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September 16, 2008

Arenas says freshmen will be fine

Crimson Tide junior doesn’t expect youngsters to be intimidated by 1st SEC road trip at Arkansas

By Justin Graves

TUSCALOOSA — Javier Arenas remembers the first time he played at Arkansas.

As the team bus was pulling up to Razorback Stadium in Fayettville, Ark., Arenas remembers looking out the window as a group of rabid Arkansas fans began to taunt Alabama’s players.

Arenas was only a freshman at the time, and the Crimson Tide defensive back admitted he was a little scared.

“When I looked out the window, I saw a bunch of their fans holding cardboard boxes,” Arenas said. “They had a bunch of profanity and stuff written all over them.

“I have to admit, I was a little scared when I saw that. I didn’t know what to think.”

Things have changed since then.

Arenas has played in the most hostile environments the Southeastern Conference has to offer.

Arenas is no longer afraid, so he shouldn’t get rattled when Alabama steps onto the field Saturday at Arkansas.

But what about Arenas’ younger teammates? How will Alabama’s freshmen handle the pressures of an SEC road game?

According to Arenas, Alabama’s talented freshman class should be just fine.

“These guys like Juilo (Jones), Mark (Ingram) and B.J. (Scott), they’re a different breed,” Arenas said. “This group of freshmen is nothing like my group. Nothing is going to intimidate them.

“When I was a freshman, I was a petite thing. I wasn’t that big. These guys are different. They’re the real deal.”

For several Alabama newcomers, this will be their first SEC game. But the Crimson Tide youngsters won’t be alone.

Arkansas is in a similar situation.

Alabama and Arkansas have played more newcomers this season than any other SEC team. And despite the youth movement, the two are a combined 5-0 on the season.

Even though Arkansas (2-0) is undefeated, it hasn’t been an easy road to this point. The Razorbacks had to come from behind to defeat both Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe.

After struggling against a pair of non-BCS conference teams, most experts believe Arkansas will be an underdog against the ninth-ranked Crimson Tide.

Arenas isn’t buying into that quite yet.

“You can’t say Arkansas isn’t as good as most SEC teams just because of a couple games,” he said. “They’re probably saying the same thing about us because of the Tulane game.

“Football teams don’t always play their best against every team. That’s just the way it is. We’re all human.”

After watching film, Arenas knows Alabama’s secondary will be tested this week. After all, first-year head coach Bobby Petrino has turned the Razorbacks into one of the SEC’s better passing teams.

Arenas said he’s ready for the challenge.

“Everyone understands our defense better this year,” Arenas said. “That’s why we’re playing so much better.

“We’re playing a fast football team this week. We just have to be more physical and not give up any big plays.”

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