Arkansas
Run, Run, Run to Win, Win, Win: Who’ll Do It Best in Auburn?
First time I saw Auburn play football, it was against Arkansas, and the best player in Tigers history was on the field.
No, it wasn’t Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, who led Auburn to the 2010 national championship. It was in 1984 when the Tigers topped Arkansas 21-15 in the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
The incredible Bo Jackson won MVP honors with two touchdowns, 88 yards rushing on 18 carries and a superb catch for 25 yards. He didn’t exactly show himself to be a man among boys that day but he was a Hall of Famer in the making.
Another Arkansas connection with Auburn is Gus Malzahn, who was a walk-on for the Razorbacks, coached Shiloh Christian and the amazing, undefeated 2005 Springdale High team that led to him being hired as the Hogs’ offensive coordinator.
Then, Malzahn ended up as Auburn’s offensive coordinator where he tutored Newton and helped win the national title. He became the Tigers head coach from 2013-20, leading Auburn to the SEC championship in 2014 and an appearance in the national title game.
If you’ve never been to Auburn’s Jordan-Hare Stadium on The Plains, it’s a fun experience. Seeing the live golden eagle named Aurea fly around the stadium prior to kickoff while 88,000 fans watch in delight is a unique pregame ritual.
None of that will matter when the Hogs and Tigers square off today at 2:30 p.m. in Jordan-Hare. The Tigers are about a field goal favorite, so an entertaining show should be on tap with a tight finish.
The outcome between two teams which hope to finish in the top half of the SEC but could also be in the bottom third comes down to a single match-up — La’Quinden Jackson versus Jarquez Hunter.
That means big boy football, with the offensive lines and defensive lines squaring off to control the line of scrimmage. Hogs coach Sam Pittman loves that kind of game and his improved O-line should have the edge against an Auburn defense that has been so porous that the lowly New Mexico Lobos racked up 400 yards last week.
Pittman said he’s been impressed with Hunter, the Tigers’ tailback and the opposite number of Jackson.
“He gets his shoulders turned, and he’s a tank,” Pittman said of Hunter. “He’s a hard guy. He’s just what you want. He runs extremely hard. I respect him as a player. He’s a very good football player. Plays the game like it should be played.”
Ditto all that for Jackson, who has three 100-yard games for a total of 397 yards on just 47 carries for an 8.4-yard average and six touchdowns. He’s the real deal with quick feet, evasive sideways jump cuts, the power to run through and over tacklers, and enough speed to break a big one.
“He’s a really great player,” said Hogs fellow running back Rodney Hill. “His practice ethic is insane. He keeps all [of our running backs] involved, and he’s a leader pretty much to all of us. He keeps all of our heads straight. Like, if we mess up on something, he’s there, he keeps us up.”
Pittman is counting on the Hogs’ running game to remain dominant — quarterback Taylen Green is part of that with his quickness and escapability — in Arkansas’ SEC opener.
“Really pleased (with the rushing attack) because I think you can end up winning close games when you can run the football,” Pittman said. “So I’m really pleased with that part of it. We can run the ball, probably need to run it more.”
Run it well and it opens up the play-action passing game offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino loves so much. That could lead to big plays for Green and his favorite target Andrew Armstrong, who has 18 catches for 301 yards but no touchdowns … yet.
It’s a big game for both teams. Win and momentum can easily lead to more wins. Lose, and, well, Arkansas fans have seen that act before.
HOGS FEED:
• Convenient off week for coach lines up with game that will shape Arkansas football program
• SEC schedule, TV, who’s favored
• Hogs add a little more Kentucky flavor to basketball team
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Arkansas
Staff Members at A-State Honored for Retirement and Years of Service
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.
Arkansas
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)
Arkansas
Arkansas State Police hold annual awards ceremony at Benton Event Center, honoring bravery
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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