What was the most underrated hog team you have seen in the past?

[Sweet Feet]

Who would it be

[bruisemeister]

How far back to you go?  The 1985 team went 10-2. The only losses were by 2 to Texas and 4 to ATM. They won the only bowl for Ken Hatfield beating Sport magazine's preseason #1 team, AZ State in the Holiday Bowl. They had a great offensive line led by Limbo Parks. The running game was by committee with Marshall Foreman, Derrick Thomas, Bobby Joe Edmonds and freshman, James Rouse. James Shibest and Donnie Centers were the receivers with Luther Franklin at tight end. Greg Thomas got most of the snaps at quarterback but Mark Calcagni came in for passing situations. Tony Cherico and Rodney Beacham anchored a small but gritty defensive line. Old David Bazzell led the linebacker corps. They had one of the Hogs better secondaries with Greg Lasker, Kevin Wyatt and Kevin Anderson. Kendall Trainer took over for Greg Horne as placekicker after the Texas game. Horne remained as one of the conferences best punters.

[davehog]

The 2003 team was the best Razorback team that has taken the field from 1989 to present. There were more NFL draftees on that team than any other team.  Not only was there a high quantity of players they were drafted high, as well.

On the flip side several didn't pan out so well in the NFL.   

I still think HDN coached that team down from a legit national title contender to barely beating Mizzou in the Independence Bowl.

HDN should have been either fired or forced to move on after that season due to the massive underachievement of that season.

[EastexHawg]

The 1968 team finished 6th in the AP and 9th in the final UPI poll but was probably still underrated.  They went 9-1 in the regular season with the only loss coming at Texas, where the Horns had just embarked on their 30 game win streak.

They followed up the regular season with a two TD win over undefeated SEC champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

I think that type of season today would get you a top three finish.

[Exit Pursued by a Boar]

Who would it be

The 1963 team went 5-5. In 1964 it went undefeated, beating Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl and earning a National Championship everyone but Alabama recognizes.

I would guess it was underrated going into the season.

Frank Broyles' last team in 1976 went 5-5-1. Lou Holtz's first team in 1977 went 11-1, losing only to a Texas team with Earl Campbell 13-9, and blitzing OU in the Cotton Bowl, and even winning one version of the National Championship, even if no one remembers that. I'd have to say that team was also underrated going into the season.

No one expected much from Nutt's first team either, but it did lose its last three games.

Update: seems folks are talking about teams underrated after the season.  I'd still go wilth the 1977 team.

The 1985 team lost two games by a total of six points.  Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

The 1988 team lost its last two games.  Should have beaten Miami, except Atwater dropped an interception and therefore enabled a last minute FG.  They were a might deflated after that and got beat by a Troy Aikman-lead UCLA in the Cotton Bowl.  Win that Miami game, and who knows where we'd have ended up.

EFBAB

[RAZORBACKER60]

The 2006 team was good!  Beat Auburn on the plains 27-7 when they were ranked 3rd in the country. Win the west and should have beaten Florida, thanks Reggie, Lord I was there and watched that punt dropped, one of worst days ever as a razorback.

2003 was good but got drilled by Georgia 30-3 in the SEC championship game was there for that one thank god we partied with some good Georgia fans made the trip at least worth it.

1998 team was WAY underrated. The lose at Tenner was bad which propelled the loss at MSU the next week. That team could have won it all in Houston's first year. May piss some off but Houston was not a bad coach. Went 75-43 at Arkansas, won the west twice and went to eight bowls. Bet CBB will not get close to that, hope I am wrong though.

Anyway Go Hogs!!

[Professor Psychosis]

2003 was good but got drilled by Georgia 30-3 in the SEC championship game was there for that one thank god we partied with some good Georgia fans made the trip at least worth it.

That was 2002.  2003 was the year we beat Texas in Austin then had a crazy comeback to beat Alabama in OT, only to have the phantom holding call on George Wilson negate a 80 yard Matt Jones TD run vs Auburn (we lost), another crazy comeback fall short due to Bua's phantom late hit on the Florida QB (we lost), then an obviously injured Matt Jones failed to produce vs. Eli Manning for the infamous O for October.  We also got drilled by LSU at the end of the year, but it should've been a 10 win season at minimum.  So pretty much...

HDN should have been either fired or forced to move on after that season due to the massive underachievement of that season.

[CDBHawg]

2006 team was superb.

If only that year had not been a soap opera.

[urkillnmesmalls]

The best part of this thread is the completely different viewpoints of what the term "underrated" means in the context of the OP's question.  I'm talking completely across the board from teams that underachieved, to teams predicted not to be great that excelled.      



 

[CDBHawg]

The best part of this thread is the completely different viewpoints of what the term "underrated" means in the context of the OP's question.  I'm talking completely across the board from teams that underachieved, to teams predicted not to be great that excelled.      

Look up 2004-2005's record.

2006 was underrated. Went 7-1 in conference. 2 ST's plays away from being in the BCSNG.

[HeismanHawg]

Agree on 2003 and 2006. However 2006 was still a fun year to watch minus the late post season collapse (The Nutt special) and losing bowl games.

[urkillnmesmalls]

Look up 2004-2005's record.

2006 was underrated. Went 7-1 in conference. 2 ST's plays away from being in the BCSNG.

I agree.  They were a great team, but they just didn't have a passing threat to compliment the running game, or I doubt we lose a game other than the early USC debacle. 

[daBoar]

Would it not be the 1977 football team; they weren't ranked and beat the preseason #1 team?

[1highhog]

The 2006 team was good!  Beat Auburn on the plains 27-7 when they were ranked 3rd in the country. Win the west and should have beaten Florida, thanks Reggie, Lord I was there and watched that punt dropped, one of worst days ever as a razorback.

2003 was good but got drilled by Georgia 30-3 in the SEC championship game was there for that one thank god we partied with some good Georgia fans made the trip at least worth it.

1998 team was WAY underrated. The lose at Tenner was bad which propelled the loss at MSU the next week. That team could have won it all in Houston's first year. May piss some off but Houston was not a bad coach. Went 75-43 at Arkansas, won the west twice and went to eight bowls. Bet CBB will not get close to that, hope I am wrong though.

Anyway Go Hogs!!

He was a piss poor Coach, speaking of course about ole Nutty Buddy.  When he did get talent that was coming to Arkansas regardless, Arkansas born and bred, he pissed it all away.  How do you have DMac, Hillis, and then somehow get Felix and still lose as many games as he did?

[thirrdegreetusker]

The 1988 team lost its last two games.  Should have beaten Miami, except Atwater dropped an interception and therefore enabled a last minute FG.  They were a might deflated after that and got beat by a Troy Aikman-lead UCLA in the Cotton Bowl.  Win that Miami game, and who knows where we'd have ended up.

Both our losses in '88 came to teams that had been ranked #1 that season.

[Großer Kriegschwein]

That was 2002.  2003 was the year we beat Texas in Austin then had a crazy comeback to beat Alabama in OT, only to have the phantom holding call on George Wilson negate a 80 yard Matt Jones TD run vs Auburn (we lost), another crazy comeback fall short due to Bua's phantom late hit on the Florida QB (we lost), then an obviously injured Matt Jones failed to produce vs. Eli Manning for the infamous O for October.  We also got drilled by LSU at the end of the year, but it should've been a 10 win season at minimum.  So pretty much...

I remember that hit. Hate to disagree, but it was high, late and out-of-bounds. But yes, we should have won that game regardless.

[redeye]

The 2007 team underachieved and was underrated, but still beat the eventual national champion on the road.  Even though HDN was coaching, I was still surprised that no one in the media gave Arkansas a chance to beat #1 LSU, while I expected it.

The 2009 team wasn't great, but it was the best 7-5 team in the nation.  It lost controversial, close games on the road to #1 Florida and #15 LSU.  It beat Auburn by 3 TD's the year before Auburn won it all.

[PorkSoda]

The 2003 team was the best Razorback team that has taken the field from 1989 to present. There were more NFL draftees on that team than any other team.  Not only was there a high quantity of players they were drafted high, as well.

On the flip side several didn't pan out so well in the NFL.   

I still think HDN coached that team down from a legit national title contender to barely beating Mizzou in the Independence Bowl.

HDN should have been either fired or forced to move on after that season due to the massive underachievement of that season.

I was thinking the same thing.  he went on to miss bowls in 2004 and 2005 after that.

[DeltaBoy]

How far back to you go?  The 1985 team went 10-2. The only losses were by 2 to Texas and 4 to ATM. They won the only bowl for Ken Hatfield beating Sport magazine's preseason #1 team, AZ State in the Holiday Bowl. They had a great offensive line led by Limbo Parks. The running game was by committee with Marshall Foreman, Derrick Thomas, Bobby Joe Edmonds and freshman, James Rouse. James Shibest and Donnie Centers were the receivers with Luther Franklin at tight end. Greg Thomas got most of the snaps at quarterback but Mark Calcagni came in for passing situations. Tony Cherico and Rodney Beacham anchored a small but gritty defensive line. Old David Bazzell led the linebacker corps. They had one of the Hogs better secondaries with Greg Lasker, Kevin Wyatt and Kevin Anderson. Kendall Trainer took over for Greg Horne as placekicker after the Texas game. Horne remained as one of the conferences best punters.

All of Hatfield s teams were pretty under rated  He won a ton of games but when you give an opponent a month to plan for the Flex bone they were able to stop it.  Our Dismal Bowl history is more depressing than our up and down regular season cycles as Wilson posted about.

[thirrdegreetusker]

another crazy comeback fall short due to Bua's phantom late hit on the Florida QB (we lost),

I was shocked that a veteran player like Bua would do something that dumb. Clearly a personal foul.

[DLUXHOG]

Would it not be the 1977 football team; they weren't ranked and beat the preseason #1 team?

That was an awesome year (I was on the hill then).   Well anyway, I'm claiming the NC that year.....

[Vantage 8 dude]

The 1963 team went 5-5. In 1964 it went undefeated, beating Nebraska in the Cotton Bowl and earning a National Championship everyone but Alabama recognizes.

I would guess it was underrated going into the season.

Frank Broyles' last team in 1976 went 5-5-1. Lou Holtz's first team in 1977 went 11-1, losing only to a Texas team with Earl Campbell 13-9, and blitzing OU in the Cotton Bowl, and even winning one version of the National Championship, even if no one remembers that. I'd have to say that team was also underrated going into the season.

No one expected much from Nutt's first team either, but it did lose its last three games.

Update: seems folks are talking about teams underrated after the season.  I'd still go wilth the 1977 team.

The 1985 team lost two games by a total of six points.  Woulda, shoulda, coulda.

The 1988 team lost its last two games.  Should have beaten Miami, except Atwater dropped an interception and therefore enabled a last minute FG.  They were a might deflated after that and got beat by a Troy Aikman-lead UCLA in the Cotton Bowl.  Win that Miami game, and who knows where we'd have ended up.

EFBAB

Personally I think it'd have to be the '64 team. As pointed out, after going only 5-5 the previous and yet beat (at the time) # 1 Texas in Austin AND win the NC (at least in the mind of the voters who award the Hogs the Grantland Rice Trophy). I honestly can't think of as much accomplished by a squad that literally came out of almost no where the previous season. A totally remarkable one year turn around!

[TOM "tbw1"]

The 1968 team finished 6th in the AP and 9th in the final UPI poll but was probably still underrated.  They went 9-1 in the regular season with the only loss coming at Texas, where the Horns had just embarked on their 30 game win streak.

They followed up the regular season with a two TD win over undefeated SEC champion Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.

I think that type of season today would get you a top three finish.

Too young to have seen it but the 1962 lost to Texas {Austin}and Ole Miss {Sugar Bowl} by four points each time.

[urkillnmesmalls]

Personally I think it'd have to be the '64 team. As pointed out, after going only 5-5 the previous and yet beat (at the time) # 1 Texas in Austin AND win the NC (at least in the mind of the voters who award the Hogs the Grantland Rice Trophy). I honestly can't think of as much accomplished by a squad that literally came out of almost no where the previous season. A totally remarkable one year turn around!

Defense.  I'm not sure how many people have every really looked at the results, but over the course of the last 6 ENTIRE GAMES, we gave up 7 POINTS!!  5 shutouts in a row, and then we gave up 7 to Nebraska. 

I think that was 57 pts total on the year total, prior to the bowl game.  We almost gave that up against SC and Bama last season respectively...EACH! 

Again...better defense, and less turnovers, and we might surprise some people by how much we improve.  How much...who knows, but if LSU and MSU were any indication, it's not like we're an ocean away from competing as some are suggesting. 

[HornetHog]

How far back to you go?  The 1985 team went 10-2. The only losses were by 2 to Texas and 4 to ATM. They won the only bowl for Ken Hatfield beating Sport magazine's preseason #1 team, AZ State in the Holiday Bowl. They had a great offensive line led by Limbo Parks. The running game was by committee with Marshall Foreman, Derrick Thomas, Bobby Joe Edmonds and freshman, James Rouse. James Shibest and Donnie Centers were the receivers with Luther Franklin at tight end. Greg Thomas got most of the snaps at quarterback but Mark Calcagni came in for passing situations. Tony Cherico and Rodney Beacham anchored a small but gritty defensive line. Old David Bazzell led the linebacker corps. They had one of the Hogs better secondaries with Greg Lasker, Kevin Wyatt and Kevin Anderson. Kendall Trainer took over for Greg Horne as placekicker after the Texas game. Horne remained as one of the conferences best punters.

Great group of young men!