UA Notes: Hogs could field team with injured

Arkansas has enough players who will miss Thursday's Las Vegas Bowl because of injuries to field a starting team.
The 11 Razorbacks who will miss the game include tailbacks Cedric Cobbs (separated shoulder), Fred Talley (torn knee ligaments) and Andre Ackee (torn knee ligaments), fullback Adam Dailey (fluid on his spinal cord), cornerback Harold Harris (broken arm), wide receiver and punt returner Steadman Campbell (dislocated ankle), quarterback Jared McBride (torn knee ligaments), defensive tackle Pervis Osborne (torn knee ligaments), wide receiver George Wilson (dislocated shoulder), tight end J. Strain (torn knee ligaments) and defensive lineman Jason Peters (dislocated shoulder).
Cobbs and Harris are able to practice on a limited basis but won't play in the bowl game because it would mean they wouldn't be eligible for a medical redshirt to regain a season of eligibility.
The other players are continuing the rehabilitation process while they are in Las Vegas.
"You hate to see so many guys get hurt," Ackee said. "But you're glad you're able to help each other out."
Because Ackee, Talley, McBride, Strain and Osborne are sidelined because of torn anterior cruciate ligaments, they refer to themselves as "The ACL Crew."
Strain, a redshirt freshman from Fayetteville, was the first to go down when he was injured working out in the summer.
"After it happened to J., it seemed there was a domino effect with everybody tearing up their ACLs," Ackee said.
Ackee, a sophomore from Little Rock McClellan, underwent surgery on his right knee Sept. 1 after being injured in a preseason scrimmage. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in 1998.
"I've counseled a lot of my teammates about dealing with injuries, because the stuff that's new to them is old to me," Ackee said. "I give them advice on what to do before and after surgery to help it go along well."
Talley, a sophomore who rushed for a team-high 768 yards this season despite playing in only eight games because of a broken wrist in the third game against Alabama and then his torn ACL in the 10th game against Mississippi State, underwent surgery on his right knee Dec. 7. It is still heavily wrapped, but he has begun walking up stairs and doing exercises.
"Sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I forget that I'm hurt," Talley said. "But then reality sets in.
"The knee is feeling a little better each day. ... It's real frustrating knowing that I can't be out there to help my team, but Andre and the other players that are injured help me out with a lot of support and encouragement."
-- Bob Holt

DRINK UP
Gerald Howard caught a 50-yard touchdown pass from Zak Clark in Sunday's practice, and Boo Williams ran down the field to greet him.
"Iced tea, iced tea," Howard yelled, telling everyone how cool the play was.
No one bothered to tell him Howard he had pushed defensive back Eddie Jackson down to get to the ball.
-- Wally Hall

LOOKING HIS PART
John Rutledge has lived a fairy tale this season, going from the intramural fields to driving the Razorbacks for a touchdown in his first game since high school.
Sunday he ran several offensive series, as did Robby Hampton, who will start, and Zak Clark.
One thing that gave Rutledge away as the one who had been playing against fraternities this year was his feet.
He wore no tape and no socks.
-- Wally Hall

This article was published on Monday, December 18, 2000

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