Alex Collins ran for three touchdowns and Jefferson City native Kody Walker added another score as Arkansas dominated Missouri 28-3 on Friday.
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The story of the season followed the Tigers to Fayetteville.
“I have not even thought about that”, Pinkel said. At the end of the day, I feel honored. “You line us up against anybody, we’ll stop them”.
ALLEN’S ASCENT: Allen has been Arkansas’ starter in each of Bielema’s three seasons with the Razorbacks, and he’s saved the best performances of his career for the end. Gary Pinkel, who will coach his last regular-season game as the Tigers’ coach after being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, has watched his offense struggle mightily, while the Tigers’ staunch defense kept them within striking distance in most of their games.
The Tigers entered Friday’s game with the No. 10 defense in the nation this season, allowing 301.3 yards per game.
But the Hogs’ offensive line – the largest in the country – quickly asserted its will. Collins scored touchdowns of four, seven and 25 yards on consecutive first-half drives for the Razorbacks, who registered their first win in the series since the 2003 Independence Bowl.
The overwhelmingly important story, though, isn’t the lack of production from the offense.
Missouri hopes to send retiring coach Gary Pinkel out on a high note and earn bowl eligibility when the Tigers travel to face border rival Arkansas on Friday.
The 63-year-old Pinkel said Monday it would be up to athletic director Mack Rhoades whether or not the Tigers accept a bowl bid with a 5-7 record. “I also knew that the players were not focused like they needed to be, and I had a challenge to get that done”.
“He’s got a bright future, man. However it’s going to pan out, I’d bet a lot of money on him”. So as my feet became numb and my hands began to turn blue, I understood the significance of last Saturday’s game. “We fought with all the other bowls and won that one to be on Saturday afternoon”.
For the outgoing senior class, which started its Tiger career in a similarly rocky fashion, finishing the 2012 season 5-7 in its first year in the Southeastern Conference, the situation is far from ideal.
Just before the half, the run game pounded again. “You come into this year expecting something like that, and it doesn’t quite work out like that”.
“It is going to be interesting to see”. Pinkel announced he will step down at the end of the season due to health reasons. The coaching search is ongoing, with defensive coordinator Barry Odom considered a favorite among the players.
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“I haven’t made a decision about that yet”, Collins said. Our brotherhood is so tight and I care about every single man in that locker room.
