By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Is Arkansas, indeed, heading to the Liberty Bowl to play its final game of the season?
Or will the Razorbacks be taking a take a trip to Dallas to play in the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 2?
Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long said the question remained unanswered Monday, as bowl chatter heated up around the Southeastern Conference. Signs indicate the Razorbacks may be Memphis-bound, but Long said nothing is official.
“We’re engaged in bowl conversations,” Long said. “Nothing is official as we understand it. There are many 7-5 teams. There are teams that have eight wins that have two against I-AA opponents. There’s a lot of factors going into this.”
Long’s assessment came after reports indicated Arkansas’ SEC Western Division rival, Ole Miss, had locked up a Cotton Bowl berth and would play Oklahoma State.
ESPN.com’s Ivan Maisel posted a message on Twitter saying Ole Miss’ Houston Nutt indicated the Rebels were going to the Cotton Bowl. A little later, the Tulsa World cited sources as saying the Rebels and Cowboys were expected to meet.
Ole Miss athletic director Pete Boone told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger no invitation had been received Monday.
“Sometimes these rumors get a life of their own,” Boone told the newspaper. “Certainly, the Cotton Bowl is a great bowl and a logical destination, but nothing has been decided.”
Ole Miss and Arkansas are among seven SEC teams jockeying for bowl position in a tight pack. The Rebels finished the regular season 8-4. The Hogs are one of six sitting at 7-5.
Arkansas players expressed their interest in the Cotton Bowl last week, but coach Bobby Petrino said after the LSU loss the Razorbacks would be happy playing in any game.
“I don’t know what bowl we’re going to, but we’re definitely going to one and we’ll definitely use it to be a better football team,” Petrino said. “Our young guys will get a lot of practice, hopefully get in a position now when we start spring ball they can compete for a starting job.”
The Liberty Bowl has not been shy about its interest in the Razorbacks this season. Representatives from the Liberty Bowl, which pits an SEC school against the Conference-USA champion, have attended several Arkansas games.
Liberty Bowl executive director Steve Ehrhart said the Razorbacks have been on the bowl’s radar since it reconnected with SEC in 2006. But Ehrhart stopped short of inviting the Hogs on Monday, saying Ole Miss, Auburn and Tennessee were also in consideration to play in the Jan. 2 game.
“We don’t know for sure, yet,” Ehrhart said. “I’m not announcing anything premature. We’ve had contact from a number of the other SEC schools. Until the final announcements are made, nothing is set in stone here.”
However, Ehrhart had a feeling the Rebels would be heading to Dallas because of the Cotton Bowl’s selection history.
“They normally take the team from the West with the best record,” Ehrhart said. “That’s what they normally do. I can’t speak for them, but that’s what they normally do.”
No matter what happens, Long said the Razorbacks are looking forward to any postseason trip after a one-year absence.
“This is an interesting year where a number of (SEC) teams are arriving at the same record,” Long said. “But we’re excited to go to a bowl game regardless of which one it is.”
