ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE : Hogs work to regain ‘physicality’

BY TOM MURPHY

FAYETTEVILLE — Bobby Petrino’s admission last week that his team lacked punch at South Carolina has turned into the season-ending mantra for the Arkansas football team. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL : Doing it with defense

BY ROB KEYS

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas relied again on a disruptive defense to spark a sputtering offense. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Starters’ minutes pile up

BY BOB HOLT

FAYETTEVILLE — It’s probably a good thing for the Arkansas Razorbacks that they’ve had nearly a week between games since opening with a 91-87 overtime victory against Southeastern Louisiana last Friday. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

LIKE IT IS : Arkansas made right choice in hiring Petrino

WALLY HALL

After 10 games and a 4-6 record that includes three more games that could have been won, there is absolutely no doubt about one thing: The Arkansas Razorbacks got lucky. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

COMMENTARY : College football should listen to Obama

BY MICHAEL WILBON THE WASHINGTON POST

What appeared to be an throwaway line in a conversation with ESPN has become something of a sporting obsession. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

League gives ‘Pacman’ another turn

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ARLINGTON, Texas — The NFL is giving Adam “Pacman” Jones another chance. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Steelers keep guard up against Bengals

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

PITTSBURGH — The Bengals are coming off the NFL’s first tie in six years, while the Steelers are only a few days removed from the league’s first 11-10 game since, well, never. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Backs give Panthers running start

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — DeAngelo Williams is shifty, a big-play threat and a chatterbox. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Ownership change ready for Twisters

BY PETE PERKINS

Two central Arkansas businessmen have purchased the Arkansas Twisters, the Arena Football 2 team based in North Little Rock. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

SEC report

Compiled by Bob Holt

Vanderbilt prepares to go bowling When SEC Media Days roll around next summer, Vanderbilt’s players thankfully won’t have to answer questions about whether this is the year they’ll break the school’s bowl drought. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Another week off concludes for ASU

BY TODD TRAUB

JONESBORO — Bye bye, bye week. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Razorbacks report

By Tom Murphy and Bob Holt

Stopping run is key for Hogs FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas expects to be a lot tougher against the run on Saturday at Mississippi State than it was in a 34-21 loss to South Carolina in its last outing. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

TOP 25 : Ball State keeps record perfect

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Nate Davis threw four touchdown passes, and No. 14 Ball State survived a scare from Central Michigan on Wednesday night in a 31-24 victory that gave the Cardinals a school-record for victories in a season. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

College bowl slate could be maxed out

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — After years of relentless expansion, college football’s nearly monthlong holiday party — the bowl season — finally seems to have maxed out. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Stoops, Leach learn from each other

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NORMAN, Okla. — To compare Bob Stoops and Mike Leach at first seems like a study in opposites. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

UA sports roundup

By Rob Keys

Golf hall honoring UA coach Considering her playing career ended less than 10 years ago, Arkansas Coach Shauna Estes-Taylor was surprised to learn she had been nominated for induction into the National Golf Coaches Association Coaches and Players Hall of Fame. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Hurricanes get back to old form

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

ATLANTA — Look who’s back in the rankings and trying to nail down a championship. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

SEC/TOP 25 ROUNDUP SEC MEN : Mercer gets 2nd in a row over SEC

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

AUBURN, Ala. — James Florence scored a game-high 25 points as Mercer beat Auburn 78-74 on Wednesday night to take its second consecutive victory over an SEC school in four days. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

SUN BELT MEN : Wolves give fans second-half show

BY TODD TRAUB

JONESBORO — The Arkansas State fans started on their feet. The Red Wolves gave them a reason to finish that way. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

SOUTHLAND MEN : UCA wins opener with balance, rebounding

DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES

CONWAY — The University of Central Arkansas Bears had three players with at least 14 points and dominated the rebounding on both ends of the court in a 74-57 victory over Bacone College on Wednesday night at the Farris Center. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

SUN BELT WOMEN : ASU women can’t overcome slow start

DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES

CARBONDALE, Ill. — Down by 19 with 12 minutes to play, the Arkansas State women (2-1 ) rallied to within 76-74 with 47 seconds remaining, but Southern Illinois (2-0 ) held on for a 79-76 victory Wednesday night at SIU Arena in the first-ever meeting between the schools. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Arkansas waterfowl report

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s weekly waterfowl report: NORTHEAST ARKANSAS DAVE DONALDSON BLACK RIVER WMA Upper Island GTR Habitat fair to good, with moderate abundance of mast crop within the GTRs. 269.4 msl, 90 percent flooded and holding. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

MSM HEAVENLY HOOPFEST : Wharton makes sure Belles handle business

BY TIM COOPER

Courtney Wharton hit four three-pointers in the opening quarter of Wednesday’s semifinal game of the Heavenly Hoopfest, but the Mount St. Mary senior guard was clever enough to realize that the Belles needed more than just outside shooting to hold off Forrest City. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Cougars, Panthers aren’t satisfied yet

BY CHRIS COCOLES

Siloam Springs and Helena-West Helena Central have achieved significant milestones already this season, and they wouldn’t mind adding a few more. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

Clarksville’s QB up for next test

BY LANE KRAMER

SPRINGDALE — It didn’t take long for Clarksville quarterback Damon Redman to emerge this season as the leading passer in the 4-4 A Conference and rewrite the school’s record books. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

It’ll be a longer ride home for Siloam

RICK FIRES

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to travel from one side of the state to the other, ask the Siloam Springs Panthers on Monday. - Thursday, November 20, 2008

LIKE IT IS : Big 12, SEC prove they’re the best this season

WALLY HALL

Without a doubt, the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game should be the SEC vs. the Big 12. - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

BCS makes cable connection

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

NEW YORK — Bowl Championship Series football games, including the national title game, are moving to ESPN in 2011. - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

ARKANSAS AT MISSISSIPPI STATE : Brother vs. brother

BY TOM MURPHY

FAYETTEVILLE — Casey Dick and his little brother, Nathan, used to play a game called “Burnout” around the fields and lots in Allen, Texas. - Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Pelphrey preaching discipline

BY BOB HOLT

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ young basketball team is taking a crash course in defending the Princetonstyle offense the Razorbacks will face Thursday night when California-Davis visits Walton Arena. - Wednesday, November 19, 2008