Hogs’ Long says no worries about conflict of interest
Petrino could become issue
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas athletic director Jeff Long is no longer the chairman of the College Football Playoff selection committee.
That doesn’t mean he won’t face difficult choices in his final two seasons as a member of the committee.
With No. 4 Louisville (3-0) moving up the rankings after its 63-20 win over Florida State last week, that makes it possible Long could sit in on committee discussions about including the Cardinals — led by former Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino — in the playoff.
Long said Wednesday before a meeting of the Northwest Arkansas Touchdown Club that he won’t recuse himself from such talks, despite the fact he fired Petrino in 2012. The coach wrecked his motorcycle, leading to revelations of a mistress who worked in the athletic department.
“No, there’s no reason for me to recuse myself,” Long said. “I think Louisville is a fine football program, and they demonstrated that after three weeks of the season. We’ve got six more weeks before we rank a group of teams.”
Members of the committee recuse themselves from the selection process when their own schools or conflicts of interest arise.
When asked if he was concerned about the perception of a lack of objectivity concerning Petrino, Long said, “No.”
Petrino was 34-17 in four seasons at Arkansas, leading the school to the Sugar Bowl following the 2010 season and a No. 5 final AP ranking the following season. He is 20-9 in his third season at Louisville, his second coaching stint at the school.
DEVELOPMENTS
Gator WR likely for Vols: Florida is expected to have receiver Antonio Callaway back against Tennessee on Saturday.
Coach Jim McElwain says Callaway “got around pretty good” in practice Wednesday and upgraded his injury status, saying “take him off the doubtful list and put him questionable to probable as we go.”
Callaway has 13 receptions for a team-leading 201 yards and two touchdowns in two games. He suffered a deep thigh bruise against Kentucky on Sept. 10 and didn’t play in last week’s 32-0 victory against North Texas. The passing game sputtered without Callaway, gaining 216 yards. His return would be big for Florida, which will be without quarterback Luke Del Rio against the Volunteers.
McElwain said “he’s got to be running 100 percent for us to put him out there.”
MSU CB still confident: the criticism. He sees the venom on Twitter.
Mississippi State’s starting cornerback has an answer for those doubters.
“I just want them to do one favor. Name one corner that has not been scored on or caught on,” Graham said. “Everybody gets caught on. But it’s how strong you are to get back up.”
LSU targeted Graham early and often of Saturday’s 23-20 Tiger win. On LSU’s 64-yard opening scoring drive, the Tigers gained 52 yards against Graham, including a touchdown.
“I figured they were going to come at me from the last game,” Graham said. “This is my first game starting in a big-time game.”
This week the stakes are lower against UMass on Saturday (2:30 p.m. ESPN3). It’s another road game, though, as the Bulldogs play in Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots.
Graham will have some momentum heading into the matchup after he rebounded from the slow start in Baton Rouge.
“I’m very, very confident in myself going forward because I feel like I’ve experienced a lot more,” Graham said. “I’ve learned a lot more.”
Following the first score, LSU went back to what worked. Tiger quarterback Danny Etling targeted D.J. Chark in the end zone. The ball fell to the ground with Graham in coverage, but the corner offered little resistance as it was ruled a drop.
From that point on, though, Graham played well. He even batted away a pass in the end zone later in the game.
“I know he could’ve done some things fundamentally and technically a little better,” defensive coordinator Peter Sirmon said. “But it was good to see him continue to battle. I think that’s where you’re proud of the guys.”
UK QB hurt: Kentucky coach Mark Stoops says sophomore quarterback Drew Barker will miss “significant” time with a back injury that won’t require surgery.
Barker started the Wildcats’ first three games but was injured on their first series in last week’s contest against New Mexico State. He did not return. Stoops said after Wednesday’s practice that Barker saw a specialist who recommended rest for “two, three, four weeks” instead of surgery.
Barker’s injury means junior Stephen Johnson will make his first start for the Wildcats (1-2, 0-1) in Saturday night’s SEC game against South Carolina (21, 1-1). Johnson shook off a rocky start to complete 17 of 22 passes for a careerhigh 310 yards and three touchdowns to help the Wildcats earn a wild 6242 victory last week.