CBS, that grand old lady of a network, sure has taken to Arkansas subjects lately.
For starters, there’s a new feature focused on the Razorbacks’ Heisman Trophy candidates and Paul Petrino’s salty, salty mouth which will debut on Sept. 19.
Receiving less publicity, but of far more significance to the state as a whole, CBS Evening News will feature Lonoke County and surrounding areas in a four-part series on the effects of this summer’s drought on the Arkansas River and the states through which it runs. Gene Sullivan, who helps run the Bayou Meto Water Management Project, told me he spoke at length with a CBS producer and reporter last week about the area’s special challenges, and their effects on local rice and soybean farmers. This segment will come out likely in mid or late September and will be part of a four-part series. Other parts will focus on the Arkansas River in Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado.
OK, enough of the non-sports talk. Topically, I may be flowing a bit outside my banks here.
Below is more on the upcoming Hogs series:
CBS Sports Network and CBSSports.com present COLLEGE FOOTBALL CONFIDENTIAL: ARKANSAS, an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at one of the most intriguing teams of the 2012 season, the Arkansas Razorbacks. The series of seven shows debuts on CBS Sports Network on Wednesday, Aug. 29 (7:00 PM, ET). CBSSports.com complements the television series with exclusive all-access online content beginning Monday, Aug. 20, available at CBSSports.com/collegefootballconfidential.
Throughout the 2012 season CBS Sports Network will embed with the Razorbacks to provide fans an inside look at practices, road trips and team meetings as Arkansas looks to move on from a tough off-season. The series includes candid interviews with numerous administrators, coaches and team members, including Athletic Director Jeff Long, head coach John L. Smith, as well as Heisman Trophy hopefuls Knile Davis and Tyler Wilson. The show on Wednesday, Sept. 19 will present a look at the Razorbacks preparing to play Alabama in a huge SEC showdown that will be part of CBS Sports’ season long coverage of the SEC Game of the Week.
“Arkansas football is one of the most fascinating stories of the 2012 season,” said Dan Weinberg, Senior Vice President, Programming, CBS Sports Network. “The Razorbacks are a national championship contender with two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates, and a perfect fit for a season-long version of College Football Confidential. The access we’ve been granted and the storylines that have emerged provide plenty of compelling content, which allowed us to expand the College Football Confidential franchise to CBSSports.com for the first time.”
