This sibling rivalry has an entire state of Arkansas’ attention.
The Razorbacks enter Saturday’s game at Mississippi State with plenty of uncertainty at quarterback. Coach Bobby Petrino has said either Casey Dick or his younger brother Nathan could start.
“We certainly feel confident with either one of them,” Petrino said earlier this week.
Casey Dick, a senior, has been the starter all season, and he’s played well at times in Petrino’s offense. He’s thrown for 2,389 yards, only 240 shy of tying the single-season school record.
Two weekends ago, however, he was sacked six times and threw three interceptions in a 34-21 loss at South Carolina. He also left the game with a concussion. Arkansas had last weekend off, giving him more time to recover, but Petrino hasn’t committed to a starter yet.
Nathan Dick, a redshirt freshman, made his college debut in relief of his brother against South Carolina.
the way Nathan played when he came in,” Petrino said. “It wasn’t Casey’s best game of the year against South Carolina. He made some mistakes before getting hit in the head. Also, you want to make sure Mississippi State has to prepare for both of them.”
If Nathan Dick starts, his ascent will be similar to his brother’s back in 2005. That year, Casey Dick had his redshirt pulled and was named the starter with four games remaining in the season. Arkansas needed to win them all to become bowl eligible. Instead the Razorbacks went 2-2 and finished 4-7.
This year Arkansas needs to win its last two games to qualify for the postseason.
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PROMOTING COACHES: With the success No. 3 Florida has had this season, coach Urban Meyer believes both his coordinators could have opportunities to become head coaches next season.
Dan Mullen’s offense leads the conference in scoring (44.1 ppg) and rushing (213.4 ypg) and ranks second in yards (418.6). Charlie Strong’s defense leads the league in scoring (11.3 ppg) and ranks second against the run (102.8 ypg) and in yards (274.9).
is the best job in America. That’s the good thing. The negative is we have a very talented staff and there’s a chance (some could leave). We’ve already had some people sniffing around.”
Meyer declined to reveal if another program has requested interviews with any of his assistants, but there are several openings already and surely more to come.
New Mexico, Syracuse, Tennessee, Utah State and Washington have head coaching vacancies.
“If things happen, then we’ll have the appropriate discussions at that time,” Meyer said.
Meyer also said he always has some potential replacements in mind in case one of assistants takes a position somewhere else.
“I don’t really have a ‘hot list,”’ he said. “I kind of keep my eyes open.”
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COMMITTED: It wasn’t really a recruiting victory, but Mississippi State coach Sylvester Croom received a commitment last week from a player likely to strengthen next year’s team.
Senior middle linebacker Jamar Chaney has decided to return for one more season after breaking his leg in the season opener against Louisiana Tech and missing the rest of 2008. The coaching staff will now apply for a medical hardship redshirt for him.
him coming back, that will definitely be one of our stronger positions.”
The 6-foot-1, 236-pound senior from Fort Pierce, Fla., led the Bulldogs with 89 tackles last season. He’s made 27 starts at Mississippi State. Croom said he’ll likely move Chaney from the middle to outside linebacker, where Croom thinks he’s got the best shot to play in the NFL.
Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, another senior was lost to injury for the rest of this season, but there will be no redshirt for defensive tackle Jessie Bowman.
Bowman had surgery for a torn quadriceps tendon Sunday after hurting himself late in last weekend’s 32-7 loss to No. 1 Alabama.
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STAYING?: If it’s late November, it must be time for the rumors about Steve Spurrier leaving South Carolina to start flying.
Almost from the time Spurrier accepted the job in late 2004, speculation began to surface that South Carolina’s head ball coach wouldn’t stick around long.
The latest rumor was floated early this week on the Internet, citing “NFL sources” saying the 63-year-old Spurrier was ready to bolt – partly because of his worst loss ever, 56-6 to Florida last week, and partly because the university wouldn’t agree to let son, Steve Jr., succeed him as coach.
nother four to five seasons. He also said his son, who took on some playing calling duties from his dad this fall, has to make his own way in the profession.
But shooting down scuttlebutt is commonplace for Spurrier.
Two weeks ago, he dismissed talk he’d be a top target for Tennessee’s opening now that Phillip Fulmer is leaving.
This summer and at the end of last season, it was the notion, he was frustrated with South Carolina’s slow progress, which led Spurrier to reaffirm his commitment to the Gamecocks.
In 2006, Spurrier was linked by some to openings at Miami and Alabama. Both times, Spurrier said he was going nowhere but his South Carolina office.
“We are having a pretty good recruiting class if it all comes together the way it appears to be. So let’s give this thing four or five years and see what happens around here,” he said Tuesday night.
Spurrier has four seasons remaining on contract that pays him more than $1.75 million a year. He would also receive a $1 million annuity if remains South Carolina’s coach through Dec. 31, 2011.
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