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    Auburn Football Practice Report Tigers hold their final practice prior facing SEC opponent Arkansas
    Darvin Adams

    Darvin Adams

    Oct. 8, 2009

    AUBURN, Ala. - The Auburn football team held its final practice prior to Saturday's game at Arkansas, practicing for a little less than two hours at the practice fields behind the Athletics Complex.

    Thursday's workout was a situational practice in shorts and helmets with no contact, as the Tigers went over final preparations for Saturday's game. The squad went through every aspect of special teams and worked against the scout teams as well. Auburn will leave for Fayetteville on Friday afternoon for the Tigers' second road trip of the season.

    Auburn meets Arkansas for the 19th time in history as the Tigers hold a 10-7-1 advantage overall. Arkansas has won two of the last three meetings, including last season when the Razorbacks knocked off the then-No.20 Tigers 25-22. Earlier this week during his Tuesday press conference, head coach Gene Chizik talked about the challenge of playing the team's first afternoon game of the season, and about Arkansas' high-powered offensive attack.

    "This is uncharted territory for us," said Chizik of the early start. "All of our games have been night games so far and it will be interesting. For early games we get up, eat, then play, but it shouldn't really affect us. This does create a new series of things that we will encounter, especially with such a young team. Not only is this an SEC road game, it is also an 11:00 game, but that shouldn't matter."

    "It is unbelievable when you face all these high-powered offenses. The explosiveness and ability to score points makes it tough. When you look at the offenses throughout the country, it would be hard to ignore the SEC. Coach Petrino has always had a high-powered offense and that hasn't changed. It reminds me of some of the offenses in the Big 12 that can score at will," said Chizik of the offenses.

    The Tigers will have their hands full with the Arkansas offense, led by sophomore quarterback Ryan Mallett. The Razorbacks have opened the season by scoring 40-or-more points the three of their four first contests. Mallett is also tied for eighth nationally with 11 passing touchdowns on the season with 11. Arkansas also enters the contest with the 18th ranked offense in the nation and top passing offense in the SEC. Defensively, Malcolm Sheppard leads the team with 5.5 tackles for loss this season. The Razorbacks also ranked No. 6 nationally in kickoff returns averaging 29.3 yards a return.

     

     

    Saturday's game will kick off at 11 a.m. CT from Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The game will be televised by ESPN and on the radio by ESPN Radio.

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