HOOVER, Ala. — Think you’re tired of hearing about the second half collapses from the Arkansas football program? Imagine how the players feel. Judging by their comments Monday during the first day of the 2017 edition of SEC Media Days, there will be no repeat breakdowns suffered this season.

Accountability and leadership within the program have been pushed all offseason, as coach Bret Bielema made the surprise announcement of naming team captains in the spring. With three of the four captains in Hoover — quarterback Austin Allen, center Frank Ragnow and defensive back Kevin Richardson all made the trip — it’s clear Arkansas is eager to showcase the program’s leaders heading into 2017.

During his media availability, Richardson spoke highly of the team’s dedication and focus shown this offseason.

“We talk about setting the bar (this offseason). We set the bar last year, and it wasn’t exactly where we wanted it to be,” Richardson said. “Now we talk about raising it, carrying everybody to a higher standard.”

According to the Arkansas senior, his words are much more than lip service, as the program has displayed a more focused and dedicated approach to the offseason.

“This is the first spring we’ve been through without anybody missing workouts, being late to practice, being late to meetings,” Richardson continued. “We hold each other accountable, we hold each other to a higher standard.”

"We talk about setting the bar (this offseason). We set the bar last year, and it wasn't exactly where we wanted it to be. Now we talk about raising it, carrying everybody to a higher standard." -- Kevin Richardson

There’s no hiding the fact Arkansas has earned a reputation as a first half team, something Allen acknowledges but said the team has been using as motivation this offseason.

“That’s been our MO since the Virginia Tech game. It starts with winter conditioning. When you think you’re done, run another five sprints, getting in extra film work, all that stuff,” Allen said. “Go back and watch the second half of the Missouri game, going back and watching the second half of the Virginia Tech game, it stings. It really drove us all offseason, that was embarrassing for us. Something that can’t happen again this year.”

Ragnow, the team’s preseason All-American candidate at center went so far as to put the team’s failures squarely on the shoulders of the players while pointing out the leadership was lacking during critical situations.

"Go back and watch the second half of the Missouri game, going back and watching the second half of the Virginia Tech game, it stings. It really drove us all offseason, that was embarrassing for us. Something that can't happen again this year." -- Austin Allen

“It’s very frustrating because I don’t think it reflected us as a team, but I also think it was great for us overall, in the long run, to realize we need to finish, we need to be accountable, we need to be consistent,” Ragnow said. “The leaders didn’t step up the way they needed to step up and ultimately, I think it was on the players.

“That’s one thing this offseason we really focused on. We want to be the most consistent team from start to finish, we want to be accountable to each other. We want to know that we’re going to play from minute one all the way through.”