Report: Basketball Hogs to play South Alabama
Arkansas has entered into an agreement with head coach John Pelphrey’s former coaching stop, South Alabama, for a four-game series starting Nov. 26, according to the Mobile Press-Register.
The four-year series will feature two games at USA’s Mitchell Center in Mobile and two at Bud Walton Arena. The schools are scheduled to meet first at the Mitchell Center next season.
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Pelphrey, who coached at USA for five seasons, had a stipulation in his contract with the Jaguars that required him to schedule the four-game series with the school if he took another head coaching job, according to the report.
Here’s more from reporters Tommy Hicks and Kim Shugart:
“It’s out of gratitude for Joe and President (Gordon) Moulton and the people in Mobile,” said Pelphrey, who just completed his first season at Arkansas. “I understand at that level how hard it is to get home games. If it weren’t for them, we probably wouldn’t consider it. I don’t know how many (SEC) teams would play a Sun Belt team on their home floor.
“I feel it’s the right thing to do, to be honest with you.”
Hailing from the Sun Belt Conference, South Alabama has been a very dangerous team. The squad beat Mississippi State last season onward to a 27-6 record, and bolted out of the gates with a 17-1 start to the season.
Point is, you’ve got to give kudos to USA athletic director Joe Gottfried. Including this item in Pelphrey’s contract was a win-win for him and I wouldn’t be surprised to see other schools doing the same soon.
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