The Razorbacks might be fortunate to be higher than a 5-win group.Picture: Getty Photographs
The Arkansas Razorbacks soccer group is coming off considered one of their greatest seasons of the twenty first century: 9 wins, their most since 2011 and a victory within the Outback Bowl. Sure sir, issues are actually beginning to search for for the Razorbacks. Even higher, most of their key gamers are returning for the 2022 season. Okay.J. Jefferson might be again. 4 of the group’s starters on the offensive line will go well with up once more in 2022.
Working again Trelon Smith transferred out, however it was evident that the Razorbacks had been choosing extra of a committee method to their backfield with Raheim Sanders and Dominique Johnson choosing up extra carries because the season progressed. Smith might be changed. Sure, Treylon Burks is a serious loss, however hopefully another person can step up within the passing recreation. That they had a powerful haul of receivers this 12 months although, together with former No. 1 receiver prospect Jadon Haselwood. Maybe he might fill that function Burks left.
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There have been some losses on protection, however nothing that Arkansas can’t overcome. But, I wouldn’t be stunned if Arkansas completed with lower than 5 wins subsequent 12 months.
Regardless of all of the expertise they’re bringing to the desk subsequent 12 months, Arkansas’ 2022 schedule is an absolute gauntlet with zero downtime, zero gimme video games, and 0 room for error. I do know the SEC is all the time powerful, however by golly, their different video games aren’t any simpler.
The group opens the season with Cincinnati. That’s powerful as is. That’s adopted by dwelling contests towards South Carolina and Missouri State. Arkansas ought to get at the very least one win throughout that stretch. Then comes absolutely the gauntlet. Texas A&M, Alabama, at Mississippi State, at BYU, at Auburn, Liberty, LSU, Ole Miss, and Missouri to shut issues out. MY GOODNESS! Except for Missouri, these are all video games that the Razorbacks might lose. Liberty is iffy with out Malik Willis, however why on Earth would any college schedule all these high-profile non-conference video games in a single season, particularly once you’re already going to play the powerhouse SEC all 12 months as properly? If you happen to’re enjoying Bama, LSU, Texas A&M, and Auburn in the identical season, I feel your energy of schedule might be simply positive with out scheduling two groups that completed the season within the AP top-20. Give your group a breather each from time to time.
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The toughest a part of this schedule goes to be that four-week stretch in the midst of the season the place Arkansas will get Alabama at dwelling adopted by three straight street video games. A minimum of the group will get their bye week earlier than going through Auburn, the ultimate recreation of that stretch, however that’s the best one! If something, you’d need the break earlier than you tackle Bama or LSU, however no. Heaven forbid completely something go Arkansas’ approach with their schedule.
With all of the promise Arkansas displayed final 12 months, and the expertise coming in, there’s an opportunity this group blows expectations out of the water and goes 10-2 or 9-3. Nonetheless, I feel it’s more likely that Arkansas succumbs to their schedule in the midst of the season and find yourself round .500, and I don’t suppose it’s absurd to foretell the Razorbacks going 4-8 and even 3-9. They’re higher than that. They shouldn’t, however it’s not out of the realm of chance.
The insane variance between the Razorbacks ceiling and ground is each bettors’ worst nightmare, however for my cash, if I needed to wager on Arkansas’ win whole for 2022, I’m taking below 7.5 daily of the week.
Jobs board funded by Pew and supported by employers also aims to elevate training of broadband workers.
Photo of Solomon Graves, associate manager of regional connectedness at Heartland Forward, on Tuesday
HOT SPRINGS, Arkansas, June 26, 2024 – Pew Charitable Trusts and four large telecommunications companies on Tuesday launched an online platform designed to boost job prospects for workers in broadband industries in Arkansas and Louisiana.
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The announcement at the Arkansas BEAD conference here on Tuesday is part of the think tank Heartland Forward’s efforts to advance better broadband and be a resource for state and local communities in what the group calls “the middle of the country.”
“The number one economic issue of our time is having access to affordable high-speed internet, but we need more talent in this field to connect every family,” said Ross DeVol, CEO of Heartland Forward. “By facilitating access to jobs and training, the Connecting the Heartland Broadband Jobs Board attracts new talent and bolsters our broadband infrastructure, ensuring continued growth and connectivity in heartland communities.”
Arkansas will require 8,000 jobs and Louisiana will require 5,000 jobs to complete the state’s broadband buildouts, Heartland Forward said.
In addition to job posting, the resource is designed to help elevate the skills and training of potential workers. Job seekers will be able to access training specific to jobs posted by employers. AT&T, Cablelynx Broadband, Cox Communications and Ritter Communications and the employers currently on the platform.
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“These providers understand that in order to be successful, it is imperative that they partner, not only in the industry, but outside of the traditional broadband sector,” said Solomon Graves, associate manager of regional connectedness at Heartland Forward, speaking at the event.
“We have a very finite timeline” for broadband deployments under the government Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, said Graves.
Arkansas ranks fifth among states for job growth, and boasts record-high jobs and declining unemployment rates – complicating efforts to obtain workers for broadband projects.
“We need a strong workforce with expertise in this area” to accelerate broadband, said Arkansas State Broadband Director Glen Howie. “The Connecting the Heartland Broadband Jobs Board will ultimately positively impact lives for the better.”
The Connecting the Heartland Broadband Jobs Board is one part of Heartland Forward’s multi-pronged Connecting the Heartland initiative. This effort seeks to boost internet availability, affordability and adoption rates for participation in online services that are key to economic opportunity.
Transfer guard Melo Sanchez committed to go on scholarship at Arkansas and is expected to be part of the 2024-25 team, his father said Tuesday.
Sanchez, 6-4 and 185 pounds, reported entering the NCAA transfer portal on May 2 after spending two seasons at Hawaii Pacific University, a Division II program in Honolulu. He made an earlier official visit to Arkansas with his parents and is back in Fayetteville.
Sanchez started all 29 games as a sophomore and averaged 14.6 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists. He had 26 steals.
He shot 36% from the field, 34.6% from beyond the three-point line and 79.8% from the free-throw line.
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Sanchez averaged 14.4 points, 4 rebounds, 1.4 assist as a freshman. He attended Veritas Prep in San Diego prior enrolling at Hawaii Pacific.
He has two seasons of eligibility remaining and is eligible to have a redshirt season.
MILLER COUNTY, Ark. (KSLA) – Several educational groups in Arkansas are working together to make changes to amend the state constitution’s education clause.
Members with Arkansas Educational Rights brought their message to Miller County, saying they the amendment they are seeking will provide three critical things.
“First it provides universal access to the most proven educational standards that boost learning it requires any school that receive public financing to follow the same standards as public schools and the third potent take the existing Arkansas minimum education standards so future lawmakers can’t water down our educational qualities,” said Bill Kopsky, with Ark. Public Policy.
Before changes can be placed on the November ballot, they must collect over 90,000 signatures from at least 50 counties across the state. They say the petition drive is not without opposition.
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“There have been a lot of propaganda going out that’s been paid by the opposition to spread a message against what we are trying to do and a lot of time that’s disinformation or misinformation at best because they are trying to confuse the voters,” said Steve Grappe, with Stand Up Arkansas.
The group has until July 5 to get the necessary signatures for the amendment to be on the ballot.
