LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- After a disappointing loss to Mississippi, Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino found an ideal time to shake up his lineup. The Razorbacks introduced several new starters last weekend against an overmatched Eastern Michigan team, and not only did the Hogs win easily, they also heard the coach's message loud and clear. "If you don't play hard then you won't start," safety Elton Ford said. "It makes everyone compete harder." Ford kept his starting job Saturday night, but others weren't so lucky. Eight players started for the first time all season, including defensive linemen Damario Ambrose and Alfred Davis, linebackers Bret Harris and Terrell Williams, defensive backs David Gordon and Anthony Leon, wide receiver Reggie Fish and running back Broderick Green. "Was there eight of them?" Petrino said with a smile Monday. "I didn't even know there were that many." Arkansas started October with two impressive wins, then lost a close one at Florida. The Razorbacks appeared to be moving in the right direction before coming out flat in a 30-17 loss to Ole Miss. Petrino had seen enough. He decided to assign starting jobs based on effort in practice. "Sometimes when you don't do well, you come back and say, 'If I'm going to get beat, I'm going to get beat with 22 guys that want to practice hard every play,"' Petrino said. The new lineup worked fine against Eastern Michigan. Arkansas won 63-27 and led 49-0 at one point in the third quarter. Eastern Michigan didn't make a first down in the first half. Among the newcomers, Green stood out the most. He rushed for two touchdowns, including a 99-yarder, while running back Michael Smith sat out with an injury. Quarterback Ryan Mallett kept his starting job and appears in no danger of losing it after going 14 of 16 for 248 yards and three touchdowns. Still, Mallett says the players should have their guards up with the coaches stressing accountability. "That's definitely the point that was trying to be made," Mallett said. "Don't get satisfied. Just because you're starting this week doesn't mean you will next week." Arkansas takes on South Carolina this weekend, and the Razorbacks still need two wins this month to become bowl eligible. It will be interesting to see what the starting lineup looks like against the Gamecocks. It's one thing to send a message against Eastern Michigan, but adding new faces against a Southeastern Conference team could be more risky. Petrino insists he'll approach things the same way he did last week. "We're just going to continue to grade practice," he said. "And really make sure that the guys we put out on the field put in great effort in practice." Pig Points: Petrino says he hopes DB Ramon Broadway will be back after missing last week's game because of a hamstring injury. He said DB Andru Stewart will be "evaluated daily." Stewart was held out of the Eastern Michigan game after missing practice time to tend to academics. ... Arkansas leads the series with South Carolina 10-7, although the Gamecocks won last season's matchup 34-21.
11/3/2009 6:47:17 PM
