O'Donohoe back in hunt for kicking job

For the first time since preseason practice, the kicking competition has heated up, in part because true freshman Brennan O'Donohoe's leg is near full strength again.
O'Donohoe eased out of the competition late in two-a-days when he pulled a groin muscle and had to rest his kicking leg. Coaches could live with that because senior Matt Swartz was kicking well, punctuated by a 49-yard field goal in the season opener.
But only a few people knew that Swartz was playing with a strained quadriceps muscle for the last month and finally had to stop kicking last Wednesday and Thursday. He missed field-goal attempts of 42 and 41 yards Saturday against Boise State but Swartz insisted the misses were not caused by his sore leg. A high snap on one try didn't help.
"It was just an off day," Swartz said. "When I'm out there, I don't feel anything."
The misses, the sore leg and O'Donohoe's recovery have combined to push O'Donohoe back into contention for the kicking duties. Coaches had hoped to redshirt him but will use him against Alabama if he's kicking better than Swartz.
O'Donohoe of El Dorado said his leg has returned almost to normal.
"I'd say 95 percent," O'Donohoe said. "I'm feeling a lot better."
Swartz said his leg was "workable" Tuesday but that he was not worried about the prospect of a challenge for his job. The coaches understand it was an off game and not indicative of his normal performance, he said.

MOST INJURED DUE BACK
Nine scholarship players missed all or part of practice Tuesday, but only three are listed as doubtful for Saturday's game against Alabama, trainer Dean Weber said.
Backup bandit Tony Bua (hamstring), tackle Brett Shockley (foot sprain) and reserve tight end Cameron Glenn (foot sprain) probably will not play.

POSITION MOVES
With backup bandit Tony Bua sidelined by a pulled hamstring, rover Derrick Johnson has been at least temporarily moved to bandit.
Johnson had been splitting time with Corey Harris. Jeremiah Harper will continue to start at bandit but Johnson, who has played the position, will see significant time there.
Reserve safety Shelton Parker was moved to backup rover.

PIVOTAL MOMENT
Some of the veteran Alabama players still remember the 42-6 victory by Arkansas in 1998 as the most physical beating they've ever taken.
It also was monumental for Coach Houston Nutt, who was in his first season at Arkansas.
"I thought that was ... the most important game in our early career," Nutt said. "That was the first year. There was still a lot of question. Our players had not had very much success and there were still a lot of doubts, still a lot of questions ... and all we asked them to do was play as hard as you possibly could play.
"We got on a roll and some good things happened to us. We got some turnovers and it just started building from there. Then our crowd really helped us. That was definitely a high point and very, very important to get us over the hurdle."
The Razorbacks, 4-7 the previous two seasons, went on to win nine games, tie for the SEC West title and play in the Citrus Bowl.

LESS LA'ZERIUS IS MORE
Left guard La'Zerius White is moving better since dropping about 13 pounds in the last 21/2 weeks, offensive line coach Mike Markuson said.
White's weight had crept up to 338 pounds by the start of the season. Coaches asked him to cut back and he has to 325. Markuson said White's ideal playing weight is 315-320 pounds.
"That extra 10 or 15 pounds makes a big difference," Markuson said. "Those big, huge guys get tired. Their legs get dead and lazy and they've big guys who keep banging on them. It turns into a pillow fight. But when you're not carrying more weight than your body can handle, your fresher."

BREEDEN GETS PRACTICE TIME
With starting receivers Boo Williams (sick) and Michael Snowden (hip bruise) missing practice Tuesday, junior college transfer Sam Breeden received considerable work and is expected to play against Alabama, assistant head coach Fitz Hill said.
... Redshirt freshman Mark Bokerman took most of the first-team snaps at left tackle with Shannon Money (ankle sprain) sidelined, and sophomore Raymond House filled in for defensive end Randy Garner (sprained ankle).

This article was published on Wednesday, September 20, 2000

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