Week 11 - Kissing a Pig

WEEK 11 - KISSING A PIG

"The gods are too fond of a joke." - Aristotle

I know that it sounds bogus to say in retrospect that all week this game scared me.  Actually, as I watched it, it scared me up through the touchdown pass that Nick threw to Deddrick with 17 seconds remaining.  Arkansas is not talented ... they are not the team with a stable of running backs and a big, strong offensive line that Bielema has developed in past years at Wisconsin and then at Arkansas.  Their defense has been porous for the past few years, and this year has been worse.  They began with some notable weaknesses, and injuries made them weaker yet.  However, they had somehow rallied from 24 down at Oxford against a team with an explosive offense.  And they were catching State at a time when they had to be flat -- after a heart-breaking loss that added to the list of injured.  

But as it turned out it was generally not the lack of effort or of players that almost cost the 'Dogs.  It was that the gridiron gods were absolutely against them!  Consider the following:

After a 3 and out to begin the game, a short punt carooms off an unsuspecting Bulldog and gives the Pigs the ball deep in State territory.  They scored their first touchdown in a few plays.

When the State offense fumbled for the first time all year, it was a doozy -- into their own end zone, recovered by Arkansas for their second touchdown and a 14-0 lead before the 'Dogs had broken a sweat.

Jace Christmann, who had not missed a PAT or field goal all season, missed a field goal into a swirling wind ... at a time when points were precious.

Then in the 2nd half, when the MSU defense forced a key turnover, a defender booted it more than 30 yards toward the Bulldogs' goal, then a series of defenders looked like they were trying and failing spectacularly to pick up a giant watermelon seed, before Arkansas fell on the ball on the State 3.  They then scored to take the lead after State had seemingly seized control and tied the score at 14.

I didn't get the feeling that State was playing particularly poorly -- and certainly not without effort -- but that fate just wasn't with them.  It was to that point a "sh*t happens" game, and for the 'Dogs it had all been bad sh*t.  Somehow they manned up, however, and despite a ton of adversity found a way to win an SEC road game that had disappointing defeat written all over it.  

Now don't get me wrong ... State played far from one of their better games.  The offensive line, which had been spectacular against UAT, LSU, and in most games, was very ordinary.  They failed to drive the Pigs off the ball, and they failed to protect Fitz they way they had all season ... and this against possibly the worst defense they had faced all season.  For much of the first half the passing attack was anemic, a combination of failure to get separation, catch balls, give Nick enough protection for him to get settled, and some poor throws on Nick's part.  The defense, which began the game chasing and sacking the beleaguered by courageous Austin Allen, suddenly was giving him time.  And the secondary didn't cover.  The wind wreaked havoc with Logan Cooke, and his punts were suprisingly short and ineffective.  In short, the Bulldogs did not play well.

But -- and this is a huge but -- the Bulldogs refused to lose in a game in which it just seemed that it wasn't their day.  They bowed their backs, manned up, and behind Aeris Williams and Nicky Fitz, made enough plays to win it.  Some credit is due:

• Aeris, who I didn't give nearly enough credit to last week, was again The Man.  He just scraps and claws for every inch ... hits the hole quickly, but is patient in setting up blocks.  He blocks exceptionally well and is a very capable receiver.  He may be the most complete back State has had under Mullen.
• Nick was tough on runs, especially in short yardage, but he really impressed me with his passing after the first series or two.  He made good decisions, was accurate, and was clutch.  
• And how about some of the unheralded receivers, such as Todd, Jackson, Osirus, and Deddrick making big catches?!?  In fact, you have to give Deddrick credit ... this was the second game that he won for us, the punt return vs. UMass and the game-winning catch vs. the Piggies.  
• Of course, the defensive line, especially Sweat and Simmons continue to come up big.  Those two guys are going to make some money on Sundays.
• And a tip of the hat to 2 freshmen linebackers, Thompson and Gay, who consistently made key plays.

This was a game that lots of teams would have folded on with all of the adversity, just saying, "Hey, it's just not our day."  Credit to the 'Dogs for saying, "Oh, hell, no!" and fighting through it, gridiron gods and all.  It wasn't a beauty contest -- it was sorta like kissing a pig -- but State just kept grinding for the W.  8 wins (and counting) for a team that the "experts" said was supposed to be lucky to win 6.

Now to face a very different type team ... and to go about keeping that Egg right where it belongs.