Hogs hope this trip to SEC title game will be different

<p>Matt Jones remembers Arkansas' most recent trip to the Southeastern Conference championship game.</p><p>The Razorbacks made it there in 2002 after a wild SEC West race, and they were blown out 30-3 by Georgia.</p><p>"They were just better than us," said Jones, Arkansas' quarterback in that game. "They had home-field advantage. They were in Atlanta."</p><p>No. 8 Arkansas plays No. 4 Florida on Saturday night for this year's SEC title, and the Razorbacks are hoping to avoid a familiar finish. This is Arkansas' third visit to Atlanta for the championship game, and the other two ended in blowout losses that took some of the luster off otherwise impressive seasons.</p><p>In 1995, Arkansas' fourth season in the SEC, the Razorbacks won the West with a 6-2 conference record. As happened this year, they lost their regular-season finale to LSU before heading to Atlanta to play Florida.</p><p>"I think that our goal was actually getting there," offensive lineman Verl Mitchell recalled this week. "We really didn't know what to do once we got there."</p><p>The Gators were at their peak under Steve Spurrier, ranked second in the nation and a season away from winning a national title. Danny Ford, who coached that Arkansas team, remembers the atmosphere at the Georgia Dome.</p><p>"The crowd noise was tremendous," Ford said.</p><p>The Razorbacks scored first, but running back Madre Hill, who rushed for 1,387 yards, went down early with a knee injury. The Gators overwhelmed Arkansas after that, and won 34-3.</p><p>"When your number one guy goes out like that, it's kind of like, 'What now?'" Mitchell said.</p><p>Seven years later, the Razorbacks returned under coach Houston Nutt. Alabama went 6-2 in the SEC but was ineligible for the championship, and Arkansas emerged from a three-way tie with Auburn and LSU at 5-3.</p><p>But the Razorbacks were no match for Georgia.</p><p>"The last time we went to Atlanta we felt like we went in through the back door," Nutt said this week. "This year we came through the front door. We won it outright with one loss."</p><p>This season, the Razorbacks (10-2, 7-1) are eager to show they finally belong among the SEC's elite. Arkansas won seven SEC games for the first time and was unbeaten in conference play before last week's 31-26 loss to LSU.</p><p>Heisman Trophy candidate Darren McFadden has rushed for 1,485 yards, breaking the school record set by Hill in '95.</p><p>"In my opinion, McFadden should win the Heisman this year," said Jones, now a receiver for the Jacksonville Jaguars. "You look at Arkansas, and without McFadden, there's no way in the world they win 10 games. They might not even be a .500 team without McFadden."</p><p>But with him, Arkansas had a slim shot at a national title until last week's loss.</p><p>After its first two SEC championship game appearances, Arkansas went to fairly minor bowls. The Razorbacks lost the 1995 Carquest Bowl to North Carolina, and they lost the 2002 Music City Bowl to Minnesota.</p><p>This season is different. Even if the Razorbacks lose to Florida (11-1, 7-1), they will likely end up in the Capital One Bowl or the Cotton Bowl _ both of which are on New Year's Day.</p><p>Mitchell, of course, hopes it won't come to that. He says a win this week _ which would put Arkansas in the Sugar Bowl _ would be a huge step for the program.</p><p>He also said Arkansas' depth is better than in '95. The Razorbacks quickly slipped back into mediocrity after that championship game appearance.</p><p>"They really didn't have the cupboard full then like they do now," Mitchell said.</p><p>Now, Razorbacks past and present have a new sense of optimism.</p><p>"They match up well against Florida," Jones said. "If they can keep running the ball and have no turnovers, they should be able to pull it out."</p>

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