FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas ranked No. 16 in the nation in athletic department revenues generated during the 2014-2015 academic year, a study in USA Today showed Monday.
Arkansas athletics made more than $114.1 million during that fiscal year to rank ninth among SEC programs in the newspaper's annual survey. Arkansas reported expenses of a little more than $97.1 million, meaning the athletic department profited by a little more than $17 million that year.
Texas A&M led the nation in revenues with more than $192.6 million, followed in the top 10 by Texas ($183.5 million), Ohio State ($167.1 million), Michigan ($152.4 million), Alabama ($148.9 million), Florida ($147.1 million), LSU ($138.6 million), Oklahoma ($134.2 million), Tennessee ($126.5 million) and Penn State ($125.7) million.
Other SEC schools in the top 25 were No. 11 Auburn ($124.6 million), No. 14 Kentucky ($116.5 million), No. 15 Georgia ($116.1 million) and No. 17 South Carolina ($113.1 million).
Missouri came in at No. 30 with $91.2 million in revenues, while Ole Miss was No. 34 ($87.6 million) and Mississippi State No. 45 ($75.4 million). The SEC's Vanderbilt, a private school, was not included among USA Today's survey of 231 programs.
The other Arkansas schools in the survey were Arkansas State at No. 91 ($29.21 million), Central Arkansas at No. 186 ($12.44 million), UALR at No. 213 ($9.55 million) and Arkansas-Pine Bluff at No. 224 ($6.59 million).
Final week
Arkansas has four more workouts left in spring practice this week, but the schedule has been tweaked.
Instead of practicing Monday, as they've done the past two weeks, the Razorbacks will work out today and Thursday, followed by a polish-up practice Friday on the eve of the Red-White game.
Peavey No. 2
As a follow up to Coach Bret Bielema's announcement last week that junior Austin Allen is the starting quarter, a reporter asked if he could name the No. 2 quarterback.
"I would say Rafe for sure is the guy," Bielema said, referencing redshirt sophomore Rafe Peavey. "But again, he went the wrong way today on a simple play. Our plays are numbered one way to the right, one way to the left. You can't mess that up.
"That's what I said to him. I said, 'How many SEC quarterbacks do you see turn the wrong way in a game, man?' That just can't happen and he knows it."
Redshirt freshmen Ty Storey and Ricky Town would slot in behind Allen and Peavey, and 6-7 signee Cole Kelley will be reporting this summer.
Rhoads way
The Razorback Sports Network recently produced a segment with new defensive backs coach Paul Rhoads wearing a microphone.
Rhoads' enthusiasm is on display with plenty of chatter, instruction and critiques as part of his daily coaching routine.
In one clip with the defensive backs performing "up and overs," which are high knee lifts with hip twists in a moving line, Rhoads encourages the group by calling out, "This is an important drill. This is a drill that keeps you on the field. This is a drill that keeps you healthy."
In another clip, Rhoads tells the defensive backs to be aggressive in pursuit of passes in the air.
"It's both your balls always," he said. "It's always both your balls. Don't look at the other guy thinking he's going to get it. Go fly with each other. Be greedy and go get the ball."
Experience helps
Zach Rogers played in three games for Arkansas last season as the backup center to Mitch Smothers, but the sophomore said he was glad to gain that experience rather than redshirt.
"It's hard not playing that much, but any game experience is definitely a very valuable tool," Rogers said. "You get in there and understand what it's like on a game day, the travel routine. It's awesome."
Rogers, who has worked at first-team right guard at times this spring, as well as backup center, said practicing with the second-team offense last season also accelerated his development.
"That was big for sure, staying off the scout team and getting the reps in this offense," he said. "Those are some awesome reps that are definitely coming in handy now."
Sports on 04/19/2016