LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas freshman tight end Colton Nash will not be academically eligible to play in the Liberty Bowl, a source has confirmed.
Arkansas will take on East Carolina at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 2 at the Liberty Bowl in Memphis.
Nash came to Arkansas as a defensive lineman, but moved to tight end early in fall camp after Chris Gragg sustained a season-ending ankle injury. He played in eight games this season but didn’t have a catch.
Nash also worked at defensive end during bowl practices, and he’s likely to return to that position. He is expected to remain on the team and return to school for the spring semester.
- Bob Holt Liberty Bowl sold out
The Liberty Bowl is a sellout for the second time in three years.
More than 62,000 tickets have been sold for the game between the Arkansas Razorbacks and the East Carolina Pirates on Jan. 2 in Memphis.
“We appreciate the great local support and local ticket sales for this thrilling matchup between the Hogs and the Pirates,” said Steve Ehrhart, executive director of the Liberty Bowl. “We also want to thank the terrific fans from both Arkansas and ECU who are making the trip to Memphis to cheer on their teams.”
East Carolina is returning to the Liberty Bowl for a second consecutive year, while Arkansas is making its first appearance after a 22-year absence. Both teams have appeared in the Liberty Bowl four times.
ODDS AND ENDS UA promotes two
Arkansas athletic media relations staff members Phil Pierce and Jeri Thorpe have been promoted to associate media relations directors, the university announced Wednesday.
Pierce is in his 13th year with the athletics department while Thorpe is in her 15th year. Both have served as assistant media relations directors.
Pierce is the contact for men’s basketball, and Thorpe is the contact for women’s basketball.
Sports, Pages 19 on 12/24/2009