The Associated Press Released their Pre-Season poll and Arkansas is 21st. Their are 2 SEC teams in the Top 6 (LSU and Florida). Georgia, Tennessee, and Auburn are in the Top 18. That’s 6 in the top 25 with 3 more SEC schools (Alabama, Kentucky, South Carolina) in the “Others receiving votes” category.
Stewart Mandel is a writer for SI.com and a voter in the AP football poll. In his new book, excerpted on SI.com, he talks about the 2006 season and talks about the night of Arkansas’ win over Mississippi St., their tenth in a row, and why he ranked Arkansas where he did. It’s a facinating look behind the curtain.
Nov. 18, 2006, 11:12 p.m., Ruby Tuesday’s, Columbus, Ohio: A couple of my fellow writers and I, having just covered the Ohio State-Michigan “Game of the Century,” have gathered for a late-night dinner. Laptop open, I’m putting the finishing touches on my AP ballot, but one issue has me stumped: Who should be No. 2? For weeks, I have resisted in print the notion that, should No. 1 OSU and No. 2 Michigan stage a thriller, the loser should not drop in the polls. The idea of a national-championship rematch seems ridiculous. And yet, with images from the two teams’ 42-39 classic still fresh in my mind, I can’t bring myself to move another team above the 11-1 Wolverines. Arkansas, the team I had third last week, has won 10 straight games, yet I’m no longer comfortable putting them ahead of 9-1 USC, a team that beat the Razorbacks 50-14 the first week of the season. The Trojans appear to be the next-best candidate but they’re only three weeks removed from a bad loss at Oregon State. And Florida, itself 10-1, hasn’t looked good in about a month. I poll the table, and everyone is in agreement that, under the circumstances, you’ve got to keep Michigan No. 2, so I do. It’s a decision I’ll regret two weeks later when Florida wins the SEC title.
I wanted to highlite the Broyles Q&A the Democrat Gazette ran today. It covers joining the Big 12, Moving the LSU game, Houston’s Offseason, our relationship with the SEC, Broyles past and future.
Whole Hog Sports
Fanblogs Rank Football Conferences (SEC #1)
Fanblogs.com
Razorback Golf Announces Schedule
Hogwired.com
Reggie Fish Impresses
The Morning News
Harrison returns to set an example
Razorbacks Report (Thursday’s Practice Roundup)
Lady Razorbacks from Oklahoma give team boost (Golf)
UA volleyball tabbed third in SEC West
Arkansas softball, tennis announce fall schedules
Arkansas in good hands with freshman Williams at tight end
Worth the weight: Dacus tackles new leadership role on Razorbacks’ defense
All links Via Whole Hog Sports
Whatever It Takes (Brandon Barnett)
Thursday’s Razorback Report (Wednesday’s Practice Roundup)
I just wanted to pick this great quote from Reggie about being happy with the defense’s effort this week…
“I don’t know about being happy,” Herring said. “We ain’t happy until we go undefeated and date the prom queen. Right now we’re just taking it day to day.”
Football Hogs set for Saturday scrimmage
Lady’Back soccer begins preseason rehearsals
Nathan Dick getting more reps under center for Hogs
Like it is : Mum is only word on Arkansas’ AD search (Wally on White’s CIA type secrecy)
UA FOOTBALL PRACTICE : Hewitt looking to make impact at safety
All Links Via Whole Hog Sports
EDSBS Ranks Hogs 24th
Everyday Should Be Saturday
AP Previews Arkansas
ESPN
FW Star Telegream Recaps Hog Offseason
Fort-Worth Star Telegram
FSN Southwest To Show Hog Preview Special
I missed the first airing. It’ll replay on Aug. 27th at 2pm. Set the Tivos!
Hogwired.com
After Houston Nutt allowed the team to skip Wednesday’s evening practice, the Hogs were sluggish Thursday morning and they paid for it Thursday night. Both sides of the ball were call on to do gassers (wind sprints) for most of the evening practice after the poor morning session. Tight end Ben Cleveland (nerve in neck) will be examined by a specialist, Nutt said after Thursday’s practice. Defensive end Adrian Davis, practicing recently after a convalescence from a concussion, also was rested Thursday. Defensive end Chris Wade, back on a limited basis Wednesday from his concussion last week, took more extensive first-team repss Thursday. The following is the short list of players who didn’t practice…
right offensive tackle Nate Garner (concussion )
fullback Peyton Hillis (strained hamstring )
punter / placekicker Jeremy Davis (foot )
cornerback Shedrick Johnson (back )
Hogwired.com
Whole Hog Sports
The Kansas City Star reported Wednesday that former hog WR Andrew Norman had decided to transfer to Kansas to play for the Jayhawks. The Star reported Thursday that an asst. AD at Kansas had told them that Norman had changed his mind and that they didn’t have any information on his future plans. He had stated that Kansas and Tulsa were his two favorites after announcing that he was leaving Arkansas.
After appearing on SI last week, Darren McFadden is on one of 3 covers of ESPN the Magazine This week. Here’s the list of covers McFadden has appeared on…
ESPN The Magazine cover shot (with Felix Jones inside shot)
Sports Illustrated cover shot
Blue Ribbon College Football (action)
Lindy’s (action)
Phil Steele College Football (action)
The Sporting News (action)
Arkansas Business 360 (posed)
Athlon (posed)
Hawgs Illustrated (posed with Felix Jones, Michael Smith)
Hooten’s Arkansas Football (posed)
Street and Smith’s (posed – faceless helmet)
USA Today Sports Weekly (posed)
Arkansas Football Media Guide (posed with Peyton Hillis, Felix Jones and Marcus Monk)
