Arkansas
Hogs Won, But UAPB Ultimately Found Way to Beat Arkansas in the End
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas technically won against Arkansas-Pine Bluff in War Memorial Stadium a couple of weeks ago. There’s a one in the win column, so there’s no disputing it.
However, as a program, the Hogs lost that night and the fruits of that loss became reality last weekend in Stillwater. Sure, Sam Pittman was in need of a win to start the season everyone could feel good about, but the only way Arkansas could feel good about beating the Golden Lions was if they went out and delivered perfection.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened. The Razorbacks put up historic perfection, which meant they got nothing out of the game that practicing against air and painted tackling dummies wouldn’t have yielded.
The season laid out eerily similar to 2021. Pittman was coming off a season with a low amount of wins, had a game to start the season meant to be an easy victory, followed with a ranked, but overmatched Big 12 team in Week 2, then a potential run all the way through Texas A&M at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
The only difference was the quality of opponent to open the season. Rice was not a team that would strike fear in the Hogs to open 2021, but the Owls were just salty enough to create a bit of a challenge and allow the Razorbacks to make some much needed mistakes without the ultimate consequence of a loss.
KJ Jefferson threw an interception. The defense blew assignments early on that let Rice build a lead.
Offensive coordinator Kendal Briles couldn’t get Jefferson and Treylon Burks on the same page as the four and outs piled up. Meanwhile, the Owls abused Barry Odom’s defense, going up 17-7 in the third quarter, although it should have been 20-7 because of a missed 36-yard field goal.
Finally, Arkasas got it together, reeled off 31 straight points in the last quarter and change, and left with a convincing 38-17 win with plenty of mistakes in its players’ pockets that helped make them better prepared to face Texas the following week.
That learning curve was all the difference. No matter whose to blame on the fumbled snaps and pitch, it’s less likely to have happened against Oklahoma State had there been an opportunity for it to happen the week before.
A punt return blocker doesn’t find himself once again sliding into Isaiah Sategna in Stillwater if the mistake is forced by a more suitable opponent the week before. The defense isn’t hitting a patented Hawg City suplex after the whistle a second time if a better opponent gets under its skin enough in Week 1.
Mistakes are important and they need to be made in the right context. The better schedule set-up would have been to play Louisiana Tech in Week 1 and save Arkansas-Pine Bluff for late in the year when banged up players need a rest.
This would have given Arkansas a tougher opponent to make a few mistakes and learn well enough to deliver an early knockout blow to Oklahoma State. However, because it’s a War Memorial game against an opponent that doesn’t draw a crowd, the logical thought was to have it in the heat of August when crowds would be light anyway and hope the allure of it being the season opener would offset any major losses financially.
Unfortunately, what was best for business wasn’t actually “what’s best for business.” Instead, the Hogs had to do their learning against an inferior Oklahoma State team that had just enough substance to take advantage of a perfect number of impeccably timed mistakes to distribute a lesson and a loss.
The good thing is there’s plenty to make Arkansas better in the long run from that game. It also helps that they will get to work out the kinks against UAB before in Fayetteville before hitting the road to face two of the greatest curses of Arkansas’ SEC era — teams that are supposed to be lesser opponents coached by Hugh Freeze and Texas A&M in AT&T Stadium.
The Razorbacks showed they’re good enough to win all three heading into a home game against a really good Tennessee team, but also plenty Arkansas enough to start the season 2-4. If only they could have made a few of those mistakes against a bad, but not THAT bad opponent during Week 1.
Sam Pittman and his Hogs would be riding a confidence wave akin to the feeling they had after the 40-21 beating of Texas in 2021. Confidence matters. Then again, so do properly timed mistakes.
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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.
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.
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)
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KATV) — 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.
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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