FAYETTEVILLE - It looks as if South Carolina is prepared to start All-America defensive end Jadeveon Clowney on Saturday against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.
Clowney sat out last week’s 35-28 victory over Kentucky with a sore muscle near his rib cage.
He got in some practice time Wednesday and Thursday, prompting defensive coordinator Lorenzo Ward to say that if Clowney is healthy he will start.
“He has practiced a bit,” Coach Steve Spurrier said on his radio show Thursday night. “We’re still listing him as questionable, but there’s a good chance he could play some out there.”
Weather report
The chance for rain during the Razorbacks’ homecoming game Saturday has inched up during the week and it stands at about 40 percent, according to weather.com.
The Razorbacks lost 45-33 to Texas A&M in sporadic rain two weeks ago.
Defensive scores
Arkansas has allowed defensive scores in each of its past two games and in each of its past three games against South Carolina.
All of the Gamecocks’ defensive scores came courtesy of former quarterback Tyler Wilson.
Last season, DJ Swearinger returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown. In the 2011 match up of top-10 teams, Devin Taylor intercepted an ill-advised backward flip from Wilson and brought it back 48 yards for a score.
In mop-up duty during a 41-20 Razorbacks’ blowout in Columbia, S.C. in 2010, Wilson coughed up a ball that was returned for a 1-yard touchdown by Byron McKnight.
Fast starts
The Razorbacks have outscored opponents 52-24 in the first quarter. Arkansas has scored at least one first quarter touchdown in all six games. The Hogs scored first-drive touchdowns against Louisiana-Lafayette, Samford and Texas A&M.
Slow finishes
Arkansas has been outscored 27-21 in the fourth quarter, including 27-0during its three-game losing streak. The Hogs opened the season by outscoring Louisiana-Lafayette, Samford and Southern Miss 21-0 in the final period.
Streaking
South Carolina’s streak of being ranked 54 consecutive weeks is tied with Stanford for the fifth-longest span in the country. Only Alabama (88), LSU (72), Oregon (68) and Oklahoma (56) own longer stretches.
Philon advances
Freshman defensive tackle Darius Philon continues to play well and earn additional snaps behind senior Byran Jones.
“They’re starting to equalize as we go through the season,” defensive line coach Charlie Partridge said. “We’ll see where that battle rages on.”
Jones and Philon have 14 tackles each. Philon also two sacks, both against Rutgers.
How much Philon plays against South Carolina, Partridge said, will be determined on personnel groups based on down and distance.
“I see Philon getting more reps is the bottom line,” Partridge said.
Bell honored
Former Arkansas defensive lineman Geno Bell will be the A Club honorary captain Saturday.
Bell, a native of Columbia, S.C., posted 185 career tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 11 sacks to go along with 4 pass break-ups and 3 fumble recoveries. He is tied for No. 17 at Arkansas in tackles for loss and sacks.
Bell, a teammate of current Arkansas tight ends coach Barry Lunney, Jr., had his best season in 1995 when his 89 tackles and 10 tackles for loss helped the Razorbacks win the SEC Western Division title.
Lunndy was the starting quarterback on that 1995 team.
In the NFL, Bell played for the Jets and Browns. He is now the senior director of transportation at Wal-Mart.
Connections
Nebraska Athletic Director Sean Eichorst introduced Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema to South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier a few years ago. Eichorst is a friend of both.
“I just love his personality,” Bielema said.
“I love what he brings to the game - his demeanor, his charisma or whatever you want to call it. I just like the way he carries himself, and I like the way his team plays. So, it’s definitely a lot of respect.”
Spurrier ranks 10th among active coaches in winning percentage (.729, 212-78) while Bielema is 11th (.724, 71-27).
Spurrier said he has known Bielema through “summer events and this, that and the other” and recalled playfully chanting “no no-huddle” to Bielema after their appearance at the ESPN “Car Wash” after hearing Bielema’s thoughts about that offensive style at SEC media days.
“I said the other day you try to win 24-21 or try to win 55-50,” Spurrier said. “I think Bret and I somewhat agree that maybe 31-21 or 24-17 or something like that would be fine.
“Some coaches just want to see how many points they can score, which is wonderful if you can do that and win.”
Sports, Pages 22 on 10/11/2013