Arkansas basketball great was selected to this year’s class of SEC’s Legends

Arkansas great will be honored during halftime of the Razorback’s first SEC Tournament game

The SEC announced Wednesday that former Hogs power forward Derek Hood will be this year’s SEC Legends section for Arkansas.

Each of the 14 schools in the conference will have a representative at the SEC Tournament. The members will be recognized during halftime of their respective school’s first game.

Hood is the all-time second-leading rebound in Arkansas history, averaging 7.6 rebounds a game. His 1,002 boards ranks behind only Sidney Moncrief’s 1,015.

He was also a decent scorer, averaging 9.5 points a game and scoring 1,247 points as a Razorback. Hood’s scoring abilities peaked at Arkansas his senior year where he averaged 12.4 points a game, with an SEC-best 10.3 boards. He also led the conference in shooting percentage with 56.5% from the floor.

The aforementioned Moncrief and Hood are the only players in Arkansas history with more than 1,000 points and rebounds.

The 6ft-8 forward played at Arkansas between 1995 and 1999, starting 122 out of 131 games. He led the Hogs to 3 NCAA Tournament appearances in 1996, -97, and -98, and a NIT Final Four in 1997.

The SEC Tournament will be held March 13-17 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tenn. Here is the list of Legend set to be recognized:

Alabama – Richard Hendrix

Arkansas – Derek Hood

Auburn – Cliff Ellis

Florida – Taurean Green

Georgia – Rashad Wright

Kentucky – Orlando “Tubby” Smith

LSU – Darrel Mitchell

Ole Miss – Dwayne Curtis

Mississippi State – Timmy Bowers

Missouri – Willie Smith

South Carolina – Joe Rhett

Tennessee – Chris Lofton

Texas A&M – Elston Turner

Vanderbilt – Frank Seckar

Every former CU Buffs player to win a Super Bowl

How many Super Bowl-winning Buffs can you name?

Very few who’ve ever played the game of football know what it’s like to win a Super Bowl. For most college players, it may not be at the forefront of their minds, but securing the Lombardi Trophy remains the sport’s crowning team achievement.

As you’ll see below, the Colorado Buffaloes are in a bit of a drought when it comes to former players winning the NFL’s biggest game. Regardless, the history is rich and many legendary Buffs have contributed to championship-winning teams.

Not including former CU players who’ve won as coaches, below is a list of every former Buff to win a Super Bowl (h/t CUBuffs.com):

Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers is a rematch 66 years in the making

Detroit Lions vs. San Francisco 49ers is a rematch of the last Lions playoff win on the road way back in 1957

The Detroit Lions are setting themselves up to face off against the San Francisco 49ers this coming Sunday. The winner of that battle of top-tier NFC teams will represent the conference in Super Bowl LVIII.

This is not the first time these two teams have faced off with a chance to play for a league championship.

On Dec. 22, 1957, a mere 66 years ago, the Lions and 49ers met in San Francisco in the Western Conference title game. The Niners held a commanding 24-7 halftime lead, led by the passing of Y.A Tittle. The second half saw the Lions score 24 points while holding the 49ers to just three points, with Detroit advancing to the NFL Championship against the Cleveland Browns.

This 49ers team is likely to come out of the gates firing. They will be pressing the Lions’ secondary and linebacking groups. Brock Purdy will be doing his best Tittle impression, but the Lions need to do what they did back in 1957 — bend but not break. This Lions defense has done that all year, and they need to do it for two more games.

Will history repeat itself come Sunday?

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3 years later: No more sweating bullets for Lions fans on the Dan Campbell hiring

It’s the 3-year anniversary of Dan Campbell’s epic introductory press conference, and my how times have changed the perception

On this day three years ago, January 21st of 2021, the Detroit Lions introduced Dan Campbell as their new head coach. The hiring was not necessarily the most popular choice for the perennially downtrodden franchise. Campbell had scant head-coaching experience and an unknown relationship with new GM Brad Holmes.

January 21st unleashed the mother of all introductory press conferences. The intensity and violence Campbell exuded were straight out of a Megadeth song. Watching it had many Lions fans sweating bullets.

While Campbell leans to Metallica, the Megadeth classic “Sweating Bullets” lyrics were certainly applicable on that day.

Feeling paranoid, true enemy or false friend?

Anxiety’s attacking me and my air is getting thin

Lions fans wanted to trust in the risk in the one-time Detroit tight end and the kneecap biting he espoused. But many also bought into the narrative that this new hire would wind up being a punchline, an embarrassment for a franchise that was just coming off a symphony of Patriot Way destruction. For many, the countdown to another coaching extinction began on that fateful day three years ago.

Hindsight is always 20/20

Looking back, it’s still a bit fuzzy

Three years later, we can look back and laugh at the cryptic writings from so many outlets on that day. The dystopia they predicted never materialized. The endgame they mocked to Detroit in 2021 instead sees Campbell and the Lions hosting a playoff game today after winning one last week. The system did not fail!

Hello me, it’s me again

You can subdue, but never tame me

Now the rest of the league is sweating bullets over Campbell’s architecture of aggression in Detroit. The Lions are conjuring something special under Campbell. So far, so good…

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Remembering Colorado’s 2007 bowl game against Nick Saban and Alabama

Nick Saban’s first bowl game as Alabama’s head coach came against Colorado

It seems far-fetched now, but in 2007, Colorado and Alabama finished the regular season with matching 6-6 records, leading them to face off in the Independence Bowl.

The Crimson Tide, led by first-year head coach Nick Saban, controlled the first part of the game, scoring points on its first five drives. Colorado quarterback Cody Hawkins threw an interception on his first passing attempt and the Buffs turned it over on downs midway through the first quarter. Alabama gave its new head coach a 27-0 lead before the Buffs began to show life.

Colorado safety Ryan Walters, who’s now the head coach at Purdue, ended Bama’s sixth offensive drive with an interception that set up Colorado’s first touchdown. The Buffs’ newfound momentum continued and they found themselves down only 30-24 with just under four minutes left in regulation. Unfortunately for Colorado, it got the ball back with only one second left and couldn’t score.

Usually, we highlight Colorado wins in these posts. But with Saban retiring, it’s an appropriate time to look back at his first of many bowl game wins at Alabama.

Contact/Follow us @BuffaloesWire on X (Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Colorado news, notes and opinions.

Jared Goff pulled off positive passing mark that Matthew Stafford never did in Detroit

Goff hit a passing mark in the Broncos game that lifted him above Stafford in Lions passing records

The passing section of the Detroit Lions franchise record book is dominated by one name: Matthew Stafford. But the man traded for Stafford has etched his name into the annals by pulling off a positive passing feat Stafford never did in his 12 years in Detroit.

When Goff threw his fourth TD pass in the Lions win over the Broncos, it was his 25th on the season. Goff threw 29 touchdowns for Detroit in 2022, giving him back-to-back seasons with at least 25 TD passes. Oddly enough, Stafford never did that while with the Lions.

Even better, Goff got there in just 14 games (so far) this season. He’s got a chance to build on it.

Thanks to Ash Thompson of the Detroit Lions Podcast for shining a light on Goff’s accomplishment.

What does Sam LaPorta need to enter the record books?

Sam LaPorta is on the verge of history across several categories. With some strong performances down the stretch he can capture it.

The Lions as a team are on the verge of their first playoff game since 2016, for their star rookie tight end he is on the verge of history. It is a team game, Dan Campbell won’t preach anything different nor would this roster, but you have to appreciate history when it happens.

LaPorta’s rookie season could end up having several records that shouldn’t be overlooked. He could capture the receiving touchdowns, receiving yards, and receptions records. It is not normal for a rookie tight end to come in and make an impact right away. This position more than most needs the NFL reps to really get antiquated but LaPorta has fast-tracked it.

For those records and more, fans need to know what numbers to root for. With three games left, here is where he stands and what he needs.

Two former Lions among 25 semifinalists for Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2024

Two former Lions are among the 25 semifinalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, though neither spent much time in Detroit

The Pro Football Hall of Fame announced the 25 semifinalists for the inauguration class of 2024. Two former Lions players are among those moving on in the process.

They’re probably not who most fans would expect, however. Dwight Freeney and Anquan Boldin are the two former Lions who made the semifinalist cut. Both finished their careers in Detroit after establishing their Hall of Fame bona fides with other teams.

Among the initial 2024 nominees known primarily as Lions, none advanced. That group includes Lomas Brown, Jason Hanson, Dre Bly and Herman Moore.

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Who Shedeur Sanders leaped to become Colorado’s all-time single-season passing yards leader

Shedeur Sanders leaped several great Colorado QBs on his way to becoming the program’s all-time single-season passing yards leader

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders is Colorado’s new all-time single-season passing yards leader after setting a new mark on Friday against the Washington State Cougars. Sanders has been excellent in his first season with the Buffaloes and if healthy, he can build upon his new record in the season’s final game.

When a record is broken, you should always look back to recognize those greats who came before. The Buffaloes have always relied more on the run game throughout history, but some very talented two-way quarterbacks have also put up some impressive numbers.

Here are the top 10 single-season passing leaders in Colorado football history:

Lions are 8-2 for first time since Ford family bought team

The last time the Lions started 8-2 was the year before William Clay Ford became the majority owner

The Detroit Lions are a proud franchise with resilient players, a great coaching staff and special fans. The team was established in 1930, and 32 years after that, the team started their season 8-2. That was 1962. They didn’t achieve that again until Week 11 of 2023, a span of 61 years.

The Lions hadn’t ever been 8-2 with the Ford family owning the team. William Clay Ford became the majority owner in 1963. His daughter Sheila Hamp, owner since 2020, is the one who oversaw this piece of team history.

The season for the Lions has been unusual in more ways than this milestone may show. They started it with a win over the defending Super Bowl champions and followed that up with a tough overtime loss to the Seahawks. Mix in some wins over the likes of the Falcons, Packers and Raiders, to name a few. They have done the majority of their work on the road as well, so with them being at 8-2 with four wins being on the road, it is significant.

The Lions now head into Thanksgiving with optimism and hope for the first time in what seems like forever. Dan Campbell and this Lions team overcame a major obstacle Sunday against the Bears. They showed they can win games when they are not at their best, but on a short week, they can’t afford for it to roll over into Thursday.

Lions fans would rather be debating whether stuffing is better in the turkey or a pan instead of “Can Jared Goff win us a Super Bowl?” Enjoy the history we are living in. This team will be remembered, and at this point, it seems to be in a good way versus the latter.

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