Razorbacks Report: Bowl game gives Reed last chance

SCOTT CAIN
ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Nobody on the Arkansas football team wanted the season to end after scrapping to win the last two games and squeeze out a bowl-eligible sixth victory.
But you would be hard-pressed to find many players who pulled harder for an extension to the season than linebacker Jim Ed Reed, a senior from Springdale.
Reed missed the last two games because of a sore knee. The last time he played, Arkansas took a 63-20 beating at Tennessee, and that's not the enduring memory he wanted to have of his final game.
"It really hurt not being able to play those last two games," Reed said. "I've had a good career here. Ending it like that would have been real upsetting to me, so I'm glad I get to finish it off in Vegas. Hopefully we'll get a victory out there."
Arkansas (6-5) plays UNLV (7-5) Dec. 21 in the Las Vegas Bowl.
During the avalanche that day in Knoxville, Tenn., Reed twisted his knee. He already had been slowed by tendinitis in both knees since the Sept. 30 Georgia game and had played through that.
Hurting the knee at Tennessee rendered him unable to take on blockers or runners. So he rested it.
"I had about a month off and it helped me a lot," Reed said. "Being out there on this turf [in the Walker Pavilion] this whole week didn't help it any, but I think it's strong enough to where it will be all right for the game."
Reed was the first linebacker off the bench working behind Quinton Caver and J.J. Jones most of the season. He gets to reclaim that spot and go out the right way now.

BOO TWEAKS HAMSTRING
Senior receiver Boo Williams said he has put his dislocated shoulder and sprained ankle behind him, but he is babying a tender hamstring.
Williams slightly strained the hamstring Sunday. It's not a full-fledged pull, he said. Williams has continued to practice and said he will be available for the Las Vegas Bowl.
Hamstring problems bothered Williams during spring and preseason practices.
Williams dislocated his shoulder Oct. 14 against South Carolina.
Trainer Dean Weber told him at the time, if Williams would rehab as hard as he practices and plays, then he would be able to finish the season. Williams followed Weber's advice and said he is not having trouble with his shoulder now, even though it popped out of place during the Nov. 24 LSU game.
"I'm all rehabbed and all fine," Williams said. "All it took was a lot of rehab and playing through a lot of pain."
A sprained ankle that hounded Williams in November also has healed, he said.

NUTT SCUFFED BUT OK
Arkansas got through the week without suffering any more injuries to its players, but Coach Houston Nutt didn't fare as well.
Nutt took a spill on the ice outside his home Tuesday night, scraping his cheek just below his left eye.
He's listed as probable for the game. Right?
"No, no. I am definitely going to be there," Nutt said.

PRACTICE OVER FOR NOW
The university closed Thursday because of snow and sleet, throwing off the final exam schedule for many football players.
The team will not practice today so players can try to make up exams. Players will be traveling Friday and Saturday to Las Vegas. They are to report to the team hotel by 9 p.m. Las Vegas time Saturday.
The first practice in Las Vegas will be Sunday.

PEARSON STILL OUT
True freshman tailback Radale Pearson can return to practice when his vision clears up, trainer Dean Weber said.
Pearson, who suffered a concussion last week, has not practiced since then because he has blurred peripheral vision.
"He's getting better but it's coming slow," Weber said.

EX-HOGS ON THE MOVE
Former Razorbacks quarterback Clint Stoerner has been activated from the Dallas Cowboys practice squad for Sunday's game, and former UA defensive tackle D.J. Cooper has been signed to the Chicago Bears practice squad.
Cowboys Coach Dave Campo will decide by this weekend whether Stoerner or Randall Cunningham will be the emergency quarterback. Former South Carolina quarterback Anthony Wright will start while Troy Aikman sits after suffering a concussion last week.
Cooper has an offer to join the XFL, which opens camp Jan. 6, but he said the Bears are encouraging him to stick around Chicago during the off-season.
"I'm excited," Cooper said. "I love options."
NFL teams sometimes sign players to their practice squad late in the year as a sort of tryout to determine whether they want to bring the player to training the next summer.
Stoerner and Cooper completed their eligibility last season.

This article was published on Thursday, December 14, 2000

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