OPINION | NWA EDITORIAL: Thursday's thumbs

It's Thursday and another chance to fire off a few up or down thumbs about some of news developments in our neck of the woods and elsewhere:

[THUMBS UP] Former University of Arkansas head football Coach Chad Morris is the new coach at Allen (Texas) High School. And no, this isn't an April Fool's joke. Morris has gained widespread notice for his challenging years in the collegiate ranks of coaching, but his astounding winning percentage (82 percent) in 16 years as a Texas high school coach is virtually legendary in the Lone Star State. His brief and unsuccessful tenure at Arkansas strained fans' patience, to be sure, but we're glad to see he's found opportunity to return to the game he loves. Truth be told, coaching a football team at a school like Allen isn't unlike many college programs. Its stadium seats 18,000 and 5,034 parking spaces, the largest single-team stadium in a state in which football is king. Morris' career has the makings of what could be an intriguing book. We'd suggest the title "Mustangs, Hogs, Tigers and Eagles: A coach's journey through the wilds of football." Best of luck, Coach Morris.

[THUMBS UP] Another person with Fayetteville connections has gained some national recognition by making it into the top 24 contenders on the current season of "American Idol." Madison Watkins, an Arkansas native, grew up in Fayetteville since third grade and went to the University of Arkansas before departing in pursuit of a musical career. Fans of the show know it's a tumultuous challenge to reach the top two dozen contestants. Now the wait begins to see just how far Watkins can make it in the series' live shows. Want to hear more about her? The Democrat-Gazette's Jocelyn Murphy's interview with her can be heard at https://www.nwaonline.com/news/2021/mar/29/listen-fayettevilles-madison-watkins-american-idol/

[THUMBS UP] It's entirely possible to both proud and disappointed at the same time, and that's undoubtedly what many Arkansas Razorback basketball fans felt last Monday evening when the Hogs played in the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament but lost to an extremely tough Baylor University. The Razorbacks, with a 25-7 record on the year, overperformed many expectations at the start of head Coach Eric Musselman's second season at the University of Arkansas, all in an unprecedented covid-19 environment that had few fans in the arena and many challenges for college athletes. It's a season to be proud of. And naturally, Hog fans are hoping Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek has plans for a quick review of the season with an appropriate effort to to reward Musselman and keep him around for years to come.

[THUMBS UP] Members of Arkansas delegation in Congress are all paddling in the same direction when it comes to paying respects to Dr. Neil Compton and his efforts to save the Buffalo River. U.S. Rep. French Hill of Little Rock has joined with Reps. Bruce Westerman of Hot Springs, Steve Womack of Rogers and Rick Crawford of Jonesboro to sponsor legislation through which the Tyler Bend Visitors Center in St. Joe would be renamed as the Dr. Neil Compton Visitors Center. Compton, who lived in Benton County, was the founding president of the Ozark Society in 1962 and played a key role in the fight against U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams being built on the picturesque 153-mile river. Generations of Arkansans and visitors have been blessed by the conservation work of Compton and those who joined him to have the river named as the United States' first national river. Paying tribute by renaming a facility right in the midst of the land he loved and defended is a laudable move.

[THUMBS UP] This message from state Sen. Jim Hendren Wednesday on Twitter: "So far in the Senate today we ...

"- passed a bill ending the mask mandate that already ended.

"- passed a bill declaring AR would ignore federal firearms laws.

"- passed a bill sponsor said was "absolutely" unconstitutional.

"Let's just Sine Die [adjourn the session] already."

Well, when he it puts it that way ...