ESPN broadcaster rips Arkansas for putrid first half vs. Notre Dame
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
ESPN announcers Dave Pasch and Dusty Dvoracek were on the scene in Fayetteville as Arkansas looked to upset No. 22 Notre Dame at Razorback Stadium.
It didn’t take long for the game to snowball out of control. The Fighting Irish opened up a 14-0 lead that eventually grew to 42-13 at the halftime break. They had the ball six times in the first half and found the end zone all six times, outgaining the Razorbacks 420-207.
The Hogs entered the game looking to bounce back from a 32-31 loss to Memphis despite holding an 18-point lead late in the second quarter. But any hopes of getting back in the win column were out the window long before halftime.
One play that encapsulated the afternoon for the Razorbacks came late in the second quarter, as a Raylen Sharpe fumble turned into a touchdown the other way as the Fighting Irish took it in two plays later.
“An embarrassing first half by the home team but a highlight show from the road team,” Pasch said afterwards. “A lot of people were wondering after Arkansas had two heartbreaking losses, turning the ball over the last two weeks, going into potentially win both games, how they would respond. We have our answer.”
Pasch’s assessment wasn’t the harshest one. Social media was filled with reactions throughout the first half, especially after Notre Dame’s sixth touchdown.
Arkansas has a bye week before it visits Tennessee in Week 7. After Saturday’s performance against the Irish, there’s certainly no assurance that Sam Pittman will have a job by then.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
