Two members of the Arkansas Razorbacks' 1964 national championship football team who teamed up for two Super Bowl titles with the Dallas Cowboys will be featured in the next installment of ESPN Films' SEC Storied series.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and former coach Jimmy Johnson will be the focus of Before They Were Cowboys, which will premiere at 8 p.m. Central Dec. 28 on SEC Network. The documentary, directed by Corey Frost and narrated by country singer Trace Adkins, tells the story of how the men came together in Fayetteville under Coach Frank Broyles to win the 1964 national championship as seniors before becoming successful in the NFL. Jones, a North Little Rock native, was an offensive lineman and Johnson was a defensive lineman on the championship team.
The documentary series was launched in September 2011 and has featured films focusing on the SEC's recent and more distant past. SEC Storied earned its first two Sports Emmy nominations in 2015 with the film It's Time: The Story of Brad Gaines and Chucky Mullins, and includes one of ESPN's most-viewed documentaries, The Book of Manning.
SOFTBALL
Arkansas unveils 2017 schedule
Arkansas Coach Courtney Deifel announced the team's 2017 schedule on Wednesday. It features 22 home games and 34 games against 15 opponents that played in last year's NCAA Tournament. The season begins Feb. 11 at the North Texas Invitational in Denton, Texas, while the home opener is scheduled for March 3 against Nebraska and Drake in the Wooo Pig Classic.
The schedule includes three teams (Alabama, Oklahoma and Georgia) that advanced to the Women's College World Series. It also features four first-time opponents (Connecticut, Kent State, Lamar and Massachusetts-Lowell).
SOCCER
Harding pair named All-Americans
Bethany and Melita Sutherland of Harding were named to the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association All-America team on Wednesday.
Bethany Sutherland, a second-team selection, scored a team-leading 16 goals and had six assists for the Bisons. Melita Sutherland, who was an honorable mention choice, scored two goals and added five assists.
It was the second consecutive year for both players to receive the honor.
Four Razorbacks honored by NSCAA
Senior Claire Kelley, junior Jessi Hartzler, sophomore Qyara Winston and freshman Stefani Doyle were selected to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America's All-South Region teams Wednesday.
Kelley, Hartzler and Winston were second-team selections, while Doyle was named to the third team.
Kelley finished the season with 8 goals, a career-high 13 assists and 29 points. Hartzler scored both goals in Arkansas' 2-1 upset over then-No. 4 Florida on Sept. 16 and finished the season with a career-high 8 goals, 1 assist and 17 points. Winston allowed only four goals in a three-week stretch from Arkansas' season finale against LSU through its postseason run in the SEC and NCAA tournaments. Doyle finished with 6 goals, 3 assists and 15 points.
Bassett, Wilson earn All-Region honors
Central Arkansas sophomore Camille Bassett and senior Shelby Wilson were named Wednesday to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America All-Region team.
Bassett was a first-team selection, while Wilson was named to the third team. Bassett, the Southland Conference's player and forward of the year, led the league in points (30), goals (13) and game-winning goals (5). Wilson, a second-team All-Southland selection, ranked third in the league with seven assists and fourth with an 0.37 assists per game average.
VOLLEYBALL
Tripp, Coleman honored
Arkansas-Fort Smith senior libero Emily Tripp and senior outside hitter Kennedi Coleman were named to the American Volleyball Coaches Association All-South Central Region team Wednesday.
Tripp, who was named the Heartland Conference Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection, leads the team, conference and region in total digs (770) and digs per set (7.33). Her total is second-best in the country while her average is the nation's best.
Coleman, who received the honor for the second consecutive season after being named a first-team all-conference selection and most valuable player of the conference tournament, led the team and conference in kills (429) and kills per set (4.09).
Sports on 12/01/2016