What are the Top Stories of '07

See the results of the poll

Take a look at the top 14 stories from this year's Razorbacks sports library as chosen by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sports Department.

Basketball coaching search. Creighton Coach Dana Altman is hired to replace Stan Heath, leads an uncomfortable Hog call at his new conference announcing his hiring, and then abruptly changes his mind and returns to Creighton.

Darren McFadden Heisman race. Darren McFadden becomes Arkansas' all-time leading rusher and finishes second in the Heisman for second consecutive season.

Football coaching search. Bobby Petrino is named head coach at Arkansas at a 10:30 p.m. news conference, ending wild-and-woolly coaching search that puts Arkansas in eye of national media firestorm.

Frank Broyles retirement announcement. Frank Broyles, the architect of Razorbacks athletics, announces that his 50th year at UA will be his last.

Houston Nutt's season. Nutt's tumultuous year at Arkansas begins with heralded recruit Mitch Mustain transferring to USC and offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn going to Tulsa. Text messages and e-mails led to a soap opera, starring Teresa Pruitt, Mustain, and Nutt's wife, Diana, that dominated the news until the season started. Nutt left Arkansas after 10 seasons for Ole Miss, and after one of the biggest victories in team history over No. 1 LSU.

Jeff Long hired as AD. Jeff Long brought in to replace Frank Broyles as athletic director after secretive six-month search by Chancellor John White.

John McDonnell loses two track titles. John McDonnell is stripped of 2 of his 42 national titles as NCAA places Arkansas track on probation because former assistant Lance Brauman bent the rules to get Tyson Gay into school.

John Pelphrey hired as basketball coach. John Pelphrey is hired as Razorbacks basketball coach to replace Stan Heath/Dana Altman, and quickly reenergizes team and fan base.

Stacy Lewis wins championship. Stacy Lewis wins Stacy Lewis, Arkansas golfer, wins the NCAA individual national championship.

Stan Heath takes Hogs to Tourney, but is fired. Stan Heath takes Arkansas basketball to second consecutive NCAA Tournament and apparently saves his job, but is fired soon after.

Susie Gardner fired. Susie Gardner fired, Tom Collen hired for Lady Razorbacks basketball.

Three Hogs drafted to NFL. Three Razorback football players taken as top 40-something picks in NFL Draft and are all starting now in the NFL: Jamal Anderson, Chris Houston and Tony Ugoh.

Tyson Gay wins a World Championships. Tyson Gay, former Arkansas track star, wins World Championships in the 100 and 200 meters.

See the Results of This Poll

Take a look at the top 16 stories from this year's Arkansas-related Sports library as chosen by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette Sports Department. Vote for the 5 stories you think are the biggest of the year by clicking the "Vote in this Poll" link above.

ASU searches for new mascot. Arkansas State Indians prepare for nickname change.

Central Arkansas 2nd in conference. Central Arkansas finishes second in Southland Conference in first full year of conference play.

Curlin wins. Curlin wins Rebel Stakes, Arkansas Derby, third in Kentucky Derby, wins Preakness, second in Belmont, wins Breeders' Cup.

Dickey-Stephens Park opens. Dickey-Stephens Park, the new $40 million home of the Arkansas Travelers, opens and shatters the team's attendance record.

Greenwood wins 3rd state title. Greenwood wins third consecutive high school state title.

Hot Springs king in Basketball. Hot Springs is a hot-bed of basketball, getting high school championships, D-II national championships, then awarded Sun Belt conference tournament.

Jermain Taylor boxing. Jermain Taylor barely beats Cory Spinks, and endures a whirlwind of negative backlash. Taylor then lost what will likely be voted boxing's fight of the year in a knockout to Kelly Pavlik, but has his image repaired in an entertaining effort.

Ken Duke wins more for golf than any other Arkansan. Ken Duke earns just shy of $2 million this season, which is the most ever by a PGA Arkansan.

LPGA. Arkansas' first LPGA tournament comes into town, and swims out after three days of rain wash away any record of having been here.

Mark Martin retires before racing again. Mark Martin retires, unretires, starts season hot and then peters out.

Mike Coolbaugh killed by line drive in Little Rock. Mike Coolbaugh, Tulsa's former first-base coach, is killed at Dickey-Stephens Park after being struck by a line drive, the first time in professional baseball history a coach has suffered a fatality during a game.

Northwest Arkansas gets Naturals. Northwest Arkansas Naturals, the former Texas League Wichita franchise, officially comes to Arkansas.

Rashaad-Jones Jennings rebounds for UALR. Rashaad-Jones Jennings, former UALR forward, leads nation in rebounding.

RimRockers close shop in Little Rock. RimRockers fold after three seasons as Arkansas' first professional basketball team.

UALR women's basketball. UALR women's basketball wins 20 games for first time in school history and is picked to win conference next season.

Wrestling grows popular. Wrestling gets 16 and then 40 programs as Greg Hatcher gets high-school wrestling on the verge of sanctioning.