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Gragg maybe, Gus still a maybe, Leach a definite no

Derrick Gragg may be the new AD … or he may not. Gus Malzahn may be coming … or he may not. Mike Leach, however, couldn’t get a call back when he expressed interest.

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Thursday was one of those days like nobody has seen at Arkansas … ever.

To be fair, it’s because Arkansas has never been in this position before. It’s the first time the athletic director position has been vacant (sorry Julie Cromer Peoples, but you’re not the AD) at the same time as the head football coach.

It started with sources telling us and other media outlets that Tulsa athletics director Derrick Gragg was the choice to be the next AD for the Razorbacks.

That rolled around for a couple of hours before the UA jumped out to walk it back, saying, well, it’s not official.

“No decision has been made,” UA spokesman Mark Rushing told WholeHogSports.com.

Apparently, though, he is the leader in the clubhouse for the job and had no comment in Tulsa when he came out of a board of trustees meeting.

According to sources, Gragg is the choice of the board of trustees. Chancellor Joe Steinmetz, however, is reportedly pushing for former Arkansas quarterback Kevin Scanlon, who has worked at Stephens Inc. for years.

It was reported by other media outlets that the search committee retained this week would still be vetting candidates and no decision expected until midweek next week.

And if you thought confusion was only on that side, the football coach search continued to get more interesting.

There are multiple reports that mercurial Washington State coach Mike Leach reached out regarding the Arkansas position, but there was no interest from the Hogs.

Some fans have had him high on their list, but he will not be considered for the position. That is a good thing because he would be a horribly bad fit at Arkansas in my opinion.

Oh, Leach is entertaining, but has only shared a Big 12 South championship in 2012, was fired at Texas Tech for cause and really hasn’t exactly turned Washington State into a championship contender.

While he may make press conferences interesting, there’s zero proof he’s prepared for what’s required these days in the SEC in terms of recruiting. His only time in the league was offensive coordinator for Hal Mumme at Kentucky from 1997-98.

Scratch Leach off the list.

Gus Malzahn is still the No. 1 choice and more people are starting to believe he’s going to come to Arkansas regardless of how the Tigers fare in the

Even those who didn’t believe it possible two weeks ago are now actually thinking there is a good chance.

Oddsmaker Danny Sheridan, who lives in Alabama, said on a radio show Thursday if the Tigers lost to Georgia on Saturday, Malzahn was headed to Arkansas. He said if they win he puts the odds at 65 percent and if they win the national championship, he said it’s 50-50.

So, Gus MAY still be coming to Arkansas, who doesn’t have an athletic director, although it appears there is a power struggle going on for that position.

And we still don’t know WHO is in charge of anything.

Welcome to the most memorable silly season in Arkansas football history.

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2024 Razorbacks Football

Thu, Aug 29vs UAPB (Little Rock)W, 70-0
Sat, Sep 7@ Oklahoma StateL, 31-39 2OT
Sat, Sep 14vs UABW, 37-27
Sat, Sep 21@ AuburnW, 24-14
Sat, Sep 28vs Texas A&M (Arl)L, 21-17
Sat, Oct 5vs TennesseeW, 19-14
Sat, Oct 19vs LSUL, 34-10
Sat, Oct 26@ Mississippi StateW, 58-25
Sat, Nov 2vs Ole MissL, 63-31
Sat, Nov 16vs TexasL, 20-10
Sat, Nov 23vs Louisiana Tech3:00 PM
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Sat, Nov 30@ Missouri2:30 PM
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2024 High School Rankings

Following is the Arkansas Sports Media High School Football Poll including the Overall Top 10, the top five in Classes 7A, 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A and 2A, plus the top three in the 8-man division, as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending August 24. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and ranking from last week's poll:
OVERALLRecordPtsPrv
1.Bryant (25)10-02681
2.Greenwood (2)10-02343
30Conway9-12022
4.Little Rock Parkview9-11714
5.Bentonville7-31625
6.Benton9-11486
7.Fayetteville8-21117
8.Pulaski Academy8-2898
9.Rogers7-3439
10.Joe T. Robinson9-122
Others receiving votes: Valley View 8, Mountain Home 7, Cabot 6, Little Rock Catholic 6, Shiloh Christian 6, Elkins 1, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Bryant (27)10-01351
2.Conway9-11022
3.Bentonville7-3813
4.Fayetteville8-2454
5.Pulaski Academy8-2395
Others receiving votes: Rogers 3.
CLASS 6A
1.Greenwood (27)10-01351
2.Benton9-11082
3.Mountain Home8-2623
4.Shiloh Christian7-3494
5.Little Rock Catholic9-1345
Others receiving votes: Marion 6.
CLASS 5A
1.Little Rock Parkview (27)9-11351
2.Joe T. Robinson9-11062
3.Valley View10-0793
4.Farmington9-1484
5.Hot Springs Lakeside8-2205
Others receiving votes: Camden Fairview 7, Harding Academy 7, Morrilton 3.
CLASS 4A
1.Elkins (20)10-01261
3.Arkadelphia (5)8-2913
2.Little Rock Mills (1)10-0682
4.Warren8-2554
5.Dardanell (1)9-123
Southside Batesville10-023
Others receiving votes: Malvern 12, Gravette 5, Highland 2.
CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (12)10-01051t
2.Fordyce (10)10-0961t
3.Prescott (1)9-1704
4.Osceola (2)8-1543
5.Booneville (1)9-1395
Others receiving votes: Mansfield (1) 23, Rivercrest 10, Rison 4, Salem 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Carlisle (20)10-01271
2.Conway Christian (7)10-01152
3.Des Arc8-2595
4.East Poinsett Co.7-352
5.Bigelow6-4183
Murfreesboro7-3184
Others receiving votes: Mount Ida 6, Junction City 4, Cross County 3, Poyen 3.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Strong-Huttig (27)5-0811
2.Midland9-0532
3.Cedar Ridge8-1253
Others receiving votes: Woodlawn 3.

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ESPN ARKANSAS 99.5 IN FAYETTEVILLE, 95.3 IN THE RIVER VALLEY, 96.3 IN HOT SPRINGS, 104.3 IN HARRISON-MOUNTAIN HOME.