Hogs kick off season

Alumni association welcomes new director

The University of Arkansas Razorback football team, led by Coach Bret Bielema, kicked off the season with the annual Football Kickoff Luncheon on Aug. 22 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale.

Coach Bielema told us high expectations, core values and work had made the team stronger. "Everyone is mentally and physically improved from last year." He credits those attributes for the rise in the team's grade point average as well as game readiness. "Working hard for grades carries over to work on the field."

At a Glance

Arkansas Football Kickoff Luncheon

Who: University of Arkansas

What: Razorback coaches, players and fans kicked off the 2014-15 football season.

When: Aug. 22

Where: Northwest Arkansas Convention Center

Next: Nicholls State University vs. University of Arkansas, Sept. 6

Welcome reception

Who: University of Arkansas

What: The university welcomed Brandy Cox as associate vice chancellor and executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association.

When: Tuesday

Where: Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House in Fayetteville

Next: Hog Wild Tailgate, Sept. 6

Information: (479) 575-2801 or (888) 275-2586

Jeff Long, UA vice chancellor and director of athletics, praised Bielema's efforts. "I believe in him. I'm more convinced now than the day I hired him."

The tradition started last year continued as team members introduced each other -- with plenty of good-natured ribbing as part of those introductions.

Those kicking off the season with the Razorbacks included Jane and Chancellor Dave Gearhart, Fanny and Jeff Long, Frank Broyles, Ken Hatfield, Cameron Smith, Boyce Billingsley, Hannah and Greg Lee and Dash Goff.

Classes started at the university Monday and on Tuesday professors, staff and students officially welcomed Brandy Cox as associate vice chancellor and executive director of the Arkansas Alumni Association with a reception at the Janelle Y. Hembree Alumni House on the UA campus.

The welcome is actually a welcome home as Brandy is a UA alumna, having earned a master of arts from the Lemke Department of Journalism.

Chancellor Gearhart introduced the group's new leader, saying: "A strong alumni association is absolutely critical to our success as a university ... Brandy has already made a huge mark" since she started on campus in July.

Brandy was most recently at Oklahoma State University as the senior director of development for university programs.

Those giving a Razorback welcome home included Angela and UA Trustee Luke Waldrip, Gerald Jordan, Chris Wyrick, Tom Smith, Peter MacKeith, Betty and Eddie Bradford, Christina and Steven Hinds

Columnist Carin Schoppmeyer can be reached by email at [email protected].

NAN Profiles on 08/31/2014

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