Like It Is

Rest assured, Malzahn has added wrinkles

Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, center, watches the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn, center, watches the first half of an NCAA college football game against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Nov. 2, 2013. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

There has been almost as much talk about Auburn Coach Gus Malzahn opening up his offensive attack this year as there has been speculation about how much quarterback Nick Marshall will sit out as his punishment for being arrested for possession of marijuana.

The guess here is Marshall will sit out two possessions, one if the Arkansas Razorbacks score on their first possession.

As for opening up the offense, it's believed Malzahn will have Marshall throwing the ball all over the field.

Marshall averaged only 17 passes per game last season -- he averaged 12 runs -- and completed an average of 10 per game, but he's already on the Heisman Trophy radar and Malzahn would like to add a second Heisman winner to his recruiting resume.

Plus, every player except running backs Tre Mason and Jay Prosch who caught a pass last season is back this season.

A report Wednesday said the Tigers are six, maybe seven deep at wideouts.

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Gus Malzahn took time away from his busy schedule last Monday to be interviewed on SiriusXM by -- OK, are you sitting down? -- Houston Nutt.

Eight years -- that's how long it'd been since they had spoken -- must have been the right amount of time to heal the wounds of that tumultuous season Malzahn worked for Nutt at Arkansas. It was just one season, and Malzahn left to be offensive coordinator at Tulsa.

Yet he said Monday that he appreciated Nutt giving him a chance and that he wouldn't be where he is now without that opportunity.

Nutt said he was proud of Malzahn, and that he always knew he was a sharp guy with a great mind.

Nutt, 56, said he would like to coach again but that it would have to be the right fit.

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A record crowd of more than 700 attended the Little Rock Touchdown Club's kickoff luncheon Tuesday that featured Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Bret Bielema.

Held at the Wally Allen Ballroom in the Statehouse Convention Center to accommodate the larger than usual crowd, there was no shortage of dignitaries. They included Tommy May, Chris Peterson, Joe Kleine, Greg Hatcher and a host of others.

Dr. Tim Langford was showing he still has the mental and physical toughness that made him arguably the best quarterback in Arkansas State history by walking in under his own power just two weeks after hip replacement surgery.

LRTDC founder David Bazzel took the time to mention one person who was not there, Bill Wilder, who was a regular for many years. He and Anne Jansen sat at the same table in the back of the room year after year.

Bill was a great guy and leaves a tremendous legacy, and he will be missed by all who were fortunate enough to have shared part of his life.


We're on Twitter, y'all! Follow @wholehogsports for breaking news, score updates and other features.

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The Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame Board met Wednesday and approved the latest voting list for the next class of inductees that will go out in November.

A few of the new names are Matt Jones, Pat Bradley, Stephen Jones and Mike Beard.

The first three are former Razorbacks, and Beard, a Little Rock Central High graduate, was part of a pitching rotation at the University of Texas that included Bert Blyleven and James Street that led the Longhorns to the College World Series. Beard later pitched for the Atlanta Braves.

The board also approved the rental of its museum for birthday parties. Verizon Arena agreed to waive its catering for parties of 50 or fewer guests.

Zach Vint, director of the Hall of Fame, is accepting speaking engagements at civic clubs and other organizations. To reach him, or get more information on booking the museum, which recently was the site of a Republican Party reception, call (501) 663-4328.

Membership for the Hall of Fame is $75, which includes voting rights, a windshield decal and free visits to the museum.

Sports on 08/21/2014

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