Petrino’s interest with UA

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said Wednesday evening he had no interest in replacing his former boss Tommy Tuberville at Auburn.

Tuberville stepped down as Auburn’s coach after an afternoon meeting with Auburn Athletic Director Jay Jacobs.

Petrino served as Tuberville’s offensive coordinator in 2002, then had talks with Auburn officials about replacing Tuberville after the 2003 season, Petrino’s first at Louisville.

“I have no interest at all,” Petrino said on The Sports Animals radio show in response to a question from Democrat-Gazette Sports Editor Wally Hall. “First, just let me say I wish Tommy the best. Him and his family were great to me.

“ When I left Auburn I was a better coach, a better father and better husband because of the way Tommy Tuberville treated me. He’ll land on his feet and do well.

“ I have no interest in it. My heart and my mind are committed to the University of Arkansas, and I’m really looking forward to the off-season and spring ball and getting started on next year.”

Petrino has a buyout clause in his contract that calls for a payment of $ 2. 85 million if he leaves for a professional or college job within his first four years at Arkansas.

His contract also contains a non-compete clause “not to accept employment in any coaching capacity with another SEC Western Division school prior to the expiration date of the initial term and any extensions of the term of [his ] employment agreement” with Arkansas. Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said he believes Petrino is happy at Arkansas. “I have no indication that Bobby is anything but happy and excited to be the Arkansas head football coach,” Long said. The Birmingham News reported Wednesday afternoon that “an unofficial Auburn representative reached out to people” close to Petrino before Tuberville’s meetings with Jacobs. According to the paper, “one source close to the Petrino camp said Auburn’s window to hire him all but closed last year when he left the Atlanta Falcons for Arkansas.”

Waiting game Is Arkansas quarterback Nathan Dick transferring or not ?

Apparently that question hasn’t been resolved.

Mary Ellen Dick, the quarterback’s mother, said Wednesday night no decision had been made but added “We’ll just have to wait and see.”

Dick started the final two games of the year in relief of his brother, Casey, but he opened the season third on the depth chart and would apparently enter at least a threeway battle for the job in the spring with transfer Ryan Mallett and Tyler Wilson. Redshirt freshman Jim Youngblood also could be in the mix.

Nathan Dick did not play until Week 11, but he completed 36 of 62 passes for 454 yards with 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions in the final two games. He did not return after halftime of Arkansas’ 31-30 victory over LSU last Friday after injuring his thumb.

Nathan Dick finished with a 134. 41 efficiency rating, which was higher than Casey’s 122. 44.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said he asked Nathan Dick if he was thinking about transferring when rumors cropped up about it earlier in the season.

“Nathan came in, probably about three weeks before he started to play, because there had been that rumor out there,” Petrino said on The Sports Animals radio show. “I just brought him in and talked to him, and he said there was absolutely no truth to it, that he was real happy at the University of Arkansas.

“ Certainly I think when Tyler went in in front of him in the Texas game that you could see where he thought, ‘Maybe I need to leave,’ but he stood in there and kept working hard, kept working on the game plan. He showed a different demeanor, I thought, after that.” Personnel update

Arkansas tailback Michael Smith has undergone surgery for a torn hamstring, and receiver Lucas Miller will soon have surgery for a torn knee ligament. Smith was hurt in the Hogs’ second-tolast game at Mississippi State, while Miller went down last week against LSU.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said Smith sought a second opinion on his injury.

“They wanted to have surgery, and he’s done that,” Petrino said. “He’s doing well. It’ll be a situation where he probably won’t get a lot of work in spring ball but be 100 percent by the fall.”

Petrino also said safety Elton Ford, who had 42 tackles in eight starts before sustaining a neck injury, “has a good opportunity to return and play.”

Quarterback Nathan Dick, who started the final two games, is recovering from a thumb injury he sustained just before halftime against LSU.

“He’s getting treatment and he had good movement in it,” Petrino said.

Receiver Marques Wade, who sustained a torn knee ligament in his first game back from a twogame suspension to open the season, continues his rehabilitation regimen.

“We’ll probably know more in January whether he’ll be ready for spring ball,” Petrino said.

Medical help Bobby Petrino said his staff will apply for medical hardships for freshman quarterback Tyler Wilson, freshman linebacker Jelani Smith and junior cornerback Jerell Norton. Smith sustained a severe hand injury in Week 2 after starting against Western Illinois and Louisiana-Monroe. Smith finished the season with 8 tackles, 1 breakup and 1 forced fumble. Wilson played in a relief role against Alabama and Texas, completing 11 of 22 passes for 69 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. He contracted mononucleosis midway through the season and did not practice again. Norton had hamstring and hernia surgeries during the spring and fall camp, respectively, then re-injured the hamstring during the season.

Sack kings Arkansas is likely to wind up ranked last in the nation by allowing 3. 83 sacks per game this season. The Razorbacks gave up six sacks in Friday’s 31-30 victory over LSU to bring their total to 46 on the year. Hawaii, which ranks two spots above the Razorbacks by allowing 3. 67 sacks per game, has a 13 th game remaining against Cincinnati on Saturday in Aloha Stadium. The Warriors have allowed 44 sacks through 12 games. “I know we had way more sacks than we’ll ever have again,” Petrino said. “But a lot of that’s not just on the offensive line.”