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Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman Looks Forward to Challenging Texas Longhorns Offense

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Arkansas Coach Sam Pittman Looks Forward to Challenging Texas Longhorns Offense


When the Texas Longhorns and the Arkansas Razorbacks met for the final time as non-conference opponents in 2021, Steve Sarkisian had just one game of experience under his belt after taking over as head coach. On the opposing end, the Razorbacks had just entered their third season under Sam Pittman at the helm, and were unknowingly about to see the most successful season of the last 10 years.

Now Sarkisian sits in his fourth year with the Longhorns and has already brought his team to a Big 12 Championship title and College Football Playoff appearance while currently seeking out an SEC Championship. Arkansas has followed up its 4-8 performance from last season with a 5-4 record so far, while Texas has maintained consistency from a 12-2 record into an 8-1 showing in its first year as SEC members.

Pittman pointed out the obvious in his Monday media availability, describing how the Longhorns have found more speed and physicality on its roster than what they had three years ago, especially with breakout performances by wide receiver Isaiah Bond, running back Jaydon Blue, and edge Trey Moore against Florida last weekend.

“Certainly since we played them the last time, they’re a different team. Their talent level is certainly a lot faster and bigger than what they were last time we played them,” Pittman said. “We’re certainly looking forward to the challenge that we have, which is a huge challenge against a great Texas team.”

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What especially caught Pittman’s attention about the new and improved Sarkisian-era squad is the fact that his play designs have been known to draw the attention off the ball. One of the plays that stood out to Pittman was the double fake screen when starting quarterback Quinn Ewers ended up handing the ball to Bond for a 44-yard gain. The head coach mentioned that he’ll have to prepare his guys for miscues like that if they want to avoid the Longhorns offense running up the sidelines.

“They want to get the ball on the edge and get you in space,” Pittman said. “We have to have our edge, we have to turn everything back inside, we have to. If they get outside of one of our guys, we’re in trouble. We’ve got to chase the ball and we have to play extremely hard.”

Although Arkansas has already faced some intimidating players at the quarterback position, including Jaxson Dart for Ole Miss and Nico Iamaleava for Tennessee, he praised Ewers for being one of the most impressive quarterbacks he’s seen all year.

“Ewers throwing the football, he has one of the fastest releases of guys I’ve seen,” Pittman said. “He can throw a bubble screen and it’s halfway there and you didn’t even see him throw. He’s really, really talented and has an extremely strong arm.”

Pittman hinted that he’s been fixing up his secondary ahead of Saturday to combat the agility of the Longhorns, but only time will tell who has come more prepared in Fayetteville for the revival of an overshadowed rivalry.

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Other Texas Longhorns News:

MORE: Texas Longhorns DB Michael Taaffe Named Semifinalist for Burlsworth Trophy

MORE: Two Texas Longhorns Among PFF’s Highest-Graded Freshmen in Week 11

MORE: Texas Longhorns LB Trey Moore Playing His Best at Right Time

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Staff Members at A-State Honored for Retirement and Years of Service

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JONESBORO – Staff members at Arkansas State University were honored for their retirement
and milestone accomplishments during the annual Distinguished Performance Awards and
Service Recognition Ceremony in Centennial Hall of Reng Student Union on Monday, May
11. 
 
Those who have or will retire during the current academic year include Malissa Davis,
Ellis Library, 35 years; Jimmy Crocker, Facilities Management, 28 years; Anna Warren,
Childhood Services, 19 years; Cameron Martin, Facilities Management, 14 years; Barbara
Bland, Childhood Services, 14 years; Charlotte Booker, Information Technology Services,
12 years; Mary E. Williams, College of Nursing and Health Professions, 11 years; and
Joe Boon, Facilities Management, 9 years.

Honored for 45 years of service was Sharon Lee, director of community engagement and
outreach for the office of Access and Accommodation Services.

Honored for 40 years of service was Sharon McDaniel, records management supervisor
for the Registrar’s Office.

Those honored for 35 years of service include:  
Phillip Ladd, project manager in Construction Services, and Russ Hannah, vice chancellor
for Finance and Administration.

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Those honored for 30 years of service include:  
Natalie Turney, administrative assistant in the Department of English, Philosophy
and World Languages and Cheryl Richey, custodial coordinator in Facilities Management.

Those honored for 25 years of service include: 
Woodie Sue Herlein, out-of-school time projects coordinator in Childhood Services;
Diana Courson, assistant director of Childhood Services; Laura Miller, director of
Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center; Mia Sheppard-Taylor, director
of Custodial Services; Eric Barnett, core network engineer and wireless administrator
of Information Technology Services; Clay Hurn, Mail Center; and Sharon Rye, hardware
engineer in Information Technology Services. 

Those honored for 20 years of service include:
April Morris, Michael Glover, Mary Melton, Grady Clark, Amber Long Martin, Kayann
Brown, Dwain Roberts, Randy Wheaton, Amber Jones, Melissa Jackson, Cheryl Wright,
Christy Brinkley, and Jimmy Rousseau. 

Those honored for 15 years of service include:  
Ronnie Gilley, Christina Kostick, Carol Caldwell, Michael Bradley, Mark Freier, Shea
Harris, Thomas Wilson, Chris Boothman, Lora Gibson, Cary Estes, Stephanie Gibson,
Jesse Blankenship, Violeta Lugo, Alyssa Wells, Marsha Carwell, Vickie Gilmer, Edward
Haff, and Alexis Hurdle Besharse.

Those honored for 10 years of service include:  
Michael Hagen, Tammy Daffron, Terri Teters, Mollie Menton-Ipsen, Dale McClelland,
Taylor Carpenter, Anne Merten, Avis Turner, Benjamin Housewright, Dallas Reece, Brandon
Tabor, Tia Caldwell, Tara Thomason, Petree Buford, Robert Davenport, Cathy Naylor,
Shannon Williams, Jackie Cox, Frazier Dixon, Devin Nelson, and Michelle White.  
 
Those honored for five years of service include:  
Jeri Knight, Josh Rogers, Taylor Shannon, Fen Yu, Deloris Holley, Penny Toombs, Greg
Umhoefer, Sasha Jones, Brittany Stokes, Stephanie Stanley, Caleb Lawson, Raven Person,
Maria Bedwell, Michael Bledsoe, Judith Poole, Suzette Hinkle, Leigh Ann Crain, Bryce
Moore, Andrew Shoffner, Lyle Jones, Derrick Lett, Ben Kutylo, Autumn Anderson, Stanley
Broadaway, Michael Alexander, Jennifer Keys, Julie Yarberry, Shauna Baker, Melissa
Dooley, Paula Kelley, Taylor Simmermon, Craig Estes, Kyle Ford, Fady Fara, Sylvia
Zavala Brandon, Nicholas Wallis, Olivia Clark, and JD Stallings.  
 
Honorees from five years of service through 20 years received a certificate and a
pin. Those celebrating 25 years and up received a plaque in recognition of their dedication
to A-State.  

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Working on softball skills | Washington County Enterprise-Leader

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Working on softball skills | Washington County Enterprise-Leader


Anya Lynch (left), a Farmington High School student, fields the ball with the help of Riley Sundquist, Farmington Junior High School student on Wednesday, May 6, during the Special Olympics Arkansas Area 3-Farmington softball skills and competition event at the Farmington Sports Complex. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Caleb Grieger)

Anya Lynch (left), a Farmington High School student, fields the ball with the help of Riley Sundquist, Farmington Junior High School student on Wednesday, May 6, during the Special Olympics Arkansas Area 3-Farmington softball skills and competition event at the Farmington Sports Complex. (NWA Democrat-Gazette/Caleb Grieger)



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Arkansas State Police hold annual awards ceremony at Benton Event Center, honoring bravery

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Arkansas State Police hold annual awards ceremony at Benton Event Center, honoring bravery


The Arkansas State Police (ASP) held their annual award ceremony today, to recognize bravery and service within their ranks.

Channel 7 provided coverage at the Benton event center this morning, as ASP awarded the troopers cross award, the distinguished Meritorious Service Award and the Medal of Valor to some of its finest members.

“Just a job, you got to do it. I mean, didn’t the day. You know, that’s what we’re trained for, and we’re thankful receive the highest quality of training, you know, in the state, and I’m thankful for the ones that come before us and taught us,” said Trooper Ethan Hiland.

This year, three troopers shared the honor of being named Arkansas State Police Trooper of the year, including Hiland.

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Trooper First Class Brady Knuckles and Trooper First Class Jacob Price were recognized for their actions last June, during the arrest of a violent felon out of Michigan who had carjacked a woman at gunpoint.

The troopers saved that woman and killed the suspect in a stop near Carlisle.



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