Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Almost daily you can catch a glimpse of Arkansas players wearing what doubles as wardrobe and motivational posters.

T-shirts bearing slogans like “Grind,” “Punish” and “Three-and-Out” are easy to spot. Wristbands remind the Razorbacks to work together as a “F.I.S.T. (Fundamentals. Intensity. Speed. Toughness.)” and “Tap the Hat.”

Some messages are easy for outsiders to decipher. Others could use some sort of explanation, but the Razorbacks typically prefer to keep their business, their business.

“We have a number of things we use in motivation. Certainly, it’s something we don’t share with other people,“ Petrino said when the subject was broached back in August at media day.

With or without explanation, most of us know a rallying point when we see one. They’re easy to spot when printed and worn.

Then there are those messages that don’t warrant an explanation, and don’t have to be printed to resonate. Here's one the Razorbacks remember without much prompting: “FINISH."

No need for apparel on this one. Arkansas players have that message permanently inked in their minds thanks to Alabama 24, Arkansas 20.

Failing to close strong cost the Razorbacks at home against Alabama last year. That win could have been the start of something huge for Arkansas, which also fell apart late in losses at Auburn and in the Sugar Bowl to Ohio State. Winning 10 games and making the Sugar Bowl was a nice season. But Petrino and the Razorbacks aren't looking for nice. They want great.

Arkansas appeared to be on the verge of a great win last year against the Crimson Tide. A fast start got the Razorbacks up two scores, then they wound up with same result as the previous two meetings between Petrino and Nick Saban.

It’s one thing for a bad start to cost you a game. But to collapse at the end …

“[Finishing] is what we’ve been working on all summer,” wide receiver Cobi Hamilton said. “Every fourth quarter that’s what we want to do is finish. … We need that to happen Saturday.”

Arkansas jumped out to a 20-7 lead last year against Alabama and seemed to be on its way to a shockingly easy victory against the Crimson Tide. Of course Alabama doesn’t give up shockingly easy victories.