Arkansas Business

This story is from the archives of ArkansasSports360.com.

This week in the Notebook, we look at Steve Spurrier's and Nick Saban's admiration for the Bobby Petrino system, the winning performance of Tyler Russell in Mississippi State's big victory over Auburn, other top efforts last week, and the ups and downs of the league teams in the Weekly Power Poll. Also, while Arkansas-Alabama is the CBS game of the week, Saturday's marquee game is a more familiar SEC clash that finally has some national importance again.

PREPPING FOR PETRINO LOOK
To hear South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier tell it, the current Alabama-Birmingham offense would have rolled over the Gamecocks the past two years. Well, Spurrier has been noting all week — and did so again Wednesday during the Southeastern Conference coaches' teleconference — that Garrick McGee's work at Arkansas as offensive coordinator was a huge part of the Hogs' wins over South Carolina, and he expects much of the same from UAB, now coached by McGee.

"He knows the formula to kick our butts," Spurrier said. "They [Arkansas] have made us look like an average bunch of stiffs. They've clobbered us."

UAB is 0-1 after a 39-29 loss to Troy. The Blazers were idle last week.

McGee brought along linebackers coach Reggie Johnson to be UAB's defensive coordinator. Former UA aides Rchard Owens (tight ends) and Brandon Sharp (safeties) are in key roles on McGee's staff.

During Wednesday's conference call, Spurrier also had props for Louisiana-Monroe's Todd Berry and his gambling, offensive wizardry in the 34-31 upset of Arkansas last Saturday, particularly the Warhawks' success on six of seven fourth-down conversions. "That's how you beat a big team," he said.

SABAN STILL HIGH ON HOGS
Arkansas' stunning loss to ULM didn't lower the Razorbacks in the eyes of Alabama Coach Nick Saban, whose team plays the Hogs in Fayetteville on Saturday.

Of course, what was Saban to say if he didn't want to give the Razorbacks any bulletin board material?

"Arkansas is one of the best teams in the conference, one of the best in the country," he said.

And, even if Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson can't play Saturday because of a concussion suffered last week, "You still have to focus on the good players that they have and you have to make sure you execute on defense against an offense which is extremely difficult to defend," Saban said.

Saban also said, "Every year, they have the most challenging offense that we play."

Paul Petrino runs the Arkansas system now as offensive coordinator in the wake of his brother's firing last April.

"They are still doing the same things," Saban said.