We offer up our bums of the week, talk about some other stuff from the week and more.
Razorbacks applaud Trump’s college sports order, sparking national discussion
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek praised President Donald Trump’s “Saving College Sports” executive order Thursday, saying it could have a positive impact on student-athletes and the future of college athletics.
“Our Razorback student-athletes across all 19 sports, past and present, have benefited from a life-changing academic and athletic experience,” Yurachek said on social media. “This executive order can have a positive impact on the future of college athletics.”
Arkansas men’s basketball coach John Calipari also welcomed the measure.
“This will create opportunity for meaningful dialogue and movement toward a clearer picture of college athletics for everyone,” Calipari wrote on social media.
The executive order, signed by Trump in Washington, directs federal agencies to clarify that student-athletes are not employees and bans so-called “pay-for-play” name, image and likeness (NIL) deals.
The order also mandates scholarship protections for Olympic and women’s sports and instructs the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission to address legal challenges threatening college athletics.
“It is the policy of my Administration that all college sports should be preserved and, where possible, expanded,” the order states.
The NCAA, which oversees collegiate sports nationwide, said it supports federal action to protect college athletics and student-athletes.
“The NCAA is making positive changes for student-athletes and confronting many challenges facing college sports by mandating health and wellness benefits and guaranteeing scholarships,” NCAA President Charlie Baker said in a statement. He added, “There are some threats to college sports that federal legislation can effectively address and the Association is advocating with student-athletes and their schools for a bipartisan solution with Congress and the Administration.”
The order comes as college sports face mounting legal and financial pressures. In recent years, state legislatures and courts have loosened restrictions on athlete compensation, leading to what some officials call an “arms race” in recruiting and NIL payments.
Trump’s order bans third-party “pay-for-play” deals, in which boosters or other groups directly pay athletes for their performance or as a recruitment inducement. The order threatens to withhold federal funding from institutions that violate the rule.
The White House said the order is designed to protect the viability of non-revenue college sports.
“President Trump wrote it’s the policy of his administration ‘that all college sports should be preserved and, where possible, expanded.’”
Nationally, the order drew praise from former Alabama football coach Nick Saban, who called it “a huge step in the right direction for student-athletes and the future of college sports,” former Alabama coach Nick Saban said on Fox and Friends on Friday morning.
Some legal analysts say the order’s impact may depend on future court challenges and congressional action.
“Executive orders are neither laws nor can they override existing statutes,” Sports Business Journal reported. The order’s direction to clarify the status of student-athletes as non-employees could shape ongoing litigation over athletes’ rights and benefits.
Athletic directors across the country are recalibrating their approach. Many are concerned about the order’s enforcement and the continued viability of scholarships for non-revenue sports.
“Waves of recent litigation against collegiate athletics governing rules have eliminated limits on athlete compensation, pay-for-play recruiting, and booster involvement in ways that threaten the traditional model,” Yahoo Sports reported.
Student-athletes and coaches say they are watching closely.
“I just want to play and get my education. All this stuff makes it harder to know what’s coming next,” said an SEC football player, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue.
The NCAA, Congress and the White House are expected to continue discussions in the coming months. Yurachek said the order is “just the beginning of a longer conversation.”
The new policy takes effect immediately, but its long-term impact remains uncertain.
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: 7-25-25
Remembering the iconic life of Hulk Hogan, schools banning cell-phone use, hear from the Head Hog!
Guests: The Fence Man and Coach Sam Pittman!
Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman on leadership positives for coming season
Having guys stepping into those positions on both sides of the ball around lots of questions biggest positive for Hogs coach.
WATCH: The Morning Rush is LIVE!
Call or text us on the Lewis Automotive Group Hotline at 877-377-6963!
Ruscin & Zach July 24
We remember Hulk Hogan and Chuck Mangione. We also talk about how out of touch Razorback football is with it’s own fanbase. Plus our poll questions.
Former Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt with his quarterback Matt Jones
How teams have to handle things these days with all the new faces across college football on every team, role of chemistry.
Razorbacks targeting special teams breakthrough for 2025 SEC season
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Special teams for Arkansas will feature new faces and higher expectations heading into the 2025 season.
Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman aims to turn an area of past concern into a program strength.
The Hogs, who struggled with consistency and big-play capability on special teams in 2024, are counting on the arrival of standout return specialist Kam Shanks and highly regarded freshman kicker Scott Starzyk to spark improvement across the board.
Shanks joins Arkansas after transferring from Alabama-Birmingham, where he led the nation in punt return average last season at 20.6 yards per attempt and scored two touchdowns.
His performance earned him a spot as a finalist for the Jet Award and preseason First Team All-SEC honors from Phil Steele. Pittman said Shanks’ ability to shift field position gives Arkansas an immediate weapon:
“We targeted Kam because he can change the game with one return,” Pittman said during SEC Media Days.
Pittman also indicated that the Razorbacks’ overall size and depth have improved on special teams, creating more competition for roles this summer.
Special teams coordinator Scott Fountain, now in his fifth season at Arkansas, will look to maximize the unit’s potential after a year in which Arkansas allowed several long returns and struggled with placekicking accuracy.
The kicking game will be in the spotlight early, as Starzyk, a five-star recruit out of Texas, steps into a starting role.
Ranked as the No. 1 kicker nationally by Kohl’s Kicking, Starzyk impressed coaches during spring practice but has yet to attempt a field goal in a college game.
“He’s shown he can make kicks in practice,” Pittman said. “Now we need to see him do it in the stadium with a crowd.”
Redshirt freshman Charlie Von Der Meden and transfer Blake Ford are also in the mix for kicking duties, though neither has attempted a field goal at the collegiate level.
Pittman expressed confidence that the competition would produce a reliable option by the start of the season.
Returning at punter is Devin Bale, who averaged 45.2 yards per punt last season, including 11 punts downed inside the 20-yard line and 11 of 50 yards or more.
Bale’s consistency earned him Preseason Third Team All-SEC recognition. Pittman said Bale is “one of the most valuable players on our roster” and his experience will be crucial in close games this fall.
The Hogs face a demanding 2025 schedule, with eight opponents ranked in the FPI Top 25, including home matchups against Notre Dame and Texas. Pittman said special teams execution could tip the balance in a year where margins are expected to be slim.
The Razorbacks have focused on improved coverage and tackling during offseason workouts, seeking to eliminate costly errors that contributed to several losses in 2024. Pittman said the unit’s progress will be measured by its ability to deliver in high-pressure moments.
“We need to be sound in every phase to win in this league,” he said.
Arkansas will open the season on Aug. 30 against Alabama A&M at Razorback Stadium. Pittman said the team may hold open preseason practices to allow kickers and returners to perform in front of fans before the season opener.
That would be a fresh approach for the Hogs, who have done most of their preseason practices behind closed doors. Exactly why has never been explained because that’s not what NFL teams do, so it’s hard sometimes to understand.
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Call or text us on the Lewis Automotive Group Hotline at 877-377-6963!
Ruscin & Zach July 23
We have another edition of Grill Bill, plus how many “ifs” does a college football team have before they are no longer a championship caliber team? We talk about that.
