LITTLE ROCK — Starting no longer highlight
FAYETTEVILLE - Arkansas starting quarterback Casey Dick has reasons to remember South Carolina.
A year ago, Dick reclaimed the starting position from freshman Mitch Mustain early in the game against South Carolina. He led Arkansas to a 26-20 victory, highlighted by his 50-yard touchdown pass to Marcus Monk with two seconds left in the first half.
"That was a fun game," Dick said. "It was on ESPN, and that's a big stage. It was a big game for us with lots of big plays with our backs and receivers."
The year before, Dick made his first start for the Razorbacks against South Carolina at Reynolds Razorbacks Stadium.
The Gamecocks won that game 14-10.
The established starter this time, Dick isn't dwelling on past successes or failures as Arkansas prepares for South Carolina's return to Razorback Stadium on Saturday.
"We're just going to have to go out there and play the type of game we know we can play and not worry about stuff like that," Dick said. "We're worried about coming out there and winning the game and keep looking forward."Hurt Hogs improving
Arkansas' walking wounded are doing a little less limping.
Receivers Marcus Monk, Robert Johnson and London Crawford practiced Tuesday.
Crawford wasn't back to full strength, but Johnson seemed to do fine running routes during the segments of practice open to the media.
Monk, who had missed most of the season after having two knee surgeries in the preseason, caught 2 passes for 19 yards and 1 touchdown Saturday against Florida International.
Arkansas offensive coordinator David Lee said Monk isn't back to full health, but his return was needed anyway.
"I think Marcus is much improved," Lee said. "The best he looked all week last week was right in pregame warm-up.
"His leg looked a little tired [Tuesday], to be honest with you, so he's not full speed. But he's certainly an uplift to all our players and coaching staff, and it's fun now to game plan some stuff with him in there."
Quarterback Casey Dick practiced Tuesday after missing the second half against the Golden Panthers with a slight concussion.
"Crawford is limping around a little bit, but everybody else seems to be moving pretty good," Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. "Casey did well. Marcus Monk did well."
Defensive lineman Chris Wade missed practice because he was ill, Nutt said.
Cleveland update
Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said sophomore tight end Ben Cleveland being denied a jersey to stand on the sideline for the game against Florida International resulted from a simple oversight.
Cleveland, the last remaining member of the five heralded Springdale High School recruits of 2006, is sitting out this year because of an injury. He was not given a jersey by equipment manager Tim Cheney before the game because his name wasn't on a list.
"I wish he had came to me, but he didn't," Nutt said. "He got here about when we were on the field. We always put a list up, and his name was left off.
"Usually we get that done on Tuesday, and there has never been a problem. I've talked to Ben, and there's no problem whatsoever."
Nutt refuted a report that Cleveland listened to the game alone.
"He was in the stadium watching the game," Nutt said. "He'll be dressed out this Saturday. It was no big deal whatsoever."
Sources told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that Cleveland listened to the first half in his room and watched the second half from the stands.
In remembrance
Arkansas will observe a moment of silence before its game against South Carolina to honor seven students who lost their lives in a house fire Sunday morning in Ocean Isle Beach, N.C.
"My heart goes out for all the students and families there in that deal," Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. "It's really a sad, sad deal."
Six of the students killed in the fire were South Carolina students who had gone to the resort community to watch the Gamecocks' game against Tennessee. The Gamecocks will wear a sticker on the back of their helmets with "Forever to thee," words from the school's alma mater.
"We'll do whatever we can," South Carolina Coach Steve Spurrier said. "It's certainly not going to bring anybody back, but life goes on. Most students here love football, love all the sports. Football seems to be the sport that you take personally, passionately.
"It's a terrible tragedy that's happened." Characters revealed
Arkansas tailbacks Darren McFadden and Felix Jones will reveal their Halloween costumes today at 12:30 p.m. in the Connections Lounge inside the university's Student Union.
McFadden attracted a great deal of attention for dressing like a clown for Halloween last year.
This year, fans were allowed to vote on what McFadden and Jones would wear.
Fans chose between The Blues Brothers, Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble and Sonny and Cher. More than 4,000 votes were cast.
The costumes will be auctioned off, and all proceeds will go to Boys and Girls Clubs in Little Rock and Tulsa, the tailbacks' respective hometowns.
Sports, Pages 24 on 10/31/2007