COTTON BOWL NOTES: McFadden Still Practicing

DALLAS - The Darren McFadden watch continued on Sunday.

McFadden continued to practice with Arkansas as university officials continued to investigate his eligibility for the Cotton Bowl. Nothing about McFadden's status or the constant questions surrounding his reported involvement in the purchase of a Cadillac Escalade appeared to have changed.

Arkansas interim coach Reggie Herring addressed the matter at a morning press conference he shared with Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel. The Tigers and Razorbacks kickoff at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, but much of the week's storylines have focused on McFadden's availability for the game, rather than the game itself.

With each day that passes without a conclusion, Herring said the All-American tailback appears guilty, even if he's not.

Television reports Thursday linked McFadden to an agent and the luxury sport utility vehicle. Portions of that report - first aired by KARK - have since been deemed inaccurate, but how McFadden is linked to the Escalade is still being looked at.

McFadden, a 6-2, 212-pound All-American from Little Rock, will likely forgo his senior season for the NFL and could make an official announcement on his status soon after the bowl. McFadden would be ineligible to play if he had signed with an agent or received compensation - monetary or otherwise - based on his future earning potential.

"We have to sort it out," Herring said. "The only sad thing is, when you sort it out it makes it look like there is something there. That's the process we have to go through. That's probably not fair [to McFadden] from that stance."

Missouri has continued to prepare as if the Heisman Trophy runner-up is playing. Much of the Tigers' defensive game plan centers on slowing McFadden, who has run for a school-record 1,725 yards.

"We expect to see the whole group there," defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus said. "It's going to great challenge for us. Offensively, they do a lot of things, and we expect (McFadden) to play."

McFadden told reporters Saturday he had done nothing wrong. He had yet to meet with school officials as part of the review process, but said he planned on participating.

Asked if he could "definitively" declare McFadden as available for the game, Herring balked.

"You had to screw it up by saying ‘definitively,'" Herring said. "I'll say this: We're expecting Darren to play, but at the same time, there is a process... Darren McFadden is a great, great, great person. He would never do anything to hurt the University of Arkansas or his teammates. You have to first understand that."

Pinkeye Problem
Should you run into Herring over the next few days, don't expect a handshake.

Herring joked he's afraid he might be a carrier of the pinkeye virus that has plagued the team this year. Defensive linemen Marcus Harrison and Fred Bledsoe have missed practice time this week and are among the estimated 10 players who have dealt with the condition since the LSU game earlier this month.

"Don't shake my hand or you'll get it tomorrow," Herring said, drawing a laugh from the large media contingent. "... We now have it under control as long as Darren [McFadden] or Casey Dick or one our cornerbacks doesn't get it the day of the game. Everybody is practicing."

Coming Or Going?
Maybe tailback Felix Jones is returning for his senior season at Arkansas. Maybe he isn't.

Jones is, as they say, taking it one day at a time. He is as evasive about his status as he is for defenders to pin down on the field.

"I'm a Razorback now," Jones said. "I'll be a Razorback until I say different."

Arkansas could certainly benefit from Jones' return. He enters the Cotton Bowl averaging 9.1 yards per carry. Jones has run for at least 1,000 yards in consecutive seasons and is an all-American kick return specialist.

Taking Out The Trash
Missouri Coach Gary Pinkel and Herring exchanged pleasantries in the Cotton Bowl hospitality room at the media hotel prior to a Sunday press conference. They casually chatted for approximately 10 minutes in what appeared to be a friendly conversation.

The good vibes didn't dissipate once the microphones and cameras clicked on. Both Pinkel and Herring went out of their way to be respectful in the wake of what could be construed as trash talk by Razorbacks and Tigers players.

Herring said he had admonished players for not being careful when talking about the Tigers.

"They got a tongue lashing," Herring said. "They got put in the corner with a dunce cap on. One or two of our players does not speak for this football team."

Pinkel was also asked to address the issue of trash talking. He said he'd handled the matter "internally" and figured all would be forgotten by kickoff Tuesday.

"Once you get to game time, I don't think those things matter," Pinkel said. "I don't think it really has any influence at all."