Former All-American, Outland Trophy winner Phillips dies at age 75

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Former All-American, Outland Trophy winner Phillips dies at age 75

Arkansas All-American and Outland Trophy winner and College Football Hall of Fame inductee Loyd Phillips died Sunday from complications from a stroke.

He was 75.

Phillips, who grew up in Longview, Texas, was one of the greatest football players in Razorback history, a consensus two-time All-American for Arkansas from 1964-66.

He is one of only two Outland Trophy winners in school history (Bud Brooks is the other), an award annually given to the best interior lineman in college football.

“The Razorback family and college football has lost one of its true legends,” athletics director Hunter Yurachek said in a prepared statement. “Loyd Phillips was a ferocious competitor for coach Frank Broyles in what was a truly golden era of Razorback football.

“As his accomplishments attest, he established himself among the best to ever play college football. However, away from the field, Loyd was a humble gentle giant who made a meaningful difference in the lives of generations of young people in our state through his dedicated service in secondary education.

“He will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Betsy, their son Mackenzie, their daughter JoAnn, the entire Phillips family and all those impacted by the extraordinary life of Loyd Phillips.”

Phillips played defensive tackle for the Hogs in the mid 1960’s and helped the Hogs win a version of the National Championship in 1964.

He was a two-time All American (1965 and 1966) and winner of the 1966 Outland Trophy, recognized as the country’s most outstanding interior lineman.

Philips was a three-time All-Southwest Conference selection (1964-66). Phillips earned 304 career tackles (100 in 1965, 97 in 1966). He played on Razorback teams that compiled a 29-3 record from 1964-66 including a 11-0 1964 national championship season.

As a sophomore, Phillips helped lead a stifling Razorback defense that blanked opponents in the final five games of the 1964 regular season.

He was a first-round draft choice, the No. 10 draft pick overall, by the Chicago Bears and also played for the New Orleans Saints during his NFL career. After pro football, Phillips returned to Arkansas to finish his degree in health education and obtained his master’s degree in administration.

Phillips had a distinguished 37-year career in secondary education, working as an assistant principal and administrator in both the Springdale and Rogers school districts. After retiring, Phillips volunteered his time working with Horses for Healing, a program designed to provide therapy for special needs children.

Phillips was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1992. He is also a member of the University of Arkansas All-Century team, the 1960s All-Decade Team, the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame, the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame, the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame and the Texas Sports Hall of Fame.

Phillips is survived by his wife Betsy, and their son Mackenzie, who also played football for the Razorbacks from 1988-91.

He is also survived by his younger brother Terry Don Phillips, who played for the Razorback from 1966-69 and is a former administrator with Razorback Athletics and the Razorback Foundation.

Catalon, Morgan named to media’s All-SEC first team Saturday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Catalon, Morgan named to media’s All-SEC first team Saturday

Barry Odom’s defense won’t be able to sneak up on anybody next season after Grant Morgan and Jalen Catalon were named to the first team AP All-SEC team Saturday.

Both of those guys are coming back and nothing grabs attention faster than returning all-league players.

Treylon Burks and Jonathan Marshall were named to the AP’s second team.

Morgan is one of only two Razorback defenders in the last 10 seasons to garner AP and coaches’ All-SEC first team honors, joining Martrell Spaight in 2014.

Morgan is tied for the nation’s lead, averaging 12.3 tackles per game while ranking second in the FBS and tops in the SEC with 111 total tackles. He also added five passes broken up, two quarterback hurries, one interception return for a touchdown, 2.0 sacks and a team-leading 7.5 tackles for loss to his season stat line.

The former walk-on recorded two 19-tackle games against Ole Miss and LSU, becoming the first SEC player to do so in a single season since LSU’s Kevin Minter in 2012.

Against Ole Miss, Morgan became the second FBS player since 2000 to total 15 or more tackles with 3.0 tackles for loss and an interception return for a touchdown.

He is the only FBS player this season to record six games of at least 12 tackles. Yesterday, he was named All-SEC first team by the league’s coaches.

Catalon becomes just the second freshman in school history — and first defender — to be named All-SEC first team; the first since running back Darren McFadden in 2005 (AP and Coaches).

He is the only FBS player to make 95+ tackles with three interceptions this season and the first SEC freshman since Tennessee’s Eric Berry in 2007 to have at least 86 stops and three picks.

The dynamic defensive back leads all FBS freshmen with 99 total tackles while also posting 2.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. His 9.9 tackles per game lead all FBS freshmen and rank fourth among all SEC players.

He made a career-best 16 tackles against LSU, and totaled five games of 12 or more tackles, second in the country behind Morgan. Catalon became the first Hog to intercept passes in back-to-back games when he did so against LSU and Florida.

He has also been named to The Athletic’s Freshman All-America first team. Earlier, Catalon was selected All-SEC second team by the coaches,  the first Arkansas defensive back to earn All-SEC honors from the league’s coaches since Michael Grant in 2007.

Burks is the first Arkansas wide receiver to earn All-SEC recognition by both the AP and coaches since Cobi Hamilton in 2012. Burks is ranked fourth in the SEC and 18th nationally with 820 receiving yards, placed sixth in the league with 5.7 receptions per game and seventh with seven touchdowns.

Against Missouri, Burks had 10 catches for a career-high 206 receiving yards, the third-best single-game mark in program history.

The sophomore is tied for sixth in the FBS with six games of 90+ receiving yards. Burks scored a touchdown in three straight games against Ole Miss, Texas A&M and Tennessee, totaling four during that stretch, catching two TDs against the Aggies.

This season, Burks is one of just four FBS players to post 130+ receiving yards and 40+ rushing yards in the same game when he made 11 grabs for 137 yards and ran four times for 46 yards against Ole Miss.

As a freshman last season, Burks was named to the Coaches’ second team as a returner.

Marshall is Arkansas’ first All-SEC defensive lineman since Darius Philon in 2014.

The redshirt senior captain was the only Hog defender to start all 10 regular season games, totaling 35 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sack, one forced fumble and four quarterback hurries.

According to Pro Football Focus, Marshall led the SEC in both run-defense grade (80.8) and run stops (20). His 633 snaps played led SEC interior defensive lineman.

Marshall made all 6.5 tackles for loss in six consecutive games and forced a fumble against No. 1 Alabama.

Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.

Cunningham makes choice to come back to Hogs for another year

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Cunningham makes choice to come back to Hogs for another year

Sam Pittman apparently isn’t recruiting just high school players these days, living up to what he said months ago about wanting several seniors back.

Offensive lineman Myron Cunningham announced Saturday afternoon he’s coming back, similar to what linebacker Grant Morgan announced on Christmas Day.

Part of it is Pittman’s linemen go the NFL. Another part is they are buying into what he’s building at Arkansas.

“If we can keep him another year, we could really up his draft stock even higher,” Pittman said last month. “He’s gotten much bigger and can handle bull rushes better and things of that nature.

“He’s gotten better. If he came back, he’d get a lot better.”

Cunningham probably won’t be the last player and it’s a pretty good bet the coaching staff already knows who’s going to come back for another year and who’s not. The graphics accompanying the Twitter announcements appear to be done by the UA’s graphics team.

He does provide a huge piece to the revolving door that has been the Razorbacks’ offensive line the last few years. Experience is huge and his return may give the Hogs their most experience in the line in a few years.

Arkansas had 19 seniors this past season, three opted out and with two seniors’ announcements they are returning for another year, there could be a steady stream of announcements over the next few days.

Under Pittman, Cunningham bulked up from 290 to 325 pounds this season and drew some preseason attention as a possible NFL Draft prospect, but the reality is he was likely looking at being a third day pick.

Cunningham was one of only two players in the SEC who didn’t miss a single offensive snap this year, as he cemented himself as the Razorbacks’ left tackle.

With this season, plus a spring practice and another season, Cunningham could move up considerably in the draft.

Morgan leads SEC in tackles, announces he’s coming back

Andy Hodges
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Morgan leads SEC in tackles, announces he’s coming back

Few single players have embodied what Arkansas fans want in their Razorbacks more than linebacker Grant Morgan and his decision Friday confirmed that.

An original walk-on from Greenwood, Morgan started out on special teams and progressed to this season where he was All-SEC and led the nation in tackles with 111 … before suffering a knee injury against Missouri in the third quarter.

After missing the Alabama game the next week to end the regular season, he finished second nationally behind Troy’s Carlton Martial (113). His 12.3 tackles per game are tied for the most nationally.

Morgan was not asked about coming back for another season in Tuesday’s press conference and most in the media didn’t really expect him to come back as his future plans may include medical school, which wouldn’t surprise anybody.

The guess is Morgan is like what fans want all their Hogs to be like .. they would do just about anything to get one more season of playing when their eligibility is done.

Under a normal season, he could not come back. But with covid-19 changing just about everything in the world, all seniors can come back for another season and everybody was, basically, given an extra year.

Morgan’s return gives the Hogs a powerful 1-2 combination at linebacker with Bumper Pool of experience and leadership.

Barry Odom may be the happiest guy in Northwest Arkansas on this Christmas Day. Having those two back in uniform helps the continued rebuild of a defense that had flashes of success this past season that was balanced with struggles at times.

Morgan is expected to be able to play in the Texas Bowl on New Year’s Eve against TCU in a game that starts at 7 p.m. and will be televised on ESPN in addition to being available here at HitThatLine.com and on ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 96.3 in Hot Springs and 104.3 in Harrison-Mountain Home.

Henry on Franks’ arm, maturity will be positives for NFL teams in evaluations

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hawgs Illustrated’s Clay Henry said Feleipe Franks’ decision to play in Texas Bowl another example of his maturity, which could help in draft position.

King doesn’t think expansion a ‘magic elixir’ for college football playoffs

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Nashville Sports Radio’s Bill King is not in favor of expanding the college football playoffs because it won’t come without different complaints.

Halftime Pod Presented By Jeff’s Clubhouse — December 23, 2020

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Halftime Pod Presented By Jeff’s Clubhouse — December 23, 2020

Pate on Auburn’s hiring of Harsin after surprising dismissal of Malzahn

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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247Sports’ Josh Pate said on The Morning Rush if the negatives aren’t real with Tigers and they just wanted a good coach, they got one.

With Catalon not on All-SEC list, Goode do Hogs get snubbed on awards?

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Former Razorbacks and NFL player Brett Goode talked on The Morning Rush about a long-standing lack of respect in awards for the Hogs.

Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Franks playing the Texas Bowl

Tye Richardson
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Bud Light Seltzer Morning Rush Podcast – Franks playing the Texas Bowl

Tye & Tommy on Franks staying on the squad, Auburn’s new HC, Josh Pate joins and more!

 

Musselman’s coaching was at win over Wildcats even though he was at home

Andy Hodges
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Musselman’s coaching was at win over Wildcats even though he was at home

Eric Musselman was watching Arkansas’ 85-72 win over Abilene Christian on Tuesday afternoon from his house, but his coaching was on full display.

Associate coach David Patrick was running things on the sideline, but he made it pretty clear later he wasn’t changing much about the Razorbacks.

When the Wildcats cut the Hogs’ lead to 77-68 with 3:27 left there were probably some wondering if Musselman’s unexpected absence was going to be the difference.

“Offensively we made a couple of boo-boo’s there at the end that got them some quick shots,” Patrick said later. “Those things are tough. When you’re up 10 with two minutes to go, the other team has nothing to lose, you’ve really got to control the game.”

Until early Tuesday morning Musselman figured he would be on the sidelines. Then he got the call that someone had been in contact with a person who tested positive for covid-19. It’s why he talked Patrick into leaving a head coaching position at California-Riverside for Fayetteville.

“I’m blessed to have been a head coach before so I wasn’t a rookie, so to speak,” Patrick said. “I didn’t try to do my thing. I tried to do what he stressed to the team.”

Musselman will probably give the credit to the ones who were at the game, but it was his tone set in practices leading up to it and his talking to the team earlier today that showed up in the game.

Abilene Christian was touted as being the toughest non-conference opponent for the Hogs before conference play starts Dec. 30 against Auburn.

The Wildcats got down early and the only time they had hope was really too late.

Sure, there’s credit that goes to Patrick and the other coaches. A lot goes to players, who have completely bought in to Musselman’s coaching, absorbed what they have been teaching and Tuesday evening took it to the court.

It showed from the start they listened to what Musselman had been jumping up and down about since the Central Arkansas game when the Hogs started the game by sleepwalking.

“The lesson after the last game, that coach Muss talked to them about, is you can’t underestimate anybody, and you’ve got to come out swinging,” Patrick said. “The guys took the message from our last game and came out focused.”

That was Musselman’s coaching during the week.

Plus defense, which is what Patrick coaches.

“Our defense in the first half was good,” he said. “It wasn’t as good in the second half.”

Until it had to be.

After Abilene Christian got a 3-pointer to cut the lead to 9 with 3:27 left, the Hogs’ defense went to work.

Over the final stretch, Arkansas gave up just a couple of layups while J.D. Notae hit a big 3-pointer and Moses Moody nailed some clutch free throws.

The Hogs didn’t allow a single point for the final 1:02 of the game.

Going into conference play, the Hogs are undefeated. That’s better than any alternative you can name. I don’t care who the opponent is.

Now the challenge is everybody avoiding the coronavirus (or anybody infected) over the holiday break before they come back for practices immediately after Christmas.

Musselman will have the players ready for what he can control.

It’s the things he can’t that drive everybody crazy.

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