Bobby Petrino got a chance to clear the air after the ugly 35-7 loss to Alabama today, and also shared some insight into the Hogs’ psyche heading into the Texas A&M game on Saturday in Cowboys Stadium.

— When asked for some areas of the team that showed improvement during the Alabama game, Petrino only mentioned the defense, filling gaps on run defense and pursuing runners.

Petrino opened his press conference reflecting on Alabama today by saying, “You can’t take anything away from them. There’s a reason they’re No. 3 in the country, but I expected us to play better offensively. Defensively, we improved. We improved in the first half, we improved stopping the run. We still have to eliminate big plays.”

The Hogs gave up touchdown plays of 50, 52 and 80 yards.

— A lot of focus today on Ryan Mallett’s struggles against Alabama, obviously. Petrino backed off some criticism today and explained that every quarterback has a game like Ryan Mallett had against the Tide.

“It was a first, but I didn’t give myself a chance,” Mallett said of his 12-of-35 passing performance for 160 yards and 1 touchdown with 1 interception. “I wasn’t getting set in the pocket and setting my feet. I didn’t give my team a chance to win. I hurt my team with the way I played and I can’t do that anymore.”

— Arkansas is excited to play in Cowboys Stadium. Twenty players on the roster are from Texas, Petrino says. In fact, Mallett was a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys growing up.

“Always. Since I was born,” he said.

Mallett played in the old Texas Stadium three times during high school.

The new Cowboys Stadium is huge. Safety Matt Harris is so impressed and amazed by some amenities that he joked that the high-definition screen over the center of the field looks fake.

“We’re not going to let that distract us and what we do,” Mallett said of playing in Cowboys Stadium.

— Texas A&M was compared, at least offensively, to the Tulsa offense the Hogs faced last season. The comparisons came from safety Matt Harris and defensive end Tenarius Wright today.

The Aggies lead the nation in total offense, but haven’t been tested by any tough teams this season. Their head coach, Mike Sherman, even realizes it.

“You have to keep it in perspective,” the Aggies coach said today during a teleconference. “We haven’t played a team the likes of Arkansas yet, or any of the Big 12 opponents. So it’s a little bit skewed that way.

“It’s important, as I remind people here, that yhou have to keep things in perspective.”

— As for why the media didn’t get a chance to talk to the Arkansas assistant coaches after the ‘Bama game, Petrino drew a few chuckles with his explanation.

“It’s a misunderstanding,” Petrino said. “After the game, I did get on the players and the last thing I said, ‘Guys, let’s get in the shower, get dressed and get on the bus.’ The coaches did the same thing, so by the time [media relations director] Zack [Higbee] came in to get the coordinators I guess they were on the bus.

“It wasn’t something like, ‘Hey, they’re not talking to the assistant coaches or anything like that.’ We get our butts kicked, they need to face the music just like I do. I’d rather say, ‘Hey, I’m on the bus and you talk to the coordinators.’ We can do that if it ever happens again,” Petrino continued, prompting a few laughs.”

Much more throughout the week on WholeHogSports.com and in your editions of the Northwest Arkansas Times and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

— Brandon Marcello