Arkansas
Arkansas Has ‘A Lot Of Things To be Concerned About’ vs. Texas A&M, Says Sam Pittman
The Texas A&M Aggies are set to head north to Arlington to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks, in what will be the last edition of the Southwest Classic at AT&T Stadium.
After that, the series will shift to a home-and-home format between Fayetteville and College Station, much to the joy of both fanbases.
That is likely particularly true for Razorbacks fans, who have watch their team lose 11 of the 12 editions of the game in Arlington.
And while this Razorbacks team is certainly capable of giving A&M a myriad of issues, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman believes the Aggies are going to be a very difficult challenge for his football team – starting with the offensive side of the ball.
“Excited to go to Dallas,” Pittman said. “Texas A&M has a really good team, very physical offensively. Huge offensive line, really well coached. They have a lot of speed in their skill positions, a lot of big receivers. Marcel Reed, we’re familiar with him… He’s got a strong arm and an ability to run. I think he rushed for 90 or 91 yards last week. They play a lot of different running backs. All of them have a great skill set. I really like their tight-end corps. (Theo Melin Ohrstrom), has made a couple of touchdown catches, and he’s a really good route runner. So on offense, there are a lot of things to be concerned about and to plan for.”
But while the Aggies offense has been improved over the last two weeks, it has been the defense that has carried them to a 3-1 record through the first four games.
As such, Pittman was equally complimentary of both the defense and special teams as well, calling out true freshman playmaker Terry Bussey in the process.
“Defensively, they’re really good on their front four,” Pittman said. “They have a lot of depth there. There is a lot of athleticism there. Have some returning guys at linebacker who made a lot of tackles a year ago and then their secondary is really good. Special teams-wise, their kick returner/punt returner is dynamic. The (Terry) Bussey kid… So a very good team. Their one loss is to a really good Notre Dame team.”
As it stands, the Aggies enter the matchup as 4.5-point favorites, and are widely projected to extend their dominance in the series by most experts.
Obviously, that will depend on a variety of factors, including who is under center for the Aggies, which has been a question from week to week throughout the season.
Should the Aggies be able to play their game, however, they should have a great chance to make it 12 of 13.
Kick off is set for 2:30 pm CT on ESPN on Satrday.
After a cool/chilly morning that started in the 40s and 50s, Tuesday will warm to the upper 70s and low 80s with nothing but sunshine all day long.
There will be a weak front passing through Arkansas on Wednesday. There will briefly be a few clouds along the time the front actually passes through. But once the front clears, it will once again become sunny.
Starting Friday and lasting through the weekend and into next week a strong south wind will set up. That will warm Arkansas into the mid and upper 80s and introduce a higher level of humidity. It will feel a little like Summer this weekend. Rain chances will return to Central Arkansas starting on Sunday.
With a big upper-level system and cold front approaching early next week, the rain and thunderstorm chance will go up Monday, Monday night and Tuesday. Some strong to severe storms may occur Monday evening. The front will become stationary on Tuesday which will prolong the rainy period and overall help the drought situation Arkansas is facing.
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — Purple is the color of the month in Arkansas, and Lupus Awareness Month is bringing a busy stretch of events, including a mayoral proclamation and a smooth jazz concert featuring acclaimed saxophonist Merlon Devine.
A proclamation for Lupus Awareness Month is set for 6 p.m. in North Little Rock, with Mayor Hardwick expected to present it. Organizers encouraged lupus warriors and supporters to come out.
Anita Boone, President of the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas Inc. and a former lupus warrior, described the day-to-day reality of living with the disease: “One minute you’re feeling amazing, the next minute your body is saying we can’t do this.”
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, described during the interview as a condition where the immune system attacks the body “inside out.” It can affect organs throughout the body, including the brain, lungs, heart and kidneys. Boone also shared personal impacts, saying, “I am losing, actually, ear from hearing, just because of lupus.”
The Lupus Foundation of Arkansas is also inviting the community to a Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert this Sunday, May 17, at 3:30 at The Space with Grace event venue, 2005 Main St., North Little Rock.
Gale Davis, committee chair for the Lupus Smooth Jazz Concert shared details about the concert.
Davis said guests are encouraged to “dress to impress,” though formalwear isn’t required. The event will include a photo backdrop, light hors d’oeuvres and beverages, and sponsored tables aimed at networking. It’s also a chance for people to meet other lupus warriors, learn more about the foundation’s work, and watch a video presentation highlighting events from the past year.
The featured artist, Merlon Devine, was described as an acclaimed saxophonist known for a soulful, smooth jazz sound, with a career spanning more than two decades and performances across the country and around the world. He’s also an Arkansas native who attended Little Rock Central High School. He now lives in Southern Maryland, outside Washington, D.C.
Davis said Devine’s connection to lupus is personal. She said his father had lupus and has since died, though he didn’t die from lupus. They also said Divine had a sister who died from lupus in 1981 and that he currently has two sisters living with lupus.
She also shared that, according to his doctors, Devine was born with acute asthma and underdeveloped lungs. His latest single, released last year, is called “Mercy.”
Tickets must be purchased online and will not be sold at the door. They’re available online by clicking on the flyer. Prices are $40 for individual tickets, or $400 for a table of nine, with an option to sponsor a table.
Organizers also noted another proclamation is planned for the Little Rock side with Mayor Frank Scott tomorrow, and encouraged people to follow the Lupus Foundation of Arkansas on social media for updates.
The concert will take place this Sunday at the Space With Grace Venue in North Little Rock.
ASHLAND TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An Arkansas man died after crashing a dirt bike on Sunday.
The 21-year-old Arkansas man, formerly from Newaygo, crashed into a tree while riding a dirt bike on private property in Ashland Township near Grant on Sunday before 2:30 p.m., according to Michigan State Police (MSP) troopers.
Emergency responders tried to save his life but he died at the scene.
Troopers are still investigating but do not suspect drugs or alcohol as factors in the crash.
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MSP did not initially release any additional information.
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