ArkansasSports360.com SEC Power Rankins

Rank	Team	Trending	Comment
1.	Florida	↑	No surprise here.
2.	Ole Miss	↑	Will output equal expectations?
3.	Alabama	↓	Defense must carry the load.
4.	LSU	↓	The talent is there.
5.	Georgia	↔	Better than you think.
6.	Arkansas	♥	Will the defense emerge?
7.	So. Carolina	---	Has Spurrier lost his touch?
8.	Tennessee	---	Put up or shut up time for Kiffin.
9.	Vandertbilt	---	Always better than they should be.
10.	Auburn	---	Chizik still seems like an odd hire.
11.	Kentucky	---	Can they prove folks wrong again?
12.	Miss. State	---	No surprise here.

Thoughts?

The University of Arkansas media relations office was prompted to send out a press release earlier today reminding fans that Wednesday night's game in Fayetteville between Arkansas and LSU will NOT be televised.

Apparently, an early release of the Raycom Southeastern Conference television schedule showed the game as part of the package, but that was later changed. 

Some might see that change as a good thing. Arkansas has lost nine of 10 SEC games after starting the year 12-1. However, we also figure some LSU fans are excited about the Tigers, who are leading the SEC West after finishing at the bottom of the division last year. Last Wednesday, in a "what were they thinking" moment, Raycom gave region viewers some horrible bore-athon between Tennessee and gosh-awful Georgia instead of LSU's 97-93 double overtime win at Mississippi State. Heck, even Arkansas at Auburn was more exciting that Tennessee and Georgia.

The UA-LSU game will be carried on the Razorback radio network, including KABZ-FM, 103.7 "The Buzz" beginning with the pregame show at 6:30 p.m.

The way people were buzzing around Little Rock on Tuesday about Felix Jones' performance Monday night in Texas Stadium, ESPN's Monday Night Football production was well-viewed in this market. Turns out, it was well-viewed everywhere cable is available.

The Cowboys-Eagles game drew the largest audience for a cable broacast, according th Neilsen research (a 13.3 rating). And, as AwfulAnnouncing.com notes, this was in spite of analyst Tony Kornheiser's best efforts to make everyone change the channel to "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" or something opposite the game.

Of course, who could turn away? Besides Felix Jones' wondrous show on kickoff returns, you had perhaps the closest to what we'd ever want out of a Super Bowl in this clash, which was high scoring, full of drama and big play after big play, crazy plays, and more.

Then there was Kornheiser. Sorry, but who does he have pictures on that he has risen to such a professional level at the Washington Post and on ESPN? He made Dennis Miller seem hilariously funny by comparison. He was even left to apologize later for a stupid ethnic slur about Spanish language coverage of the game.

There he was, after Jones' 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the first quarter, decrying the game basically over, the Cowboys certainly taking care of business this time after numerous struggles in the past at home with the Eagles. They'd come to play and put this one away early, he surmised. A couple of beers and a dozen stupid Kornheiser observations later, the Eagles were leading 30-21 and it still wasn't halftime yet.

By the fourth quarter, he'd changed his tune and now had decided the Cowboys MUST WIN to have any hope for the Super Bowl. We're TWO GAMES INTO THE SEASON, you clod. Just as we were not even a quarter into the game when you had proclaimed it over.

ESPN no doubt has decided to take the approach, as with the "P.T.I." show blabbering, that people will watch just to hear what inane rantings Kornheiser will offer up next.

ArkansasSports360.com makes an attempt at dominating the state's radio airwaves again this afternoon and evening, beginning at 4 p.m. with Jim Harris appearing on "Drive Time Sports".

Jim will sit in with Randy Rainwater and surely go over topics like Arkansas getting a surprise bye week this weekend, by how many points can Arkansas State beat Southern Miss, and which high school games this Friday can already show what kind of shape the play-offs will take in November.

Speaking of high school football, tonight marks the premiere of  "The High School Gridiron Report", a show hosted by KATV-TV Channel 7 Sports Anchor Steve Sullivan featuring ArkansasSports360.com High School Editor Philip Seaton. They'll be on the air for an hour starting at 7 p.m., backing up their picks of the week and taking your calls.

Look for ArkansasSports360.com's own Philip Seaton tailgating with Steve Sullivan on KATV-TV, Channel 7, this afternoon on the 5 and 6 p.m. broadcasts. The whole crew will be present for the pre-game festivities leading up to tonight's match-up between Bentonville and Conway.

Phil has Bentonville picked at No. 7 in the ArkansasSports360.com Preseason Prep Top 10. He'll also likely tell Sullivan about our pick for Prep Game of the Week, Texas High School of Texarkana, Texas versus No. 1 Lake Hamilton.

We also hear Ned Perme will be there. Bring your autograph book.

Could the end of the Patrick Beverley saga be in sight? Considering his history of random decision changes, probably not, but this week it appears the former Arkansas guard has settled on playing in Europe.

Turkey and German are possible destinations according to the Sporting News.

Beverley told the Sporting News he would "love to play in Europe." That publication also confirmed that Beverley has signed with an agent, Bernie Lee of Lee Sport Management in Toronto.

Knowing Beverley's history, we're doubting this is the end of what should have been a promising junior season at Arkansas for the Chicago native. He's changed his mind a lot over the last few weeks and inexblicably avoided talking with local writers, although he's freely gabbed with national columnists.

We hope Beverley can be comfortable with this move and develop more than his basketball skills while overseas.

Patrick Beverley's story has gone from his saying he was opting for a professional career and that he had violated NCAA rules at Arkansas -- according to national website stories -- to saying he wasn't ruling out returning to Arkansas but saying his problem wasn't academics, to now saying he may have had a problem with a paper that would keep him out of action for 2008-09 and that a return to Arkansas is still a possibility. That's the latest word, as reported by Ryan Malashock of Stephens Media's Morning News of Northwest Arkansas.

Beverley's mom, Lisa, will review a handful of agents who have kindly come to the Beverleys' aid in their time of trouble and would happily represent the Razorback guard should he pursue a pro career.

The idea that falling short on grades this summer would keep Beverley out the entire season at the UA seemed a stretch, and that the problem with Beverley and either the Hog coaching staff or the school was a more serious transgression. A charge of academic fraud, such as cheating on a term paper -- nothing has been announced by the UA concerning the reasons for Beverley being ruled ineligible and the university had hidden by the Family Rights and Privacy Act in keeping Beverley's situation quiet -- would more likely be a reason for a full-year's suspension.

Either way, there will be no Beverley on the Hogs' roster this coming season, making the news of Courtney Fortson's eligibility through the NCAA Clearinghouse yesterday as some of the best news Razorback coach John Pelphrey and Hog fans have had in a while.

Much has been published about Springdale native Mitch Mustain getting his snaps this season at Southern California after a year in exile from the field after transferring from Arkansas after his freshman year. Coach Pete Carroll hasn't ruled out starting Mustain in the Trojans' first game Aug. 30 against Virginia, but hasn't exactly been blown away by the Parade All-American either. With No. 1 quarterback Mark Sanchez sitting in a golfcart with a dislocated kneecap (how we hate those two words together), Carroll continues to play Mustain and Aaron Corp during scrimmages in the hopes that one will breakout and show their potential for impact.

But while that's all going on, another Arkansas transfer gets some press. The Los Angeles Times points their aperture at receiver Damian Williams who admits to the paper that it's been a long road from Jarrell Williams Bulldog Stadium to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum:

Much has been written about what happened at Arkansas, a football season turned soap opera.

"Nobody really knew the whole story," Williams said. "Anytime there is missing information, opinion turns into speculation and speculation turns into rumor."

The article goes on to rehash the trials and controversies of the 2006 season, culminating with the cries of treason from some Razorback fans once Williams decided that with the offense becoming more and more run-oriented, maybe another school would better fit his abilities:

A religious family, the Williamses prayed and looked for another school. When USC expressed interest, Damian liked its recent history of All-American receivers, guys in the NFL. He also watched the Trojans play Michigan in the 2007 Rose Bowl, a game that was tied, 3-3, at halftime.

"They didn't throw much and I was sitting there thinking, 'Maybe this isn't the place for me,' " he recalled.

The Trojans erupted for 29 points in the second half, quarterback John David Booty passing for four touchdowns. Williams said: "I knew, at that point, I needed to be there."

Now, after dealing with the culture shock of traffic jams and having to sit out last season, Williams looks ready to play.

And now he's smiling.