Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

Bobby Petrino conducted last week’s postgame press conference seemingly as satisfied as he’s been since arriving at Arkansas. By virtue of beating Mississippi State and surviving on a weekend of upsets in college football, the Razorbacks put themselves in position for a Top 5 matchup against LSU the final week of the regular season.

“This is what we want to do,” Petrino said at the time. “This is what it’s all about, playing huge games with a lot at stake.

“It’ll be a lot of fun.”

A much different scene played out less than 24 hours later. Petrino, fighting to hold back tears, spoke of the sudden death of redshirt freshman Garrett Uekman at a Sunday evening press conference.

Celebration had turned to mourning.

Petrino, who made another emotional appearance at a Monday candlelight vigil for Uekman, closed ranks during the week. Arkansas practiced Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, but cancelled all media availability to keep the grieving and preparation for the Tigers (11-0, 7-0) as private as possible.

For a team heralded throughout the year as resilient— thanks to overcoming double-digit deficits and injuries — the events of the past week represent a significant test of the Razorbacks’ resolve.

Arkansas (10-1, 6-1) will play the Tigers, but the Razorbacks enter the program’s biggest game in 42 years with heavy hearts. How the team responds is difficult to figure.

On the field the Razorbacks had been peaking at just the right time. They set up a crucial game by winning seven in a row, including outscoring the last three opponents 137-52.

Arkansas has consecutive winning seasons in the SEC for the first time since joining the league. Plus, it has put together three straight games of 40-plus points for the first time since 1970.

LSU enters with the nation’s most feared defense. And the Tigers have beaten No. 10 Oregon and No. 2 Alabama so far this season.

It’s a critical moment for both programs. LSU, just four years removed from a BCS title, hosts a game between Top 3 teams for the first time since 1959. Arkansas is playing its first Top 3 game since a 1969 game with Texas dubbed the “Game of the Century.” Perhaps no game in Arkansas history is as remembered as that 15-14 loss to the Longhorns and the Razorbacks would like to replace that near-miss with a better memory.