FAYETTEVILLE — Mallett falls shy of record
Arkansas junior quarterback Ryan Mallett didn’t set an SEC completion percentage record Saturday night at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, but he came close against Tennessee Tech.
Mallett’s 87.5 completion percentage (21 of 24) was the second-highest in SEC history with a minimum of 20 attempts behind Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin.
During the Volunteers’ 1998 national championship season, Martin completed 23 of 24 passes (95.8 percent) in a 49-14 victory against South Carolina.
Two of Mallett’s incompletions had chances to be caught. De’Anthony Curtis dropped what would have been a touchdown pass on a play over the middle. When Mallett was intercepted by Dustin Dillehay, the ball was first tipped by receiver Joe Adams.
No Stadther
Arkansas junior defensive tackle Zach Stadther, who played in all 25 games the previous two seasons and had 16 starts, was not spotted anywhere on the sideline Saturday night when the Razorbacks opened against Tennessee Tech.
Stadther practiced on the scout-team defense this week, but was listed on thedepth chart.
After the game, Coach Bobby Petrino declined to elaborate on Stadther’s absence.
“Like I’ve said, our policy this year is we talk about the guys that play and the guys that practice,” Petrino said.
Earlier this week, Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino said senior fullback Van Stumon and offensive tackle Anthony Oden - who both had driving while intoxicated arrests in the offseason - were suspended for the opener, but he didn’t mention any other players.
Big foot
It didn’t take nearly as long for Arkansas to get a touchback on a kickoff this season as it did a year ago.
Senior Alex Tejada had three consecutive touchbacks after his first attempt - which also went into the end zone - was fumbled and returned to the Tennessee Tech 3 by Henry Sailes.
Last season, it took nine games for Arkansas to have a kickoff result in a touchback.
It finally happened after 54 kickoffs when Tejada had one downed in the end zone by South Carolina.
For starters
Redshirt freshman Travis Swanson started at center for Arkansas. He had alternated first-team snaps with junior Seth Oxner - who started all 13 games at center last season - throughout fall camp.
Redshirt freshman guard Alvin Bailey and junior defensive tackle Alfred Davis also made their first career starts.
Senior Wade Grayson made his 23rd career start at guard after being listed as a co-starter with junior Grant Cook on the depth chart.
Senior cornerback Isaac Madison was back in the starting lineup after missing last season because of a knee injury.
He started 11 games in 2008.
Sophomore tight end Chris Gragg, who also missed last season because of an ankle injury, started along with senior D.J.
Williams as Arkansas opened with two tight ends.
Four running backs had been listed as potential starters, and sophomore Knile Davis got the call on the game’s first play.
Injured
Senior defensive tackle Patrick Jones and junior linebacker Bret Harris didn’t dress for the Razorbacks and watched from the sideline in jerseys and sweat pants.
Jones has been out with a knee injury. Harris’ injury isn’t known.
Safety first
Arkansas recorded a safety in the second quarter when linebacker Jerry Franklin and cornerback Ramon Broadway tackled Jocqu Crawford in the end zone for a 3-yard loss to give the Razorbacks a 9-3 lead.
It was Arkansas’ first safety since their 33-16 victory over South Carolina last season. The Razorbacks got a safety in that game when a Shotgun snap sailed over Stephen Garcia’s head and he recovered the ball in the end zone.
23 and counting
Arkansas junior Joe Adams has caught at least one pass in all 23 games he’s played for the Razorbacks.
Catching up
Tennessee Tech Coach Watson Brown was on the field a couple of hours before kickoff and walked down to north end zone outside of the Broyles Center to visit with Arkansas offensive coordinator Garrick McGee.
Brown was Oklahoma’s offensive coordinator when McGee played quarterback for the Sooners in 1994, and the two have remained close over the years.
They hugged when they saw each other before Saturday night’s kickoff and then talked for several minutes.
Sports, Pages 32 on 09/05/2010