2002 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
Encyclopedia
The 2002 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas
in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
. The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
in Fayetteville, Arkansas
and three home games at War Memorial Stadium
in Little Rock, Arkansas
. The Razorbacks reached the 2002 SEC Championship Game
and the 2002 Music City Bowl
in Houston Nutt's
fifth season as head coach.
Source: 2002 SEC Football Awards
led a 94 yard scoring drive of his own, after three scoring drives by Matt Jones. Jackson would eventually transfer from Arkansas to Alabama A&M
after Matt Jones became the apparent starting quarterback. South Florida had eight consecutive wins, the second-longest win streak in the nation, coming in to this contest.
finished the Hogs, who tacked on an intentional safety to make the final 30–12.
Jones struggled throwing the ball, going just 7-of-18 for 111 yards with two interceptions. The loss was only the fourth home loss under Houston Nutt.
the year previous.
This was the longest game in NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) history. Arkansas' success in (especially multiple) overtime situations provoked Coach Houston Nutt into being quoted as saying at the beginning of the first overtime: "This is our game. We're ready." This overtime loss was the first for Arkansas in their football history.
The game began relatively low-scoring, with the Volunteers holding a 17–3 lead for the majority of the game. Tennessee leading rusher Cedric Houston
missed the game with a torn ligament
in his left thumb. Arkansas had injury problems of its own, and became one-dimensional with Cedric Cobbs
, the Hogs' starting running back
, missing much of the second half with a turf toe
injury. The Razorbacks got the ball with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter and scored two touchdowns in a span of 4½ minutes. The tying touchdown was a 92-yard touchdown pass to Richard Smith from Matt Jones
. Said Jones of that play after the game, "The coaches have told us never to quit, and we were down seven at our own 8, I kept thinking about that." This was at the time the longest offensive play in the history of Arkansas football, since surpassed by Broderick Green's 99-yard rush against Eastern Michigan in 2009.
Both teams swapped field goals for the first two periods. The third was scoreless, despite an opportunity for Arkansas to shut the door with a field goal attempt. Arkansas then scored on a Matt Jones run, but failed the two point conversion
, which is required versus an extra point in the third overtime or later. The Volunteers answered the call on their first play, a 25 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Tony Brown, but the Volunteers also failed the two, sending the game into a fifth extra period.
Tennessee's Jabari Davis then ran into the end zone, but fumbled the ball as he crossed the plane of the goal line, but teammate and backfield mate Troy Fleming
fell on the ball giving Rocky Top a six point lead. Quarterback
Casey Clausen
was then sacked on the two point try. De'Arrius Howard ran in for the Hogs, but an interception by Tennessee's Julian Battle
kept the game continuing to a sixth overtime.
David Carlton kicked a 47 yard field goal for Arkansas in the sixth overtime, but future NFL
All-Pro
tight end
Jason Witten
caught a touchdown pass from Casey Clausen, ending the game in dramatic fashion, 38–41.
rushed for 241 yards, 80 of those in one play, in a 38–17 upset of the Tigers at Auburn. 241 yards remains to this day the most given up by an Auburn defense to a single rusher. Talley was a pleasant surprise fill-in for injured starter Cedric Cobbs. Talley lead the Hogs in a 426 yards rushing effort as a team. Talley had only 123 yards in the first four games of the year. Fullback Mark Pierce also had a 44 yard run on a fourth-and-one, with Matt Jones adding a 70 yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter.
Auburn seemed the more likely one for a big day on the ground with highly-touted running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams
. A year previous Cadillac had his break-out game against Arkansas, moving him from third to first on the depth chart at the expense of the Razorbacks. Said Arkansas defensive tackle Jermaine Brooks on Williams, "We gave the Cadillac a flat tire" and, "we just got sick and tired of [hearing about Williams]. If you stop him, you stop Auburn."
Kentucky drove the opening kickoff 40 yards and kicker Taylor Begley hit on a 50 yard field goal. Arkansas had their field goal blocked on the ensuing possession, but fullback Mark Pierce later rumbled for a 34-yard score for the Razorbacks. An Arkansas field goal added to the lead to make it 10–3. Jared Lorenzen
threw a touchdown pass right before halftime, but the extra point was blocked by Pervis Osborne of Arkansas. Arkansas held a one point edge coming out of halftime when the Wildcats came out with a twenty point scoring flurry. First a Matt Jones interception gave the Wildcats good field position, setting up a Artose Pinner
TD run. Then, an 86-yard punt return by Derek Abney
gave Kentucky a 22–10 lead, following a missed extra point. Razorback De'Arrius Howard scored from one yard out, but Jared Lorenzen hit Aaron Boone on a screen pass that went 18 yards to paydirt. Arkansas had two red zone opportunities in the fourth quarter, but neither team could dent the scoreboard, and Kentucky won, 29–17.
QB Eli Manning
threw for 414 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The first points of the game came for the Rebels when Matt Jones was called for intentionally grounding in the end zone, which by rule is scored a safety. Ole Miss gained a 2–0 lead, but fumbled near the close of the first quarter, resulting in a Razorback field goal
. Lerinezo Robinson for the Hogs then returned a fumbled kickoff eight yards for a touchdown, giving Arkansas a 10–2 lead. Jonathan Nichols of Ole Miss then hit a 48-yard field, but a Jimmy Beasley interception of Eli Manning set up Arkansas for a 34 yard option keep touchdown by Matt Jones, giving an edge to the Hogs, 17–5. Manning then connected with Justin Sawyer, but the two point play was no good. First a field goal, then a touchdown closed out the first half for the Razorbacks, the TD set up by a 55 yard punt return by Decori Birmingham, to the Ole Miss 20.
The Rebels began the second half with 25 yard field goal. A 63 yard run by Fred Talley set up another Razorback touchdown, and Razorback Tom Crowder recovered the kickoff fumbled by Ole Miss in the end zone, to push the score to 41–14. Manning completed a drive with a 20 yard touchdown pass, but with just over ten minutes left, it was too little to late. Each team then added another touchdown before the Razorbacks homecoming game went final, 48–28. The Razorbacks' outstanding ground game was helped out by five Rebels turnovers, which led to 24 Razorback points.
Charles Tillman
recovered a blocked punt in the fourth quarter, which was the first time since 1991 the Hogs allowed a touchdown off a blocked punt.
to play winless-in-the-SEC Mississippi State. The Razorbacks defense held on a fourth down play which saved the game. The Razorbacks ran for 237 yards, 121 of those from freshman tailback De'Arruis Howard. Fred Talley fell just short of his fourth 100-yard game as he ran for 94 yards. Mississippi State used two quarterbacks, Kevin Fant was 14-of-26 for 115 yards with an interception. Kyle York entered in the third quarter and went 11-of-22 for 174 yards with one interception and two TDs.
Bulldogs kicker Brent Smith scored the first points of the contest, but two Matt Jones touchdown passes put the Hogs up 14–3. Kevin Fant was sacked by Clarke Moore in the end zone to add two more points for Arkansas. David Carlton added a field goal, his fifth consecutive made field goal. Mississippi State added its own field goal, just before fullback Mark Pierce reached the end zone from five yards out. A comeback was engineered by replacement quarterback Kyle York for the Bulldogs, but it fell seven points short, 26–19.
, a gold trophy that resembles the two states of Arkansas and Louisiana, forming a boot. Arkansas clinched the SEC West crown with this win, moving the Razorbacks to 9–3 overall.
With nine seconds left, Quarterback Matt Jones threw a 31 yard touchdown pass to Decori Birmingham, and kicker David Carlton made a long extra point to finish the Tigers off, 21–20. Down 20–14 with 34 seconds remaining, the Razorbacks first play was a 50 yard pass to Richard Smith. After an incompletion, Jones found Birmingham in the end zone, who outleaped Randall Gay
for the catch. As Hog fans poured onto the field, Arkansas was then penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration, moving the go-ahead extra point to the 35 yard line. Carlton's kick was long enough, but curved left and just snuck in the goal post for a 21–20 lead. Houston Nutt later said that when he was sharing with Jones the plays to run Jones simply said, despite completing only two passes up to that point, "I've got it."
The finish was similar to the Bluegrass Miracle
, which involved the same LSU Tigers winning on a last second 75 yard Hail Mary pass
to Devery Henderson
to beat the Kentucky Wildcats.
against the Florida Gators
.
Arkansas got off on the wrong foot as punter Richie Butler's punt was blocked, setting up a one yard touchdown run for Georgia running back Musa Smith
. Another run by Smith pushed the Bulldog advantage to 14–0. Three Georgia field goals added to the score to make it 23–0. Arkansas had only one scoring drive, but even that was on life support, kept alive by two personal fouls, one after an incompletion on 3 and 23. Georgia added a touchdown, won the game 30–3, and with the victory won the Southeastern Conference
.
Coach Houston Nutt said after the game, "I felt like they were playing with 12 men, they have few weaknesses."
Minnesota kicker
Dan Nystrom made five field goals as the Golden Gophers upset Arkansas in the Music City Bowl
. Nystrom was named the MVP, a rarity for a kicker. Nystrom could have had a sixth attempt, but Minnesota instead went for a first down on a fourth and five and was denied with 2:46 remaining in the game.
Arkansas, the best rushing team in the SEC, had only eighty yards on the ground. This was well below their average of 226.9 yards per game. A halftime pass caught by Smith in the end zone would have given Arkansas a halftime lead, but Smith was declared out of bounds, and the score was nullified. The Razorback defense, ranked 40th best in the nation, bent but did not break. The Gophers were stopped and had to settle for field goals three times inside the Arkansas 7.
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 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
2002 NCAA Division I-A football season
The 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season ended the season with what most consider an exciting double overtime national championship game. Ohio State and Miami both came into the Fiesta Bowl undefeated. The underdog Buckeyes defeated the Hurricanes 31–24, ending Miami's 34 game winning...
. 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 three 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 2002 SEC Championship Game
2002 SEC Championship Game
The 2002 SEC Championship Game was won by the Georgia Bulldogs 30-3 over the Arkansas Razorbacks. The game was played in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia on December 7, 2002 and was televised to a national audience on CBS....
and the 2002 Music City Bowl
2002 Music City Bowl
The 2002 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl was the fifth edition of the bowl game. It was played at LP Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on December 30, 2002, and featured the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.-Game recap:...
in Houston Nutt's
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...
fifth season as head coach.
Schedule
Source: 2002 Arkansas Razorbacks Football Schedule/ResultsAll SEC Teams
- Fred TalleyFred TalleyFred Talley is an American football running back. He played collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1999-2002.-College:...
(RB, Sr.) 1st Team All-SEC Offense (Coaches'), 2nd Team All-SEC Offense (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, So.) 1st Team All-SEC Offense, Jacobs Blocking TrophyJacobs Blocking TrophyThe Jacobs Blocking Trophy is the name of several similar annual college football awards bestowed by a conference upon their best blocker. The awards are named in honor of , the founder and president of Presbyterian College from 1935 to 1945. The trophies are awarded by his sons, Hugh and William... - 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, Jr.) 1st Team All-SEC Defense - Ahmad CarrollAhmad CarrollAhmad Raheem Carroll is an American football cornerback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He most recently played for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 25th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
(CB, So.) 2nd Team All-SEC Defense - 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, Jr.) 2nd Team All-SEC Defense
Source: 2002 SEC Football Awards
Defense
- Ahmad CarrollAhmad CarrollAhmad Raheem Carroll is an American football cornerback for the Virginia Destroyers of the United Football League. He most recently played for the Calgary Stampeders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers 25th overall in the 2004 NFL Draft...
(CB, So.) Coaches 2nd Team - 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, Jr.) AP/Coaches 1st Team - 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...
(LB/FS, Jr.) AP/Coaches 2nd Team
Boise State
Arkansas beat Boise State for their first win of 2002. An impressive day on the ground, 217 yards, coupled with seven Boise State turnovers, helped secure the Razorback victory. A blocked punt, a passing TD and then a rushing TD put the Razorbacks off to a 21–0 advantage. After two field goals and a TD strike to Decori Birmingham, the Hogs were out to a 34–0 lead, but the Broncos got on the board twice to make it 34–14. A fake field goal gave the Hogs a first down before Jones hooked up with Richard Smith on an 18-yard touchdown pass that closed the scoring at 41–14.South Florida
Thirty five first half points and 547 yards of total offense set the Razorbacks well on their way to their second win of the season, at the expense of the South Florida Bulls. Only a field goal with a minute left in the game kept the Razorbacks from having a shutout, which would have been their first in two years. Back-up quarterback Tarvaris JacksonTarvaris 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...
led a 94 yard scoring drive of his own, after three scoring drives by Matt Jones. Jackson would eventually transfer from Arkansas 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....
after Matt Jones became the apparent starting quarterback. South Florida had eight consecutive wins, the second-longest win streak in the nation, coming in to this contest.
Alabama
Both Santonio Beard and Shaud Williams went over 100 yards for Alabama as the Tide beat Arkansas 30–12 at home. The Razorbacks never were within striking distance, as the Tide jumped out to a 14–0 lead, the first touchdown being an 80 yard scamper by Shaud William on the first play of the game. A Crimson Tide field goal and Matt Jones TD run pushed the score to 17–7, but the Razorbacks could not penetrate the end zone again, as the two teams swapped field goals. A fourth quarter fifty yard touchdown pass from Brodie CroyleBrodie Croyle
John Brodie Croyle is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs of the National Football League in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football for the University of Alabama from 2002 to 2005...
finished the Hogs, who tacked on an intentional safety to make the final 30–12.
Jones struggled throwing the ball, going just 7-of-18 for 111 yards with two interceptions. The loss was only the fourth home loss under Houston Nutt.
Tennessee
A six-overtime shootout was the result of the meeting between the Volunteers and the Razorbacks at Neyland Stadium in 2002. The battle-tested Razorbacks had come out victorious from a seven-overtime affair against Ole MissOle Miss Rebels football
The football history of the University of Mississippi , includes the formation of the first football team in the state and is 26th on the list of college football's all-time winning programs...
the year previous.
2001 Arkansas Razorbacks football team
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...
This was the longest game in NCAA Division I-A (now FBS) history. Arkansas' success in (especially multiple) overtime situations provoked Coach Houston Nutt into being quoted as saying at the beginning of the first overtime: "This is our game. We're ready." This overtime loss was the first for Arkansas in their football history.
The game began relatively low-scoring, with the Volunteers holding a 17–3 lead for the majority of the game. Tennessee leading rusher Cedric Houston
Cedric Houston
Cedric Leonard Houston is a former American football running back of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He played college football at Tennessee.-Early years:...
missed the game with a torn ligament
Ligament
In anatomy, the term ligament is used to denote any of three types of structures. Most commonly, it refers to fibrous tissue that connects bones to other bones and is also known as articular ligament, articular larua, fibrous ligament, or true ligament.Ligament can also refer to:* Peritoneal...
in his left thumb. Arkansas had injury problems of its own, and became one-dimensional with Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs
Cedric Cobbs is an American football running back for the Arkansas Twisters of the af2.-NFL career:...
, the Hogs' starting 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...
, missing much of the second half with a turf toe
Metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain
A metatarsalphalangeal joint sprain is an injury to the joint and connective tissue between the foot and one of the toes. When the big toe is involved, it is known as "turf toe".-Causes:...
injury. The Razorbacks got the ball with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter and scored two touchdowns in a span of 4½ minutes. The tying touchdown was a 92-yard touchdown pass to Richard Smith from 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....
. Said Jones of that play after the game, "The coaches have told us never to quit, and we were down seven at our own 8, I kept thinking about that." This was at the time the longest offensive play in the history of Arkansas football, since surpassed by Broderick Green's 99-yard rush against Eastern Michigan in 2009.
Both teams swapped field goals for the first two periods. The third was scoreless, despite an opportunity for Arkansas to shut the door with a field goal attempt. Arkansas then scored on a Matt Jones run, but failed the two point conversion
Two-point conversion
In American and Canadian football, a two-point conversion is a play a team attempts instead of kicking a one-point convert immediately after it scores a touchdown...
, which is required versus an extra point in the third overtime or later. The Volunteers answered the call on their first play, a 25 yard touchdown pass to wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Tony Brown, but the Volunteers also failed the two, sending the game into a fifth extra period.
Tennessee's Jabari Davis then ran into the end zone, but fumbled the ball as he crossed the plane of the goal line, but teammate and backfield mate Troy Fleming
Troy Fleming
Troy Majors Fleming is an American football fullback for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
fell on the ball giving Rocky Top a six point lead. Quarterback
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...
Casey Clausen
Casey Clausen
Casey Clausen , is a former American football player who played quarterback for the University of Tennessee. Clausen attended Bishop Alemany High School....
was then sacked on the two point try. De'Arrius Howard ran in for the Hogs, but an interception by Tennessee's Julian Battle
Julian Battle
Julian Battle is a professional Canadian football defensive back who is currently a free agent...
kept the game continuing to a sixth overtime.
David Carlton kicked a 47 yard field goal for Arkansas in the sixth overtime, but future NFL
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
All-Pro
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
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...
Jason Witten
Jason Witten
Christopher Jason Witten is an American football tight end who plays for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He played college football at the University of Tennessee....
caught a touchdown pass from Casey Clausen, ending the game in dramatic fashion, 38–41.
Auburn
Arkansas came out strong after their six overtime game with Tennessee. The Hogs Fred TalleyFred Talley
Fred Talley is an American football running back. He played collegiately for the Arkansas Razorbacks from 1999-2002.-College:...
rushed for 241 yards, 80 of those in one play, in a 38–17 upset of the Tigers at Auburn. 241 yards remains to this day the most given up by an Auburn defense to a single rusher. Talley was a pleasant surprise fill-in for injured starter Cedric Cobbs. Talley lead the Hogs in a 426 yards rushing effort as a team. Talley had only 123 yards in the first four games of the year. Fullback Mark Pierce also had a 44 yard run on a fourth-and-one, with Matt Jones adding a 70 yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter.
Auburn seemed the more likely one for a big day on the ground with highly-touted running back Carnell "Cadillac" Williams
Carnell Williams
Carnell Lamar "Cadillac" Williams is an American football running back for the St. Louis Rams of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. A year previous Cadillac had his break-out game against Arkansas, moving him from third to first on the depth chart at the expense of the Razorbacks. Said Arkansas defensive tackle Jermaine Brooks on Williams, "We gave the Cadillac a flat tire" and, "we just got sick and tired of [hearing about Williams]. If you stop him, you stop Auburn."
Kentucky
Arkansas' ground game continued to impress, with 293 yards, 182 of those from freshman Fred Talley. Overall, Arkansas had 515 yards of total offense to UK's 332. Quarterback Matt Jones set career marks with 15 completions and 210 yards. None of this, was enough as Kentucky managed a 29–17 victory.Kentucky drove the opening kickoff 40 yards and kicker Taylor Begley hit on a 50 yard field goal. Arkansas had their field goal blocked on the ensuing possession, but fullback Mark Pierce later rumbled for a 34-yard score for the Razorbacks. An Arkansas field goal added to the lead to make it 10–3. Jared Lorenzen
Jared Lorenzen
Jared Raymond Lorenzen is a former professional football quarterback, who is currently the commissioner of the Ultimate Indoor Football League. He most recently played for the Northern Kentucky River Monsters. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 2004...
threw a touchdown pass right before halftime, but the extra point was blocked by Pervis Osborne of Arkansas. Arkansas held a one point edge coming out of halftime when the Wildcats came out with a twenty point scoring flurry. First a Matt Jones interception gave the Wildcats good field position, setting up a Artose Pinner
Artose Pinner
Artose Deonce Pinner is an American football running back who is currently a free-agent. He was originally drafted by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the 2003 NFL Draft...
TD run. Then, an 86-yard punt return by Derek Abney
Derek Abney
Derek Allen Abney is an American football wide receiver, currently a free agent.Abney was a star receiver/kick returner for the University of Kentucky. Abney left Kentucky with the second-most receiving yards in school history, and the second-most all-purpose yards in SEC history...
gave Kentucky a 22–10 lead, following a missed extra point. Razorback De'Arrius Howard scored from one yard out, but Jared Lorenzen hit Aaron Boone on a screen pass that went 18 yards to paydirt. Arkansas had two red zone opportunities in the fourth quarter, but neither team could dent the scoreboard, and Kentucky won, 29–17.
Ole Miss
Arkansas ran for 257 yards, and Ole MissUniversity of Mississippi
The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is a public, coeducational research university located in Oxford, Mississippi. Founded in 1844, the school is composed of the main campus in Oxford, four branch campuses located in Booneville, Grenada, Tupelo, and Southaven as well as the...
QB 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 for 414 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. The first points of the game came for the Rebels when Matt Jones was called for intentionally grounding in the end zone, which by rule is scored a safety. Ole Miss gained a 2–0 lead, but fumbled near the close of the first quarter, resulting in a Razorback field goal
Field goal (football)
A field goal in American football and Canadian football is a goal that may be scored during general play . Field goals may be scored by a placekick or the now practically extinct drop kick.The drop kick fell out of favor in 1934 when the shape of the ball was changed...
. Lerinezo Robinson for the Hogs then returned a fumbled kickoff eight yards for a touchdown, giving Arkansas a 10–2 lead. Jonathan Nichols of Ole Miss then hit a 48-yard field, but a Jimmy Beasley interception of Eli Manning set up Arkansas for a 34 yard option keep touchdown by Matt Jones, giving an edge to the Hogs, 17–5. Manning then connected with Justin Sawyer, but the two point play was no good. First a field goal, then a touchdown closed out the first half for the Razorbacks, the TD set up by a 55 yard punt return by Decori Birmingham, to the Ole Miss 20.
The Rebels began the second half with 25 yard field goal. A 63 yard run by Fred Talley set up another Razorback touchdown, and Razorback Tom Crowder recovered the kickoff fumbled by Ole Miss in the end zone, to push the score to 41–14. Manning completed a drive with a 20 yard touchdown pass, but with just over ten minutes left, it was too little to late. Each team then added another touchdown before the Razorbacks homecoming game went final, 48–28. The Razorbacks' outstanding ground game was helped out by five Rebels turnovers, which led to 24 Razorback points.
Troy State
The game was dominated by both defenses, despite a lopsided finish. Troy State's ninth-ranked defense held Arkansas under 150 total yards and six first downs. Arkansas shut out their first opponent since blanking Southwest Missouri State 38–0 in 2000. Special teams stepped up for the Hogs, and two blocked punts, one recovered in the end zone, helped out a struggling offense.South Carolina
Arkansas beat South Carolina at home as the Hogs won their second consecutive game by the count of 23–0. Matt Jones completed 10 of 18 passes for 113 yards and two scores. Defenders Gavin Walls, Eddie Jackson and Lawrence Richardson had interceptions that each lead to Arkansas points. All of these turnovers helped add to Arkansas' turnover margin of plus-1.88 per game.Louisiana-Lafayette
Arkansas won their fourth straight game and improved to 16–0 in non-conference play under Houston Nutt with this win. Matt Jones lead rushers with a season-high 129 yards, and the Razorbacks out gained the Ragin' Cajuns on the ground 263 yards to 61. The Hog defense had held every opponent out of the end zone for nine quarters until a pass from Eric Rekieta to Fred Stamps late in the second quarter. Future NFL cornerbackCornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
Charles Tillman
Charles Tillman
Charles "Peanut" Tillman is an American football cornerback for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was selected with the 35th overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft.-Early years:...
recovered a blocked punt in the fourth quarter, which was the first time since 1991 the Hogs allowed a touchdown off a blocked punt.
Mississippi State
Arkansas went to Scott FieldDavis Wade Stadium
Davis Wade Stadium is the home playing venue for the Mississippi State Bulldogs football team. Located in Starkville, Mississippi, the stadium has a capacity of 55,082. It was built in 1914 as Scott Field and was named for Don Magruder Scott, an Olympic sprinter and one of the University's first...
to play winless-in-the-SEC Mississippi State. The Razorbacks defense held on a fourth down play which saved the game. The Razorbacks ran for 237 yards, 121 of those from freshman tailback De'Arruis Howard. Fred Talley fell just short of his fourth 100-yard game as he ran for 94 yards. Mississippi State used two quarterbacks, Kevin Fant was 14-of-26 for 115 yards with an interception. Kyle York entered in the third quarter and went 11-of-22 for 174 yards with one interception and two TDs.
Bulldogs kicker Brent Smith scored the first points of the contest, but two Matt Jones touchdown passes put the Hogs up 14–3. Kevin Fant was sacked by Clarke Moore in the end zone to add two more points for Arkansas. David Carlton added a field goal, his fifth consecutive made field goal. Mississippi State added its own field goal, just before fullback Mark Pierce reached the end zone from five yards out. A comeback was engineered by replacement quarterback Kyle York for the Bulldogs, but it fell seven points short, 26–19.
LSU, The Miracle on Markham
Arkansas and LSU played in War Memorial Stadium for the Golden BootGolden Boot (LSU-Arkansas)
The Arkansas–LSU football rivalry, also known as The Battle for the Golden Boot, is an American college football rivalry game played annually by the Arkansas Razorbacks football team of the University of Arkansas and the LSU Tigers football team of Louisiana State University. The first game...
, a gold trophy that resembles the two states of Arkansas and Louisiana, forming a boot. Arkansas clinched the SEC West crown with this win, moving the Razorbacks to 9–3 overall.
With nine seconds left, Quarterback Matt Jones threw a 31 yard touchdown pass to Decori Birmingham, and kicker David Carlton made a long extra point to finish the Tigers off, 21–20. Down 20–14 with 34 seconds remaining, the Razorbacks first play was a 50 yard pass to Richard Smith. After an incompletion, Jones found Birmingham in the end zone, who outleaped Randall Gay
Randall Gay
Randall "Blue" Jerome Gay, Jr. is an American football cornerback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2004. He played college football at Louisiana State...
for the catch. As Hog fans poured onto the field, Arkansas was then penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration, moving the go-ahead extra point to the 35 yard line. Carlton's kick was long enough, but curved left and just snuck in the goal post for a 21–20 lead. Houston Nutt later said that when he was sharing with Jones the plays to run Jones simply said, despite completing only two passes up to that point, "I've got it."
The finish was similar to the Bluegrass Miracle
Bluegrass Miracle
The "Bluegrass Miracle" refers to one of the most improbable finishes in NCAA college football history. It was a 74-yard game-winning touchdown pass by the #14 LSU Tigers with no time left on the clock against the Kentucky Wildcats on November 9, 2002 at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington,...
, which involved the same LSU Tigers winning on a last second 75 yard Hail Mary pass
Hail Mary pass
A Hail Mary pass or Hail Mary route in American football refers to any very long forward pass made in desperation with only a small chance of success, especially at or near the end of a half....
to Devery Henderson
Devery Henderson
-New Orleans Saints:On November 5, 2006, Devery had his best day as a professional in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he caught 3 passes for 111 yards and 2 touchdowns. Henderson had 158 receiving yards on 5 catches, including a 76 yard touchdown, against the Atlanta Falcons on November...
to beat the Kentucky Wildcats.
Georgia, SEC Championship
Arkansas represented the Western Division of the SEC in the SEC Championship game in 2002. Arkansas was down 17–0 to Georgia before they gained one yard in the contest, giving the Conference Title to the Bulldogs. With the loss, Arkansas had only scored six points in two SEC title game appearances, while in contrast, Razorbacks opponents have scored 64 points against them. Arkansas would make a much better showing their next time in Atlanta, but fail to win again in the 2006 SEC Championship Game2006 SEC Championship Game
The 2006 SEC Championship Game was played on December 2, 2006, in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The game matched SEC Western Division champion Arkansas against SEC Eastern Division champion Florida. The second meeting between the two schools in the championship game, it led to a 38–28...
against the Florida Gators
2006 Florida Gators football team
The 2006 Florida Gators football team represented the University of Florida in the sport of American football during the 2006 college football season...
.
Arkansas got off on the wrong foot as punter Richie Butler's punt was blocked, setting up a one yard touchdown run for Georgia running back 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...
. Another run by Smith pushed the Bulldog advantage to 14–0. Three Georgia field goals added to the score to make it 23–0. Arkansas had only one scoring drive, but even that was on life support, kept alive by two personal fouls, one after an incompletion on 3 and 23. Georgia added a touchdown, won the game 30–3, and with the victory won the Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
.
Coach Houston Nutt said after the game, "I felt like they were playing with 12 men, they have few weaknesses."
Minnesota, Music City Bowl
See also: 2002 Music City Bowl2002 Music City Bowl
The 2002 Gaylord Hotels Music City Bowl was the fifth edition of the bowl game. It was played at LP Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee on December 30, 2002, and featured the Arkansas Razorbacks and the Minnesota Golden Gophers.-Game recap:...
Minnesota kicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
Dan Nystrom made five field goals as the Golden Gophers upset Arkansas in the Music City Bowl
Music City Bowl
The Music City Bowl is a post-season American college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played in Nashville, Tennessee, since 1998.-Site:The first Music City Bowl was played at Vanderbilt Stadium in 1998...
. Nystrom was named the MVP, a rarity for a kicker. Nystrom could have had a sixth attempt, but Minnesota instead went for a first down on a fourth and five and was denied with 2:46 remaining in the game.
Arkansas, the best rushing team in the SEC, had only eighty yards on the ground. This was well below their average of 226.9 yards per game. A halftime pass caught by Smith in the end zone would have given Arkansas a halftime lead, but Smith was declared out of bounds, and the score was nullified. The Razorback defense, ranked 40th best in the nation, bent but did not break. The Gophers were stopped and had to settle for field goals three times inside the Arkansas 7.
Coaching staff
| 2002 Arkansas Razorbacks coaching staff | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Head Coach
Offensive Coaches
Defensive Coaches
Administrative Staff
|
|||||||
Statistics
Arkansas native Matt Jones was the signal caller for the Razorbacks in 2002. Jones also played basketballBasketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
on the Razorback basketball team. Jones currently holds the SEC record for most rushing yards by a quarterback, but with the advent of the Spread offense in college football, and new dynamic players like Tim Tebow
Tim Tebow
Timothy Richard "Tim" Tebow is an American football player who is currently the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Broncos as the 25th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft...
in the SEC, his record is in danger of being broken.
{| border="0" width="0.5"
| valign="top" |
{| cellpadding="1" border="1" cellspacing="0" width="80%"
|-
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| Opponent
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| Comp
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| Att
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| Yards
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| TD
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| INT
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| Rush
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| Rush Yds
!bgcolor="#C41E3A"| Rush TD
|-
|Boise State
|7
|14
|106
|3
|0
|11
|70
|0
|-
|South Florida
|9
|12
|148
|2
|0
|5
|54
|0
|-
|Alabama
|7
|18
|111
|0
|2
|7
|50
|1
|-
|Tennessee
|10
|20
|183
|1
|0
|21
|44
|1
|-
|Auburn
|7
|13
|67
|0
|0
|6
|84
|1
|-
|Kentucky
|15
|26
|210
|0
|1
|12
|52
|0
|-
|Ole Miss
|7
|14
|78
|1
|1
|4
|35
|1
|-
|Troy
|7
|15
|77
|1
|1
|8
|22
|0
|-
|South Carolina
|10
|18
|113
|2
|0
|7
|9
|0
|-
|Louisiana-Lafayette
|9
|13
|118
|2
|0
|13
|129
|1
|-
|Mississippi State
|8
|15
|90
|2
|0
|5
|-1
|0
|-
|LSU
|4
|16
|127
|1
|1
|11
|46
|0
|-
|Georgia
|9
|16
|60
|0
|0
|6
|13
|0
|-
|Minnesota
|12
|25
|118
|1
|2
|7
|13
|0
|-
|Season
|121
|235
|1606
|16
|8
|119
|620
|5
|}