Calling the Hogs

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PRESS RELEASE

University of Arkansas wide receiver/punt returner Joe Adams has been named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, it was announced Wednesday.

One of the most versatile and dynamic players in college football, Adams leads the country with three punt return touchdowns and an average of 16.19 yards per punt return. In addition to Arkansas, only two other teams in the country have returned three punts for touchdowns this season. Adams is the only player in the NCAA with rushing, receiving and multiple punt return touchdowns in 2011.

His career total of four punt return touchdowns is tied for the lead among all active players nationally and tied for fourth all-time in the SEC. The Little Rock, Ark., native ranks tied for second on the SEC’s single-season punt return touchdown list, one behind the conference’s single-season record.

Adams is the second Razorback to be named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year, which was first awarded in 2004, after Felix Jones won the award in 2007. Adams, Jones and Darren McFadden, who was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007, are the only three Razorbacks to be named player of the year in the SEC. Arkansas, Auburn and LSU are tied for the most Special Teams Player of the Year winners with two each.

Adams finishes his collegiate career Jan. 6 in the 76th AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic when the Razorbacks, who finished sixth in the BCS standings, take on Kansas State, which was eighth in the final BCS standings, inside Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The game will air on Fox beginning at 7 p.m.

Willy Robinson has resigned as the Arkansas Razorbacks' defensive coordinator.

“I want to thank Willy Robinson for his role in helping our defense, which he leaves in better shape than when he arrived," Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement released by Arkansas. "I have the utmost respect for Willy Robinson as an individual who wants the best for the young men he coaches. I give Willy credit for his part in the building process the last four years and wish him future success.”

Robinson joined Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino's staff after Petrino's initial hire for the defensive coordinator position Ellis Johnson left to take the same position at South Carolina.

The Razorbacks finished 5-7, 8-5, 10-3 and 10-2 in Robinson's four seasons. However under Robinson, Arkansas' defenses generally struggled and rated in the lower half of the SEC in each of his four seasons. Although those defensive squads did show improvement during the season each year, each season the defense seemed to start from scratch.

Arkansas inside linebackers coach Reggie Johnson is reported to be a candidate for the defensive coordinator's job at Alabama-Birmingham under new head coach Garrick McGee, who was the Razorbacks' offensive coordinator the past two season and quarterback coach in 2008-09.

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PRESS RELEASE

The Arkansas football team placed seven players, including four on the first team, on the Coaches All-SEC Team, as announced on Tuesday afternoon by the league office.

Senior defensive end Jake Bequette, junior quarterback Tyler Wilson and senior wide receiver Jarius Wright were selected for the first team, along with senior wide receiver/return specialist Joe Adams who was the first-team all-purpose player and return specialist. Sophomore offensive guard Alvin Bailey, junior punter Dylan Breeding and senior linebacker Jerry Franklin were on the second team.

Bequette led the Razorback defense with eight sacks and ranked second in the SEC and seventh nationally with 0.89 sacks per game (8.0 in nine games this season). Bequette is second in the SEC and seventh in the country with 0.44 forced fumbles per game. A finalist for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award, Bequette also added four quarterback hurries, which is tied for third on the team. For his career, Bequette leads all active SEC players and ranks third on Arkansas’ all-time career sacks list with 21.5 sacks.

One of the most dynamic players in college football, Adams leads the country with three punt return touchdowns and an average of 16.19 yards per punt return. Adams is the only player in the NCAA with rushing, receiving and multiple punt return touchdowns for 2011. Adams ranks fourth in the SEC with an average of 4.1 receptions per game and is sixth in the conference with 52.5 receiving yards per game. Adams has 159 career receptions, which ranks second on Arkansas’ all-time career receptions list.

A finalist for the Manning Award and the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, Wilson was also a first-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press, which made him the first Arkansas quarterback to be named first-team All-SEC and the Razorbacks’ first first-team all-conference quarterback since Quinn Grovey earned first-team All-Southwest Conference honors in 1988. Wilson is the second player in UA history to record 3,000 passing yards in a season. Wilson leads the SEC and ranks 14^th nationally with an average of 285.2 passing yards per game. Wilson has a passing efficiency rating of 148.66, which is second in the league and 21^st in the country. Wilson ranks second on Arkansas’ single-season completions list with 257 completions, third on the UA single-season passing yards list with 3,422 yards and fourth on Arkansas’ single-season passing touchdowns list with 22.

Wright leads the SEC with 93.5 receiving yards per game, 5.7 receptions per game and 11 receiving touchdowns. He ranks 12^th nationally in receiving touchdowns. Wright has set the UA single-season record with 63 receptions and 1,029 receiving yards during the 2011 season and has tied the Arkansas single-season record with 11 receiving touchdowns. Wright is also Arkansas’ all-time career receptions leader with 165 catches in his collegiate career. Wright set a new Arkansas single-game record with 281 receiving yards in Arkansas’ win against Texas A&M. He also tied the school single-game record with 13 receptions in the win over the Aggies.

Bailey has started all 12 games this season and all 25 in his career. He is a member of an offensive line that has blocked for an offense that has produced a 3,000-yard passer for the third straight season. Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks 13^th in the country in passing offense, averaging 307.8 yards per game, and also leads the SEC and ranks 27^th nationally with an average of 445.8 yards of total offense per game. The UA offense ranks second in school history in completions (279) and passing first downs (161), third in passing yards (3,693) and fourth in scoring (449) and touchdowns scored (56-tie).

Breeding leads the SEC and is seventh nationally with an average of 45.2 yards per punt. Breeding has 16 punts of 50 or more yards in 2011, including a career-long 70 yarder at No. 1 LSU on Nov. 25. He has placed 14 punts inside the 20-yard line with only two touchbacks. Breeding has averaged more than 40 yards per punt in each game he’s punted this season and has recorded at least one punt of 50-plus yards in nine games. Breeding ranks fifth in school history with 6,784 total career punting yards.

Franklin leads the Razorback defense and is sixth in the SEC with 93 tackles in 2011. Franklin has recorded 10.0 tackles for loss, which is second on the team and tied for 14^th in the conference. He’s tied for the team lead with five quarterback hurries. Franklin, who has started 49 games in his career and 30 straight, ranks third on UA’s all-time career tackles list with 374 stops.

The sixth-ranked Razorbacks will conclude their season on Jan. 6 in the 76^th annual AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic against Kansas State inside Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. and the game will be televised on Fox.

2011 ALL-SEC FOOTBALL TEAM
(*-Ties) (Coaches could not vote for their own players)

FIRST TEAM
OFFENSE
TE - Orson Charles, Georgia

OL - Barrett Jones, Alabama
Will Blackwell, LSU
Cordy Glenn, Georgia
Alex Hurst, LSU

C - William Vlachos, Alabama

WR - Jarius Wright, Arkansas
Rueben Randle, LSU

QB - Tyler Wilson, Arkansas

RB - Trent Richardson, Alabama
Michael Dyer, Auburn

AP - *Joe Adams, Arkansas
*Chris Rainey, Florida

DEFENSE
DL - Melvin Ingram, South Carolina
Sam Montgomery, LSU
Corey Lemonier, Auburn
Jake Bequette, Arkansas

LB - Dont'a Hightower, Alabama
Courtney Upshaw, Alabama
Jarvis Jones, Georgia

DB - Mark Barron, Alabama
Tyrann Mathieu, LSU
Morris Claiborne, LSU
Bacarri Rambo, Georgia

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Caleb Sturgis, Florida

P - Steven Clark, Auburn

RS - Joe Adams, Arkansas

SECOND TEAM
OFFENSE
TE - Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn

OL - Chance Warmack, Alabama
Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina
Brandon Mosley, Auburn
*Alvin Bailey, Arkansas
*Larry Warford, Kentucky

C - Ben Jones, Georgia

WR - Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee
Marquis Maze, Alabama

QB - Aaron Murray, Georgia

RB - Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt
* Spencer Ware, LSU
* Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina

AP - Onterio McCalebb, Auburn

DEFENSE
DL - Tim Fugger, Vanderbilt
Josh Chapman, Alabama
Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State
* Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
* Malik Jackson, Tennessee

LB - Danny Trevathan, Kentucky
Chris Marve, Vanderbilt
*Ryan Baker, LSU
* Jerry Franklin, Arkansas

DB - Winston Guy, Kentucky
Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt
Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Brandon Boykin, Georgia

SPECIAL TEAMS
PK - Drew Alleman, LSU

P - *Dylan Breeding, Arkansas
*Brad Wing, LSU

RS – Marquis Maze, Alabama

Arkansas outside linebackers coach and special teams coordinator John L. Smith has take the head coaching job at his alma mater Weber State.

Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino expressed his congratulations to Smith through a statement released by through Arkansas' Media Relations Department.

“I want to express my gratitude to John L. Smith for all he has done for me throughout my career and particularly the past three seasons he has been here at Arkansas," Petrino said. " Coach Smith did a tremendous job with our special teams and the results were evident this year. I’ve always said John L. Smith has a big heart and lets everyone in and I know those in his program will enjoy playing for him. By going to Weber State, his career comes full circle and he returns to a region of the country he knows very well. The relationship I’ve had with Coach Smith has always been one I have valued and he will always remain a trusted friend and advisor.”

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PRESS RELEASE

University of Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino has announced Paul Petrino as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the Razorbacks.

Paul Petrino most recently completed his second season as offensive coordinator at Illinois, and has 20 years of collegiate experience and an impressive offensive background, which includes national top-10 rankings in scoring and total offense.

“I am extremely thrilled to have Paul become a member of our staff again,” said UA head coach Bobby Petrino. “Paul has had several options with high level programs the past few days and I’m excited he made the decision to rejoin our program. His experience the last two seasons, blended with our philosophy will give us continuity with our aggressive scheme. Paul has a talented offensive mind and he has had great success every step of his career. His offensive numbers and rankings speak for themselves, and he has always had an incredible ability to develop players.”

In 2011, Petrino coached A.J. Jenkins to one of the best seasons by a receiver in Illinois history, as Jenkins led the Big Ten with 84 catches. His 1,196 yards rank second in school history prior to Illinois’ appearance in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl and he also ranks in the school’s top-five in season receptions, season 100-yard receiving games, career receptions, career receiving yardage, career receiving touchdowns and career 100-yard receiving games.

Petrino guided an Illini offense that broke school records for total points (423) and points per game (32.54) in 2010 and featured running back Mikel Leshoure, who broke the single-season school rushing record with 1,697 yards. Illinois averaged 42.1 points and 448.9 total yards over the last seven games of the season and notched a 38-14 win over Baylor in the 2010 Texas Bowl.

In 2009 as offensive coordinator at Arkansas, the team averaged 37 points per game, which ranked eighth in the NCAA, while also posting top-15 rankings in passing offense at No. 10 (303.3 ypg) and total offense at No. 14 (439.3 ypg). Razorback quarterback Ryan Mallet was the nation's sixth-rated passer, averaging 285 yards per contest and throwing 29 touchdowns. The Razorbacks broke the school record for passing yards with 3,640, eclipsing the previous record that was set under Petrino in 2008.

Petrino coached at Louisville from 2003-06 and in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. He was the receivers coach in Atlanta after working the four previous years as offensive coordinator and receivers coach at Louisville. Playing for Petrino, Roddy White enjoyed the best season of his pro career with 83 catches for 1,202 yards.

His teams at Louisville averaged 41.1 points per game from 2003-06; 34.6 in `03; 49.8 in `04; 43.3 in `05 and 37.8 in `06. Texas Tech was the only other school to rank in the top 10 nationally in total offense during those years. In 50 games at Louisville, Petrino's teams went 41-9 and scored 40 or more points 28 times and 60 or more seven times.

Petrino coached three wide receivers who set single-season yardage records at Louisville. Arnold Jackson totaled 1,209 yards in 1999, J.R. Russell broke the record in 2003 with 1,213 yards and Harry Douglas had 1,265 yards in 2006.

In 2006, the Cardinals went 12-1, won the Big East title and finished the year ranked No. 6 in the nation. Louisville was second in the country in total offense (475.3 ypg), seventh in passing (290.0 ypg) and fourth in scoring (37.8 ppg). In 2005, Louisville (9-3) was ninth in the nation in offense (482.1) and third in scoring (43.4 ppg) with six offensive players earning first-team All-Conference honors. Running back Michael Bush led the nation with 24 touchdowns, while receiver Mario Urrutia was second in the nation in yards per catch.

The 2004 team won the Conference USA title, beat No. 10 Boise State in the Liberty Bowl, finished 11-1, finished ranked No. 7 in the nation, and led the nation in total offense (539.0 ypg) and scoring offense (49.8 ppg). The Cardinals set school records for total yards, rushing yards and points in a season (597), also scoring 50-plus points seven times. Russell earned All-Conference honors for the second-straight season after catching 73 passes. He had 75 catches for a school-record 1,213 yards in 2003.

Petrino began his coaching career in 1990-91 as the quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Carroll College. He coached at Idaho for the next three years (1992-94), where he tutored receivers, running backs and special teams. As running backs coach, he coached Sherriden May to All-America honors after he led I-AA players with 150 points while rushing for 1,111 yards. Petrino moved to Utah State from 1995-97 as receivers coach and special teams coordinator. In 1995, Aggies' receiver Kevin Alexander was second in the nation in receptions and third in yards.

In 1998, Petrino went to Louisville for two years in his first stint at the school. In 1998, with brother, Bobby, coaching quarterbacks and Paul coaching receivers, UL set records for points (473), scoring average (39.4), touchdowns, passing yards, passing touchdowns, pass attempts, completions and total offense. In 1998, the Cardinals ranked No. 1 in the nation in passing offense and ranked second in 1999.

From 2000-02, he was the quarterbacks coach at Southern Mississippi. In his three seasons, the Golden Eagles went 8-4, 6-5 and 7-6 with two bowl bids.

Born in Butte, Mont., Petrino was a four-year starter at quarterback for his father at Carroll College from 1985-88. He set 16 school records, earned Kodak All-America honors and was named the Football Gazette NAIA Division II Player of the Year as a senior. In Petrino's four seasons, Carroll was 36-6 and won four Frontier Conference titles. He was an All-Conference and All-Region selection all four years and was a two-time All-American. Petrino and his wife, Maya, have two daughters, Anne Mari and Ava, and a son, Mason. Anne Mari and Mason are twins.

Paul Petrino Coaching History

Dec. 2011 - Arkansas (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)

2010 – 11 Illinois (offensive coordinator/receivers)

2008 – 09 Arkansas (offensive coordinator/receivers)

2007 Atlanta Falcons (receivers)

2003 – 06 Louisville (offensive coordinator/receivers)

2000 – 02 Southern Mississippi (quarterbacks)

1998 – 99 Louisville (receivers)

1995 – 97 Utah State (receivers/special teams)

1992 – 94 Idaho (receivers, running backs, special teams)

1990 – 91 Carroll College (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks)

Home Town: Helena, Mont.

Birthdate: May 25, 1967

Family: Wife, Maya; Daughters, Anne Mari, Ava; Son, Mason

Playing Experience: Carroll College, 1985-88

Bowl Games: Texas Bowl, 2010; Liberty Bowl 2010; Orange Bowl, 2007; Gator Bowl, 2006; Liberty Bowl, 2004; GMAC Bowl, 2003; Houston Bowl, 2002; GMAC Bowl, 2000; Humanitarian Bowl, 1999; Motor City Bowl, 1998; Humanitarian Bowl, 1997

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson and seven other Razorbacks received All-SEC honors as voted by the Associated Press on Monday.

Wilson, a junior, who led the SEC in passing by completing 257 of 407 passes for 3,422 yards and 22 touchdowns against just 6 interceptions, is the first Razorback quarterback ever to be named first-team All-SEC.

Senior receivers Jarius Wright (63 catches for 1,029 and 11 TDs) and Joe Adams (49 catches for 630 yards and 3 TDs and 16 punt returns for 259 yards and 3 TDs) joined Wilson on the All-SEC first team. Adams was an all-purpose performer, averaging 85.6 ypg.

Sophomore offensive guard Alvin Bailey, senior linebacker Jerry Franklin, junior running back Dennis Johnson and junior punter Dylan Breeding earned second-team honors. Johnson (18 kick returns for 461 yards and 1 TD; 101 carries for 637 yards and 3 TDs) was an all-purpose selection, averaging 135.1 ypg.. Breeding averaged 45.2 yards on 49 punts.

Franklin became the first Razorback to lead Arkansas in tackles for four consecutive seasons. He made 93 stops this season.

Senior safety Tramain Thomas received All-SEC honorable mention honors. Thomas was second in tackles with 87 stops and led the Hogs in interceptions with 5 and in pass breakups with 6.

FIRST TEAM

Offense

WR - Jarius Wright, Arkansas, 5-10, 180, Sr.

WR - Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee, 6-3, 215, So.

L - u-Barrett Jones, Alabama, 6-5, 311, Jr.

L - Will Blackwell, LSU, 6-4, 290, Sr.

L - Cordy Glenn, Georgia, 6-5, 348, Sr.

L - Rokevious Watkins, South Carolina, 6-4, 340, Sr.

C - William Vlachos, Alabama, 6-1, 294, Sr.

TE - Orson Charles, Georgia, 6-3, 241, Jr.

QB - Tyler Wilson, Arkansas, 6-3, 220, Jr.

RB - u-Trent Richardson, Alabama, 5-11, 224, Jr.

RB - Michael Dyer, Auburn, 5-9, 210, So.

K - Caleb Sturgis, Florida, 5-11, 183, Jr.

All-Purpose - Joe Adams, Arkansas, 5-11, 190, Sr.

Defense

T - Fletcher Cox, Mississippi State, 6-4, 295, Jr.

T - Malik Jackson, Tennessee, 6-5, 270, Sr.

E - Melvin Ingram, South Carolina, 6-2, 276, Sr.

E - Sam Montgomery, LSU, 6-4, 245, So.

LB - u-Jarvis Jones, Georgia, 6-3, 241, So.

LB - Danny Trevathan, Kentucky, 6-1, 232, Sr.

LB - Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, 6-2, 265, Sr.

CB - u-Tyrann Mathieu, LSU, 5-9, 175, So.

CB - Morris Claiborne, LSU, 6-0, 185, Jr.

S - Mark Barron, Alabama, 6-2, 218, Sr.

S - Bacarri Rambo, Georgia, 6-0, 218, Jr.

P - Brad Wing, LSU, 6-3, 184, Fr.

SECOND TEAM

Offense

WR - Rueben Randle, LSU, 6-4, 208, Jr.

WR - Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina, 6-4, 229, Jr.

L - Chris Faulk, LSU, 6-6, 325, So.

L - Alvin Bailey, Arkansas, 6-5, 319, So.

L - Larry Warford, Kentucky, 6-3, 336, Jr.

L - Gabe Jackson, Mississippi State, 6-4, 320, So.

C - Ben Jones, Georgia, 6-3, 316, Sr.

TE - Philip Lutzenkirchen, Auburn, 6-5, 250, Jr.

QB - Aaron Murray, Georgia, 6-1, 211, So.

RB - Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt, 5-9, 208, Jr.

RB - Vick Ballard, Mississippi St., 5-11, 220, Sr.

K - Drew Alleman, LSU, 5-11, 183, Jr.

All-Purpose - Dennis Johnson, Arkansas, 5-9, 213, Jr.

Defense(equals)

T - Josh Chapman, Alabama, 6-1, 310, Sr.

T - Michael Brockers, LSU, 6-6, 306, So.

E - Corey Lemonier, Auburn, 6-4, 240, So.

E - Barkevious Mingo, LSU, 6-5, 240, So.

LB - Dont'A Hightower, Alabama, 6-4, 260, Jr.

LB - Chris Marve, Vanderbilt, 6-0, 242, Sr.

LB - Jerry Franklin, Arkansas, 6-1, 245, Sr.

CB - Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, 6-3, 192, Jr.

CB - Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt, 5-11, 188, Sr.

S - Antonio Allen, South Carolina, 6-2, 202, Sr.

S - Eric Reid, LSU, 6-2, 208, So.

P - Dylan Breeding, Arkansas, 6-1, 211, Jr.

HONORABLE MENTION

Offense

Kyle Fischer, L, Vanderbilt, 6-6, 308, Sr.; Quentin Saulsberry, L, Mississippi State, 6-2, 300, Sr.

Defense

Drew Butler, P, Georgia, 6-2, 214, Sr.; Tyler Campbell, P, Mississippi, 6-2, 220, Jr.; Tim Fugger, E, Vanderbilt, 6-4, 250, Sr.; Winston Guy Jr., S, Kentucky, 6-1, 216, Sr.; Jaye Howard, T, Florida, 6-3, 303, Sr.; Devin Taylor, E, South Carolina, 6-7, 260, Jr.; Tramain Thomas, S, Arkansas, 6-0, 204, Sr.

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OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Trent Richardson, Alabama

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Tyrann Mathieu, LSU

COACH OF THE YEAR

Les Miles, LSU

The BCS No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks will play the BCS No. 8 Kansas State Wildcats in the Cotton Bowl at 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

It's the Hogs' 39th bowl appearance and their 14th trip to the Cotton Bowl. The Razorbacks have played in 11 bowls during the last 14 seasons and gone bowling in three of Bobby Petrino's four seasons as Arkansas head coach.

"Our team looks forward to becoming part of the long-standing tradition the Razorbacks have with the Cotton Bowl,” Petrino said. “I am very proud to be the coach of this team, which has stuck together all season long and kept competing. The mentality our players have demonstrated is what has allowed us to accomplish all we have this year. We’ve enjoyed success in Cowboys Stadium and the hospitality and experience the Cotton Bowl provides gives our team a special opportunity to compete together one more time. I know this game will be highly anticipated by our fans and the support they will give the Razorbacks will once again be tremendous.”

The Razorbacks (10-2) and Kansas State (10-2) have not played each other since 1926 and the Wildcats own a 3-1 record against the Hogs.

"We are so very proud of the young men in our program and the courage they have shown this year, and we are very pleased to represent the Big 12 Conference in the AT&T Cotton Bowl," Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. "The Cotton Bowl is a first-class bowl and organization and we appreciate Rick Baker and the entire bowl staff for their efforts and support of college football."

Kansas State has not won a bowl game since the 2002 Holiday Bowl, while the Razorbacks last bowl victory was the 2010 Liberty Bowl.

Tickets for the 2012 AT&T Cotton Bowl are on sale to donors and season ticket holders and the deadline for priority tickets is 5 p.m. Monday. Following the deadline, requests for tickets and seat locations will be filled by Razorback Foundation levels, based on lifetime giving, followed by season ticket customers and the general public. Fans with further questions may contact the Razorback Ticket Office at 800-982-HOGS.

Arkansas quarterback Tyler Wilson, who led the SEC in passing, said he is excited to make another trip to Arlington. The Razorbacks have played Texas A&M each of the last three seasons in Cowboys Stadium.

“I’m excited to play in such a great bowl in a great stadium," Wilson said. "We have experienced success in Cowboys Stadium the last three years, and it was great helping lead our team to a victory there earlier this season. Our fans have traveled well to Dallas, which always helps us, and we expect them to be down there cheering us on and helping create a great atmosphere. The Cotton Bowl has a prestigious history, and I am happy to have the chance to be a part of that.”

Senior defensive end Jake Bequette echoed Wilson's excitement.

“The Cotton Bowl is a highly respected bowl and one we are proud to get the chance to be part of," Bequette said. "My grandfather played in the Cotton Bowl and I was able to experience it during my redshirt season, so this is nice for my family. I remember watching the Cotton Bowl growing up, and it has always been special to me. I’m happy for the opportunity to spend another month with this team getting ready for the game and for the chance to play one more time with these guys. We are going to focus on being prepared and going down there with the intent to finish this season with a win.”

Arkansas Vice Chancellor and Athletics Director Jeff Long congratulated Petrino and the Razorbacks for their season.

"The University of Arkansas is thrilled to accept a bid to play in the AT&T Cotton Bowl Classic following our second consecutive 10-win season," Long said. "Congratulations to Coach Bobby Petrino, our coaching staff and our football student-athletes on earning the opportunity to participate in one of college football's greatest postseason traditions. The Cotton Bowl has been an integral part of our program's history for more than six decades playing host to many unforgettable moments and memorable games. Based on the tremendous response from our fans and messages on my twitter account, it is clear the Razorback Nation is excited to return to the Cotton Bowl."

The Razorbacks won 10 games in the regular season for the ninth time in school history. The Razorbacks also went undefeated at home for the first time since 1999. UA enters the game leading the SEC in passing offense (307.8), total offense (445.8) and ranked second in the league in scoring offense (37.4).

The Razorbacks are 3-0 all-time in Cowboys Stadium with victories over Texas A&M in the Southwest Classic each of the last three seasons.

Since 1937, the AT&T Cotton Bowl has contributed more than $180 million to participating institutions. Each year, football fans attending the AT&T Cotton Bowl generate close to $30 million in economic impact for North Texas.

ESPN's Joe Schad is reporting that Garrick McGee, Arkansas' offensive coordinator the past two seasons, has verbally agreed to accept the head coaching position at Alabama-Birmingham.

“I want to congratulate Garrick McGee on becoming the head football coach at UAB," Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said in a statement released by Arkansas' Media Relations Department. "I have enjoyed watching Garrick progress throughout his career and I am excited to see him get this opportunity.

"Garrick has been with me as a player and an assistant coach and I thank him for being a big part of everything we have been able to build here at Arkansas. The guidance he has provided our offense and quarterbacks the past four seasons has been immeasurable.

"Garrick grew up the son of a coach and is a natural teacher and leader. He will have a solid plan for the football program at UAB and the dedication to carry it out. Garrick, Tiffany and the entire McGee family leave with my gratitude for a job well done with the Razorbacks, and best wishes for continued success at UAB.”

McGee is replacing Neil Callaway, who was fired last week following UAB completion of a 3-9 season.

McGee has been on Arkansas' staff for all four seasons of the Bobby Petrino's tenure as head coach. His first two seasons he served as quarterbacks coach before adding the offensive coordinator duties when Paul Petrino exited Arkansas to become Illinois' offensive coordinator.