Ridge Writer
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Forte out at UAPB, multiple sources confirm – UPDATE 2
As initially reported here last week, multiple sources close to the situation have confirmed to Ridge Writer that football coach Mo Forte has been released by Arkansas-Pine Bluff just one year after taking the Golden Lions to the SWAC Championship Game.
An announcement from the university is expected today.
UPDATE (Nov 19/12:37 p.m.): Our source tells us that defensive coordinator Monte Coleman will be named interim head coach in a few hours.
UPDATE 2 (Nov 19/3:01 p.m.): Ridge Writer broke the story, and now it has come to pass. Monte Coleman will be the next head coach of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions. Associated Press story on the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
What do ASU and Alabama have in common?
…Both have lost to Louisiana-Monroe this year.
Certainly a banner year for the Sun Belt – our Indians have underachieved after almost knocking off Texas, but the league has wins over C-USA, the SEC, the Big 10, and the Big XII. ASU can go a perfect 3-0 versus C-USA this season if they knock off Southern Miss this Saturday in Hattiesburg.
[Hit the picture for the related story]
High school playoffs dominated by non-delta teams
The following delta teams are still in the Arkansas high school football playoffs.
Class 4A
Warren (hosts Nashville next week in semi-final)
Dumas (at Central Arkansas Christian next week in semi-final)
Dollarway at Pocahontas (next week in semi-final)
Class3A
Hoxie (at Glen Rose next week in semi-final)
Class 2A
Augusta at Earle (next week in semi-final)
Unless the Ridge Writer is missing one, there are no east Arkansas teams still in contention in the 5A, 6A, and 7A divisions. My, how the powers have shifted.
Forte’s fate looks bleak at UAPB
The Ridge Writer first brought you news yesterday of a possible change in Mo Forte’s status as head coach of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions. This morning, things look bleak for the forth year coach.
The Pine Bluff Commercial cites unidentified sources in reporting that Forte will be fired on Monday and the remaining one year in his contract will be bought out for $120,000. This comes just one year removed from his 8-4 season that saw him take the Golden Lions to the SWAC Championship Game.
UAPB officials have declined to comment on Mo’s status until after today’s game against Texas Southern. Texas Southern is winless on the season, so a win by the Lions seems likely. The Golden Lions are currently 3-7 on the year with several close loses, including a three-point loss to New Mexico State of the Division I Bowl Subdivision.
The Ridge Writer thinks Forte is a good fit for UAPB and thinks they should at least give him next season. We’ll see in the next few days.
[Hit the picture for related story.]
Several media outlets confirm Nutt out at Arkansas
Several media outlets, including Jonesboro’s KAIT, claim to have independently verified that embattled head football coach Houston Dale Nutt is coaching his final game in the state of Arkansas for the Razorbacks today.
Normally, the Ridge Writer avoids news about Pig Slop State for two reasons: (1) it isn’t located on the Ridge, and (2) he could care less.
But, as a hard core college football fan, a little coaching speculation got the best of him.
Who will replace Nutt as the highest paid employee of the state of Arkansas?
A new athletics director is taking the helm of a newly combined athletics department in Fayetteville. Would he dare make a run at our very own Steve Roberts, head coach of the Arkansas State Indians?
Hear this out. Steve Roberts turned around the Indians after several years of underachieving. He brought the Tribe a league championship and a bowl game.
He has proven he can take a troubled program and build it into a winner.
He’s a Little Rock man and brings no baggage – he is a very respected member of the Jonesboro community and has made a reputation for recruiting players who can achieve academically as well as athletically.
Also, to the Arkansas fans who are always complaining about a one-sided offense, Roberts makes good use of what he has. For his first several years at ASU, he coached a power running game because he had great running backs. Now with Corey Leonard’s play-making ability and rocket arm, he has put together a very balanced offense that ranks among the nations elite.
The Ridge Writer hopes we don’t lose him, but thinks he could be a good fit at Pig Slop State.
[Hit the picture for related story.]
Jonesboro nature center could get indoor archery range thanks to Rotarians
The Rotary Club of Jonesboro is willing to donate up to $150,000 toward the construction of an indoor archery range at the Forest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro.
The range will be open two nights a week to the public and will be used for school competitions and the like. They also plan on using the facility for archery and air riffle lessons.
[Hit the picture for the story - registration may be required.]
Mo Forte out as UAPB football coach?
Rumors are rampant around southeast Arkansas that Mo Forte, the head coach of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision’s Southwest Athletic Conference, will be canned following his final game this season.
Just a year ago, Forte went 8-4 and led the Golden Lions to the SWAC Championship Game for the first time in school history. This season the Lions have struggled, going 3-7 with one game remaining to play.
That 3-7 record this season? It includes four losses of seven points or less, including a three-point loss to New Mexico State of the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Give those tight loses to the Lions, and suddenly, Forte is 7-3.
The Ridge Writer thinks firing Forte would be a big mistake.
Will the real non-offensive mascot please stand-up?
The troubles of Arkansas State University in the mascot department have been well chronicled. The Flagship University of the Delta will soon retire the Indian mascot it has used since the 1930s in favor of one of these mostly non-offensive options:
Black Wolves
Red Wolves
Red Dragons
Red Storm
Ridge Raiders
Ridge Runners
A’s
Diamonds
Mallards
Express
Mustangs
Thunderbirds
The Ridge Writer thinks that the obvious choice is Red Wolves, but strong consideration should be given to Black Wolves and Ridge Runners.
Red Storm and Express should only be considered if the University is considering fielding an Arena Football League team.
Red Dragons and A’s are just goofy choices, in the Ridge Writer’s opinion.
With Red Wolves or Black Wolves, you have two options that are easily marketable anywhere and not overused in NCAA Division I or the Football Bowl Subdivision.
With Ridge Runners, you get a very unique option with a regional tie-in (as well as a tie-in to this blog). If the imagery is handled carefully, this could be a very strong option that would truly set Arkansas State apart.
So, since everyone including ASU Athletics Director Dr. Dean Lee was wondering, the Ridge Writer throws his support behind Red Wolves, Black Wolves, or Ridge Runners.
[Hit the picture for related story from Arkansas Sports 360.]
