College football
UF extra points
SCOUTING REPORT: ARKANSAS
By Times Staff Writer
Published October 16, 2003
The Razorbacks are looking to rebound after their first loss of the season. They have the SEC's leading rusher in Cedric Cobbs, and although the senior had a rough outing last week, he still averages 128 rushing yards per game. Quarterback Matt Jones is averaging just 119 passing yards per game but presents problems for opposing defenses with his scrambling abilities. Arkansas' offensive line is one of the most experienced in the SEC, which is a big part of Cobbs' success. Senior receiver George Wilson has five 100-yard receiving games, including two this season. Wilson missed most of the Alabama game with a high ankle sprain. But a bye week before Auburn gave him time to heal, and he's expected to play this week. Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said the biggest challenge for the Razorbacks heading into Saturday's game is putting last week's loss behind them. "Everybody was sick to their stomachs," Nutt said. "But our guys are very mature. They've been through it before and they are going to rise."
GOT A MINUTE: CIATRICK FASON
A two-time 2,000-yard rusher in high school, Ciatrick Fason was listed as the third-string running back last week. But when the two in front of him went down with injuries, Fason stepped in, scoring on a 35-yard touchdown pass that helped Florida defeat LSU. He talks about college adjustments and finding a place of his own.
Q: You were a big star in high school. Why has it taken awhile for you here?
A: I was behind schedule because I had a confidence problem because I wasn't playing. I thought it was me. I figured after my performance last week, I'm back on schedule because it's going to make me work harder.
Q: Why the confidence problem?
A: I always knew at the other places that I was the man. I knew I was No. 1 going in. I knew I was getting the ball all the time. Then I get here and I have to split time with a whole bunch of running backs. By me sitting out two games, I just fell off. I kind of lost a little bit.
Q: Where do things stand now?
A: The depth chart kind of changed up (Monday). I moved up to second (team) with Ran (Carthon) out. I was running with the first group. DeShawn (Wynn) was behind me. We just don't know what's going to happen. We'll get the same amount of reps. I'll just be the first guy to go in before the other guys. Hopefully, I can keep doing what I'm doing to stay where I'm at now. If Ran goes back down, I have to be ready for my opportunity.
OFFBEAT
Houston Nutt calls this one of the most mature teams he's been around, and that sentiment is reflected in the off-field lives of many team members. Six of Nutt's players are married and nine have earned their undergraduate degrees. Three Razorback seniors - offensive guard Mark Bokermann, wide receiver Tom Crowder and offensive guard Jerry Reith - took time off this summer to say, "I do." Seniors Steven Harris and Scott Davenport already were married, and Justin Scott married his fiancee during the week of Sept. 21. Bokermann met his wife through Reith, who thought he had the ideal woman for his teammate: his sister, Leah. He set up a meeting between the two, they began dating and married in June. The brothers-in-law are starters on the offensive line.
Meanwhile, nine current players earned undergraduate degrees last spring: George Wilson (administrative management); Richard Smith (kinesiology/K-12); Jimmy Beasley (marketing management); Crowder (agribusiness management); Reith (industrial engineering with a math minor); Bokermann (finance); Scott (transportation and logistics); Caleb Miller (kinesiology) and Davenport (kinesiology).
All are pursuing master's degrees.
QUOTABLE
"Right now, it's just like dating a girl. We've had one good date, but if the next date's not good, she might not call you back. You never know, but, all together, winning the SEC, that's like getting married. Right now, we're just trying to come together and hope everything works out." - CHANNING CROWDER, Freshman linebacker on the importance of the Gators winning this weekend to keep its momentum going.
BOWL METER
Okay, the LSU win was big, no doubt about it. The Gators remain mathematically alive in the SEC race, but No. 11 Arkansas and No. 4 Georgia are among the remaining games on the schedule. A lot can happen between now and then. Maybe the Gators get a holiday trip after all, possibly the Mainstay Independence Bowl in Shreveport.
- Compiled by Antonya English.
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