Tom Murphy

Stories by Tom

Six Arkansans earn invites to show wares at combine

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 8, 2012 5:25 a.m.

Former Arkansas receiver Greg Childs, whose long comeback from patella tendon surgery began showing dividends late in the season, will get another chance to impress scouts at the NFL Scouting Combine later this month. » Read story. | Share | 5 comments

SEC Men's Basketball: Toll on the road

UA can’t overcome its miscues

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 5, 2012 4:16 a.m.

A golden opportunity to seize an elusive road victory literally slipped through Arkansas’ fingers Saturday. » Read story. | Share | 2 comments

Razorbacks Report: Top 10 predicted for Hogs

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 5, 2012 4:03 a.m.

Noted college football analyst Phil Steele predicts Arkansas will be rated No. 9 in the first Associated Press poll next August. » Read story. | Share | 2 comments

Game sketch

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 5, 2012 4:01 a.m.

RECORDS Arkansas 16-7, 4-4 SEC; LSU 13-9, 3-5 STARS LSU sophomore Ralston Turner (16 points) and junior Justin Hamilton (13 points and 11 rebounds); Arkansas sophomore Mardracus Wade (15 points, 3 of 6 three-point shooting). » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Super day for ex-Razorbacks

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 5, 2012 3:52 a.m.

Former Arkansas lineman Mitch Petrus joked earlier this season about forgetting he was one play away from jumping into the New York Giants’ offensive huddle. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

In the lane: Drives produce no perks

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 5, 2012 3:44 a.m.

Arkansas Coach Mike Anderson’s biggest complaint about Saturday’s 71-65 loss at LSU was that his team’s efforts at driving hard to the basket were not rewarded. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Petrino hails class, even as big one gets away

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 2, 2012 4:36 a.m.

Arkansas’ trend of turning moderately ranked recruiting classes filled with three-star recruits into high quality teams under Bobby Petrino will be tested again with the signing class of 2012. » Read story. | Share | 16 comments

In the lane: Keeping Jenkins in check

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: February 1, 2012 5:28 a.m.

Arkansas pulled off a credible defensive job on Vanderbilt’s John Jenkins, the SEC’s leading scorer with 20 points per game. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

SEC report: Stallings OK with conflict

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 31, 2012 4:05 a.m.

Vanderbilt Coach Kevin Stallings related a story on Monday’s SEC teleconference regarding Commodores forward Jeffery Taylor, who is the SEC’s player of the week after averaging 20 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2 assists in two victories. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Razorbacks Report: Sanchez savoring best day

-- By Bob Holt, Tom Murphy Posted: January 31, 2012 3:54 a.m.

Michael Sanchez might not have another day like Jan. 29, 2011, for the rest of his career. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

ARKANSAS SPORTS HALL OF FAME HARRY JONES: SI high jinks

Jones’ cover appearance feted, not fretted, in 1965

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 28, 2012 4 a.m.

This is the fourth in a series profiling the 11 individuals and one team that will be inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 3 at Verizon Arena in North Little Rock. — Arkansas football’s most golden era, the mid-1960 s, produced one national championship team and an abundance of folklore. » Read story. | Share | 2 comments

In the Lane: Madden makes big plays

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 26, 2012 5:01 a.m.

Arkansas’ Ky Madden had as much a hand in the game-winning final minute as any player on the floor in the Razorbacks’ 56-53 victory over Auburn on Wednesday. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

SEC Report: Earning ‘exposure’ for league

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 24, 2012 3:33 a.m.

The SEC helped its national profile over the weekend with Arkansas’ 66-64 victory over No. 20 Michigan and Tennessee’s 60-57 upset of No. 13 Connecticut. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Wilson, Davis set high goals

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 22, 2012 7:21 a.m.

The Arkansas Razorbacks have never been shy about stating their SEC and national championship aspirations under Coach Bobby Petrino. » Read story. | Share | 4 comments

Arkansas victory no slam dunk

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 22, 2012 5:16 a.m.

Arkansas almost delivered an early knockout blow to Michigan with its pressing, running and 11-for-11 shooting in the first 10 minutes Saturday. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

In the lane: No fans for Novak at Walton

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 22, 2012 5:05 a.m.

Michigan guard Zack Novak got on the wrong side of the Walton Arena crowd during his team’s 66-64 loss to Arkansas on Saturday. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Arkansas Razorbacks football report: Receiver catching attention

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 21, 2012 4:06 a.m.

Arkansas receiver Jarius Wright was ranked as the top NFL-ready prospect at the East-West Shrine game this week by Wes Bunting of the National Football Post. » Read story. | Share | 4 comments

SEC GYMNASTICS: 5,537 watch Razorbacks soar

UA sets high score in victory

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 21, 2012 3:55 a.m.

No. 3 Arkansas picked a perfect night to record its best gymnastics performance and its first home victory against LSU. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Mitchell hopes to assist hoop Hogs

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 20, 2012 3:11 a.m.

Brandon Mitchell followed his first basketball road trip of the season with his second practice for Arkansas on Thursday. Mitchell, the backup quarterback for the Razorbacks football team, hopes his football conditioning and leadership skills can help him contribute quickly to the basketball team. » Read story. | Share | 22 comments

Arkansas takes another step up with 11-2 season

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 19, 2012 3:53 a.m.

The challenge for Arkansas football in 2011 was to prove it could remain on the top shelf of college football programs and show that its 10-3 season and Sugar Bowl appearance of 2010 wasn’t a fluke. » Read story. | Share | 8 comments

Raises for UA assistants

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 19, 2012 3:50 a.m.

The University of Arkansas will pay new assistant head coach and linebackers coach Taver Johnson a salary of $275,000 this year, making him the third-highest paid assistant on Coach Bobby Petrino’s staff. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Johnson sold on Arkansas football

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 18, 2012 5:16 a.m.

Taver Johnson had a chance to remain in his home state on the staff of Ohio State, now led by two-time BCS national champion coach Urban Meyer. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

ARKANSAS FOOTBALL: Johnson hired as LB coach

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 16, 2012 3:58 a.m.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino filled out his coaching staff Sunday by hiring Taver Johnson for the role of assistant head coach and linebackers coach. » Read story. | Share | 4 comments

Razorbacks Report: Beano envisions UA-USC

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 15, 2012 5 a.m.

Arkansas is receiving support as a 2012 national challenger once again with the release of several projections for next season. » Read story. | Share | 4 comments

In the lane: Arkansas turns up pressure

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 15, 2012 4:32 a.m.

Arkansas followed its standard M.O. to knock off LSU on Saturday. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Wilson staying put with Hogs

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 14, 2012 4:12 a.m.

Arkansas received more good news for the 2012 season Friday when quarterback Tyler Wilson announced he will return for his senior season. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Anderson wants UA on rebound

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 13, 2012 4:12 a.m.

Arkansas had managed to keep rebounding from becoming a major concern this season until Wednesday night’s 71-63 loss in Oxford, Miss. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Razorbacks staff takes another hit

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 13, 2012 3:58 a.m.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino will have to reopen his search for coaches because linebackers coach Reggie Johnson has departed to join Garrick McGee at Alabama-Birmingham as defensive coordinator. Johnson’s departure to Birmingham was made official Thursday, and Arkansas graduate assistants Brandon Sharp and Richard Owens are also joining the Blazers’ staff headed by the former Arkansas offensive coordinator, who took the job in December. Sharp will handle the safeties and Owens the tight ends. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Arkansas winds up at No. 5

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 11, 2012 3:59 a.m.

Arkansas rode its 29-16 victory over No. 8 Kansas State in the Cotton Bowl to the No. 5 spot in the final Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls released Tuesday. » Read story. | Share | 4 comments

SEC Report: Hogs get attention with start

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 11, 2012 3:18 a.m.

Arkansas, LSU and Tennessee posted the most eye-opening results on the opening weekend of SEC play. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Davis chooses to return to UA

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 11, 2012 3:12 a.m.

All-SEC tailback Knile Davis is returning for his junior year at Arkansas. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Point-a-minute Young honored by SEC

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 10, 2012 5:17 a.m.

The SEC rewarded Arkansas’ B.J. Young for his instant offense off the bench by naming the 6-3 guard the SEC freshman of the week Monday. Young hit 10 of 13 shots and scored 24 points in 23 minutes to help key the Razorbacks’ 98-88 victory over Mississippi State in an SEC opener Saturday. Young’s 24 points were the thirdmost by a Razorbacks freshman in his conference debut, trailing Scotty Thurman’s 34 points against Ole Miss in 1993 and Marshawn Powell’s 25 points against Mississippi State in 2010. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Ending new start for Hogs

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 8, 2012 6:35 a.m.

Arkansas didn’t just carry the momentum of its first Bowl Championship Series appearance into the 2011 season. » Read story. | Share | 9 comments

In the lane

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 8, 2012 3:36 a.m.

Nobles back in groove — Arkansas guard Julysses Nobles snapped out of a long shooting slump in the conference opener Saturday night at Walton Arena. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

COTTON BOWL: Triumphant return

Adams provides kick-start to win No. 11

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 7, 2012 3:46 a.m.

Arkansas showed only a glimpse of its flashy regular-season exploits, but it was good enough for the No. 6 Razorbacks to earn a Cotton Bowl victory Friday. » Read story. | Share | 12 comments

Instant replay

-- By Bob Holt, Tom Murphy Posted: January 7, 2012 3:28 a.m.

2 records on 1 catch for Wright — Arkansas senior Jarius Wright broke two school records on one play in Friday night’s Cotton Bowl against Kansas State. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

76TH COTTON BOWL: Hogs, Wildcats in big-league struggle

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 6, 2012 4:28 a.m.

College football didn’t get an SEC-Big 12 matchup in Monday’s BCS title game, but there is tonight’s Cotton Bowl between No. 6 Arkansas and No. 8 Kansas State. » Read story. | Share | 4 comments

Franklin not big on numbers

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 6, 2012 4:23 a.m.

Jerry Franklin might be the least publicized standout player on a national contending college football team the past two seasons. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Position-by-position matchups

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 6, 2012 4:10 a.m.

OFFENSE Quarterback Collin Klein’s productivity and percentage of touches for Kansas State are enormous. The 6-5, 226-pounder had 293 carries, 64 more than any other player in the Big 12. Klein has 1,099 rushing yards and 1,745 passing yards and is responsible for 38 touchdowns. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

Cotton Bowl report: Bowl hall adding 2 ex-Hogs

-- By Bob Holt, Tom Murphy Posted: January 6, 2012 4:05 a.m.

Jim Williams and Lou Holtz are among the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame’s 2012 induction class announced Thursday. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

76TH COTTON BOWL: QBs don’t miss a lick

Wilson withstands pressure

-- By Tom Murphy Posted: January 5, 2012 4:54 a.m.

Just because Tyler Wilson passed for 332 yards and four touchdowns in less than three quarters at eventual BCS national champion Auburn last year, it didn’t make him a slam-dunk star replacement for Ryan Mallett in the Arkansas offense this season. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

COTTON BOWL REPORT: Coaches: Cotton fits BCS

-- By Bob Holt, Tom Murphy Posted: January 5, 2012 4:34 a.m.

Cotton Bowl officials have been gearing up for a presentation in the next round of Bowl Championship Series negotiations that they hope will land the bowl back in the highest echelon of the postseason. » Read story. | Share | 1 comment

COTTON BOWL REPORT: Razorbacks report

-- By Bob Holt, Tom Murphy Posted: January 4, 2012 4:09 a.m.

Stadium conjures certitude — If not for Arkansas’ previous performance at Cowboys Stadium this season, the Razorbacks might not have had the chance to return for Friday’s Cotton Bowl against Kansas State. » Read story. | Share | Discuss

Cotton Bowl report: So, who do you key on?

-- By Bob Holt, Tom Murphy Posted: January 3, 2012 3:17 a.m.

A reporter asked Kansas State defensive coordinator Chris Cosh what he thought of Arkansas’ standout receiving trio of Joe Adams, Jarius Wright and Greg Childs. Cosh scoffed. » Read story. | Share | Discuss