SAU opens GAC play tonight
Southern Arkansas men's and women's basketball teams will tip off Great American Conference play tonight at Southern Nazarene in Bethany, OK. The women's will tip off at 5:3o p.m., followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m.
On Saturday afternoon, they will play at Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee, OK. The women's battle will begin at 1 p.m. followed by the men's game at 3 p.m.
Following a trip to Ouachita Baptist in Arkadelphia on Dec. 12, SAU's first GAC home games will be Saturday, Dec. 14, against Arkansas Tech.
Shipp leaving Arkansas Tech
Arkansas Tech Coach Kyle Shipp is stepping down, he announced in a news release this week.
The release stated that Shipp will pursue opportunities outside of coaching.
Shipp, a 2007 graduate of Arkansas Tech, returned to his alma mater in 2019 first as the offensive coordinator and was later elevated to head coach. He had previously spent five seasons as offensive coordinator at Arkansas-Monticello.
Under Shipp, the Wonder Boys went 22-33 in five seasons. The 2020 season was canceled because of covid-19. Arkansas Tech finished 5-6 in 2024.
Eskola steps down, remains as AD
Joe T. Robinson is on the hunt for a new football coach.
Todd Eskola announced on social media that he will no longer coach the Senators, but will remain school's athletic director and head girls soccer coach. He will also continue teaching AP calculus and leading the DRIVEN School of Innovation.
Eskola, 54, spent 20 seasons as Robinson's coach, following his father, Jim, who coached the team from 2000-04. Eskola graduated from Robinson in 1989 and had been coaching at the school since 1995, joining the varsity staff as the offensive coordinator in 2000.
Eskola's career record was 161-77-1, including seven conference championships and two state championships in 2019 and 2021.
The Senators went 10-2 this season, falling in the Class 5A quarter- finals to Hot Springs Lakeside.
Field at King Cotton is set
The lineup of teams for the King Cotton Holiday Classic has been revealed.
Springdale, led by University of Arkansas commit Isaiah Sealy, highlights a 14-team field for the annual event, which will take place Dec. 27, Dec. 28 and Dec. 30 at the Pine Bluff Convention Center.
Sealy and the Bulldogs will be joined by six other in-state teams as well as seven out-of-state programs during the three-day showcase. Springdale Har-Ber, with University of Washington commit Courtland Muldrew, and Benton, spearheaded by ESPN Top 100 player Terrion Burgess, will be accompanied by last year's Class 6A runner-up Bryant, reigning Class 5A state champion Pine Bluff, Little Rock Hall and Hot Springs to round out the Arkansas contingent.
Westminster (Fla.), which came in second in the King Cotton last season, Germantown (Miss.), Waxahachie (Texas), Holy Innocents' Episcopal (Ga.), Bellaire (Texas), Bishop Ireton (Va.) and Xavier (Texas) will also make the trip.
Tickets are $15 per day and $35 for a three-day pass. They will be available for purchase on Dec. 10.
Pittman will stay at Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE -- University of Arkansas athletic department officials had previously indicated Coach Sam Pittman would return for a sixth season at the helm of the football program, but that point was reiterated on Monday.
Brett McMurphy of the Action Network, a longtime college football insider, reported a source close to the program confirmed Pittman would be back for the 2025 season.
Pittman's record with the Razorbacks fell to 29-31 with Saturday's 28-21 loss to Missouri in the Battle Line Rivalry. Arkansas is now 7-17 in one-score games under Pittman.
As McMurphy reported, there had been speculation Pittman and the athletic department could reach a settlement that would lead to his retirement but that is not the direction the program will undertake.
Pittman, 64, had hip replacement surgery Tuesday. He has been dealing with a bone-on-bone condition since the summer and has been noticeably hobbled due to the pain.