Arkansas Football: The King of Overtime

Have you ever heard the saying that no matter how good you are there is somebody who is better? It’s usually true there is probably somebody who is better because a lot of people are really good at one thing. It’s like they were born to do that one thing. Tiger Woods was born to hit drives, Lebron James was born to shoot baskets, Roger Federer was born to hit back hands and Arkansas football was “born” to win overtimes.

In the history of Arkansas Razorback football they have tied thirty-nine times and it seems they were tired of it. In 1996 College football adopted a new overtime system and the Arkansas Razorbacks decided they would take advantage of it. Since overtime began the Arkansas Razorbacks have gone 6–1 in overtime games, including the three longest overtime games in history. To make things even more difficult the Arkansas Razorbacks only played at home in one of their seven overtime games.

The most recent overtime win for the Arkansas Razorbacks came at home against Alabama earlier this year. Thanks to some kicking woes from the Alabama Crimson Tide regulation ended in a 17 – 17 tie. In the first overtime the Arkansas Razorbacks failed to score and Alabama kicker Leigh Tiffin missed a field goal that would’ve won it to force a second overtime. After a 1 yard pass by John Parker Wilson to take a 23 – 17 lead the kicking woes bit Alabama again as Leigh Tiffin missed the extra point. It might have looked like a simple botched extra point, but no doubt the mighty Arkansas overtime powers were at work. The Arkansas Razorbacks had the ball third and long when receiver Ben Cleveland got away from the defender and Mitch Mustain found him open for the touchdown. Jeremy Davis made the extra point to win the game 24 – 23. The Arkansas Razorbacks won the double over time, but should we be surprised? Two overtimes is nothing, the Arkansas Razorbacks are used to playing six or seven overtimes.