1994 ring safely with Anderson

DETROIT — Arkansas Razorbacks Coach Mike Anderson has his national championship ring back after it was lost for more than 10 years.

Anderson was an assistant coach for the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1994 when the Razorbacks won the national championship by beating Duke.

Some of the Razorbacks were talking Thursday about Anderson getting the championship ring back and how they hope it’s a good omen as they open the NCAA Tournament against Butler today.

Anderson didn’t know what his players had said regarding the ring until he was asked about it during Thursday’s news conference.

“Man, those guys tell everything don’t they?” Anderson said with a smile. “I guess no secrets dealing with family.”

Anderson said he lost the ring in 2004 when he was Alabama-Birmingham’s coach. The Blazers played at Tulane and Anderson believes he accidentally left the ring in his hotel room in New Orleans.

When Anderson realized he didn’t have the ring, he checked with the hotel, but no one reported finding it.

Recently, Anderson said, he got a call from a pawn shop owner in New Orleans who had the ring.

Anderson’s name was on the ring, and the owner tracked him down by looking at the players and coaching staff from the 1994 Razorbacks.

“You know how sometimes you think about pawn shops, they’re just trying to get you, man,” Anderson said. “But true enough, it was my ring.”

Anderson said he got the ring back, but had to pay the pawn shop owner for it.

At least whoever took Anderson’s ring from the hotel room — and whoever might have had it subsequently — took good care of it.

“It was still in the same shape it was when I got it,” Anderson said. “So it’s a keepsake possession now.”