The resurgent Auburn Tigers led by former Shiloh coach Gus Malzahn and Shiloh quarterback Rhett Lashlee fell 3 points short of pulling off the biggest turnaround in collegiate history, dropping a 34-31 decision to Florida State in the BCS National Championship game.
The Tigers were winless in the SEC last season, the year Malzahn left to become head coach at Arkansas State. Malzahn was on board to run the Auburn offense as the offensive coordinator when Auburn won a national championship in 2011.
The team that Malzahn inherited this year was a dispirited bunch that took most of the season to get back into the mindset to be champions again. Auburn was a heavy underdog to Florida State's Seminoles with most prognosticators giving them almost no chance to win. The 'Noles had never been behind at the half all season (Auburn led 21-10 at intermission) and it took a 95-yard drive directed by the recent Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston in the game's final 90 seconds to take the victory.
The Auburn offense was directed by Malzahn and his own offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee who played for Malzahn and against Pea Ridge a dozen years ago in the old 2A-1/3A-1 conference. Auburn's offense racked up more offense against Florida State than did anyone else in their 14-0 record and it was their defense that couldn't hold the 'Noles at bay at FSU scored 14 points in the game's final 5 minutes.
For his reversal of Auburn's fortunes, Malzahn has been named by several organizations as the National Coach of the Year. Lashlee has already received attention by some as a possible head coach in his own right in the not too distant future.
Both these coaches could have well been on the Arkansas sidelines this past fall as it was no secret that Malzahn would have loved to come home to northwest Arkansas. But, it wasn't to be as Razorback athletic officials didn't think he would be, as they put it, "a good fit." That Malzahn would want to come back to a place where he was ridiculed as an assistant coach, whose ideas then athletic director Frank Broyles dismissed as unworkable in college football, is a testament to his love of the Natural State.
As bad as Arkansas was in the 2012 season, they did manage to beat Auburn albeit without Malzahn at the controls. With Malzahn, the Hogs were crushed by the Tigers. As I firmly believe that the Tigers will get better each year that Malzahn is there, I think not hiring the former nemesis of the Blackhawks will be a mistake that Arkansas fans will not soon forget.
Blackhawk boys ranked fourth in 4A-1
The Blackhawk boys varsity basketball team playing with a number of first time starters, are nevertheless ranked in the middle of the conference going into January.
The 'Hawks are coming off a second place finish in the Southwest Holiday Classic, losing to the Cassville Wildcats in a game that went down to the wire. This is the first season at the helm of Blackhawk boys basketball for new head coach Trent Lloyd.
The 4A-1 district leader in MaxPreps/CBS Freeman 4A is the Lincoln Wolves, who are currently ranked sixth in the state rankings. The Blackhawks are ranked 23rd among the 48 schools in 4A.
4A-1 District and State rankings
District State
1st 6th Lincoln
2nd 8th Gravette
3rd 15th Prairie Grove
4th 23rd Farmington
5th 29th Pea Ridge
6th 31st Berryville
7th 34th Gentry
8th 41st Ozark
Varsity volleyball 'Hawks end season ranked sixth
The Lady Blackhawk volleyball team finished in the sixth position in the MaxPreps/CBS Freeman State 4A Volleyball Poll after the recent season.
The 'Hawks had their season ended in the state tournament by the eventual state champion and top ranked Valley View Blazers. Valley View will end their long domination of 4A volleyball as they are moving up to the 5A classification for the 2014-2016 athletic cycle.
Berryville was the only other 4A school ranked in the top 10 as they ended the season with the fourth spot.
Final CBS/MaxPreps state 4a volleyball poll
1. Valley View
2. Jonesboro Westside
3. Mena
4. Berryville
5. Waldron
6. Pea Ridge
7. Cave City
8. Batesville Southside
9. Arkadelphia
10. Marianna
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Editor's note: John McGee is an award-winning columnist and sports writer. He is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The Times. He can be contacted through The Times at [email protected].
Sports on 01/15/2014