass from Manning to take the lead, 30–24. After the Rebels failed the two point pass, Jones threw a 24-yard TD pass to George Wilson. The Hogs would fail the two point run, extending the game to a fifth overtime. Jones again scored for the Razorbacks, an 8-yard rush, but failed the two point conversion. Manning hit his tight end
Doug Zeigler from twelve yards out, and failed the two point pass. In the sixth overtime, Zeigler again caught a Manning aerial, and Ole Miss connected on the two point conversion with a Charles Stackhouse
rush, taking a 50–42 lead. Razorback Pierce ran in from two yards out, and Arkansas completed the tying two point conversion on a Jones pass. The game would go to a seventh overtime.
Mark Pierce again ran in for a two-yard touchdown (his third two-yard score of the game), and Decori Birmingham would receive the two point pass from Jones, making it a 58–50 Hog lead. Manning would throw his sixth touchdown pass, but the two point pass to Doug Ziegler was stopped by Jermaine Petty, giving Arkansas a 58–56 win over rival
Ole Miss.
The two teams combined for 60 first downs, 130 rushing attempts (80 from the Razorbacks), 68 pass attempts, and 198 total offensive plays, while limiting mistakes, including two fumbles, eight penalties, and one sack.
The win moved Arkansas to 5–3 on the year and 3–0 in overtime. Arkansas would play another seven-overtime game, in 2003.
ran for 198 yards, including an 81 yard touchdown, as Arkansas fought off a late rally to beat UCF, 27–20. The Knights scored on a 52-yard pass with three minutes to play, but fell short on their final drive. Arkansas QB Zak Clark completed nine of fourteen passes, and Arkansas improved to 6–3 on the year.
ran in from fifteen yards out with 47 seconds on the clock to beat the Bulldogs of Mississippi State
, 24–21. Cobbs scored three total TD's, Jones
rushed for 131 yards, and Arkansas moved to 4–3 in conference play and 7–3 overall.
Cobbs started off the scoring with a 5-yard rushing TD in the first quarter, giving Arkansas an early 7–0 lead. Josh Morgan of Mississippi State scooped up a fumble and scored in the second quarter, tying the game at 7–7. In the third quarter Hog kicker Brennan O'Donohoe kicked a 19 yard field goal, followed by a Cobbs TD run, producing a 17–7 Razorback edge. Bulldog QB Kevin Fant completed a 21-yard pass, followed three minutes later by a 25 yard TD run from the Bulldogs, giving them a 21–17 lead. Cobbs would run in for the go-ahead score, but Mississippi State drove to the Arkansas 48 before Fant was intercepted, sealing the Razorback win.
ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns, with quarterback Rohan Davey
throwing for 359 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions.
LSU started things off in Baton Rouge
with a 62-yard LaBrandon Toefield touchdown run. Arkansas responded with a Matt Jones three yard touchdown scamper and two field goals. Toefield struck again, this time from nine yards out. Matt Jones hooked up with Richard Smith for a Razorback touchdown, giving a 19–14 Hog lead. Tiger Rohan Davey completed a 20-yard pass to close out the first half scoring, giving the Tigers a 20–19 lead at half. Davey hit Michael Clayton for a 60-yard touchdown, but the Hogs responded with a 61-yard Matt Jones TD pass to Sparky Hamilton. Davey and Toefield would add another score each. Arkansas, down 41–25, began to rally. Hog QB Zak Clark threw two touchdown passes, but the Hogs fell three points short, 41–38.
in Bedlam
. Arkansas QBs were sacked nine times by Oklahoma, setting a school record and tying a Cotton Bowl Classic record. Arkansas could manage only 50 yards of total offense, and one Brennan O'Donohoe field goal. Oklahoma QB Nate Hybl
ran in from one yard out for the only touchdown of the game. Sooner Rocky Calmus
, the Butkus Award
winner and Nagurski
, Bednarik
, and Lombardi
finalist had nine tackles and a fumble recovery in the effort.
Razorback coach Houston Nutt
said, "[The Oklahoma defense is] the best I've seen in 15 years."
University of Arkansas
The University of Arkansas is a public, co-educational, land-grant, space-grant, research university. It is classified by the Carnegie Foundation as a research university with very high research activity. It is the flagship campus of the University of Arkansas System and is located in...
in the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season
2001 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season ended with the University of Miami winning the national title for the fifth time.The Hurricanes were led by Larry Coker, who was in his first year as head coach after five years as Miami's offensive coordinator under Butch Davis...
. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is an American football stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and serves as the home field of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team since its opening in 1938. The stadium was formerly known as Razorback Stadium since 1941 before being renamed in 2001...
in Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Fayetteville is the county seat of Washington County, and the third largest city in Arkansas. The city is centrally located within the county and is home to the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville is also deep in the Boston Mountains, a subset of The Ozarks...
and two home games at War Memorial Stadium
War Memorial Stadium (Arkansas)
War Memorial Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Little Rock, Arkansas. The stadium is primarily used for American football and is the home stadium for the Arkansas Baptist Buffaloes, Catholic High School Rockets, and the secondary home stadium for the University of Arkansas Razorbacks...
in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. The Razorbacks reached the 2001 Cotton Bowl Classic in Houston Nutt
Houston Nutt
Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas...
's fourth season as head coach.
Schedule
Source: 2001 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Schedule/ResultsAll SEC Teams
- Jermaine Petty (LB, Sr.)1st Team All-SEC Defense (AP)
- Shawn AndrewsShawn Andrews-Philadelphia Eagles:Andrews was chosen by the Philadelphia Eagles as the 16th overall pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, after trading up with the San Francisco 49ers. The day after selecting Andrews, the Eagles traded John Welbourn to the Kansas City Chiefs, officially making Andrews the team's starting...
(OT, Fr.) 2nd Team All-SEC Offense (AP) - Kenny Sandlin (C, Sr.) 2nd Team All-SEC Offense (AP)
- Fred TalleyFred TalleyFred Talley is an American football running back. He played collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1999-2002.-College:...
(RB, Jr.) 2nd Team All-SEC Offense (Coaches') - Ken HamlinKen HamlinKen Hamlin an American football safety, who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arkansas....
(FS, So.) 1st Team All-SEC Defense (AP) - Carlos HallCarlos HallCarlos DeShaun Hall is an American football defensive end who is currently a free agent. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the seventh round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
(DE, Sr.) 2nd Team All-SEC Defense (AP) - Tony BuaTony BuaTony Bua is an American football player for Team Arkansas of the All American Football League. Formerly of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and also of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League...
(OLB, So.) 2nd Team All-SEC Defense (AP)
Defense
- Jermaine Petty (LB, Sr.) AAFC, AFCA 1st
Source: Arkansas Football History, Honors, and Lettermen
UNLV
With 18 seconds to play, the Razorbacks grabbed their first win of the year from the UNLV RebelsUNLV Rebels
The University of Nevada, Las Vegas' sports teams are called the Rebels. The Rebels participate in NCAA Division I and in the Mountain West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The school's colors are Scarlet and Grey. The Rebels' main rival is the Wolf Pack of the University...
. Running back
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs is an American football running back for the Arkansas Twisters of the af2.-NFL career:...
ran in from one yard away to give the Hogs a 14–10 win. Arkansas had only 114 total yards, 49 of those coming on the final scoring drive, as Cobbs had 29 yards on 13 carries. Four Razorback QBs
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
played. Lawrence Richardson returned an interception for a touchdown for the other Razorback touchdown.
Tennessee
In a game delayed twice due to lightning, in front of a record crowd in the newly expanded Donald W. Reynolds Razorback StadiumDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium is an American football stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas and serves as the home field of the University of Arkansas Razorbacks football team since its opening in 1938. The stadium was formerly known as Razorback Stadium since 1941 before being renamed in 2001...
, the Razorbacks had a 3–0 lead until the fourth quarter, when Tennessee roared back for 13 points and the win. Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs is an American football running back for the Arkansas Twisters of the af2.-NFL career:...
broke the thousand yard milestone with a forty yard dash, setting up the only Razorback points of the contest, a 24-yard Brennan O'Donohoe field goal. The Hogs would gain −3 yards offensively from that point, and Tennessee would not score until a 33-yard field goal with 9:44 to play. An Arkansas punt and seven Volunteer plays later produced another field goal, giving Tennessee a 6–3 lead. Travis Stephens of Tennessee would later spin in from three yards out, producing the first and final touchdown in the final minute. Freshman Stevens would have 206 yards, leading #8 Tennessee to a win.
Alabama
Alabama scored 21 points from three Arkansas miscues, and defeated the Razorbacks 31–10. A 42-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown by Tide defender Reggie Myles, coupled with a Thurman Ward interception returned for a 60-yard touchdown gave the Tide a win despite being outgained (315–249) and losing the time-of-possession battle (35:28–24:32).Ryan Sorahan, who had to leave the game due to a back injury, was 14 of 19 for 139 yards. Zak Clark and later Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris Jackson
Tarvaris DeAndre Jackson is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Seattle Seahawks. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
(who would later transfer to Alabama A&M
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University
Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University, also known as Alabama A&M University or AAMU, is a public, historically black university, Land-grant university located in Normal, Madison County, Alabama....
and later play for the Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings are a professional American football team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Vikings joined the National Football League as an expansion team in 1960...
) would spell him.
Georgia
Georgia QBQuarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
David Greene finished two yards short of 300 and RB
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
Musa Smith
Musa Smith
-Baltimore Ravens:Smith was drafted with the 13th pick of the third round in the 2003 NFL Draft. He played sparingly for much of 2003 and 2004. However, during a Week 11 game with the Dallas Cowboys in 2004, Smith suffered a compound fracture of his right tibia while being horse-collar tackled...
finished five yards shy of 100 as Georgia handed Arkansas its third straight SEC loss. Back-up Hog QB Zak Clark started the game between the Hedges
Sanford Stadium
Sanford Stadium is the on-campus playing venue for football at the University of Georgia in Athens, Georgia, United States. The 92,746-seat stadium is the seventh largest stadium in the NCAA. Architecturally, the stadium is known for the fact that its numerous expansions over the years have been...
for the injured Sorahan, and RB Brandon Holmes left the game after spraining his left shoulder.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a 2 yard Verron Hayes run, countered by the Hogs with a Holmes TD run. The SEC foes then swapped field goals, before Greene hooked up with Terrence Edwards
Terrence Edwards
Terrence Edwards is a Canadian football wide receiver who currently plays for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was originally signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2003...
for a seven-yard TD strike. After another field goal by each squad, Georgia took a 20–13 halftime lead. In the third quarter, Razorback Marvin Jackson returned a punt 74 yards for a touchdown, the first since 1992, but Georgia's Musa Smith responded by diving two yards for a score. After a third Razorback field goal by O'Donohoe, the Dogs put the game away with a four TD pass from Greene.
Weber St.
Lawrence Richardson returned the game's opening kickoff 98 yards for a touchdown, and the Hogs never looked back in their 42–19 win against the Wildcats of Weber State. Razorback running back Brandon Holmes added another score from one yard out to make it a 14–0 Hog lead. In the second quarter, George Wilson hauled in a 33 yard strike to push the lead to 21–0. To open the second half scoring, Hog RB Fred Talley sprinted 35 yards to the end zone, and after a Weber State score, Razorback Decori Birmingham added a ten yard touchdown scamper, making the score 35–7. The Wildcats connected on a 17-yard TD pass, but missed the extra point, making it a 35–13 Arkansas lead. Matt JonesMatt Jones (American football)
Matthew Jones is a former American football wide receiver . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and retired officially in November 2010. He played college football at Arkansas....
then electrified the homecoming crowd with a 59-yard touchdown run to cap the Arkansas scoring at 42–13. Weber State would add another score with less than a minute remaining, but Arkansas would take a 42–19 final.
South Carolina
Arkansas upset the ninth-ranked Gamecocks in Little RockLittle Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
, giving the Hogs their first SEC win. Carlos Hall blocked a game-tying field goal attempt with less than a minute to play to preserve the victory.
Neither team penetrated the endzone in the first half, with the only scoring being a first quarter Brennan O'Donohoe field goal for the Razorbacks. Coming out of halftime, the Gamecocks used a reverse on a kick return to start their lone scoring drive. Back-up QB Corey Jenkins would finish the drive with a 41 yard scramble into the endzone. Arkansas responded on the next possession with a Zak Clark to Richard Smith 10-yard TD pass, giving the Razorbacks a 10–7 lead. With 6:23 left to play, the Gamecocks drove and set up a game-tying field goal.
South Carolina Kicker Daniel Weaver kicked the ball, and Razorback Carlos Hall leapt and deflected the kick with both hands, giving the Gamecocks their first loss and the Hogs the 10–7 win.
With the win, the Razorbacks moved to 11–0 in Little Rock under Nutt.
Auburn
Freshman Matt JonesMatt Jones (American football)
Matthew Jones is a former American football wide receiver . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and retired officially in November 2010. He played college football at Arkansas....
scored two touchdowns, including a passing TD on his first collegiate pass, as Arkansas defeated Auburn 42–17. Arkansas took advantage of Auburn miscues, including eleven penalties and three turnovers. Tony Bua
Tony Bua
Tony Bua is an American football player for Team Arkansas of the All American Football League. Formerly of the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League and also of the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League...
intercepted a pass with thirty seconds before halftime, which resulted in a 16-yard touchdown pass as the half came to a close. Jermaine Petty capped the Arkansas scoring with an 88-yard interception returned for a touchdown.
Ole Miss
The marathon game featured 114 points, 988 offensive yards, four 100-yard rushers, and seven overtimes, with Arkansas prevailing 58–56. The game started slowly, however, with a 7–7 tie going into halftime. Arkansas completed a field goal attempt in the third quarter, giving the Hogs a 10–7 edge. A tying 32-yard field goal attempt was then set up by Eli ManningEli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
. Razorback fullback Mark Pierce ran in from one yard away to take a 17–10 Arkansas lead in the fourth quarter, but Eli Manning connected with Jamie Armstead to send the game into overtime.
Razorback RB Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs is an American football running back for the Arkansas Twisters of the af2.-NFL career:...
scored from 16 yards out to start the overtime scoring. Eli Manning responded with an 11 yard touchdown pass, sending the game to a second overtime, in which neither team would score. Matt Jones
Matt Jones (American football)
Matthew Jones is a former American football wide receiver . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and retired officially in November 2010. He played college football at Arkansas....
scrambled all 25 yards for the go-ahead touchdown, but the two point run failed. Ole Miss drove to the one yard line, where Joe Gunn ran in. Given a chance to end the game by completing the two point conversion, Eli Manning
Eli Manning
Eli Nelson Manning is an American football quarterback for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He is the younger brother of NFL quarterback Peyton Manning and the son of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning...
threw the ball, but it was incomplete, sending the game to its fourth extra frame. Rebel receiver Bill Flowers hauled in a 21 yard pass from Manning to take the lead, 30–24. After the Rebels failed the two point pass, Jones threw a 24-yard TD pass to George Wilson. The Hogs would fail the two point run, extending the game to a fifth overtime. Jones again scored for the Razorbacks, an 8-yard rush, but failed the two point conversion. Manning hit his tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Doug Zeigler from twelve yards out, and failed the two point pass. In the sixth overtime, Zeigler again caught a Manning aerial, and Ole Miss connected on the two point conversion with a Charles Stackhouse
Charles Stackhouse
Charles Stackhouse is a former professional American football player who played fullback for two seasons for the New York Giants and the Minnesota Vikings....
rush, taking a 50–42 lead. Razorback Pierce ran in from two yards out, and Arkansas completed the tying two point conversion on a Jones pass. The game would go to a seventh overtime.
Mark Pierce again ran in for a two-yard touchdown (his third two-yard score of the game), and Decori Birmingham would receive the two point pass from Jones, making it a 58–50 Hog lead. Manning would throw his sixth touchdown pass, but the two point pass to Doug Ziegler was stopped by Jermaine Petty, giving Arkansas a 58–56 win over rival
Arkansas-Ole Miss rivalry
The Arkansas–Ole Miss football rivalry is an American college football rivalry between the Arkansas Razorbacks football team of the University of Arkansas and the Ole Miss Rebels football team of the University of Mississippi...
Ole Miss.
The two teams combined for 60 first downs, 130 rushing attempts (80 from the Razorbacks), 68 pass attempts, and 198 total offensive plays, while limiting mistakes, including two fumbles, eight penalties, and one sack.
The win moved Arkansas to 5–3 on the year and 3–0 in overtime. Arkansas would play another seven-overtime game, in 2003.
UCF
Arkansas RB Fred TalleyFred Talley
Fred Talley is an American football running back. He played collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1999-2002.-College:...
ran for 198 yards, including an 81 yard touchdown, as Arkansas fought off a late rally to beat UCF, 27–20. The Knights scored on a 52-yard pass with three minutes to play, but fell short on their final drive. Arkansas QB Zak Clark completed nine of fourteen passes, and Arkansas improved to 6–3 on the year.
Mississippi St.
Arkansas' Cedric CobbsCedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs is an American football running back for the Arkansas Twisters of the af2.-NFL career:...
ran in from fifteen yards out with 47 seconds on the clock to beat the Bulldogs of Mississippi State
Mississippi State Bulldogs
The Mississippi State Bulldogs are the athletic teams of Mississippi State University. They participate in NCAA's Division I in the competitive 12-member Southeastern Conference under the mascot Bulldogs and the school colors of maroon and white...
, 24–21. Cobbs scored three total TD's, Jones
Matt Jones (American football)
Matthew Jones is a former American football wide receiver . He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft, and retired officially in November 2010. He played college football at Arkansas....
rushed for 131 yards, and Arkansas moved to 4–3 in conference play and 7–3 overall.
Cobbs started off the scoring with a 5-yard rushing TD in the first quarter, giving Arkansas an early 7–0 lead. Josh Morgan of Mississippi State scooped up a fumble and scored in the second quarter, tying the game at 7–7. In the third quarter Hog kicker Brennan O'Donohoe kicked a 19 yard field goal, followed by a Cobbs TD run, producing a 17–7 Razorback edge. Bulldog QB Kevin Fant completed a 21-yard pass, followed three minutes later by a 25 yard TD run from the Bulldogs, giving them a 21–17 lead. Cobbs would run in for the go-ahead score, but Mississippi State drove to the Arkansas 48 before Fant was intercepted, sealing the Razorback win.
LSU
LSU held off an Arkansas rally to end the Hogs six game win streak. LSU Running back LaBrandon ToefieldLaBrandon Toefield
LaBrandon Cordell Toefield is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
ran for 173 yards and three touchdowns, with quarterback Rohan Davey
Rohan Davey
Rohan St. Patrick Davey is a Jamaican-born American football quarterback who is currently a free agent.-High school years:...
throwing for 359 yards, three touchdowns, and four interceptions.
LSU started things off in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Baton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
with a 62-yard LaBrandon Toefield touchdown run. Arkansas responded with a Matt Jones three yard touchdown scamper and two field goals. Toefield struck again, this time from nine yards out. Matt Jones hooked up with Richard Smith for a Razorback touchdown, giving a 19–14 Hog lead. Tiger Rohan Davey completed a 20-yard pass to close out the first half scoring, giving the Tigers a 20–19 lead at half. Davey hit Michael Clayton for a 60-yard touchdown, but the Hogs responded with a 61-yard Matt Jones TD pass to Sparky Hamilton. Davey and Toefield would add another score each. Arkansas, down 41–25, began to rally. Hog QB Zak Clark threw two touchdown passes, but the Hogs fell three points short, 41–38.
Oklahoma (Cotton Bowl Classic)
The Razorbacks earned a berth in the Cotton Bowl Classic after a 7–4 regular season. They were slated to play the #10 Oklahoma Sooners, who had recently lost their National Championship hopes after a loss to Oklahoma StateOklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
in Bedlam
Bedlam Series
The Bedlam Series refers to the athletics rivalry between the University of Oklahoma Sooners and the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, of the Big 12 Conference...
. Arkansas QBs were sacked nine times by Oklahoma, setting a school record and tying a Cotton Bowl Classic record. Arkansas could manage only 50 yards of total offense, and one Brennan O'Donohoe field goal. Oklahoma QB Nate Hybl
Nate Hybl
Nate Hybl is a former NFL quarterback. In the NFL, he was part of the Cleveland Browns, and the Jacksonville Jaguars, Mostly working on the practice squads. During his time with the Browns, he was allocated for development in NFL Europe...
ran in from one yard out for the only touchdown of the game. Sooner Rocky Calmus
Rocky Calmus
Rocky Calmus is a retired American football linebacker who played for the Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts. He played college football at Oklahoma, where he won the 2001 Butkus Award as the nation's top college linebacker....
, the Butkus Award
Dick Butkus Award
The Butkus Award, instituted in 1985, is given annually to the top linebackers at the high school, collegiate and professional levels of football...
winner and Nagurski
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
The Bronko Nagurski Trophy has been awarded annually since 1993 to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the membership of the Football Writers Association of America to be the best defensively in the National Collegiate Athletic Association; the award is presented by the Charlotte...
, Bednarik
Chuck Bednarik Award
The Chuck Bednarik Award is presented annually to the defensive collegiate football player adjudged by the Maxwell Football Club to be the best in the United States...
, and Lombardi
Lombardi Award
The Rotary Lombardi Award is awarded annually to the best college football lineman or linebacker. The Lombardi Award program was approved by the Rotary Club in Houston in 1970 shortly after the death of Vince Lombardi. The committee outlined the criteria for eligibility for the award, which...
finalist had nine tackles and a fumble recovery in the effort.
Razorback coach Houston Nutt
Houston Nutt
Houston Dale Nutt, Jr. is an American football coach and former player. Most recently he was the head football coach at the University of Mississippi from 2008 to 2011. Previously, he served as the head coach at Murray State University , Boise State University , and the University of Arkansas...
said, "[The Oklahoma defense is] the best I've seen in 15 years."
Coaching staff
| 2001 Arkansas Razorbacks coaching staff | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head Coach
Offensive Coaches
Defensive Coaches
Administrative Staff
|
|||||||
Source: 2001 Arkansas Razorbacks Media Guide-Coaching Staff
Roster
Flankers
Centers
Guards
Offensive Tackles
Tight Ends
Fullbacks
Running Backs
|
Quarterbacks
Split Ends
Defensive Ends
Defensive Tackles
Nose Guards
Inside Linebackers
Outside Linebackers
|
Cornerbacks
Free Safeties
Strong Safeties
Punters
Kickers
Long Snappers
|
||
| Source: 2001 Roster | ||||