Arkansas’ contingent of Bret Bielema, Austin Allen, Frank Ragnow and Kevin Richardson II were on a plane and headed to Alabama early Monday morning.
These guys … #SECMD17 pic.twitter.com/C6JMYfoG2J
— Razorback Football (@RazorbackFB) July 10, 2017
They arrived safe and sound and were on radio row, a gauntlet of radio stations, many broadcasting live, before going upstairs to the larger rooms.
Commissioner Greg Sankey started things pretty close to the scheduled time of 11:30 a.m.
PHILADELPHIA — The Southeastern Conference’s top passer from 2016, Arkansas senior quarterback Austin Allen, was named to the watch list for the 81st Maxwell Award, the Maxwell Football Club announced Monday.
The Maxwell Award, named in honor of Robert W. “Tiny” Maxwell, has been given to America’s College Player of the Year since 1937.
Last year in his first season as the Razorbacks’ top signal-caller, Allen immediately made his mark by leading the SEC with 3,430 passing yards, including a league-best 2,291 in conference play, in 2016.
He finished with 25 touchdown passes, which ranked second in the conference, completed 61.1 percent of his passes (245 of 401) and boasted a 146.04 passer rating.
His 3,430 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes each ranked fifth in single-season school history. Of his 25 touchdown passes, 19 came inside the red zone, which led the SEC and tied for 10th in the FBS.
The Fayetteville product threw for 200-plus yards in 11 games, including four 300-plus yard performances in SEC play.
Allen is one of three student-athletes who will represent the Razorbacks on Monday at SEC Football Media Days in Hoover, Alabama, joining coach Bret Bielema and fellow seniors Frank Ragnow and Kevin Richardson.
Arkansas will be the first school to make its rotation through the SEC Media Day floor, participating in multiple interviews with various media outlets from 11:35 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alongside SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, Arkansas will kick off the first day of SEC Football Media Days on Monday at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alabama.
Head coach Bret Bielema and senior captains quarterback Austin Allen, center Frank Ragnow, and defensive back Kevin Richardson II will represent the Razorbacks in front of more than 1,200 credential media members in attendance and a national TV audience.
Arkansas will be the first school to make its rotation through the SEC Media Day floor, participating in multiple interviews with various media outlets from 11:35 a.m. to 2:20 p.m.
SEC Network will air more than 30 hours of coverage from SEC Football Media Days from Monday through Thursday.
The network’s coverage will be anchored by SEC Now: 2017 SEC Football Media Days and The Paul Finebaum Show each day, with both programs featuring prominent guests including head coaches, and reaction to the latest news and buzz of the annual college football kickoff event.
Bielema To Kick Off #SECMD17
Bielema will join the SEC Network set between 11:55 a.m.-12:25 p.m., before taking the podium in the main media room at 12:55 p.m., immediately following Sankey’s opening press conference at 11:35 a.m.
The press conference will be aired live in its entirety on SEC Network and can also be streamed online via WatchESPN.
Full Day With Bielema
SEC Network’s Peter Burns will travel with Coach Bielema and Razorbacks from Fayetteville, Arkansas, to Hoover, Alabama.
Burns and the network will be with Bielema, and the players, as they prepare for and complete their media tour. Segments of the behind-the-scenes feature will air during Bielema’s time on the SEC Network set and throughout the day. The main feature will air on a later date.
SEC Network On Site
Former SEC football standouts-turned SEC Network analysts Greg McElroy, Booger McFarland, Marcus Spears, and Jordan Rodgers will be onsite for the network throughout the week, appearing both on SEC Now: 2017 SEC Football Media Days and The Paul Finebaum Show.
Dari Nowkhah and Laura Rutledge will share hosting duties on SEC Now: 2017 SEC Football Media Days.
FAYETTEVILLE — On the heels of adding a home-and-home series with Notre Dame to the 2020 and 2025 schedules, Arkansas has announced a home game against Kent State to its 2020 non-conference slate.
The week prior to the Razorbacks’ first-ever meeting with Notre Dame on Sept. 12, 2020, in South Bend, Ind., Kent State will visit Arkansas on Sept. 5.
It will be the first meeting between the two programs and the fourth current Mid-American Conference (MAC) program that Arkansas has ever faced.
Future Arkansas Non-Conference Schedules
• 2018 — Eastern Illinois (Sept. 1), at Colorado State (Sept. 8), North Texas (Sept. 15), Tulsa (Oct. 20)
• 2019 — Portland State (Aug. 31), Colorado State (Sept. 14), San Jose State (Sept. 21)
• 2020 — Kent State (Sept. 5), at Notre Dame (Sept. 12)
• 2021 — Missouri State (Sept. 4), Texas (Sept. 11), Georgia Southern (Sept. 18)
• 2025 — Notre Dame (Oct. 4)
Like a good football wife, Jen Bielema managed to bring the newest Razorback fan into the world before SEC Media Days.
Early Saturday morning, the Hogs coach sent out a tweet about the new arrival.
Beyond anything @jenbielema & I could ever dream of as parents. Please welcome Briella Nichole Bielema born 4:44 AM on 7/8/17 weight 7.8 lbs pic.twitter.com/SQ0fL3Aa7C
— Bret Bielema (@BretBielema) July 8, 2017
Briella Nichole Bielema weighed in at 7.8 pounds.
“Beyond anything @jenbielema & I could ever dream of as parents,” Bret Bielema wrote in a tweet announcing Briella’s arrival.
Bielema will be gone Monday as he will be the first coach up at Media Days in Hoover, Ala., following commissioner Greg Sankey.
For the third consecutive year, the SEC Network is handing the reins over to the 14 Southeastern Conference schools for a two-week stretch. Beginning Monday, July 17, each school will exclusively program 24-hours of the network with classic games, films, ESPN original content and school-produced content.
Arkansas will be featured Monday, July 24.
During the SEC Network Takeover, the schools have the opportunity to create an entire day of its greatest moments. Each school’s appointed date and a preview of the original content or events that will be shown that day can be found below:
Monday, July 17 – Kentucky
Kentucky’s upset against highly ranked Louisville in 2016
Tuesday, July 18 – Tennessee
Tennessee breaks its 12-year losing streak against the Gators during their 2016 meeting
Wednesday, July 19 – South Carolina
South Carolina’s men’s and women’s basketball teams remarkable run in the 2017 NCAA Championships
Thursday, July 20 – Auburn
Auburn vs. Alabama (2013)-the “Kick Six”
Friday, July 21 – Georgia
Vamos Perros Costa Rica (Georgia)
Saturday, July 22 – Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt’s win over Virginia to claim their first NCAA Baseball championship (2014)
Sunday, July 23 – Texas A&M
Aggies defeat their biggest rivals, Texas, in an emotional game after losing 12 students in a tragic bonfire accident (1999)
Monday, July 24 – Arkansas
Arkansas’s 2012 win over Baylor to advance to the College World Series
Tuesday, July 25 – Mississippi State
Mississippi State’s rise to the women’s basketball national championship title game, led by Morgan William’s buzzer beater shot to end UConn’s 100+ winning streak (2017)
Wednesday, July 26 – Ole Miss
Ole Miss softball’s first-ever SEC Championship victory over LSU (2017)
Thursday, July 27 – Florida
Florida Gators claim their first-ever baseball national championship (2017)
Friday, July 28 – Alabama
Alabama reaches the College Football Playoff for the third year in a row and dominates Cinderella story Washington in the last ever college football game played in the Georgia Dome (2016)
Saturday, July 29 – Missouri
Missouri defeats Syracuse in an overtime game to reach the Elite Eight for the first time in over 20 years (2007)
Sunday, July 30 – LSU
LSU gymnastics claims another SEC Championship (2017)
Quinn Grovey is a full-time Razorback again.
The former quarterback and current radio color analyst has joined IMG College and the UA as a senior account executive of Razorback Sports Properties.
Grovey will help manage sponsorships and multimedia rights for Arkansas Athletics and the Razorback Sports Network.
“I’m extremely excited about working with the Razorbacks and IMG College,” said Grovey. “Being a former student-athlete, this is a great place to be. It feels like home. I appreciate the opportunity to give back to a program that has meant so much to me. I’m looking forward to working with the Razorbacks in a totally different way.”
Grovey will continue to be a part of the Razorback Sports Network radio broadcast team.
He will be entering his 20th overall season on the network, including his first as a color analyst. Grovey will work alongside Chuck Barrett (play-by-play) and Geno Bell (sideline reporter) on Razorback Football broadcasts this season.
“We are pleased that Quinn has taken on a full-time role with our Razorback Sports Properties team,” said athletics director Jeff Long. “As a longtime member of our radio broadcasts, Quinn has been a tremendous ambassador for our program and our state.
“There is no one better equipped to share the story of how those who support our program are making a difference in the lives of student-athletes. Quinn enjoyed a Hall of Fame collegiate playing career, earned his college degree and went on to a successful business career.
“We are excited to have him helping us ensure that we can continue to make that same impact on future generations of Razorback student-athletes.”
Prior to joining Razorback Sports Properties, Grovey spent more than 20 years in retail including more than 10 combined years with Wal-Mart. He most recently served as a Senior Manager for Human Resources for Wal-Mart U.S. Merchandising. He also worked for as a Division Human Resources Manager for Home Depot, Inc. from 1999-2014.
“It doesn’t take long when visiting with Quinn to get an appreciation of his passion for the Razorbacks,” said general manager of IMG’s Razorback property, David Shoemaker. “Quinn has been a valued part of our broadcasts and now he will be with us every day working to promote the Razorbacks.
“He understands the unique attributes of this program and this state. Quinn will be a great asset to our team in our continued efforts to enhance marketing and sponsorship initiatives related to Razorback Athletics.”
Grovey led the Razorbacks to back-to-back Southwest Conference titles in 1988 and 1989. He is the only UA quarterback to lead the Hogs to multiple Cotton Bowl berths.
A four-year letterman (1987-90) and three-year regular, Grovey threw for 4,496 passing yards while rushing for 1,746 yards. He earned All-SWC honors in 1988 after leading the league in passing accuracy (.633).
His 18 touchdown passes in 1990 and his 29 career passing scores rank third respectively, on both the season and career school record charts.
Grovey is a member of the UA All-Century team, the UA Sports Hall of Honor, the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame and the Southwest Conference Hall of Fame.
Grovey earned his bachelor of marketing management degree from the University of Arkansas in 1990.
He serves as a board member for the Razorback Foundation Board and the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation. He and his wife Stacy live in Fayetteville.
Arkansas and Notre Dame may finally meet on the football field.
In 2020.
The biggest question is if the Razorbacks’ Bret Bielema and the Irish’s Brian Kelly will still be the coaches.
Both have bigger issues with the hot seats they currently occupy.
Despite a combined 2,400-plus games played on the gridiron and one shared-legendary head coach, Arkansas and Notre Dame have never faced each other on the gridiron.
After a combined 250-plus seasons of football that will change in 2020 when the Razorbacks and Fighting Irish meet for the first time.
The first of a home-and-home series will take place on Sept. 12, 2020, when the Razorbacks travel to Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish will make the return trip to Fayetteville and Razorback Stadium on Oct. 4, 2025.
“It’s remarkable to think our historic programs have never met, but we are excited that this will change in the near future as we add the University of Notre Dame to our football schedules in 2020 and 2025,” said athletics director Jeff Long.
“We had been searching for a marquee home-and-home opponent that would begin with an away game match-up to balance our home game with the University of Texas in 2021. When a shared open date during the 2020 season became available, it was an opportunity that fit well into our future scheduling and we didn’t want to pass up.
“We worked quickly to schedule the initial game of the series at Notre Dame in 2020 and then worked to identify the first opportunity for our home game. Based on previously arranged scheduling commitments, the first opportunity for the series game in Arkansas was during the 2025 season.”
“Ever since I became a head coach I’ve wanted to get Notre Dame on the schedule and when it became a possibility we were 100 percent in on getting a home-and-home done,” Bielema said. “I’m excited for our program, but I’m also excited for our fans to experience a game at Notre Dame and then come back and show what an amazing home atmosphere we have.”
Arkansas will receive an allotment of 7,500 seats for their road game in South Bend. Notre Dame will receive the same in 2025.
Arkansas will be just the second SEC West program and fifth member (Vanderbilt in 1995, LSU in 1998, Tennessee in 2001, 2005 and Georgia in 2017) of the SEC to play at Notre Dame since the Razorbacks joined the conference in 1992.
One of the most successful college football coaches in the history of the game, Lou Holtz amassed a career record of 243-127-7 in his 34-year collegiate coaching career.
From 1977-83, Holtz led the Razorbacks to a record of 60-21-2 in his seven seasons in Fayetteville. His .735 winning percentage at Arkansas ranks second in school history among coaches with at least four seasons, and his 60 wins rank as the third-highest total at Arkansas.
He led the Razorbacks to the Southwest Conference co-championship in 1979 and finished in the Top 10 of the Associated Press poll three times, highlighted by a No. 3 final ranking in 1977.
He was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1983, College Football Hall of Fame in 2008, the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame in 2012 and the UA Hall of Honor in the Fall of 2016.
Holtz, who coached Notre Dame from 1986-96, is the only coach in NCAA history to lead six different programs to a bowl game and the only coach to guide four different programs to a Top-20 finish.
Moses Kingsley will begin his professional career with the Minnesota Timberwolves, joining the team’s roster for the 2017 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The Wolves open their summer league slate with a contest against the Toronto Raptors on July 8 at the Thomas & Mack Center. The game will be televised on NBA TV.
Kingsley helped lead Arkansas to the seventh-most wins in program history in 2016-17 with a record of 26-10 that included a trip to the SEC Tournament championship game and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
From July 7-17, a record 24 NBA teams will participate in the 11-day, 67-game league which culminates in a tournament-style format to crown the MGM Resorts NBA Summer League Champion. Teams will compete in three preliminary games beginning on July 7, before being seeded in a tournament that leads to the Championship Game on July 17. Each team will play at least five games in Las Vegas.
This summer marks the 11th MGM Resorts NBA Summer League in Las Vegas appearance for the Wolves (2006-10, 2012-17) where they are 25-30 all-time. A year ago the Wolves went 4-4 in Summer League play, including rattling off four tournament wins in five days to reach the Title Game.
ESPN will present all 67 games from Las Vegas across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and the ESPN App, including 35 on its linear television channels. In total, 63 games from Las Vegas will air across ESPN and NBA TV’s linear channels – a Summer League record.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Arkansas coach Bret Bielema and senior captains quarterback Austin Allen, center Frank Ragnow, and defensive back Kevin Richardson II will represent the Razorbacks at 2017 SEC Football Media Days, the league office announced Wednesday.
We know the time, but it comes with a disclaimer that the Hogs’ appearance at Media Days could be pushed back if the birth of Bielema’s first child happens in the days immediately prior to the event.
Arkansas will be the first school to meet with the media at this year’s event on Monday, July 10, at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham — The Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, a Birmingham suburb.
Bielema will take the podium in the main media room immediately following SEC commissioner Greg Sankey’s press conference at 11:35 a.m.
ESPN Arkansas will have full coverage of the event with morning hosts Derek Ruscin and Tommy Craft in attendance.
With more than 1,200 credentialed media members in attendance, Arkansas’ contingent will participate in multiple interviews with various media outlets throughout the day.
The SEC Network and ESPN will once again be on site to bring SEC Media Days to a national audience.
Allen’s Quick Hits
• Preseason All-SEC by Athlon Sports (third team).
• Led the SEC with 3,430 passing yards, including a league-best 2,291 in conference play, in 2016.
• Totaled 25 touchdown passes, which ranked second in the conference.
• His 3,430 passing yards and 25 touchdown passes each ranked fifth in single-season school history.
• Threw for 200-plus yards in 11 games, including four 300-plus yard performances in SEC play.
Ragnow’s Quick Hits
• Rimington Trophy candidate, preseason All-American by Athlon Sports (first team), Lindy’s (first team) and Sporting News (second team), and preseason All-SEC by Athlon Sports (first team).
• Named the nation’s best offensive lineman, best run blocker, and a first-team All-American by Pro Football Focus for the 2016 season.
• Paved the way for running back Rawleigh Williams III to capture the SEC regular-season rushing title and finish with 1,360 yards.
• Graded out as the top center in the nation by PFF twice and a top three center five times.
• Earned an 80 percent grade or higher from PFF seven times and didn’t allow a sack for the second straight season, according to PFF.
Richardson’s Quick Hits
• Totaled 59 tackles (29 solo), one interception and three pass breakups in 27 career games played.
• Sustained a season-ending injury in last year’s season opener against Louisiana Tech.
• Saw action in all 13 games in 2015 and started each of the last five games.
• Totaled 33 tackles, including two double-digit performances, in those five starts.
Reggie Perry may not be a Razorback after all.
Perry told Arkansas coach Mike Anderson this week of his decision, which is being made due to an undisclosed health issue with his father.
Richard Davenport in WholeHogSports.com relayed a statement from Perry’s mother:
“Unfortunately, due to his father’s health, he made the very tough decision to decommit from Arkansas this evening with Coach A. This is a decision that he has been wrestling with for some time now. He is saddened by letting the Arkansas fans down, however (he) felt this was the best decision for himself and our family.”
Perry, 6-9, 225 pounds of Thomasville, Ga., became the third member of the 16-under Arkansas Hawks to pledge to the Hogs last summer when they picked up four prospects.
ESPN rates Perry the No. 7 power forward and the No. 17 overall prospect in the nation for the 2018 class. He had an impressive spring playing with the Arkansas Hawks on the Adidas Gauntlet circuit, averaging 17.0 points and 8.4 rebounds.
Jonesboro guard Desi Sills, guard Isaiah Joe of Fort Smith Northside, junior guard Justice Hill of Little Rock Christian and forward Ethan Henderson of Little Rock Parkview are other Hawks committed to the Hogs.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello expects Perry to be a primary target for several college coaches when the July live period begins next Wednesday. Florida State, Auburn, Alabama, Mississippi State and others were involved when he originally made his decision.
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