2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team The 2008 Arkansas Razorbacks football team represented the University of Arkansas in the 2008 football season . The Razorbacks played five home games at Donald W . Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville , Arkansas and one home game at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock , Arkansas . The Razorbacks finished the season with an overall record of 5 – 7 and a conference record of 2 – 6 in Bobby Petrino ' s inaugural season . Leading into the 2008 season . Coaching change . Following the final game of the 2007 season , head coach Houston Nutt resigned from his position at Arkansas . He would later accept the head coaching position at Arkansas ' s division rival , the Ole Miss Rebels . After Houston Nutt ' s resignation , former Louisville Cardinals ' and Atlanta Falcons ' head coach Bobby Petrino was hired to be the new head coach of the Razorbacks . Petrino ' s contract with Arkansas is a five - year deal worth $ 2 . 85 million per year in annual compensation . Petrino hired Bobby Allen ( defensive tackle s ) , Kirk Botkin ( defensive end s and special teams coordinator ) , Dean Campbell ( director of high school relations ) , Tim Horton ( running backs , tight end s and recruiting coordinator ) , Reggie Johnson ( linebacker s ) , Chip Long ( graduate assistant ) , Garrick McGee ( quarterback s ) , Paul Petrino ( offensive coordinator ) , Mark Robinson ( director of football operations ) , Courtney Sanders ( graduate assistant ) , Mike Summers ( offensive line ) , Jason Veltkamp ( strength and conditioning ) , and Lorenzo Ward ( secondary ) . Ellis Johnson was originally hired to be the defensive coordinator ; however , Johnson resigned from his post to take a job with the South Carolina Gamecocks on January 24 , 2008 . On February 6 , 2008 , Bobby Petrino hired former St . Louis Rams ' secondary coach Willy Robinson as defensive coordinator . Players . Arkansas will return with seven starters on offense and four starters on defense . Returnees on offense include quarterback Casey Dick , who threw for 1 , 695 yards and 18 touchdowns in the 2007 season , and 2007 Dave Rimington Trophy winner Jonathan Luigs . Three players were named to the Southeastern Conference ' s Pre - Season All - SEC Team : Jonathan Luigs , Mitch Petrus , and Antwain Robinson . Departures . The University of Arkansas graduated 11 starting seniors in 2007 , which included All - SEC offensive tackle Robert Felton , offensive tackle Nate Garner , fullback Peyton Hillis , wide receiver Robert Johnson , wide receiver Marcus Monk , defensive tackle Marcus Harrison , linebacker Weston Dacus , cornerback Michael Grant , cornerback Matterral Richardson , strong safety Matt Hewitt , and free safety Kevin Woods . Arkansas also lost consensus All - American tailback Darren McFadden , All - American tailback Felix Jones , and wide receiver Sean Penix as they decided to skip their senior season and declare for the 2008 NFL Draft . The team also lost three quarterbacks in the off - season . Brian Reader stated he would transfer to Monterey Peninsula College , Nathan Emert left the team to pursue a career as a minister , and Clark Irwin left the team to pursue a career in finance and real estate . Placekicker Brian Vavra also decided to leave the team to pursue other opportunities . Citing lack of playing time , fullback Hezekiah Smith transferred to in - state UAPB . After spring training began , redshirt freshman linebacker Tim Dial announced that he was leaving the team to transfer to East Central University . The Razorbacks also lost linebacker Freddie Fairchild when he was dismissed from the team on June 11 , 2008 . Transfers . In January 2008 , former five - star quarterback recruit Ryan Mallett transferred from Michigan to Arkansas . Due to NCAA transfer rules , Mallett would redshirt his sophomore year and would be able to compete in the 2009 season ; however , he would be allowed on the scout team in the 2008 season . Recruits . On National Signing Day , February 6 , 2008 , Arkansas received 25 letters of intent by the following players listed below : Regular season . Personnel . Coaching staff . < / div > Game notes . Western Illinois . The game was played at Donald W . Reynolds Razorback Stadium and marked the first meeting between the two programs . The game started with a Taylor Rowan field goal to give the Leathernecks a 3 – 0 advantage . Joe Adams of Arkansas pulled in a 10 - yard pass from Casey Dick with six minutes remaining in the second quarter . WIU ' s Herb Donaldson then scored twice , once before halftime , and once after . Dick followed with a 23 - yard TD scamper , cutting it to a 17 – 14 WIU lead . Leatherneck fullback Javid Milton ran the ball from one yard out to give Western Illinois a 24 – 14 lead . Freshman receiver Greg Childs then caught a Dick aerial at the 7 : 58 mark in the fourth quarter , with Dick running in the game winning score with only 1 : 49 remaining . Western Illinois was ranked 22nd in the Football Championship Subdivision entering the contest . Louisiana - Monroe . Arkansas is undefeated in the series , with the last game against the Warhawks in 2006 , when Arkansas defeated Louisiana - Monroe 44 – 10 . The 2008 game was played at War Memorial Stadium and marked the 8th time the two programs have played each other . Michael Smith began the scoring with a 13 - yard run to paydirt for the Hogs , but Alex Tejada missed the extra point , giving the Hogs only a 6 – 0 lead . The Warhawks responded with a one - yard pass from fifth - year senior QB Kinsmon Lancaster to Anthony McCall , and Jeremy Gener added a 20 yard field goal to give Monroe a 10 – 6 lead . Lancaster again hit McCall in the third quarter , this time from 33 yards away , and Gary Fraizer added another Warhawk score to open up a 24 – 6 advantage over the Razorbacks . The Razorbacks responded with an eight - yard strike to DJ Williams from Casey Dick . The two hooked up again for a two point conversion , cutting the Warhawk advantage to 24 – 14 . Gener added a field goal with 12 : 56 remaining in the fourth quarter , but Smith would score again , this time followed by a Shay Haddock completed extra point , cutting the deficit to six . Williams caught a touchdown with eighty - two seconds left , and Haddock connected on the game winning extra point . . Lancaster would set Gener up with a game - winning opportunity , but he missed the 45 - yard attempt right . Alabama . Arkansas entered SEC play at home against the Alabama Crimson Tide , as a 9 point underdog . Alabama received the opening kickoff and scored first on their opening drive . The opening drive was helped by a roughing the kicker penalty against Arkansas allowing Alabama to retain possession . Arkansas put together a drive out to midfield on their first drive of the game , but were forced to punt . On the first play of their next drive , Alabama running back Glen Coffee ran 87 yards on the first play for Alabama ' s second touchdown . At the end of the first quarter , Alabama defensive back Javier Arenas intercepted Casey Dick and returned it 31 yards for a touchdown to put Alabama up 21 – 0 . Arkansas started their next drive at their own 47 yard line after a 41 yard kickoff return by Dennis Johnson , and drove 53 yards for a touchdown on fourth down and 1 from the Alabama 12 yard line . Alabama responded with a 68 yard touchdown drive , capped off by a 25 yard touchdown pass from John Parker Wilson to Julio Jones . On Arkansas ' s next possession , Alabama corner Justin Woodall intercepted Casey Dick at the Alabama 26 yard line and returned it 74 yards for a touchdown . Arkansas would put together another solid drive , but facing a first and goal at the Alabama one yard line , Alabama stopped Arkansas on 4 plays for a goal line stand . At the half , Alabama was up 35 – 7 . Arkansas received the second half kickoff and Alabama ' s Marquis Johnson intercepted Casey Dick ' s pass on the first play of the second half , setting up a 31 yard touchdown run by Glen Coffee . By the end of the 3rd quarter , both teams had put in their substitutes . On Alabama ' s first possession of the fourth quarter , backup quarterback Greg McElroy ' s pass was intercepted by Ramon Broadway , setting up a 10 yard touchdown pass by Arkansas second string quarterback Tyler Wilson . But on the first play of Alabama ' s next drive , running back Roy Upchurch ran 62 yards for Alabama ' s final touchdown . The final score was 49 – 14 , the largest margin of victory in the series since Arkansas beat Alabama 42 – 6 in 1998 . Texas . One of the biggest match - ups between Arkansas and Texas was the 1969 Game of the Century , which pitted # 1 Texas and # 2 Arkansas in Fayetteville to determine the national championship ; Texas won 15 – 14 . In the most recent match - up between the two programs , the Longhorns achieved a 22 – 20 win against an unranked Arkansas team . The two schools were once conference foes in the Southwest Conference and Texas leads the series 55 – 21 – 0 . The 2008 game was scheduled to be played on September 13 , 2008 , but the potential severe weather from Hurricane Ike postponed the game . The game was rescheduled and was played in Darrell K Royal - Texas Memorial Stadium on September 27 , 2008 . Hunter Lawrence of Texas began the scoring with a 34 - yard field goal . This was followed by an eight yard Colt McCoy pass to Jordan Shipley resulting in a touchdown . With a 10 – 0 lead , Cody Johnson scored for the Longhorns , giving a 17 – 0 cushion . Arkansas kicker Shay Haddock connected on a 30 - yard boot , but McCoy ran for two more touchdowns , of five and thirty - five yards respectively , before halftime . After halftime , Texas continued to roll , with McCoy TD passes to Quan Cosby and Shipley . Aaron Williams returned an interception eighty - one yards for another Texas score , prompting Arkansas ' lone touchdown , an eighty yard fumble return by defensive end Antwain Robinson with 2 : 20 in response . The win gave Texas the largest margin of victory in the rivalry since the 1916 edition , a 52 – 0 drubbing at Clark Field . Florida . The two programs last played each other in the 2006 SEC Championship Game where # 4 Florida defeated # 8 Arkansas 38 – 28 . The game was played at Donald W . Reynolds Razorback Stadium and marked the eighth time the two programs have played each other , with Florida leading the series 7 – 1 – 0 . The game ' s scoring began with Florida standout QB Tim Tebow ' s shovel pass to Brandon James for a touchdown . After both teams punted , Florida punted to Michael Smith of Arkansas , who fumbled , giving the Gators the ball . Jeffery Demps scored from 36 yards out to make it a 14 – 0 Florida advantage . Arkansas had a chance to score before halftime , but the Casey Dick pass was intercepted at the goalline . Gator kicker Jonathan Phillips hit a field goal from 37 yards out to push the UF edge to 17 – 0 . Michael Smith and the Hogs responded with a drive that ended with a Smith rushing touchdown of six yards to cut the deficit to 17 – 7 . Tebow then threw his first interception of the year to redshirt freshman Jerry Franklin , but the Hogs could not capitalize . Florida went on a scoring tear , first with Tebow throwing a 21 - yard touchdown to Percy Harvin , followed by Chris Rainey ' s 75 - yard rushing score and Demps ' score of 48 yards . Dick passed Joe Ferguson on the school ' s all - time passing list to become seventh all - time in the fourth quarter . Auburn . In the 2007 contest , Wes Byrum kicked his second game - winning field goal giving # 25 Auburn a 9 – 7 victory . The 2008 game was played at Jordan - Hare Stadium and marked the 18th time the two programs have played each other with Auburn leading the series 10 – 7 – 1 . Three days prior to the contest , Auburn fired offensive coordinator Tony Franklin , a proponent of the spread offense . In Arkansas ' fourth - straight AP Top 25 game ( all four opponents were in the top 10 when the trip began ) , the Hogs finally prevailed , 25 – 22 , giving head Hog Bobby Petrino his first SEC victory . The Razorbacks began the scoring , a Shay Haddock field goal with 6 : 46 remaining in the first quarter . On the ensuing Tiger possession , Tristan Davis returned the kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown , giving a 7 – 3 lead to Auburn . The second quarter began with a Wes Byrum field goal before the Razorbacks pieced together a touchdown drive , culminating in a one yard Casey Dick rush . It appeared that the teams would enter halftime tied at 10 , but a pass was deflected in to the hands of an Auburn receiver , who set up another Byrum field goal to give the Tigers a 13 – 10 edge at the half . One part of the Tiger ' s QB carousel , Kodi Burns , a Ft . Smith native , scored from two yards out , giving Auburn a 20 – 10 lead in the third quarter . Arkansas responded with a reverse pass from true freshman receiver Joe Adams to Casey Dick , but the Haddock extra point was blocked , giving Auburn a four point lead . The Hogs added a Haddock field goal to start the fourth quarter , cutting the lead to 20 – 19 , before Smith broke free and outran Auburn defenders 63 yards for the longest rushing touchdown of the season . Up five points , Arkansas punter Jeremy Davis ran out of the endzone for an intentional safety , cutting the lead to 3 . Burns threw three incompletions , and on fourth down was intercepted by Matt Hewitt , sealing the victory for Arkansas . Kentucky . Arkansas ' last met Kentucky in the 2007 contest in Fayetteville , Arkansas , which resulted in a 42 – 29 victory for # 23 Kentucky when Andre Woodson led the team to a second half comeback against Arkansas . The 2008 game was played at Commonwealth Stadium and marked the 6th time the two programs have played each other with Kentucky leading the series 3 – 2 – 0 . Ole Miss . In the 2007 contest , Arkansas defeated Ole Miss 44 – 7 . The 2008 game was played at Donald W . Reynolds Razorback Stadium and marked the 55th time the two programs have played each other with Arkansas leading the series 29 – 24 – 1 . Tulsa . The 2008 game against Tulsa was Arkansas ' homecoming game and was played at Donald W . Reynolds Razorback Stadium . This marked the 71st time the two programs have played each other with Arkansas leading the series 51 – 16 – 3 . South Carolina . In the 2007 contest , Arkansas defeated South Carolina 48 – 36 as South Carolina gave up 542 rushing yards . The 2008 game was played at Williams - Brice Stadium and marked the 17th time the two programs have played each other with Arkansas leading the series 10 – 6 – 0 . Mississippi State . In the 2007 contest , Casey Dick threw a career - high four touchdowns passes that allowed Arkansas to defeat Mississippi State 45 – 31 . The 2008 game was played at Davis Wade Stadium and marked the 19th time the two programs have played each other with Arkansas leading the series 12 – 5 – 1 . LSU . The defending national champions LSU Tigers sought to reclaim the Golden Boot after losing it at Death Valley when unranked Arkansas beat then # 1 LSU 50 – 48 in triple overtime . The 2008 game was originally scheduled to be played on November 29 , 2008 but was moved to November 28 , 2008 to accommodate a national broadcast by CBS Sports . The game was played at War Memorial Stadium and marked the 13th time the two teams play for the Golden Boot . The game also marked the 54th time the two programs have played each other with LSU leading the series 33 – 18 – 2 . The outcome of the game was decided by a touchdown pass by quarterback Casey Dick to receiver London Crawford in the last twenty seconds of the game to tie the game . A successful extra point kick gave the Razorbacks a one point lead which LSU failed to overcome in the remaining seconds , thus allowing Arkansas to retain possession of the Golden Boot for another year .