East Carolina defensive tackle Jay Ross (90) lies on the field after East Carolina lost to Arkansas 20-17 in overtime at the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Some things are free. Like, say, the Arkansas’s victory over East Carolina at the Liberty Bowl. I attended this rather cold and frustrating event January 2 in Memphis. My watching companion and I hovered at one of the stadium’s exit as East Carolina’s kicker, Ben Hartman, attempted a field goal at the Arkansas 22 yard line with 3 seconds remaining. The score was tied 17-17 and it seemed inevitable that ECU would take the win leaving Arkansas with yet another bowl game loss. After watching a disappointing, messy game, I truly expected to make my solemn way towards the car, head down, hands jammed in pockets after this kick. Hartman had just missed a 40-ish yard field goal that shanked off the left goalpost only minutes before. This was his second chance to clench the lead and ultimately the win for East Carolina. He missed before; he’ll make it this time. But to the joy of every camo-clad Hog fan in the stands, the dude totally blew it! Instead of exiting, we trickled our way to the tenth row to watch the overtime battle.
East Carolina had possesion first which led to another missed field goal by Hartman. After a few plays, Arkansas’s Alex Tejada kicked from East Carolina’s 20 to score the winning field goal. Arkansas victory, 20-17. I was more relieved than excited for the win but I’m happy Tejada pulled through. To see the final kick and my reaction to it watch this home-video: Arkansas Victory
Arkansas kicker Alex Tejada waves to the fans as he leaves the field after his 37-yard field goal gave the Razorbacks a 20-17 overtime win over East Carolina in the Liberty Bowl NCAA college football game on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
Below you’ll find a video spoof about poor Ben Hartman.
Tags: alex tejada, arkansas football, arkansas razorbacks, ben hartman, east carolina pirates, libery bowl, shannon sturgis, university of arkansas football
It’s a bizarre sensation, as a Razorbacks fan, to say after a win, for once, “Damn, but we did not deserve to win that game.” Maybe this is what it feels like to be an LSU fan.