Like It Is

Football writers group shuts out Razorbacks

Dan Hampton, former Arkansas Razorback and the NFL's Chicago Bears defensive end at the Little Rock Touchdown Club on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2013.

The Football Writers Association of America announced its 75th anniversary All-America team last week.

Not one former Arkansas Razorback was on it, and it included first, second and third teams.

The only person from The Natural State on the list was Keith Jackson, the former Oklahoma Sooners tight end who was a first-team selection.

It is a who's who of college football, and it would be difficult to argue with the majority of the selections voted on by members of the FWAA, but it is hard to believe there wasn't room on the three teams for Dan Hampton or Billy Ray Smith Jr.

Both were outstanding college players and went on to have even greater NFL careers.

Go to my blog to see the entire list.

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Much has been written and said about tough football schedules, and Arkansas has the fourth- or fifth-toughest in the country, but another Arkansas team that faces a mountain of football might is Arkansas State.

Not only do the Red Wolves open the season at No. 8 Southern Cal, the game kicks off at 10 p.m. As if the Trojans didn't have enough advantages already, the time zone is definitely another one.

ASU will return home (about 10 a.m. on the Sunday after the game) to get ready to host No. 24 Missouri.

The Red Wolves travel Sept. 26 to Toledo, the preseason pick to win the MAC, and in conference play they go to Appalachian State, which returns 20 starters and is the favorite to win the Sun Belt title.

The Red Wolves return 15 starters, including nine on offense.

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Close friend and great guy John Bailey lost his fight with cancer this week.

John was a national sales manager for Wilson Sporting Goods and could have lived anywhere in the country, but he chose his adopted hometown of Conway. John was born and raised in Gurdon.

John touched hundreds of lives, always in a positive way. He was a quiet, well-respected man in the world of college athletics from coast to coast.

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Here are a couple of major announcements by the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.

First, the voting list for the 2016 class is posted on its website, as well as wallylikeitis.com. It is a great list, and members decide the first two inductees and the regular list, and an automatic for senior and posthumous induction.

The membership also decides on the inductees selected by the board because candidates must finish among the top 15 in voting.

It is an open membership, $75 ($35 for coaches), and information on joining the organization can be found at arksportshalloffame.com.

You also can find the job description for the executive director's position there. After 17 months, the Hall of Fame board voted last week to fill the position of executive director.

All the information is on the website.

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Last week it was reported that the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame would honor the undefeated 1970 ASU football team. The correct date for that event is Sept 18, the night before the Red Wolves' football game against Missouri State.

The event, organized by former ASU basketball coach and Hall of Fame inductee Nelson Catalina, was sold out before the announcement was made.

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After a long winter, spring and summer hibernation, high school football starts Monday night at War Memorial Stadium with the Arkansas High School Kickoff Classic sponsored by KABZ-FM, 103.7, The Buzz.

The Arkadelphia-Stuttgart game will kick off the season at 5 p.m. and will be followed by a game between Vilonia and Sylvan Hills.

On Tuesday, it will be CAC vs. Arkansas Baptist at 5 p.m. followed by Greenbrier vs. Beebe.

Sports on 08/28/2015