Fresh off an impressive, but not too impressive, season-opening, 56-13 win over Western Carolina, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said his focus on his team knowing its place.
Rather, knowing its place at this point in the season.
Arkansas isn’t expected to be ranked when the polls are released later Tuesday. And though they will pick some votes for the Top 25, the Razorbacks are a long way from being able to overlook anyone, including their Week 2 opponent Kent State.
The Golden Flashes were rolled by 50 points against Central Florida in their season opener. Add to that they’re a Golden Flashes team picked to finish last in the Eastern Division of the Mid-American Conference and Arkansas isn’t expected to have much trouble Saturday.
“I know it’s maybe coachspeak or whatever, right now we’re just worried about us. We’re trying to play hard. Trying to play smart. Trying to play tough,” Pittman said.
As much as that scoreboard may have looked good Saturday, Arkansas is still a team that ran for just 61 yards against an FCS defense. The Hogs were short a potential All-American starter on the offensive line, but for a team that averaged 236 a game last year, 61 is more than disappointing.
The Hogs won’t overlook Kent State because of it. They have enough to deal with in-house.
“If you just evaluate yourself from the scoreboard, you’re just going to be disappointed,” Pittman said. “Who’s to say what you’re supposed to win by? If you win 38-0, are you happy? Not if we don’t play well. It’s more about (us) right now.”
[lawrence-auto-related count=1]