FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas football team returned to two-a-day practices on Wednesday, opening the morning session on the practice fields, before ending the day under the lights at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
To close out the morning practice, head coach Bret Bielema accepted the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge from Trey Schaap of 103.7 The Buzz to spread awareness and raise donations for the cause. Junior offensive guard Adam Deacon, who lost his mother to ALS last year, had the honor of dousing Bielema at the end of practice 11.
Venue: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
Format: Full Pads
Highlights: To open the Razorbacks’ second practice of the day, Arkansas’ kicking team squared off in a field goal competition. Senior John Henson was perfect at every yard and closed the competition with a 50-yard field goal… Junior wide receiver Keon Hatcher made a leaping catch for a first down in team’s two minute drill, then caught a pass from junior quarterback Brandon Allen for a touchdown to complete the drive… Arkansas concentrated on special teams in the day’s final practice as the team worked on kickoff returns and punting.
Head Coach Bret Bielema (@bretbielema) on the kicking position: “The kickers have been a highlight, including the punters. Each kicker has been either 3-for-4 or 4-for-4 almost every single day we’ve been practicing. I always like to put them a bit out of their comfort range and they’ve responded. John Henson has been absolutely fantastic in the field goal department and Sam Irwin-Hill has looked good in the kick-off department, which has been a nice surprise for us.”
Bielema on the starting offense in the Two-Minute Drill: “They have been pretty good in that drill. We haven’t been able to add crowd noise in during the drill yet, but that is something that we will be looking to add tomorrow. Brandon Allen has done a really good job in everything we are doing. He has so much confidence, and showed that by trying to gun one into a tight window during the drill. He has been making every throw and has looked really good in every situation we’ve put him in.”
Bielema on Brandon Allen’s (@BrandonAllen_10) confidence: “I think there are factors in him building his confidence in the offseason. First, and the most obvious is his arm strength. It’s so much better this year, he is hitting passes this year he wasn’t last year. He has built up physically to make those throws, and now he is mentally confident enough to make it as well. And another reason is Keon Hatcher. He doesn’t hesitate to throw down the field to Keon this season, because he knows that he will be there to make a play for him.”
News and Notes:
- Arkansas Football will host an open scrimmage for fans on Saturday, August 16, at 2 p.m., in Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
- The Arkansas Football Fan Day presented by Pepsi will be held Sunday, Aug. 17 from 2-4 p.m. in Bud Walton Arena. All fans in attendance will receive the official 2014 Razorback football team poster and pocked schedule card.
- Season tickets for the 2014 football season are now on sale starting at $300. Tickets for both Fayetteville and Little Rock games may be purchased by clicking here or by contacting the UA Ticket Office at 1-800-982-HOGS (4647).
- The 2014 Football Kickoff Luncheon, presented by URETEK Capital will be held on Aug. 22 at noon at the NWA Convention Center in Springdale, Ark. The doors will open at 11:15 a.m., and general admission tickets are $25 each. A reserved table for eight, with two seats for student-athletes or football personnel, is $300. To purchase tickets, please call 1-800-982-HOGS.
Follow Live: For complete coverage of Arkansas football throughout fall camp, follow @RazorbackFB on Twitter.
Kickoff: The Razorbacks open the season with a Southeastern Conference contest at Auburn University on Aug. 30. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Jordan-Hare Stadium and will be televised on the SEC Network.