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In is episode of Hog Talk, sports reporters Alex Abrams, Vernon Tarver and  Ryan Malashock recap Arkansas' two basketball losses over the past week and look ahead to the Razorbacks upcoming game with LSU. The guys also discuss the upcoming NFL combine and take a look back at the Tyson Invitational meet.

Episode Information
10:22, 4.7 megabytes

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Posted by Spencer Tirey at 05:48 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In the eighth episode of Hog Talk, sports reporters Alex Abrams, Vernon Tarver, Ryan Malashockand Robbie Neiswanger recap Arkansas football signing day, the hiring of defensive coordinator Willy Robinson, as well as an in depth look at the Razorbacks basketball team's recent win against Ole Miss and upcoming games against Tennessee and Mississippi State.

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12:39, 3 megabytes

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Posted by Spencer Tirey at 03:24 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In the seventh episode of Hog Talk, sports reporters Alex Abrams, Vernon Tarver, Ryan Malashockand Robbie Neiswanger start back up Hog Talk after a long break recapping Arkansas basketball wins against Mississippi State and Florida and take a look ahead to Razorbacks' next game against Ole Miss. Also discussed is Arkansas football recruiting, National Signing Day and Arkansas' search for a football defensive coordinator.

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15:48, 9.1 megabytes

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Posted by Spencer Tirey at 01:48 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Former Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee was supposed to be joining Houston Nutt's staff at Ole Miss.

  Maybe he still will.

  But there seems to be plenty of rumors swirling over in Oxford that Lee is actually going to head back to the NFL and join the Miami Dolphins staff. Bill Parcells, of course, is the new executive vice president of football operations at Miami. He's the one who brought Lee to the Dallas Cowboys a few years ago.

  The Jackson Clarion-Ledger has a small story on the Lee's future this morning.

  One of the problems, it seems, is that the Dolphins don't have a head coach yet. So it's kind of hard to be hiring (or at least announcing) the addition of assistant coaches. In addition, it's the start of the final recruiting push and it's not exactly a good time to be losing an offensive coordinator.

  Nutt already lost one assistant (Louis Campbell), who was announced as a member of his Ole Miss staff and joined Mississippi State. There's also been rumors that another (Tracy Rocker) was considering an offer to join Reggie Herring at Texas A&M.

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 11:47 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Isn't it amazing how the coaching profession works?

  Try to keep up with this little circle involving Arkansas, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.

  MSU coach Sylvester Croom announces that Ellis Johnson, his defensive coordinator, is taking a similar position at Arkansas on Bobby Petrino's staff earlier this week. To replace him, Croom takes Louis Campbell from Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt today. Nutt had hired Campbell from Arkansas just before Christmas, but doesn't sweat it. Instead, he quickly announces that Derrick Nix — the brother of Ole Miss defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix — has been hired from the Atlanta Falcons staff. Derrick Nix, from what we had heard, was expected to be one of the assistants scheduled to join Petrino over here at Arkansas.

  Let me see if I have this right: Petrino swiped Johnson from Croom. Croom swiped Campbell from Nutt. Nutt swiped Nix from Petrino.

  Are these revenge hires?

  Is this a soap opera?

  Can the SEC West get any more storylines?

 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 06:31 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  The Razorbacks probably won't win this game, but have ensured they won't be shut out.

  Running back Darren McFadden just scored a touchdown on a fourth-and-goal play to help Arkansas get on the scoreboard in the Cotton Bowl. McFadden went over 100 rushing yards on the day and helped him move into second on the SEC's single-season rushing chart, passing Kevin Faulk.

  So, even on a subpar day, McFadden continues to put his stamp on college football.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 01:29 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Missouri free safety William Moore just set a school record for interceptions in a season with eight. The bad news for Arkansas is that he returned the pick for a touchdown to give the Tigers a 28-0 lead.

  Arkansas' offense has been sloppy, ugly and awful much of the day. Yes, there have been good moments. But they haven't been nearly enough. Let's count the ways.

  • Place kicker Alex Tejada hasn't helped with two missed field goals. It might've made things a little more interesting in the second half if it were 14-6 at halftime.

  • The Razorbacks have committed turnovers on their past two possessions with Felix Jones' fumble a few minutes ago after a big gain as well as Dick's interception.

  • There have been a handful of false start penalties and other miscues on the offensive line. The Razorbacks have not blocked Missouri well up front. Passes have been batted down. Dick has been sacked.

 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 01:17 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

 Tony Temple. Touchdown. Again.

  Missouri's first drive in the second half resembled its play in the first half. The Tigers raced downfield, relying on their run game to score another touchdown. Temple turned in the big run on the drive, breaking off a 19-yarder to set up another score. He finished the drive with a short touchdown run.

  Temple tied a Cotton Bowl record with his third touchdown run in the game. He's got a good chance to break the mark, too, the way things are going.

  On the other hand, here's how it looks for the Razorbacks:

  • Kicker Brian Vavra tried to squib the opening kickoff, but it hit a Missouri player and gave the Tigers the ball at Arkansas' 48.

  • Missouri squibbed a kickoff and Arkansas' Felix Jones couldn't handle it. He finally picked up the ball and was dropped after a short gain.

  • Arkansas tight end Andrew Davie caught a pass, turned up field, tripped and fell. It was part of another three-and-out drive that has given Missouri the ball back again.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 12:53 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Missouri is proving it has much more than a quarterback, receivers and tight ends.

  The Tigers just put together a 6-play, 82-yard touchdown drive that included nothing but run plays. There was a 22-yarder by Tony Temple through a gaping hole early on. Another 38-yarder by Temple through another gaping hole a little later. And Temple's 4-yard touchdown run, which gives Missouri a 14-0 lead.

  Darren McFadden may be the main attraction out of the backfield, but Temple is putting together a ridiculous performance so far. The senior has 147 yards and 2 touchdowns on 11 carries. Wow.

  Something tells me Missouri's offense is going to be nearly impossible for Arkansas to stop the rest of the day. With the run game rolling, it's going to be very, very difficult to stop the passing attack.

 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 12:06 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Oregon State didn't spend much time preparing for Missouri's run game for last season's Sun Bowl, so running back Tony Temple promptly burned them for 194 yards and two touchdowns in the Tigers' loss.

  Arkansas said it was concentrating on the passing attack as well this week. They've proved it by playing seven defensive backs throughout the first quarter. So...you guessed it, Tony Temple has been burning them.

  Temple ran for 52 yards in the first quarter and scored the game's only touchdown so far. He just added a 41-yard run, sprinting through a big hole in Arkansas' defense, to add to his totals.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 11:50 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Reggie Herring's debut as an interim/head coach now includes a head scratcher.

  The Razorbacks attempted a fake punt inside Missouri territory and got the first down when Reggie Fish took a pitch and picked up a first down on a nice-looking play. The problem was, officials said Arkansas called a timeout before the play was run. So the first down was wiped out.

  Of course, Arkansas had to punt the ball after that. Or, it should've. But Herring and the Razorbacks tried to run the fake again. It was the same play minus the pitch to Fish. But this time fullback Farod Jackson tried to run up the middle and was stuffed for a loss. Missouri took over.

  The Tigers are driving downfield now and are trying to build on their 7-0 lead.

  Hate to say it, but thumbs up on the first call Reggie. Thumbs down. Way, way down on the second.

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 11:33 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Missouri just picked up the first points of the Cotton Bowl, getting a 22-yard touchdown run from tailback Tony Temple late in the second quarter. It came on the Tigers' second possession and was relatively easy.

  Missouri quarterback Chase Daniel tossed 11-, 22- and 12-yard completions on the drive finding holes in Arkansas' 3-1-7 defense. The Razorbacks have been played seven defensive backs in hopes of slowing down the spread, but have been giving up big plays on their first two possessions.

  Temple found a seam on his touchdown run, splitting through the defense on his way to the end zone.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 11:25 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Alex Tejada has been and will be a great kicker for the Razorbacks. But I've got to say, his missed field goal a few minutes ago was one of the worst I've ever seen.

  Tejada pushed a 35-yard field goal attempt wide right. Wide, wide, wide right to wipe out a chance for the Razorbacks to pick up points on their first possession. It's almost as if Tejada lined up wrong when he kicked it, it was that bad. There was no wind to blame, either.

  It was a bad end to a solid first drive for the Razorbacks, who pushed their way downfield on 12 plays to get in scoring position. But it was all for nothing.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 11:19 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  It's a chilly New Year's Day in Dallas. Arkansas and Missouri are getting ready to kick off the Cotton Bowl.

  It's the end of an era for the Razorbacks today. It's the final game for this current coaching staff, most of which will be heading to Oxford after the game. It's probably the last game for Darren McFadden and Felix Jones, who are expected to turn pro in the next couple of weeks. It's also the final day for Frank Broyles, who is now, officially, not the Razorbacks' athletic director anymore.

  So, it's almost fitting that Arkansas is wearing a new uniform combination today. Red jerseys. Red pants. Black socks. Black shoes. Frank Broyles looked over onto the field when the team was warming up earlier this morning and said "Which team is that?" He was joking of course. We think. But there's no doubt the uniform combination is a sign that it's the beginning of a new era at Arkansas.

  Here's a couple items of interest:

  • Broyles was honored on the field before the game a few minutes ago. There was a video tribute to his career and he later led the Arkansas half of the crowd in calling the Hogs.

  • Speaking of the crowd, it is a perfect split. One half of the stadium is wearing Red and White. The second half is wearing Black and Gold.

  • Missouri has the edge when it comes to nuetral site games this year. This will be the Tigers fourth game at a neutral site. They played Illinois in St. Louis, Kansas in Kansas City and Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game in San Antonio.

  • Bobby Petrino is in the house. Our own Alex Abrams said he saw the Hogs new coach eating a hot dog in the hospitality room behind the press box. I can't confirm this report. I'm just writing what I was told.

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 10:41 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  New coach Bobby Petrino has found his defensive coordinator.

  Mississippi State announced earlier today that Ellis Johnson will be leaving the Bulldogs staff to join Petrino with the Razorbacks. Not sure if there's a connection between the two coaches. I can't find one right now and haven't been able to get anyone on the phone about it yet. But Johnson does bring experience.

  Johnson, 56, has had numerous stops including stints at Clemson and Alabama. His defense just did an impressive job slowing down the nation's leading rusher, Central Florida's Kevin Smith, during the Bulldogs' 10-3 win against the Knights in the Liberty Bowl a couple nights ago.

  Johnson was in the second year of a two-year contract with the Bulldogs and was making $200,000 annually. Of course, it's likely Johnson received a hefty pay raise to join Petrino's staff. He also had reportedly considered positions at South Carolina and Georgia Tech in the past month.

  As if there was any doubt, Johnson's hire means Reggie Herring will definitely be moving on after the Cotton Bowl.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 01:51 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  The blog has been terribly neglected the past two days. But there's good reason. The schedule in Dallas has been a loaded one.

  Both teams practice in the morning until roughly 1 p.m. Arkansas' press conference with players and assistants follows that from 1:15 to 2:15. Then, Missouri holds a press conference from 2:15 to 3:15. Two to three hours to write two or three stories, then we hit the door and try to enjoy an evening social event.

  But let me catch you up on a couple highlights:

  • Obviously, Darren McFadden's situation remains the main storyline of the Cotton Bowl. Will he play? That hasn't been answered yet. Arkansas said it still is looking into the matter and will make a determination before the game, obviously. It could go right up until game time for all we know. So stay tuned.

  • Missouri's spread offense vs. Arkansas' man-to-man coverage has been the other big storyline of the bowl game so far. Missouri thinks its tight ends have been disrespected by something Weston Dacus said. The Tigers can't believe Arkansas would dare to play their receivers man-to-man. The Razorbacks are confident they can do it because they have all year. A little trash talk. A little confidence. A little fun.

  • I've spent most of the week following Missouri as it prepares for the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers talked a lot about defending Darren McFadden and the WildHog during their press conference today. They know it's not going to be easy. In fact, one player described McFadden as a "beast." But their goal is to slow the Razorbacks down just enough for Missouri's offense to score and score and score some more.

  • The common perception is that this game is going to be a shootout and who can argue? Missouri is averaging 40 points a game. Arkansas is averaging 39.8. Obviously, both defenses don't believe they're going to pitch a shutout in this game. The goal is to get as many three-and-outs as possible, force some turnovers and do enough to win. I think it's safe to say that will determine the winner Tuesday.

  In other news, Arkansas assistant Bobby Allen has officially been named to coach Bobby Petrino's staff. We have been reporting that for days, but the Razorbacks put out a release a few minutes ago. That gives Petrino three assistants on his staff for now - his brother Paul Petrino, Tim Horton and Allen.

  Arkansas and Missouri are scheduled to attend an NHL game tonight. So are we. So that's all for now.

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 06:50 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  DALLAS — Arkansas has arrived here in Dallas for the Cotton Bowl, kicking off what is sure to be an eventful week loaded with intriguing questions.

  How will Arkansas perform with Reggie Herring as interim coach? Is this the last time Razorbacks fans will see both Darren McFadden and Felix Jones in Arkansas uniform? Can Arkansas find a way to slow down Missouri's high-octane offense, which is led by Heisman finalist Chase Daniel? How many Krispy Kreme doughnuts will I consume in the media hospitality room before the week ends?

  All of these pressing questions should be answered in time. But for now...

  Arkansas and Missouri reported today and Herring spoke with the media for a few minutes. He said four or five players were missing. The most notable was fullback Peyton Hillis. But Herring said every player has contacted the staff and should be arriving eventually. Travel trouble, etc.

  Both teams will take part in media day tomorrow and hit the practice field for the first time. Arkansas will practice at SMU, while the Tigers are set to practice at Texas Stadium. How exactly did that arrangement take place Jerry Jones? But Herring said he expects an intense workout for the Razorbacks.

  "We'll get their attention very quick in the morning," Herring said. "We'll go out there in full pads and we'll get after it pretty good."

  So that's all for now. Alex and I will have more from Dallas tomorrow.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 07:27 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Bobby Petrino met with the media for the first time since being introduced as Arkansas' new coach last Tuesday. We've been told it will be the only time to meet with him through the holidays, too.

  So, there was a lot of ground to cover. Here are some highlights:

  • First, Petrino said he has decided to retain Tim Horton on his staff. Horton spent last week recruiting with Petrino and it has obviously helped him stay in Arkansas. Petrino said he didn't know exactly what duties Horton would have, but running backs coach/recruiting coordinator has apparently been kicked around.

  • As for the rest of the staff, Petrino said he won't make any announcements until January. At this point there's really no hurry to put the staff in place because it is a recruiting dead period. Plus, chances are, some of the Falcons coaches will be following him to Fayetteville and season won't end for two weeks.

  • Petrino had a chance to defend himself from all the bad publicity he got from his abrupt departure in Atlanta. But he basically declined. He was asked four or five questions about it but kept saying he wants to put it in the past. He did say it has hurt his family, but, again, plans on just putting it in the past.

  • Petrino met with Arkansas running back Felix Jones and has a good idea of which way he is leaning (the NFL Draft or a senior year at Arkansas). Unfortunately, Petrino didn't share which way Jones is leaning. But, he did say he has not spoken with Darren McFadden yet. I'm not surprised by that.

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 12:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

We drove over to Oklahoma early Friday, trying to beat the weather. Well, that never really materialized — although, watch out, Ohio and New York.

A few flurries are falling outside the hotel window, nothing serious, nothing that should keep Sooner fans (for $5) and students (for free) from packing the Lloyd Noble Center.

Arkansas (8-1) vs. Oklahoma (7-3), the first of nine Razorback road games this season, starts at 2:05 p.m., beamed to the nation on ESPN2.

And I’m wondering if the Razorbacks can be as unpredictable as the path of a snowstorm.

The Razorbacks don’t do well on the road. Period. Ever since their six seniors arrived in Fayetteville, they have not dealt well with games in opposing arenas. But today, they are out to prove that this season will be different, that they will show up ready on the road.

Oklahoma provides a stiff test. Forget that the Sooners lost to Stephen F. Austin at home last Saturday. Their guards, though young and erratic, can get hot from behind the arc, and their big men are their strength. Freshman Blake Griffin, at 6-foot-10, and senior Longar Longer, at 6-11, will challenge Arkansas’ deep frontcourt.

Jeff Capel has Oklahoma more comfortable in his second season as coach, and former Razorback assistant Oronde Taliaferro surely told his players about Arkansas’.

As always, watch the turnover count. My hunch says Arkansas wins if it’s under 20. Over 20? Not so sure.

Well, we're off to the Lloyd Noble Center. Enjoy the game if you’re watching from Northwest Arkansas, and, watch out for that snowstorm (or don't)!

Posted by Ryan Malashock at 11:17 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  You know how silly and contrived the Battle for the Golden Boot feels every year?

  The trophy created to generate a rivalry between Arkansas and LSU has been, well, not so effective for fans in either state. LSU has plenty of other rivals to worry about with Alabama, Auburn, Florida and Georgia. The Hogs have, um, well, ...

  That question has finally been answered.

  Houston Nutt's departure and Bobby Petrino's arrival mean the Razorbacks will be playing intriguing games against Auburn and Ole Miss next year. Petrino, of course tried to swipe the Auburn job behind Tommy Tuberville's back (who he used to work for) in 2003. Nutt will bring the Rebels to Fayetteville in October.

  Good times are guaranteed. I'm not sure if Auburn-Arkansas and Ole Miss-Arkansas will have the same venom as LSU-Alabama with Nick Saban in Tuscaloosa, Ala. But I can make this crazy prediction: Arkansas fans now are looking forward to those games more than the return of Texas next season.

  Did I really just say that?

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 06:30 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Poor Bobby Petrino. He had to take a massive paycut to come to Arkansas.

  Who are we kidding? Sure, Petrino won't be making $4.5 million to coach in the NFL anymore, but earning $2.85 annually with the Razorbacks isn't half bad. I'll take it.

  We got a copy of Petrino's signed contract last night and it revealed some interesting details, like the no-compete clause that won't allow him to leave and coach at an SEC West school the next five years. Or the $2.85 million buyout, which is in effect for the first four years of the deal. But not the fifth.

  I did leave one thing unexplained, unfortunately, in the contract story I wrote. It involves the breakdown of his annual payout. How he gets to $2.85 million each year, actually.

  The first part ($750,000) comes from his agreement with the university. The second part ($1.95 million) comes from the Razorback Foundation. But, in addition, the foundation also will be setting aside $150,000 each year for five years "in recognition of your previous coaching accomplishments and as an incentive for ou to remain as the Head Coach of the University of Arkansas by declining other collegiate and professional coaching opportunities that may arise." He'll recieve it if he is terminated for convenience. He won't if he leaves, fails in perform his duties as head coach or is termnated for cause.

  So, added up, $1.95 million + $750K + $150K = $2.85 million. That's a lot of money.

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 04:11 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Want a satirical take on Arkansas' coaching search? Then look no further than ESPN.com writer Pat Forde, who penned this piece today on the troubles Michigan and Arkansas seem to be having.

  Butch Davis, Tommy Bowden, Jim Grobe, Gus Malzahn, all of them are touched on. My favorite line about the search? How about this gem:

"We've just about reached the deejay-on-a-billboard stage in Fayetteville. One more rejection and some wacky morning guy will go roost on a billboard and declare that he's not coming down until the Hogs hire a coach."

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 02:29 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  If you didn't see it, check out the story I wrote this morning on Arkansas' coaching search and how the opening is perceived by a few members of the national media. I have to admit, I only had one day to put the story together, so getting a large sampling was darn near impossible. But I did the best I could.

  If I had more time, there's no doubt I would have called others. Like CBSSports.com national columnist Gregg Doyel. I interviewed Doyel when I worked for the Jackson Clarion-Ledger last year on a story about Ole Miss' basketball coaching search and how the job was perceived. Let's just say he really angered Ole Miss with his feelings. My in-box was filled for days. I'm sure his was too.

  I mention this because, even though I didn't talk to him, Doyel does have an opinion on the Arkansas football coaching search. Check it out here. Here come the e-mails.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 06:22 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Michelle and I wrapped up our tour of San Juan with another stop to the old part of the city early today. We checked out El Morro, the fort that was built several centuries ago to protect the city from invading forces by sea. We dined on burgers at El Patio de Sam and ate ice cream at a local dive — Ben and Jerry's (OK, not that local, obviously).

  Now, I'm sitting at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, awaiting the start of Arkansas' third-place game with Virginia Commonwealth. This is not a matchup John Pelphrey wanted. Arkasnas' coach is great friends with VCU coach Anthony Grant.

  They coached together as assistants under Billy Donovan at Marshall and Florida and still keep in touch. Their families are close and both commented Friday that they didn't particularly want to coach against one another.

  Too bad.

  The Razorbacks desperately need a victory today. Actually they desperately need the type of game that can boost their confidence back up. They combined for 58 turnovers in their first two games here, and they are facing a Rams team that's a carbon copy of themselves. The Rams love to press.

  Not good news for the likes of Gary Ervin, Patrick Beverley, Stefan Welsh, Sonny Weems and Marcus Britt — the Arkansas guards in charge of keeping turnovers to a minimum.

  Tip-off is in 40 minutes on ESPN2. 

Posted by Ryan Malashock at 03:18 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Arkansas' basketball team had no fun today. The Razorbacks didn't jet ski. They didn't swim. They didn't parasail, and they didn't socialize with the locals.

They practiced. Their off day at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off was spent working out, mainly as punishment for their less-than-stellar outings here in the Caribbean. Arkansas committed 26 turnovers in a Thursday victory and 32 miscues — tying a school record — in a Friday loss.

So coach John Pelphrey scrapped any social plans.

Michelle and I did not. We headed 45 minutes to the southeast to El Yunque Rainforest, one of the main attractions on this island. We hiked for about three hours through the rainforest, climbing through mountains and up to several spots where we could see for miles. It was, simply put, absolutely beautiful.

As for the Razorbacks, they face the worst possible opponent tomorrow in the third-place game of the tournament — Virginia Commonwealth. The Rams, led by Pelphrey friend and former coaching colleague Anthony Grant love to press, love to harrass.

Could spell trouble for the turnover-happy Hogs. 

— Ryan Malashock 

Posted by Ryan Malashock at 04:51 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Felix Jones might not be full strength, but the Razorbacks did find a formation that loosened up Mississippi State's defense: Darren McFadden at QB and Peyton Hillis and Michael Smith in the backfield.

  Hillis carried twice for 24 yards and McFadden followed it with a 17-yard gain out of the formation. Two players later, another unique look — Hillis in the slot and Farod Jackson coming out of the backfield — resulted in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Casey Dick to Jackson.

  It was the first touchdown of Jackson's career. It gives Arkansas a 10-7 lead.

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 01:54 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Here's an interesting stat for you:

  Mississippi State quarterback Wesley Caroll doubled up Arkansas running back Darren McFadden in the first quarter. Caroll ran for 22 yards on three carries. McFadden had 11 yards on six carries.

  Overall, MSU outgained the Hogs 108-46 in the first quarter and lead 7-3 early in the secon.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 01:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Arkansas said it was going to have to prepare for a physical game against Mississippi State.

  I guess the Razorbacks meant it.

  The Hogs' defense has been playing with five down linemen (three defensive tackles). The offense followed the same premise on its first possession, using two tight ends to open the game.

  Is it working? Well...The Hogs did force a fumble, but MSU marched 80 yards on 15 plays to score the go-ahead touchdown on its second possession. Even more impressive, the Bulldogs were 3 of 4 on the third down and 1 of 1 on fourth down during the drive.

  Arkansas' offense went three-and-out on its first possession. It's 7-0 MSU with four minutes left in the 1st.
 

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 01:26 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  We're going to go ahead and dub today's home finale the "will he stay or will he go" bowl.

  Yes, reports are running rampant that Houston Nutt will not be back next year. No, we can't find anyone that can verify that report. And we mean no one. You can read about it here in Alex Abrams' story this morning.

  The next question is this: How much — if any — will the heated Nutt talk effect the Razorbacks against Mississippi State today? Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. We'll see. But as the story says, Nutt's future was definitely on players' minds last night.

  If there's any good news for Arkansas in pre-game it's this: Running back Felix Jones is dressed out and going through warmups. He is running with a limp, though. We don't know how much he'll play, if any, but any could help Darren McFadden and the Hogs. In addition, receiver London Crawford is dressed out and may play after missing three straight games because of a knee injury

Posted by Robbie Neiswanger at 12:31 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

But I’m back now, live on press row just before the Razorbacks tip off their semifinal contest in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off against Providence.

First, though, historic Old San Juan was on the slate for Michelle and I on Friday. Pictured here is a statue and fountain that is located on the extreme west tip of San Juan, in the extreme southwest corner of Old San Juan.

After lunch at Cafe la Princessa, we passed this statue, which marked the beginning of the Paseo del Morro Trail.

It’s named “Racies” and has American and Puerto Rican flags next to one another. It was unveiled May 30, 1992, in commemoration of the fifth centennial of the discovery of the Americas, and it depicts the roots of  Puerto Rican culture.

We then turned north and walked along the trail. To our left was the Atlantic Ocean, the waters leading to San Juan’s largest port. To our right was the port’s protection — a long, massive fort with walls as high as at least 100 feet.

In the 1600s, Spain used the fort to protect San Juan against invaders from England, France and Holland.

Tomorrow, on an off day for the Puerto Rico Tip-Off, we head to El Yunque Rainforest. How much time we have to climb through the rainforest depends on Arkansas’ result today.

Providence, coached by Tim Welsh, figures to challenge the Hogs far more than College of Charleston did. The Friars sleepwalked through much of their first-round win over Temple, rallying from 10 points down with 6 minutes, 2 seconds left.

If Arkansas wins today, the Razorbacks will take on Miami (Fla.), which held off a strong rally from Virginia Commonwealth to win 69-63. Jack McClinton, the Hurricanes’ point guard, scored 23 points and came up with big shot after big shot in the second half as Miami nearly blew a 15-point halftime lead.

First and foremost on my mind, coach John Pelphrey’s mind and surely every Razorback’s mind is this: Can Arkansas take care of the basketball?

We shall see. Tip off in a few minutes on ESPNU (Cox Ch. 120).

— Ryan Malashock 

Posted by Ryan Malashock at 04:21 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

  Alex got a chance to speak with Houston Nutt and running backs coach Tim Horton a little while ago regarding Felix Jones' thigh bruise. Basically it's going to be a game-time decision. But here is what will be in the newspaper tomorrow morning:

  Running back Felix Jones dressed out Thursday for the first time this week, but he was limited because of a deep thigh bruise. 

  Jones injur