Four Arkansas players selected to SEC coaches squad

By Bud L. Ellis

Hopes are high when the 2010 season ends, the Arkansas Razorbacks will be standing atop the Southeastern Conference.

There is a long way to go for that to happen – starting with dethroning defending SEC West, SEC and national champion Alabama. But there is talent in Fayetteville, and four of those Hogs have been named to the preseason All-SEC Coaches’ team. (Read More…)

Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at 7:49 pm by bud

Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks news, Arkansas Razorbacks schedule, Arkansas Razorbacks tickets, Auburn, D.J. Williams, DeMarcus Love, Jerry Franklin, Mississippi State, Ryan Mallett, Southeastern Conference

Mallet’s status unknown

The Arkansas Razorbacks continue to reiterate that quarterback Ryan Mallet will be back for the season opener.

However, the team has not given any updates on where the quarterback stands in the rehab process.

Mallet is working his way back from a broken foot but some believe he might have suffered a setback. (Read More…)

Sunday, July 11, 2010 at 9:44 am by steve

Tags: Arkansas news, Arkansas schedule, Arkansas tickets

Mustain might regret decision

Former Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Mitch Mustain’s decision to transfer to USC hasn’t worked out as hoped.

Mustain thought he would get a crack at the starting quarterback job, but freshman phenom Matt Barkley has a strangehold on the position.

That’s left Mustain in the backup role yet again and simply fighting to stay the second string quarterback. (Read More…)

Wednesday, June 16, 2010 at 4:27 pm by steve

Tags: Arkansas Razorbacks news, Arkansas Razorbacks schedule, Arkansas Razorbacks tickets

Fortson sparks second-half rally

South Carolina’s diminutive guard Devan Downey grabs the headlines for his electric play, but Arkansas has its own mighty-mite wreacking havoc on SEC opponents.

Courtney Fortson scored a game-high 27 points, rallying the Razorbacks from a 15-point halftime deficit in a 72-68 win over the homestanding Georgia Bulldogs. The win is Arkansas’ third straight.

After scoring just 22 points in the first half, the Razorbacks caught fire over the final 20:00, thanks in large part to Fortson and Mike Washington, who scored 13 of his 15 points in the second half. But as important, the Razorbacks stepped up on the defensive end, holding the Bulldogs to two field goals in the first 10:00 of the second half.

At 11-11, Arkansas fans have no delusions of dancing come March. But the past three games have proved that this team is going to relish the role of spoiler over the next month.

Thursday, February 4, 2010 at 9:24 am by Raj Sethi

Fortson blitzes Mississippi State with career night

Last night, the state of Arkansas was bracing for an ice storm.

Inside Bud Walton Arena, however, the visiting Mississippi State Bulldogs were ill-prepared for the storm that was Courtney Fortson.

The diminutive Arkansas guard scored 33 of his career-high 35 points over the final 20:00, shocking the Bulldogs in a 67-62 upset.

The few who chanced the weather to attend Thursday night’s contest was treated to one of the greatest performances in school history; it was surely the greatest single half. Thanks for Fortson, the Razorbacks were able to erase an 11-point second-half deficit.

The 5-foot 11-inch guard got to the basket at will, finishing and drawing fouls and then converting his opportunities at the stripe to the tune of 14-for-18. And as if that wasn’t enough, Fortson also assisted on four other scores and grabbed seven rebounds.

Mississippi State did itself no favors on the offensive end to answer Fortson, shooting 5 of 26 from beyond the arc and just 31 percent overall from the floor.

Stefan Welsh was the only other Razorback to reach double-figures, netting 10 points.

Friday, January 29, 2010 at 3:46 pm by Raj Sethi

Arkansas Headed to Liberty Bowl Against East Carolina

The Arkansas Razorbacks (7-5) gave Florida their biggest scare of the season before Alabama’s thrashing of the Gators in the SEC Championship. It was indicative of the performance Arkansas delivered all year – despite playing five ranked teams this season, they were only blown out once (by ‘Bama), and nearly upset Florida and LSU.

Now, the Razorbacks have been rewarded for their season-long gutty play with a spot in the Liberty Bowl on Jan. 2 against the two-time C-USA champion East Carolina Pirates (9-4).

“I’ve had the pleasure of coaching in it before, and had a great experience … We’re looking forward to everybody coming down and filling up the stadium. I’m excited about the preparation for the game and our team learning how to prepare for a big bowl game. We’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for East Carolina,” Petrino said.

Petrino first coached in the Liberty Bowl in 2004, when his Louisville Cardinals held off a ferocious rally from the Boise State Broncos, winning 44-40.

Now, he leads former Michigan QB Ryan Mallett into battle against an East Carolina team that managed a second straight C-USA title after upsetting No. 18 Houston 38-32 last Saturday.

The pressure is on Arkansas for SEC pride – the conference has won the last three Liberty Bowls, most recently with Kentucky beating East Carolina 25-19.

Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long is encouraging Razorback fans to get their tickets and get ‘em fast, as he’s predicted that ticket sales have already exceeded 15,000.

“Fans throughout the state of Arkansas can drive to Memphis and be a part of the bowl game experience,” Long said. “Many times if we’re flying off to Florida or other locations, many of our fans aren’t able to travel to be with us.”

Tuesday, December 8, 2009 at 9:04 pm by bryan

Arkansas edged by Florida, 23-20

The Arkansas Razorbacks gave the Florida Gators their biggest scare of the season in a 23-20 loss at The Swamp.

Arkansas hung with the Gators all day long before taking a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter.

However, the Florida offense quickly responded by punching in a score to tie the game with just minutes remaining in the contest.

The Razorbacks marched down the field again only to miss on the go-ahead field goal, which also gave Florida a couple of minutes remaining on the clock.

Arkansas couldn’t get a stop, and Gators drove down the field to kick the game-winning field goal just before time expired.

Thursday, October 22, 2009 at 6:43 pm by steve

Arkansas rolls past Auburn, 44-23

The Arkansas Razorbacks handed the No. 17 Auburn Tigers their first loss of the year, 44-23.

There is no doubt that Arkansas is starting to get back to the prolific offense we used to see under former head coach Houston Nutt.

Quarterback Ryan Mallet threw for 273 yards and had three touchdowns on the day.

The Razorbacks jumped out to a 27-3 halftime lead, which was surely a smack in the face for Auburn.

The Tigers came into the game undefeated and were slowly marching their way up the top 25 before this crushing loss.

Sunday, October 18, 2009 at 8:38 am by steve

Starting RB Smith a game-time decision vs. Florida

The AP is reporting that Arkansas starting running back Michael Smith will be a game-time decision against Florida after injuring a hamstring last week against Auburn.

Smith’s absence would be a big blow to the Razorbacks’ upset hopes. He shredded the Tigers for 145 yards last Saturday, and is one of the team’s best playmakers. Without him, the burden would fall squarely on the shoulders of quarterback Ryan Mallett. And going up against possibly the nation’s best defense, losing the dimension Smith brings to the offense would be crippling.

Arkansas has relied on scoring points to win games this season. The odds of going into The Swamp and emerging victorious was slim enough with a healthy team; banged up, Tim Tebow and Co. could make this game a lopsided affair.

Friday, October 16, 2009 at 2:41 pm by Raj Sethi