CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In crunch time, seniors have to step up. That's the old adage in college sports.
That was missing for Arkansas in the second half of the Belk Bowl in a meltdown for the ages.
The Razorbacks blew a 24-0 halftime lead, handing Virginia Tech five turnovers that led to the 35-24 victory Thursday night. The Hokies needed only 18 minutes of the second-half clock to claim the lead. They had to cover only 30, 44 and 4 yards for the first three scores.
Tight end Jeremy Sprinkle, one of the best of the UA seniors, disappeared two days before the game with a shoplifting incident on what should have been the highlight of his senior year, a night of free stuff at the Belk flagship store.