Arkansas coordinator: Elevator mishap 'had no bearing' on loss to Auburn

The Arkansas coaching staff is downplaying the notion that an elevator malfunction in the season opener at Auburn led to a blowout loss.

"It wasn't that big a deal when we finally got out," said Arkansas offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. "I got to be able to communicate with the coaches down at halftime in the locker room. So it had no bearing on the outcome of that football game."

Four Razorbacks assistant coaches got stuck in an elevator during half-time at Jordan-Hare Stadium on Saturday. The teams were tied 21-21 at the half, but Auburn outscored Arkansas 24-0 in the second half en route to a 45-21 win.

Head coach Bret Bielema also rejected the idea that the incident was to blame for the second-half collapse.

"I'm not trying to make a big deal out of it, they just weren't able to get down there. I don't have the full story on it, I just know they were actually stuck."

The assistant coaches later used a different elevator to get down to the field during the lightning delay in the fourth quarter.

This won't do much to quell the conspiracy theories, but it's just another chapter in the burgeoning rivalry between Arkansas and Auburn.

[H/T Eye on College Football]