Preseason All-SEC only a starting point
on 2008-07-24
Optimistic Arkansas football fans only need to go back one year to find a reason to dismiss the Razorbacks' skimpy representation on the Preseason All-Southeastern Conference team.

Only three Razorbacks are among the 73 players on the first three offensive and defensive units selected by the coaches, and that won't change much when the media's preseason team is revealed on Friday. The sparse number should be no surprise. Keep in mind that the preseason roll-call is history-based and does not necessarily project results. Also, remember that all of Arkansas' proven playmakers are gone.
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Hogs staff tries its luck at Las Vegas tournaments
on 2008-07-24
Name a college basketball coach, and he’s probably here or will be soon. The city is hosting three summer basketball tournaments put on by the major shoe companies — Reebok, Adidas and Nike — and Tuesday was the first day college coaches could evaluate prospects. They will be able to do so until July 31. Arkansas assistants Tom Ostrom and Rob Evans have been seen around town looking at prospects. Coach John Pelphrey reportedly started out in Orlando, Fla., at the 15-and-under national AAU tournament, but he also is expected to be in Las Vegas watching recruits. One of Arkansas’ top targets for the 2009 recruiting class is Shawn Williams of DeSoto, Texas, who is considered one of the better swingmen in the country.
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And the storylines begin in the SEC
on 2008-07-23
It almost looked like the red carpet at a blockbuster movie premier.

Hundreds of excited fans were lined up on both sides of the walkway as security escorted the man of the hour — accompanied by an entourage — to a room full of reporters.

But this wasn’t a red carpet event. It wasn’t even a celebrity event — unless you just happen to be a rabid Alabama football fan.

Instead, this was the environment Alabama football coach Nick Saban created as he walked into the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover for SEC media days last year. -=- READ MORE... (Link opens in a new window)

SEC MEDIA DAYS
on 2008-07-23
nothing announces that the college football season is about to start more than the three-day media circus that is the Southeastern Conference Media Days in Hoover, Ala.

Hundreds of reporters — and dozens of crazed Alabama fans — will crowd into the Wynfrey Hotel this week to hear what SEC coaches and players have to say.

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Petrino says he doesn’t miss NFL
on 2008-07-23
Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino doesn't miss anything about the NFL, not even the paychecks. Petrino made an appearance Tuesday on ESPN's College Football Live show and sat down for a taped interview with host Brent Musburger. -=- READ MORE... (Link opens in a new window)

Dick, other UA QBs ready for fresh start
on 2008-07-22
Going into the Arkansas Razorbacks' preseason football camp, Casey Dick is the unquestioned and nearly unchallenged starter at quarterback.

Though the senior from Allen, Texas, ended the past three seasons as the Hogs' starter, he's never been more comfortable or confident in his role with the Razorbacks than under firstyear head coach Bobby Petrino and his latest quarterback coach Garrick McGee.

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Time 'right' for ESPN, Petrino to get together
on 2008-07-22
Bobby Petrino will appear on ESPN for the first time as coach of the Arkansas Razorbacks in a taped interview today at 2: 30 p.m. Central.

Petrino's appearance on College Football Live with Brent Musburger is scheduled to be taped a couple of hours before the telecast.

Arkansas fans have been critical of ESPN in recent months.
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Prospects strut stuff for UA staff
on 2008-07-22
Monitoring Arkansas’ Senior Camp on Saturday was a little bit like watching stocks on Wall Street.

Some of the 295 athletes from 10 states saw their value rise, while others saw their stock fall. And a very few could be in line for a scholarship offer in the near future.
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What will Petrino do with Mallett this season?
on 2008-07-21
Ryan Mallett may very well be the Arkansas Razorbacks' next great quarterback, but what do the Hogs do with the redshirting star-in-waiting this season ?

Do you send him to the scout team to run opponent's plays for the defense, or do you have him stay with the offense to observe plays to get the hang of the offense, while Casey Dick and whomever turns out to be his back-ups take the snaps in practice ?

I'm not sure how firstyear Razorbacks head football coach Bobby Petrino and Razorbacks quarterback coach Garrick McGee will answer that question, but I'm sure they've put more than just a little thought into it.
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Hogs join in on latest hoops rage
on 2008-07-21
Demanding a practice floor in addition to the home court has become all the rage with bigtime men's college basketball coaches.

Such a rage that raging about them spending unnecessarily during hard economic times and soaring energy costs likely will fall on deaf ears.

Probably the coach not pleading for a practice facility isn't doing his job, lest he be perceived as indifferent to competition one-upping his program.

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Even after death, Eells' voice resonates
on 2008-07-21
So, I'm driving down the road one day last week when a commercial comes on the radio.

This wasn't just any commercial, mind you, but one touting the fact a local radio station will carry the broadcasts of Arkansas' football games this fall. What made me reach for the volume knob, though, was the voice of Paul Eells.

Whoever made that commercial deserves a raise because, nearly two years after his untimely death, an audio clip of Paul saying, "Touchdown Arkansas !" still causes goosebumps even during the dog days of summer. If you're of a certain age, in fact, hearing Paul takes you back to another time entirely.
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UA's secondary proves better than expected going into fall camp
on 2008-07-21
as the Razorbacks worked through spring ball, it became apparent that the positions of safety and cornerback were no longer considered a weakness by first-year head coach Bobby Petrino.

" I like our secondary, " Petrino said following spring drills. " I think we have depth at corner and depth at safety. I do think we have a freshman or two who are very talented and can compete to help us there. "

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McDonnell expects Hogs to win national title next year
on 2008-07-19
Former Arkansas track coach John McDonnell doesn't expect the Razorbacks to miss a beat next year without the program's reins in his hands. In fact, he made a bold prediction for first-year coach Chris Bucknam's Razorbacks on Friday during a speaking engagement for the Fayetteville Chamber of Commerce.

" I think, and I don't want to put a lot of pressure on Chris, but I think he's going to win the national championship next year with that team, " said McDonnell, who retired in June after 36 years on the job and 42 national championships.

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Long not likely to stand pat despite facilities aces in hand
on 2008-07-19
Enhancing Arkansas' athletic facilities was not a front-burner issue when Jeff Long took over as athletic director on the first day of 2008.

But that doesn't mean there is not a basketball practice facility to construct and an athletic complex to update.

"We're good, [and ] at one time we were great, but others have caught up," Long said earlier this summer. "We want to stay at the top. That's a clear message from our fans, so I'm excited to look at those things."
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Cornerback gives word to Arkansas
on 2008-07-19
Arkansas picked up a big oral commitment from one of the nation's finest cornerbacks and track sprinters Friday afternoon. David Gordon had more than 20 scholarship offers but chose Arkansas over LSU and Oklahoma.

Gordon, 6-0, 175 pounds, has 4. 4 speed in the 40-yard dash and has recorded times of 10. 41 in the 100 meters and 21. 22 in the 200 at Tulsa East Central. He planned to commit at Arkansas' football camp today but decided to go ahead and pull the trigger.
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Juniors Taking Leadership Role Seriously
on 2008-07-17


“The three of us are ready to lead, and that means going as hard as we can all the time and doing the right things on and off the court,” Beverley said. “And that’s all the time — on and off the court. I’ll be honest, it’s hard. But it’s worth it.”

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Hoops coaches critical of NBA's 19-year-old rule
on 2008-07-17
Since its inception two years ago, the NBA's 19-year-old rule has been widely panned by SEC coaches. Wednesday's SEC Men's Summer Basketball Teleconference provided another opportunity to decry the rule, which requires players to be 19 and a year removed from their final year of high school before they're eligible to enter the league.

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SEC Coaches back, unsure of recruiting age guideline
on 2008-07-17
Florida head coach Billy Donovan's penchant to recruit high school sophomores or younger isn't necessarily viewed by his SEC colleagues as wrong, but the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC ) is trying provide a strong voice in favor of ending it. -=- READ MORE... (Link opens in a new window)

Pelphrey has tamed excitement about incoming UA class
on 2008-07-17
When prompted to discuss the prospects of his returning starters for one minute, Arkansas basketball coach John Pelphrey only needed four seconds.

" Well, we don't have a whole lot of them. I can say that, " Pelphrey said quickly in his opening remarks on an SEC teleconference Wednesday.

Junior guard Patrick Beverley, who contemplated a transfer to the University of South Florida in the offseason according to reports, is the lone returning starter for the Razorbacks.
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Petrino's Practice Countdown
on 2008-07-17
For the past few months, a large digital clock inside Arkansas’ weight room has counted down the days, minutes and seconds to when the Razorbacks will hold their first fall practice.

The clock serves as a constant reminder.

It was set so those football players who walk by know exactly how long they have until Arkansas starts the first period of its first practice on the first day of preseason camp.


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The Last Tour Stop - Cherry Creek offensive lineman Taylor Paxton
on 2008-07-16
Englewood (CO) Cherry Creek offensive guard Taylor Paxton (6-5, 260) - a former Arkansan - decided to take on an ambitious summer camp tour of college football programs, it was really nothing to get all that worked up about.

That tour – which has included camp stops at Mississippi State, Georgia, North Carolina, Kansas State and Alabama – will end Saturday when he goes through Arkansas’ one-day event.

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Long, UA Exploring Pay-Per-View Options
on 2008-07-10
Arkansas could begin offering televised football pay-per-view broadcasts as early as this season.

Athletic director Jeff Long said Wednesday he anticipates "having at least one" game that will be available for viewing in 2008. Long pointed to the additional revenue that and the potential for reaching more fans as motivating factors.
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Coaches happy to return to SEC campuses after finding that NFL doesn't suit them
on 2008-07-10
Four SEC coaches - a third of the league - went to the NFL and three of them disliked it so much that they bolted as soon as possible. Rather than try another NFL job, they're back in the college game.

"I think what has happened is that we all realized it's a lot more fun coaching in college than it was in the NFL," said South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier, who bolted after his second year with the Washington Redskins.

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Despite loyalty to Nutt, players stay at UA
on 2008-07-10
Those who played for the late Vince Lombardi shared how they were treated by the Green Bay coaching legend.

"He treats us all the same," a Packer was quoted, "like dogs."

No Razorback has been that acidly descriptive of first-year Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino and Jason Veltkamp, the strength coach Petrino brought to Arkansas.
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Florida brings long run of success against Hogs to Fayetteville
on 2008-07-10
Florida was all Tim Tebow all the time in 2007. Tebow did it all for the Gators on the ground and through the air. He became the first sophomore ever to earn college football's most prestigious honor, the Heisman Trophy.

But Tebow alone couldn't elevate the Gators back to their pedestal among college football's elite. A 9-4 finish and 41-35 loss in the Capital One Bowl was disappointing by Florida standards, especially coming off a national championship season.
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