TIDE-RAZORBACKS NOTEBOOK: Ejection mars thrilling Alabama-Arkansas game

TUSCALOOSA | Saturday night’s game was marred by an ugly ejection play that could have been a lot worse than it was.

The incident occurred on a 9-yard carry by redshirt freshman Terry Grant, in which senior left guard Justin Britt and junior defensive lineman Earnest Mitchell were still wrestling with each other after falling over junior tight end Nick Walker, who subsequently limped off the field.

After the play appeared to be over, and Grant was already on the ground, Mitchell ripped off Britt’s helmet and swung it back into the senior’s unprotected head.

Mitchell was immediately ejected from the game, and could face a suspension.

“We were going at it all game,” Britt said. “I guess he got caught up in the emotions.”

Britt left the field for one play, and was replaced by sophomore Evan Cardwell, but returned for the rest of the game.

Walker returned to catch a 2-yard touchdown on the following possession.

“I didn’t see it happen on the field,” Coach Nick Saban said. “They told me what happened. There’s really no place in college football for that.

“There’s on excuse for responding that way.”

“There were some stupid things we did,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said. “Ernest Mitchell is one of them. You can’t do that. That’s ridiculous. No matter how many times he gets hit in the head he can’t swing back. He knows better than that. That’s really bad and I’m very disappointed in that. That’s probably the most disappointing thing in the game to me.”

Grant nears records

Redshirt freshman running back Terry Grant had 96 rushing yards on 20 carries for an 4.8 average, and is already closing in on a number of Alabama freshman rushing records. Through Saturday’s game he has 403 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Alabama’s freshman rushing records are:

Rushing yards: Kerry Good (1983), 693.

Touchdowns: Shaun Alexander (1996), six.

Yards per carry: Alexander, 7.6.

Meanwhile, Arkansas had 301 rushing yards, led by Darren McFadden’s 195 — even though he sustained a slight concussion in the fourth quarter — and Felix Jones’ 96. McFadden’s 33 carries was a career high.

“Those guys are great,” Grant said.

Nutt defends decision to pass on key third down

After Alabama used its final timeout, Nutt had a play-calling decision to make on third-and-12. With all-everything running back Darren McFadden sidelined with a slight concussion and the Crimson Tide crowding the line, Nutt decided to throw the ball instead of trying to drain more time with a running play.

Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick rolled to his right and threw an incomplete pass intended for Robert Johnson. The errant throw stopped the clock for Alabama with just over 2 minutes remaining, and forced the Razorbacks to give possession back with a punt.

“Well, they had 10 guys up there,” Nutt said. “I thought maybe we could get outside of them and have a one on one. If we get a first down the game was over. We told Casey to run the ball if the receiver was covered. I wish he would have just ran it. We could’ve gotten maybe 10 more seconds out of the deal.”

Injuries

Saban said senior receiver DJ Hall has been playing with a sore quad, which is why he didn’t play in most of the second half for fear of a tear. However, he was on the field during the final drive.

Senior linebacker Keith Saunders, who led Alabama with 10 tackles, appeared to aggravate a shoulder injury and had to leave the game in the fourth quarter, but return.

Senior linebacker Darren Mustin sustained a shoulder stinger injury early in the second quarter. He returned the subsequent series, but lasted just two plays and soon after left for the locker room. With sophomore Prince Hall substituting for freshman Rolando McClain at the time, junior Demarcus Waldrop was the immediate replacement, but the tow then slid into a rotation, using Hall in running situations and Waldrop mostly against the pass.

Tide-bits

Capital One Bowl officials attended Saturday’s game. Arkansas lost to Wisconsin in last year’s game, 17-14. … Kickoff was delayed approximately 10 minutes by ESPN. This was Alabama’s first home game broadcasted by the network since 2003. Overall, the Tide is 165-108-5 in televised games. … All three kickers warmed up, Leigh Tiffin, Jamie Christensen and Andrew Friedman. However, Christensen, who is still recovering from a groin injury, only attempted short kicks. Tiffin had his right shoulder pop out of joint during the opening kickoff, resulting in Friedman making the first extra-point attempt. Tiffin made field goals of 24 and 42 yards, but missed from 37. … Freshman linebacker Chavis Williams replaced Eryk Anders on the opening kickoff. … Team captains were seniors Chris Capps, Marcus Carter and Simeon Castille. Honorary captains were Paul Boschung (1967-69), Derrick Lassic (1989-92), Antonio Langham (1990-93), and Sam Shade (1991-94). Incidentally, Langham was briefly coached by Saban when both were with the Cleveland Browns.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.

Reach Michael Southern at michael.southern@tuscaloosanews.com.