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9.4.2021 KEYS TO VICTORY Ken Hatfield always delivers the goods. The man who I think is now the greatest ambassador for Arkansas football did again this week at the first Hawgs Illustrated Sports Club. When Hatfield threw it open at the end of the program for questions, the best came from Matt Jones, our top staffer at WholeHogSports.com. "Some here may not have realized it, but you were a member of the College Football Playoff selection committee," Jones said. "Can you tell us about some of your experiences in that process?" After detailing the end- of-year routine, Hatfield mentioned that committee members watched what amounted to hours and hours of tape of the top teams to make their picks. Then, he went to the crux of how he decided if a team was worthy of consideration, the specialty he said he brought to the committee from 2018-20. "I watched the offensive and defensive lines," Hatfield said. "If they didn't have (great line play), then I didn't think they were going to do much. "If you can run the ball with five guys working in a cohesive unit, you are going to be successful." Boom! It goes to reason that if you can stop the run with a great defensive front, it's just as important. It's probably the reason Hatfield answered my question about what he thinks after watching practices this August under second-year coach Sam Pittman in a positive manner. "I think we have a good team," Hatfield said of the Razorbacks. "I believe in Coach Pittman. I watched the way the team played under him last year. "It was a tough year, nothing usual (with limited practice and zero spring work) because of covid, but he had our team playing like fighting Razorbacks. There was a chance to win five games." There is no questioning Hatfield's judgment on Pittman. Hatfield is one of Arkansas' greatest football coaches, the man who led the Razorbacks to a 55-17-1 record and two Southwest Conference championships between 1984- 89. He also won conference championships at Clemson and Rice in the 1990s. If there was one reason to smile even with a 3-7 record last year, it was that the Hogs did look like they fought until the end, just like Hatfield's great teams. I always enjoyed listening to Hatfield's assistants talk about demanding top effort. Fred Goldsmith, the defensive coordinator under Hatfield who left in 1989 to become Rice's head coach, often played an undersized bunch. He just wanted them to play like fighting Razorbacks and they did. "I think it's about setting the tempo," Hatfield said. "I think Sam did that. I also think the transfers added this offseason will really help. "I like the way KJ Jefferson played at the finish against Missouri. If he can carry on from that, we are going to have a good team." That doesn't mean easy victories, not even Saturday when Arkansas plays host to Rice at 1 p.m. at Reynolds Razorback Stadium. Don't be fooled by the odds that favor the Hogs by three touchdowns. Hatfield coached at Rice for 12 seasons from 1994-2005. He knows the Owls won't roll over. "Rice will be a tough game," he said. "Rice is not just something you eat. I know how they are going to play. It will be ball control, so you better make hay when you get the ball." Hatfield played that game at times as a coach. He knows that you aren't always going to dominate with superior talent. But you can still win when the other team has an edge in players. The key is to be solid up front. That's what I see in these Razorbacks. Some of the most talented offensive linemen on this team are youngsters, but experience and the ability to mesh wins up front. Toughness comes from physical practices. That's what Pittman understands the most. Pittman made his reputation as an elite offensive line coach. Hard work was the hallmark of his group. If you talk to Frank Ragnow, Travis Swanson and others who toiled for Pittman up front, you understand they both loved and respected Pittman. They also knew that once practice began, it was going to be a tough day. It was so much fun off the field that no one minded the hard work. You can tolerate blood, sweat and tears if there is also some fun along the way. Trust is important, too. "I really like the way our team works," Pittman said last week. "As far as earlier in camp — maybe Days 10 through 12 — I was disappointed with offensive execution and that they weren't urgent enough, but they have picked things up from there." After the second scrimmage of August practices, an old friend who coached many years gave me a report. He said Pittman's practices are demanding, physical and full of hard, tough coaching. "They are getting coached hard and firm," the old timer told me. "These coaches get after them. I like it." I like the versatility of the offensive line. Pittman said Ty Clary, the starter at right guard, has also cross trained at center and both tackle slots. Brady Latham, listed as first team at left guard but battling Luke Jones, has also cross trained at both tackle spots. The experience level among the five offensive line starters is impressive. Left tackle Myron Cunningham and right tackle Dalton Wagner have started most of the last three seasons. Center Ricky Stromberg started most of last season. Clary has been starting in various roles for most of the last four seasons, since surprising as a first-game starter as a true freshman walk-on. That's the group that most have frowned about for the last several seasons. They might not be the strength of the team yet, but it's a much- improved bunch. Maybe they will earn praise this season. Now to the meat of this piece, the top keys to victory. CARE FACTOR There is an assumption that Rice, the underdog, will be highly motivated. It's a chance at an SEC victory. There would be few things sweeter, aside from perhaps beating Houston or Texas, the two teams up next for the Owls. This is a way of saying that the Owls will have what old-timer Tommy Brasher has always rated as the most important intangible in sports: Do they care? The former Razorback linebacker/lineman (1961- 63) talked to me about the care factor just after Pittman replaced Chad Morris as head coach. He was disgusted watching the Hogs over the previous few seasons. Brasher coached 30 seasons in the NFL and also had over one decade in high school and college before retiring to Bainbridge, Wash., where he watches every sort of college game on tape as a draft scout for the Kansas City Chiefs and old friend Andy Reid. Watching defensive line play of the Razorbacks was a turn off. He'd call me to ask about the likes of McTelvin Agim, Trey Flowers and Deatrich Wise. He saw talent, but he also saw things that suggested lack of effort in an overall defense. "It cuts me deep to watch that," Brasher said. "That's my program. When I played, we cared. We played like we cared every game. "I look now and I don't think they care. I can't stand it. "I watched the Alabama game (in 2019) and it was over after one play. Now a lot of people lose to Alabama; that's no crime. But lying down is a crime. There was no doubt who was going to win after the opening kickoff." How do you fix it? "It's not in recruiting," Brasher said. "That's what Bret Bielema said he was trying to do and the same with (Chad Morris). No, you don't fix it with recruiting. You make sure the ones you put on the field care. "(Fans) always think it's about play calling in football. It's not. It's getting players on the field who care. "The SEC is just a notch below the NFL. It's talent, but the first thing you have to get players on the field who care. It's no different than the NFL in that regard." Brasher coached in the NFL for New England, Philadelphia (three times), Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Seattle and Kansas City. COMMENTARY LINE PLAY ALWAYS MOST IMPORTANT KEY CLAY HENRY See KEYS, Page 3 Fayetteville native Ty Clary (right) will be a fourth-year starter on the offensive line in 2021 NWA Democrat-Gazette/Charlie Kaijo 507 South main Street • bentonville, arkanSaS 479-273-5545 • www.bentonvilleglaSS.com Bentonville Glass Inc. reSidential • automotive • commercial 479-521-6611 479-636-2200 www.lindsey.com www.lindsey.com Our Team Proudly Supports The Arkansas Razorbacks! LINDSEY.COM HOG FANS With over 40 years experience in the Northwest Arkansas real estate business, 2 convenient locations and 200+ agents, Lindsey & Associates is the leading real estate company in Northwest Arkansas. "We Bring Great Together" All Properties Professionally Managed by Lindsey Management Co., Inc. Amenities Vary by Property | Equal Housing Opportunity A p a r t m e n t s, E xe c u t i ve S u i t e s, & G o l f Co u r s e s ! www.LindseyMgmt.com Lindsey Management Co., Inc. in Arkansas! Go Hogs! Where LOVE LIVE! You NWA Democrat-Gazette/Anthony Reyes As a player and coach, Ken Hatfield combined to win three Southwest Conference championships at Arkansas. In retirement, he has become the Razorbacks' greatest ambassador.

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