Razorbacks report

Bielema supports Swanson

Arkansas center Travis Swanson sets up to block during a Saturday, Aug. 31, 2013 game against Louisiana-Lafayette at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema discounted the comments made earlier this week by Florida defensive tackle Damien Jacobs and stood behind his center Travis Swanson during his news conference Thursday.

In response to comments Jacobs made Tuesday that Arkansas’ offensive line - and particularly Swanson - played “a little dirty,” Bielema said he has not had a single complaint about the Razorbacks’ style of play through five games.

“I’m not going to apologize for the way we play,” Bielema said.

“I definitely encourage aggressive, tough behavior.

Nothing cheap. If anybody does anything, we’ll handle that internally. I mean, they wouldn’t play. They wouldn’t start.

“I like the way Travis plays. He’s an intense player. All of our guys, hopefully, can play to that level. And I’m sure it’ll be an interesting matchup.”

Swanson, a two-time team captain who is on the Rimington Trophy watch list, is likely to draw multiple blocking assignments against Jacobs in Saturday’s game in Gainesville, Fla.

Swanson has not commented publicly on Jacobs’ remarks, which started circulating late Tuesday afternoon, about six hours after the 9 a.m. deadline for media members to request Arkansas offensive players they would like to interview.

Tuesday is the only day offensive players can be interviewed, if requested and approved, in the week leading up to a game.

Swanson was not requested.

Players are not available again until after the game.

Rainy day?

Tropical Storm Karen, which is projected to be upgraded to a hurricane today, is expected to make landfall much farther north and west than Gainesville, Fla., this weekend, but there is a chance it could alter course.

Coach Bret Bielema was asked if the team would have to pack all its wet weather gear for Saturday’s 6 p.m. game at Florida.

“The equipment truck leaves tonight and they’re going to be fully packed with that stuff,” he said.

“That’s obviously my first rodeo with that whole[hurricane] conversation.

“I thought the conference was really good.

They sent out some stuff as early as Sunday about the possibility, and obviously it has gone full circle.

Tropical Storm Karen is up and alive and we’ll see where it goes.”O-line games

Bret Bielema said he expected true freshmen Denver Kirkland and Dan Skipper to make their second consecutive starts at offensive guard Saturday.

The decision at right tackle between Brey Cook and Grady Ollison isn’t as clear.

Offensive line coach Sam Pittman said he wasn’t sure if Ollison and Cook would share reps, as they did against Texas A&M.

“We’ll have to wait and see how they practice this week,” Pittman said. “We’re not into musical chairs.

We’re into playing the best players we have. If they’re close we’ll play them both. If they’re not, we won’t.” Only one

Arkansas is the only team in the country whose schedule contained four consecutive games against teams ranked in the top 10 of The Associated Press preseason poll. Following last week’s 45-33 loss to preseason AP No. 7 Texas A&M, the Razorbacks travel Saturday to Florida (No.

10), host South Carolina (6) and travel to defending BCS national champion Alabama (1).

Gator bites

Florida dominated Kentucky in time of possession last week by a margin of 38:09 to 21:51, and that actually lowered the Gators’ game average.

Florida entered that game averaging an NCAA-best 39:15 in time of possession, and the Gators still lead the country at 38:58.

Sports, Pages 20 on 10/04/2013