Clark shelved unless injury forces action

SCOTT CAIN
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Barring injuries to the top two quarterbacks, true freshman Zak Clark of Fayetteville will not play again this season and Arkansas will try to recoup his year of eligibility.
Clark appears to qualify for a medical hardship because of a sore shoulder, associate athletic director Derrick Gragg said Monday. Arkansas will petition the NCAA on Clark's behalf to restore the year, meaning he would be eligible through the 2004 season.
Clark has continued to practice and still appears to have the strongest arm of the three scholarship quarterbacks despite the shoulder problem.
The NCAA guideline that governs eligibility restoration due to injury is broad and allows schools to appeal for players with major and minor injuries, Gragg said.
"It only deals with his ability to compete," Gragg said. "Sometimes you will have kids who continue to practice. They leave you -- the NCAA -- the leeway."
In effect, Arkansas now only has two scholarship quarterbacks available, sophomore Robby Hampton and junior Jared McBride. Gary Brashears, who would have competed for the starting job, transferred in August. Grant Sumner left the team last winter.
Clark could play again this season if Hampton and McBride were injured but would not be able to apply for the hardship waiver. Coaches will not use Clark unless they have to.
Two opportunities to play Clark presented themselves in the second half of the Georgia and Louisiana-Monroe games and Clark was held out of both.
Clark played in the first game against Southwest Missouri State, completing 2 of 5 passes for 17 yards.
Players must not have competed in more than 20 percent of the games in the first half of the season to be eligible for a hardship year of eligibility. Twenty percent of 11 games is 2.2 -- and the NCAA rounds up fractions, in this case to three games -- so he falls well within the amount allowed.
Tailback Cedric Cobbs and receiver George Wilson, who each suffered shoulder injuries in the Alabama game on Sept. 23, are out for the season and also meet the qualifications to reclaim a year of eligibility.
BALL KEEPS ROLLING
Even though junior left tackle Shannon Money is expected to return this week, Nathan Ball will start Saturday, assistant coach Mike Markuson said.
Ball made a smooth transition from tight end to tackle in less than a week and graded out well against Louisiana-Monroe, so he deserves to start again, Markuson said.
A recurring ankle sprain to Money forced coaches to move Ball from tight end last week. Ball played as a backup tackle last season and moved to tight end in August.
GAINING EXPERIENCE
Scott Davenport didn't start against Louisiana-Monroe, but his playing time turned out to be just as good as a start.
The redshirt freshman guard from Clarendon replaced Kenny Sandlin after 18 plays and played the majority of the 52-6 victory. Sandlin injured the ribs behind his shoulder blade last week.
"He did some good things while he was in there," Coach Houston Nutt said of Davenport. "He did miss a couple of assignments. There is a learning curve. You know there is going to be some highs and lows.
"After 18 snaps, Sandlin comes out and Davenport goes in and you did not notice that much of a drop-off, and that is what you look for. There was not much leakage in pass protection. He was really hustling after his guy and got a few real good blocks but had some not so good blocks."
The entire second-team line played in the second half. Besides Davenport, left tackle Mark Bokermann, center Dan Doughty, guard Caleb Perry, right tackle Bo Lacy and tight ends Tim Craig and Justin Scott saw time.
INJURY REPORT
PLAYER POS. INJURY OUTLOOK
Q. Caver LB Ankle sprain Due back today
S. Collins LB Ankle sprain Out
A. Daily FB Ankle sprain Due back today
R. Garner DE Ankle sprain Returned
J. Geitner OG Shoulder sprain Due back today
C. Glenn TE Foot sprain Out
J. Harper BAN Neck strain Due back today
D. Johnson BAN Pinched nerve Day to day
S. Money OT Ankle sprain Due back today
J. Reed LB Knee tendinitis Returned
K. Sandlin RG Shoulder Returned
B. Shockley OT Foot sprain Out
F. Talley TB Broken hand Returned

This article was published on Tuesday, October 10, 2000

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