Arkansas got a commitment earlier this week from highly-regarded punter and kicker Patrick Foley and Richard Davenport talked about it on The Morning Rush.
Murphy says Covid making big news seem a little routine during unusual season
Ole Miss short of players, Nick Saban positive for Covid-19 part of a year like no other, says Tom Murphy on The Morning Rush on Thursday.
Hogs could be bowling after NCAA eliminates win requirement for year
Sam Pittman could get a nice boost in his first season by getting Arkansas into a bowl game and now there’s no minimum number of wins.
One-time rules changes in Division I football were announced Tuesday and a lot of the major one-year-only changes were overshadowed when news broke of Alabama’s Nick Saban and athletics director Greg Byrne testing positive for Covid-19.
It was that kind of sports news day.
In addition to all football programs eligible for a bowl game — regardless of record — all winter athletes will now get an extra year of eligibility.
That will have a major impact on basketball teams across the country and makes life interesting for Eric Musselman and Mike Neighbors, both of whom have proven pretty adept at juggling a roster every year.
But the football bowl game issue could be huge for the Razorbacks.
And the entire SEC.
In a year like no one has ever seen, bowl games could get a boost by getting an SEC team as opposed to a non-Power 5 opponent.
Getting fans is something every bowl game wants. The main money behind them the last few years, though, is the television money (primarily from ESPN) and the more eyeballs watching an SEC team is going to be worth more than a smaller team.
For Pittman and the Hogs, getting to a bowl game in his first year could be a huge recruiting tool … and I really don’t care what the record is to get there.
As SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said on The Paul Finebaum Show on Tuesday, there’s no asterisk connected to anything this season.
Arkansas, sitting at 1-2 right now with lots of optimism among a fan base that has endured a three-year descent into the depths of hell in football, could benefit greatly from a bowl game … any bowl game.
The NCAA’s Division I Council is meeting this week and those aren’t the biggest items on the schedule.
The subject of name-image-likeness is a topic for discussion, but don’t expect anything resembling a final decision on that even if the NCAA says it’s okay.
State legislatures will have a say, too.
But the good news is the Hogs could go bowling this year … regardless of the record.
Kiffin confirms Covid-19 outbreak at Ole Miss; game still on
As of right now, Arkansas’ game with Ole Miss on Saturday is still a go, but it has changed television networks and fans will be holding their breath.
Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin confirmed an outbreak of Covid-19 on the team during the SEC Teleconference on Wednesday but wasn’t making any numbers available.
“We could play today, so we’ll see,” Kiffin said. “We are not in a great situation, numbers-wise, at all.”
Exactly who the players in question are is not known and there’s no point in guessing at any hidden meanings behind his comments.
My old buddy David Johnson at the Ole Miss Spirit (himself a Covid-19 survivor after 44 days in the hospital, 21 on a ventilator) reported what they had found out:
The Ole Miss Spirit has learned through sources that none of the positive COVID-19 tests, thus far, have been among offensive starters. One area that has been affected, per those sources, is the defensive front.
In addition, due to other postponements of SEC games, the Hogs-Rebels game at 2:30 Saturday will air on the SEC Network instead of ESPN2.
Kiffin said he didn’t think the players contracted the virus from within the team and had an idea where it came from.
“I think so. I mean I know who it did. I don’t think it was actually anything while they were here,” he said Monday morning. “I said Sunday or Monday … our first meeting … that it just got real. Anytime you talk about things, it doesn’t hit home until it happens to you.
“Now they’re seeing it and seeing depth charts move. People have to change positions and different things. I hope it really was another reminder. It only takes one person to really screw it up.”
The SEC requires three tests per week from its member programs. Those tests are conducted on Sunday, Wednesday and Friday, meaning the Rebels’ COVID-19 numbers and close contact traces could certainly grow by the weekend.
Like Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said earlier in the week, the Rebels weren’t in the greatest physical shape coming out of a 63-48 loss to Alabama last weekend.
“We’re beat up, too, from a very intense game versus a great team Saturday (Alabama),” Kiffin said.
Fort Smith radio host fired after post about Hogs’ women’s player
An afternoon radio show host on a Fort Smith radio station was fired Wednesday after derogatory remarks on Twitter about an Arkansas women’s basketball player.
And it didn’t take Razorbacks coach Mike Neighbors long to respond.
— Mike Neighbors (@coachneighbors) October 14, 2020
Athletics director Hunter Yurachek agreed.
Well said @coachneighbors #OneRazorback https://t.co/8LcMkkdMOT
— Hunter Yurachek (@HunterYurachek) October 14, 2020
Darren Miner, known as Maverick on-air KMAG 99.1, commented on a tweet from the Hogs’ redshirt freshman Erynn Bynum after she posted some photos of her in uniform sitting on the scorer’s table.
5NewsOnline reported that iHeart Radio area president Clyde Bass told them as soon as iHeart became aware of the comment, they knew it was unacceptable and addressed the matter internally.
5NewsOnline said Bass told them Miner was no longer employed at the station group.
Henry on Franks’ progression, Clary getting more playing time
WholeHogSports’ Clay Henry on Hogs quarterback Feleipe Franks has progressed and Ty Clary’s play could get him more time in the offensive line.
Musselman glad to get official practices started, getting ready for new season
Arkansas coach Eric Musselman met with the media before Wednesday’s practice and updated how his new group of players are looking.
Tate with media on first day of practice about new faces, how team is looking
New graduate transfer guard Jalen Tate talked with the media before the first official practice getting ready for the start of the basketball season.
ON HALFTIME: King, Phil enjoying football season with SEC-only matchups
Bill King of Nashville Sports Radio with Phil Elson, Matt Jenkins and Matt Travis liking the quality matchups with just league games played.
Hogs’ Smith on finding ways to practice, why he chose Arkansas for transfer
Razorbacks transfer Justin Smith talked with the media on Wednesday before the first day of official practices preseason drills.
