Arkansas Sports 360 - ArkansasSports360.com

1/26/2012 at 3:03pm

Image by Mark Wagner

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson has been added to the list of players in the Players All-Star Classic.

LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, who helped lead the Tigers to the national championship game, failed to win in his two trips to War Memorial Stadium as a Tiger, but he'll get a third chance at a win at the Little Rock stadium on Feb. 4.

Jefferson, who completed his eligibility in Baton Rouge, was added to the South roster of the Players All-Star Classic, scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4, at 3 p.m.

Tickets are on sale at the stadium or through the game's website and cost $15. The game will also be televised by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast and by Cox Sports Television.

Jefferson's addition gives the South three "name" quarterbacks on the roster: UCA's Nathan Dick, who played a redshirt freshman season at Arkansas before transferring to Conway, and Aaron Corp, who started his career at Southern Cal alongside Springdale product Mitch Mustain before transferring to Richmond.

Three Arkansas Razorbacks will be playing for the South: safety Tramain Thomas, outside linebacker/safety Jerico Nelson and offensive tackle Grant Freeman. Four Arkansas State Red Wolves who were named to the South team are safety Kelcie McCray, fullback Jermaine Robertson, defensive tackle Dorvus Woods and defensive end Brandon Joiner, who started his career at Texas A&M.

Other Arkansans who are part of the 55-man South lineup are UAPB's Adrian Moore, a running back; Henderson State's Antonio Leak, an outside linebacker, and Sean McGrath, a long snapper; and Ouachita Baptist tight end Phillip Supernaw.

Jefferson started off and on for the Tigers for three years after being given the starter's role at quarterback in the 2008 game with Arkansas in Little Rock (which the Hogs won 31-30 on a last-minute touchdown pass by Nathan Dick's brother, Casey). Jefferson is the 12th SEC player named to the South roster, including the three Razorbacks. Jefferson will be joined by LSU teammates Ron Brooks, a defensive back, and defensive end Kendrick Adams.

The North will be quarterbacked by Dominque Davis, who started his career at Boston College and finished at East Carolina; Wisconsin-Whitewater's Matt Blanchard and Monmouth's Alex Tanney.

The Players All-Star Classic was created as another game for graduating seniors and NFL prospects to showcase their talents outside of the Senior Bowl and All-American Bowl. Players not invited to those games were extended invitations to the Players Classic and will begin arriving in Little Rock Monday morning to prepare for the game.

The Little Rock Hilton on South University is serving as the home base for the event. The teams will practice each day at designated times at War Memorial Stadium, and they will also participate in a charity event later in the week. More information on the game and the events outside the game is available at the Classic's website.

BLAIR RETURNING TO ARKANSAS: Gary Blair, the former Arkansas women's basketball coach who directed Texas A&M to the 2011 national championship, will be the speaker on Monday at the Downtown Tip Off Club's weekly meeting.

The meetings move back to the Wyndham Riverfront ballroom on Monday.

The luncheon cost is $15 for members and $20 for nonmembers.

Speakers on Feb. 6 are the triumvirate of UALR coaches: men's basketball coach Steve Shields, women's coach Joe Foley, and baseball coach Scott Norwood.

The club will spice up the lineup with more baseball talk for the basketball crowd on Feb. 13 when Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn visits the Wyndham Riverfront. The talk returns to basketball and all things Razorback the following Monday when longtime sports information director and now analyst and radio host Rick Schaeffer addresses the group.

OFFICIALS' RULINGS BUG CROWD: We had the fortunate opportunity to be part of a "roundtable" with local radio personality Trey Schaap and TV sports anchors Wess Moore and David Raath at Monday's Tip Off Club.

Two of the questions from the audience focused on a couple of strange officiating calls that occurred in last week's Arkansas games, one at Kentucky and another in the home upset of Michigan.

At Kentucky, first a blocking foul was called on an Arkansas player, then the officials watched a replay and changed the ruling to a double-foul on a charging Kentucky guard AND the blocking foul on Arkansas' player. Let's just say while nothing was resolved, it was the consensus of the entire room (including one head coach who was present) that the SEC officials blew that call and it should have either been a block or a charge, but not both.

The other rule interpretation in question occurred when Michigan coach John Beilein was allowed to select the free throw shooter from Arkansas when Hogs freshman gaurd B.J. Young was injured and unable to shoot free throws after a flagrant foul call on Michigan's Zack Novak.

Trey Schaap later that day looked up the rule and said the SEC officials erred: While it was news to some of the crowd Monday that the NCAA has indeed changed the rule that the opposing coach can select the foul shooter when the designated shooter is injured, the coach is not allowed to pick the other team's shooter on a flagrant foul. However, Beilein chose Ky Madden to shoot for Young, and Madden missed both foul shots.

This year, the NCAA also changed wording and interpretation on fouls, doing away with "intentional" foul and calling it a "flagrant 1" foul, as opposed to a "flagrant 2," which would result in automatic ejection of the offending player. In the case of Novak's foul, his hard hit on Young's layup attempt was deemed a "flagrant 1" foul and the Michigan player continued to play, while Young spend time on the bench with an injured hand.

At least Arkansas fans are interested again in officials calls on the basketball court.

Email: jharris@abpg.com, and follow Jim on Twitter @jimharris360.

Tagged: BJ Young, Grant Freeman, Jerico Nelson, Downtown Tip Off Club, Tramain Thomas, War Memorial Stadium, Players All-Star Classic, Jordan Jefferson, Texas A&M Aggies, Gary Blair