McFadden’s eligibility in question
Posted on Friday, December 28, 2007
DALLAS - The University of Arkansas will check into a report questioning Razorback junior All-American running back Darren McFadden's eligibility to play against Missouri in Tuesday's Cotton Bowl.
And it appears, though still not confirmed, that Arkansas All-American junior running back Felix Jones of Tulsa Booker T. Washington perhaps leans towards returning to the Razorbacks in 2008 rather than avail himself of the NFL Draft as most have anticipated.
Little Rock TV station KARK posted on its Web site Thursday that a new Cadillac Escalade "reportedly is in McFadden's possession"and reported," according to a source Darren McFadden was present when sports agent Mike Conley negotiated the deal for the Escalade at Superior Cadillac"in Little Rock.
Conley was a nine-time Razorback NCAA long and triple jump champion lettering in track from 1984-1987.
KARK reports its source said the car was purchased and put in the name of Mini Muhammed, McFadden's mother.
Late Tuesday, KARK said it had reached Conley by phone and he denied ever being at the dealership with McFadden or negotiating the deal.
"That is 100 percent a lie. I would challenge anybody to say that I have ever been at a dealership with Darren McFadden," Conley was quoted as saying by KARK's Web site.
KARK also quoted Conley as saying he is not a certified football agent and is not representing McFadden.
Asked about the report, Arkansas sports information director Kevin Trainor said," We are aware of the report and with any compliance issue we must actively work to review the situation."
Meanwhile, Mini Muhammed, contacted by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, disputed the report's accuracy.
"Mike Conley hasn't bought nothing, and it ain't in my name," Muhammed said. "It's his step-mom's, Ella McFadden's. Really the truck is on loan.
"Darren drove that down [to Dallas ] to see how he'd like it, and maybe he'd get one later. They got that all wrong. Darren doesn't have no truck."
McFadden practiced with the Razorbacks Thursday in Dallas, their first bowl practice here after reporting Wednesday since being on Christmas break since practicing the morning of Dec. 20.
Media, unaware of the KARK report at the time, interviewed McFadden about the bowl game during Arkansas' Cotton Bowl Media Day after Thursday's workout.
It's anticipated that Little Rock native McFadden will turn pro after the Cotton Bowl though he maintained Thursday he won't announce a decision until discussing it with his family after the game.
New Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino, who replaces interim coach Reggie Herring in all head coaching facets after the bowl game which Herring coaches, has not met with McFadden. Petrino met with Jones Dec. 12, Petrino's first full day on the job after being announced as Arkansas' coach at a 10: 30 p.m. press conference on Dec. 11.
Jones and Petrino have not talked since, Jones said. They likely will after the bowl game, Jones said.
Jones shrugged off a question about his 2008 future with the response," I'm just ready to play this football game. I know that."
However on a broadcast report Thursday, Jones was quoted in reply to a question if he would or would not declare early for the draft," I want to be a Razorback."
Asked again if he would be returning, Jones didn't confirm it concretely but again said," I want to be a Razorback."
McFadden and Jones each topped 1, 000 yards rushing a second straight season.
McFadden won the Doak Walker Award and was the Heisman runnerup for a second straight season. He set a school record with 1, 725 yards rushing on 304 carries with 15 touchdowns.
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