From the Other Sideline – Arkansas

Flint Harris (@Flint_HolyTurf) is an Arkansas graduate that used to run and write for HolyTurf.com, a site all about the passion of college football, specifically the SEC and Big 12. He now owns Bliss Cupcake Cafe with his wife and teaches business classes in the Walton College of Business at Arkansas. Flint has been a staple of the Arkansas Other Sidelines, as this is his thirteen-billionth time on the Blogle. 1. What is an Arkansas fan’s first thoughts of Auburn football right now?

Well, I’m not sure Hog fans are as focused on Auburn as previous years. We are working through our own set of struggles, but the win at UGA is dumbfounding. Congrats on that one!! 

2. What are your thoughts on Ryan Silverfield? Would you get to the point that he should be let go after just one season?

Many Hogs fans are not thrilled with Silverfield, but they would focus more of their frustrations on CFB Playoff Committee Chair and Arkansas AD, Hunter Yurachek. Yurachek has struggled to find his footing with NIL and made disparaging comments about the Arkansas fundraising efforts. 

3. You can’t have Gus Malzahn. He’s going to be our next assistant AD or something. Not a question. Just letting you know.

Fair enough. Thanks for the warning. Gus is a good guy. 

4. Name two current Auburn Tigers that scare you and why.

Any running QB scares me. So in addition to Brown, I would include Elijah Mendez. He is sixth in the SEC in tackles and seventh in tackles for loss. 

5. Name two Razorbacks that should Auburn fans should keep their eye on.

This is easy. If WR Chris Marshall plays (he missed the Missouri game with injury), he is second in the SEC receiving yards per game with over 90 and a terrific wide receiver. DL Quincy Rhodes Jr. is going to be a 2nd or 3rd rounder if he stays healthy. He tweaked something in the game last week. The Hogs don’t have the depth to survive without these two guys. 

6. Where will each team have an advantage over the other?

Hmm…Arkansas is still playing hard. I guess that counts for something. Auburn is dead last in the SEC in yards allowed per game, but

Arkansas is averaging less than 20 points a game, which is rare in college football. What happens when a moveable object meets a stoppable force? Tune in Saturday morning on the SEC Network to find out. Auburn will likely have the edge everywhere else. 

7. Which matchup intrigues you the most and why?

Both teams have new coaches. Couple that with all the players making significant money these days, and I am curious which team shows fight. When records go south, how hard will these kids play? We know few have strong ties to either university. They are following the money. Who can blame them? 

8. What’s your prediction/analysis for the game?

It is hard to imagine Arkansas winning this game unless they improve upon their -2 turnover margin. However, funny things happen when Arkansas visits Auburn for the early morning game. Y’all remember Darren McFadden and Fred Talley, right? 

9. Where will Auburn and Arkansas end up this season?

Seems feasible Auburn gets to six wins and enjoys a lovely trip to the Gasparilla or Birmingham Bowl while the Hogs lose out and finish 3-9. The Arkansas basketball team beat Gonzaga and Memphis in exhibitions and pummeled UAPB to start the regular season on Tuesday. They play Virginia on Sunday afternoon. So yea, that’s where the focus is these days.

10. What do you think of Alex Golesh?

It is hard not to like the guy from a distance. The postgame interview after UGA was compelling. We thought we had him lined up to coach the Hogs, so it stings a little bit.