SEC Football: Momentum, who has ‘Big Mo’ and who is stuck with ‘No Mo’
By Ronald Evans
Arkansas Razorbacks – Brett Bielema – ‘No Mo’
Brett Bielema could point upward when Arkansas beat LSU in Baton Rouge and went 8-5 in 2015. In 2016, the Razorbacks started with three wins. The rest of the way they lost six while only winning four more, finishing 7-6.
The last two games were humbling losses, first at a weak Missouri team and then a bowl game debacle. In the 2016 Belk Bowl, Arkansas led Virginia Tech 24-0 at halftime. Hogs fans had already chalked it up as the team’s eighth win.
In the second half, the Hokies exploded for 35 points while holding the Razorbacks scoreless. That was 2016’s fastest trip to the ‘No Mo’ zone.
For a coach who prides himself on building toughness into his teams, the Razorbacks under Bielema have been mostly tuskless on defense. Priding themselves on being able to run, Hog’s defenses have been run over by opponent’s rushers. Last season Arkansas was No. 89 in the FBS in yards allowed rushing, tenth in the SEC.
2017 could be a better year for the Hogs. Arkansas has the best center in the nation, Frank Ragnow. Bielema took the odd precaution of holding Ragnow out of almost all contact work this spring.
The Hogs have a capable quarterback in Austin Allen. There was some reason to panic about the rushing attack when Rawleigh Williams decided to give up football for health reasons. It looked like Devwah Waley would be asked to carry too big of a load. The outlook brightened when graduate transfer David Williams announced a move from South Carolina to Arkansas.
Arkansas will begin with ‘No Mo’ but there is hope of finding momentum during the season.