Razorbacks report

Miles-Nash may play limited role

NWA Media/JASON IVESTER -- Arkansas kicker Zach Hocker (left) and defensive end Colton Miles-Nash look on after a missed field goal during the third quarter against Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.
NWA Media/JASON IVESTER -- Arkansas kicker Zach Hocker (left) and defensive end Colton Miles-Nash look on after a missed field goal during the third quarter against Texas A&M on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.

— Arkansas defensive lineman Colton Miles-Nash might be available for special teams work for Friday’s game against BCS No. 7 LSU at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

Miles-Nash has been hampered by a knee injury, and Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said he isn’t expected to be able to play defense Friday.

“Hopefully he can do all of his special teams duties,” Smith said. “He wants to play in the worst way, so we’re going to make every effort to make sure he does that.”

LSU has three players who might return from injury against Arkansas. Tailback Alfred Blue (knee) has been out since the third week of the season, guard Josh Williford (concussion) has been out since the Tigers’ loss at Florida, and linebacker Kwon Alexander (ankle) has been out since Florida. All are listed as doubtful.

Familiar foes

Arkansas’ series with LSU is its ninth-most played among all rivals and it dates to 1901, trailing only Texas (1894), Oklahoma (1899) and Tulsa (1899) among FBS opponents.

While LSU leads the series 35-20-2, there have been three distinct periods between the border rivals. Arkansas held a 12-11-1 advantage as the teams played regularly through the 1929 season.

LSU then embarked on a period of dominance, including victories in seven consecutive seasons (1930-36), while compiling a 12-0-1 record over a 62-year period ending with a 14-7 victory in the 1966 Cotton Bowl.

The schools then went 26 seasons without playing until Arkansas joined the SEC in 1992 and thumped the Tigers 30-6 in Fayetteville, the last time they played on the UA campus until this Friday. LSU holds a 12-8 edge since the 1992 season, and a 10-6 advantage since the 175-pound Golden Boot trophy was created for the 1996 game.

Alone in second

LSU Coach Les Miles needed just eight seasons to reach second place on the school’s all-time victories list for coaches.

The Tigers improved to 84-20 under Miles in last week’s 41-35 victory over Ole Miss, pushing Miles past Bernie Moore (83-39-6) into second place behind Charlie McClendon (137-59-7).

LSU has at least two more shots to notch its 10th victory for the sixth time in Miles’ stint.

‘A’ Walk

Former Razorbacks golfer Stacy Lewis, the reigning LPGA player of the year, will participate in the “A” Walk of Honor prior to Friday’s game against LSU.

Lewis, who has four LPGA Tour victories this season, became the first American to win the circuit’s player of the year award since 1994. Last summer Lewis, a four-time All-SEC player, became the first female student to make a gift of $100,000 or more to the UA athletic department, earning a spot in the Razorback Foundation’s Century Circle.

Interim rules

Interim coaches in the Arkansas-LSU game have an unblemished record since the Razorbacks joined the SEC in 1992, a stat that will be tested by John L. Smith on Friday.

Arkansas, behind interim Coach Joe Kines, scored a 30-6 victory in Fayetteville in 1992. The Tigers hammered a 7-3 Arkansas team 35-10 on Nov. 26, 1999, in Baton Rouge with one-game interim Coach Hal Hunter at the helm.

Up Next

LSU AT ARKANSAS

WHEN 1:30 p.m. Friday WHERE Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville TV CBS

Sports, Pages 33 on 11/22/2012

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