FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas Coach John L. Smith, eager to get his 1 p.m. news conference rolling a little early, borrowed a media member’s cell phone to encourage a missing writer to get to the Miller Room at the Broyles Athletic Center on Monday.
Smith came into the room about 12:45 and asked if everyone was ready to start. When informed there was at least one media member not yet present, Smith eagerly took the cell phone offered by Bob Holt of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to speak to Nate Allen.
“We’re starting now.
... Where are you? Dollar waiting on a dime, sweetheart. Get here!” Smith said.
Allen walked in moments later and took the call in stride, saying, “I thought you were running on last Thursday’s time,” in reference to Smith arriving more than 30 minutes after his scheduled approximate interview time Thursday.
“Turnabout is fair play, I guess, huh?” Smith said.
As the news conference was wrapping up, Smith asked, “Anything else? We’ll start on time next week, gentlemen.”
Wyrick hired
Chris Wyrick was announced Monday as the new executive director of the Razorback Foundation, the fundraising arm of Arkansas’ department of athletics.
Wyrick will be the fifth person to hold the position, and the first non-Arkansas football player, following Wilson Matthews, Terry Don Phillips, Chuck Dicus and Harold Horton.
A member of the Arkansas athletic department since 2008, Wyrick headed the Razorback Seat Value Plan for the Razorback Foundation in 2010, a campaign that helped result in 2,600 new foundation members and an additional $6.5 million in support.
Wyrick replaces Horton, who retired July 31 after nearly four years in the position.
Personnel update
Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said receiver Cobi Hamilton was “fine” and would be practicing Monday.
Hamilton came out in the first quarter of Saturday’s season opener after having his helmet snapped back at the end of a 9-yard completion by a big hit by a defensive lineman.
Offensive tackle Jason Peacock, who served a one-game suspension, is expected to be back for the Louisiana-Monroe game, Smith said.
Fumble-itis
Arkansas’ three lost fumbles in its 49-24 victory over Jacksonville State were the most since the Razorbacks lost four in a 38-7 loss to Missouri in the 2008 Cotton Bowl.
“Hopefully we can get our scout team to be more avid about trying to strip, trying to do all those things,” Coach John L. Smith said.
“Had you not turned the ball over there, who’s to say what our offense ... could have put up?”
The Hogs are tied for No. 80 nationally with a minus-2 turnover margin.
Smith wins
Defensive end Chris Smith shared the SEC’s defensive lineman of the week award as announced by the conference Monday.
Smith, from Mount Ulla., N.C., tied his career high with six tackles in No. 10 Arkansas’ 49-24 victory over Jacksonville State. Smith also had a 12-yard sack, and a quarterback hurry.
“Chris can play even better than he did, but he made a lot of plays,” Coach John L. Smith said. “When Chris knows what they’re going to do, like the fourth down play, he shouldn’t be blocked. He should be able to beat that guy and get around the corner.”
Smith shared the SEC honor with Ole Miss end C.J. Johnson, who also had six tackles and a sack in the Rebels’ 49-27 victory over Central Arkansas.
Mr. Efficient
Tyler Wilson’s efficiency rating of 221.21 ranks third nationally behind Andrew Manley of New Mexico State (248.76) and Kawaun Jakes of Western Kentucky (235.06).
Wilson completed 19 of 27 passes (70.4 percent) for 367 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Knile on Davis
Tailback Knile Davis said he was a little sore, but he felt good after rushing for 70 yards on 18 carries in his first game since the 2011 Sugar Bowl.
“I think I missed two holes out of those 18 carries,” Davis said. “The rest of them were good downhill runs. But, of course, I can get a lot better.”
When asked to evaluate his performance after watching the tape, Davis replied, “My speed was there. My cuts were there.
My vision was there. Similar to the past.”
Need for speed
Cameron Bryan, the one time backup kicker for the Razorbacks, is a regular on kickoff coverage and punt coverage.
Bryan ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash in winter testing, tying for seventh on the team with defensive end Chris Smith.
“We’ve told him, ‘You’re no longer a kicker, you’re a coverage guy,’ ” Coach John L. Smith said. “He’s done a good job. He has a way of winding through kind of like water, finding the easiest way down there. He’s fast.”
Said tailback Knile Davis, “Summer workouts, he’s always up there with the skills guys, myself, Wingo, Dennis Johnson. ... I think he’s on the board for pro agility. He’s like top five, so he’s a real good athlete.”
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/04/2012