Arkansas
One Word Completely Sums Up Arkansas’ Loss to No. 8 LSU
Disappointment. It’s the word of the day for Razorback fans everywhere, and around the University. Certainly not the emotion Arkansas fans wanted.
Disappointment. Pure and utter disappointment. I almost typed the same word 750 times. It’s the takeaway from Saturday’s 34-10 loss to LSU. Disappointment.
Arkansas fans aren’t the only ones feeling that way, of course. Half the college fan bases around the country, when reflecting on Saturday’s football action, have a similar emotional hangover.
Still, no true Hog fan can deny the feeling of … wait for it … disappointment.
The faithful fans of Fayetteville and far beyond had hoped for far better from their football team. Students, alumni, parents and family of the players, plus the corporate folks and bigwigs who watch from the skyboxes — and don’t forget the locals, the diehard fans whose families have called the Hogs for generations — packed Razorback Stadium to see their heroes tame the Tigers.
Instead, the Hogs laid an egg big enough to feed everyone in that stadium. I know all about the old phrase “any given Saturday” and not knowing what to expect. That, my friends, is the true beauty of sports, along with the incredibly unpredictable and dramatic twists and turns and finishes that only games can provide.
There were some twists and turns against LSU, and a few brief stretches of hope as the Hogs made some plays on both sides of the ball and looked — if only for a moment or three — like a team capable of beating a Top 10 team.
But, coming off a bye week, everyone expected just a bit more. It’s almost always an advantage, with more time to heal and rest and certainly to prepare. Just didn’t work enough in the Hogs’ favor this time, though.
Nope, this was a case of LSU riding the momentum of its come-from-behind win at home the previous Saturday against highly ranked Ole Miss. The Bayou Bengals carried that confidence into Northwest Arkansas, flexed their mighty muscles on both lines, and strutted out with a big win.
In the SEC, every win is a big one. Few were bigger for Arkansas and coach Sam Pittman than the Hogs’ previous game, a 19-14 come-from-behind thriller that inspired — but mostly obligated, in this current climate — tens of thousands of fans to swarm the field when the clock expired.
Everybody, even the oddsmakers, took note of that impressive victory. It’s why LSU was only favored by 2.5 points. And the Tigers knew if they didn’t ball out, they’d be going home with their collective tail tucked. So, they used short passes to fuel early drives and overcome seven — count ’em, seven! — illegal procedure penalties to grab a 13-0 lead almost before the Hogs and their fans knew what happened.
True to their nature, the Razorbacks fought back and got within 13-7 with a nine-play, 75-yard drive capped by Taylen Green’s 25-yard pass and run to Andrew Armstrong. Then it was 16-10 midway through the third quarter and Razorback rooters still felt their heroes could snatch this victory from the jaws of the Tigers.
Oops. That’s when disappointment really arrived as Green’s tipped pass resulted in an interception at the Arkansas 1-yard line. Easy Tigers TD, followed by an easy 2-point conversion and 24-10 suddenly seemed like a big hill to climb.
The hated Longhorns of Texas, the nation’s No. 1 undefeated team before Georgia got to Austin, had a similar problem Saturday as turnovers and great play by the biggest Bulldogs staked the visitors to a 23-0 lead. Like the Hogs, the ‘Horns are wondering today how to respond to a disappointing loss.
Arkansas must regroup for a road challenge at Mississippi State, before hosting Ole Miss, a team desperate to win out and reach the 12-team playoff. LSU has a great chance to be invited to the tournament after avoiding the Hogs’ upset hopes.
It’s not an easy road for LSU, though. The Tigers (6-1, 3-0) travel to Texas A&M (6-1, 4-0) next week in a battle for first place in the SEC. LSU then gets a bye before hosting two-loss Alabama in Death Valley.
LSU finishes at Florida prior and with home tilts against Vanderbilt and Oklahoma. The Tigers, as folks like to say, control their own destiny — but hey, we all do, correct?
Which brings us back to Arkansas. After facing the Mississippi daily double, the Hogs have another bye before hosting Texas Nov. 16 and Louisiana Tech the week after, before closing at Missouri.
Hopefully for the Hogs and Pittman, a bowl invitation will then be on the table. It would be the third bowl invite out of four possible in Pittman’s tenure. But how good will that offer be when the 12-game regular season is complete?
For certain, to get the Christmas present they all want, the Razorbacks would need to win at M-State. Seems a victory against La Tech is a given, so another triumph would be needed against either Ole Miss, Texas or Missouri. That’d be true to finish in the top half of the SEC also.
That’s a tall order, though, akin to the win against then-No. 4 Tennessee. But if the Hogs can’t win at least three down the stretch, we’ll revisit the aftermath of the LSU game. Disappointment.
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Bismarck, Ark. (KATV) — If your idea of a perfect summer getaway includes a clear lake, plenty of elbow room and enough activities to keep the whole family busy for days, DeGray Lake might be calling your name.
In the run-up to America’s 250th birthday, DeGray Lake is being highlighted as Arkansas’ only resort state park — a place designed to be a one-stop vacation spot where guests can settle in and stay put.
“We are Arkansas’s only resort state park, and with that, we have enough to keep a guest and their family busy for really a whole week,” a park representative said.
The park’s setup is meant to keep everything in one place, from the lodge and pool to the restaurant and swim beach. Visitors can also find trails, four stables, golf, disc golf, fling golf and interpretive programs held every day during the summertime.
“So really, the whole package is designed so that people, they would never leave, never need to leave the park while they’re here on vacation, they can be here all week,” the representative said. “We’ve got your food, we’ve got your lodging, we’ve got plenty to keep you busy and having a good time. That’s what makes us Arkansas’s only resort state park.”
Water sports are a big summertime draw, and the park also offers a range of ways to stay overnight — whether you want comfort, something in-between, or a more traditional camping experience.
“If you like getting in the outdoors, but you don’t like staying in the outdoors, you can come stay in our comfy lot,” the representative said, noting the lodge has 96 rooms. For a “step up from camping,” the park also has three yurts available, described as a more glamorous option with bunk beds, a sky dome and a door that locks. Campsites are also available, ranging from RV hookups to simple tent sites.
For anglers and lake lovers, the park representative said the fishing is great and the water is clear, with options that include line fishing, spear fishing and scuba diving.
“It’s a beautiful lake,” the representative said. “We’re nestled right here in the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains.”
The park is described as a little off the beaten path — but that’s part of the charm.
“I tell people all the time it’s kind of like the best kept secret, because you look out there at that lake, not too busy,” the representative said.
For more information on planning a visit, click here.
LITTLE ROCK, AR (KATV) — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders has joined a new national artificial intelligence initiative that launched Thursday, June 25.
RAISE US, started by former Governor Eric Holcomb of Indiana and Gina Raimondo, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce is a nonpartisan national organization that will partner with governors, employers, workers and training organizations to help the workforce transition to an AI economy.
“As artificial intelligence transforms America’s economy, we have one clear message: technology should empower people, not replace them. By leveraging our Arkansas LAUNCH initiative, and with the resources and expertise provided by RAISE US, Arkansas will turn that mission into reality. We want the Natural State to be a leader on education, workforce training, and up-skilling, and this new partnership gives us the tools we need to build a model for the entire nation.”
The organization will design and pilot incentives to retrain workers, new approaches to support job transitions, and training models tied to employer demand.
RAISE US launches with more than two dozen American companies and philanthropies and initial state partnerships in Connecticut, Maryland and Utah.
“America has a technology strategy for leading the global AI competition. It does not yet have a people strategy — and we cannot lead without one,” Raimondo, who will serve as CEO of RAISE US, said.
“If we build the best AI systems in the world and leave millions of Americans behind, we won’t have won anything; we’ll have automated our own decline. I believe AI will create new jobs and industries over time, but the transition could be disruptive, and it’s already underway. We shouldn’t fearmonger, but we can’t pretend our training and worker support systems are ready either. It’s time for innovative and practical solutions. This moment demands ambition, urgency, and creativity. We’ve assembled the country’s top companies, best economists, and bipartisan governors at a scale rarely seen — all to advance new ideas and incentives, pilot them with governors and business, and scale what works.”
Governor Sanders is partnering with RAISE US to support Arkansas LAUNCH, an AI-powered career navigation platform that connects students and jobseekers to personalized learning and employer-linked career pathways.
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