ChiSox announcer on strong catching tandem including for Razorback McCann
ON HALFTIME: White Sox announcer Jason Benetti talked about former Razorback catcher James McCann forming one of best tandems in baseball.
ON HALFTIME: Pittman on challenges dealing with Covid-19, team’s progress
Arkansas coach Sam Pittman talked with Phil Elson, Matt Jenkins and Matt Travis on ESPN Arkansas on Friday as they start Georgia game prep.
League sets policies, protocols for football a week ahead of openers
The Southeastern Conference announced on Friday policies and parameters for football game cancellations, rescheduling of games and no-contest declarations for the 2020 football season as the SEC continues to monitor developments related to Covid-19.
To play a football game, the SEC has established minimum thresholds of at least 53 scholarship players available to participate and the following minimum number of position scholarship players available to begin a game
• Seven (7) offensive linemen (which includes one center)
• One (1) quarterback
• Four (4) defensive linemen.
The impacted institution has the option to play the game with fewer than the 53 scholarship players or fewer than the minimum number of position players listed above if it elects to do so.
Otherwise, upon approval by the Commissioner, the game would be rescheduled or declared a no contest.
In addition, should an institution determine there are compelling reasons why it cannot begin a contest regardless of the scholarship and position minimums above, the institution may request to have the game rescheduled or, if the game cannot be rescheduled, for the game to be considered a no contest by presenting data (including total number of players not available to participate) outlining reasons why the game should not be played as scheduled.
The final decision to reschedule or declare the game a no contest is vested only with the Commissioner.
The 2020 SEC football season is slated to begin September 26 and is comprised of a 10-game Conference-only schedule, with the SEC Football Championship Game to be played Dec. 19 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, rescheduled from the original date of Dec. 5.
The schedule includes one mid-season open date for each school and an open date on December 12 for all schools.
Each SEC team will play 10 conference football games to include six games against division opponents and four games against non-division opponents.
Information from SECSports.com is included in this story.
Yurachek says Hogs would be close to full strength if opener was this week
Arkansas athletics director Hunter Yurachek told The Morning Rush on Friday morning if the first game was this week they would be close to full strength but still able to play.
“If our game was tomorrow, to be very candid, yes, we would have student-athletes that are part of our football program that would not be able to participate tomorrow,” he said Friday morning with Tye Richardson, Tommy Craft and Clay Henry on ESPN Arkansas. “But we would be about as close to full strength as we could be.
“We could have played the game on Sept. 5, we could have played the 12th, we could play tomorrow and we anticipate — if Georgia shows up — we will play a game on Sept. 26.”
Right now, the Razorbacks are testing three times a week with different delays for players that either test positive or close contact with those that do have a positive test.
“The isolation (close contact) period is a 10-day period, the quarantine is a 14-day period,” Yurachek said. “Obviously we have another test today. If they test positive or have close contact they are not going to be available this next Saturday.
“But if you tested positive or close contact last week, you’re going to roll off sometime this weekend or early next week and be available for the game.”
Hunter Yurachek, Director of Athletics, joins The Morning Rush
Hunter Yurachek, Director of Athletics, joins The Morning Rush to discuss the gameday procedures for Razorback games, questions from our listeners regarding ticket purchases, and much more! Lots of good information for you! Check it out now!
Boyd named to preseason second team by league’s coaches Thursday
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — For the first time in his career, Arkansas senior running back Rakeem Boyd has been named to the preseason coaches All-SEC second team, according to an announcement Thursday.
Our guy @boyd_rakeem has been named Preseason Coaches All-SEC for the first time in his career ?
?: https://t.co/aJ8DgwMSMZ pic.twitter.com/N7juMdDusl
— Arkansas Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) September 17, 2020
Boyd led the team in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns in 2018 and 2019, totaling 1,867 career rushing yards and 10 scores in his first two seasons on the Hill.
As a junior, he ran for 1,133 yards and eight touchdowns, while rushing for over 100 yards in five games.
The Houston, Texas native ranked fourth in the SEC and 27th nationally averaging 94.4 yards per game; in addition, Boyd’s 6.4 yards per carry ranked ninth in the conference.
On just eight carries, he rushed for a career-best 185 yards against Western Kentucky, averaging 23.1 yards per attempt, including two touchdown runs of 76 and 86 yards with the latter being a career-long.
As a sophomore in 2018, Boyd ranked 10th in the SEC averaging 6.0 yards per carry and 13th among league-leaders totaling 734 rushing yards.
His eight-career 100+ yard single-game rushing performances make him one of 16 running backs in school history to accomplish the feat.
Boyd is the first Arkansas running back to garner Preseason Coaches All-SEC recognition since Alex Collins was named to the second team in 2014.
The Maxwell, Earl Campbell and Doak Walker Awards tabbed Boyd to their respective watch lists before the 2020 season.
This season’s selection marks the 18th year of the SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC Team; coaches were not permitted to vote for their own players.
Information from Arkansas Communications is included in this story.
ESPN’s McGee on new book about growing up as son of football referee
ON HALFTIME: ESPN’s Ryan McGee on new book, “Sidelines and Bloodlines” about growing up with a father officiating football games.
BuckNuts’ writer on Big Ten changing course, how things went at Ohio State
BuckNuts writer Steve Helwagen with Derek Ruscin and Zach Arns (Ruscin & Zach) on ESPN Arkansas on the Buckeyes and B1G playing again.
