Finishing up the Game Day tab today and heading out of town for SEC Basketball Media Day. The Ole Miss group, Andy Kennedy and Renee Ladner and players Chris Warren and Kayla Melson, are in the first grouping which begins at 8 a.m. at the Wynfrey. That's tomorrow, a diversion from football.

Today the world, at at least certain area codes in our state and the northwestern neighbor, continue to guage the recovery of Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett, which appears to be going well.

I think most folks on both sides expected the strong-armed Mallett to be available this Saturday when Ole Miss visits the Razorbacks, and it looks like he will be ready.

Pass rush is a big deal against most quarterbacks but especially Mallett, a pure pocket passer who is uncomfortable when he has to move his feet.

The key to pass rush is not new schemes or showing something that hasn't been seen on film, defensive coordinator Tyrone Nix said yesterday. The key is beating blocks at the line of scrimmage and finding consistency in base sets. The Rebels were able to do that last year when Mallett was was 12-for-34 passing in Oxford in a 30-17 Ole Miss win.

A few links of interest ...

From the blogs, this Arkansas fan suggests that for a second straight season bad timing - the Hogs coming off a difficult road loss - and karma - something about a secret Star Trek-type power that Houston Nutt holds against his former team - could add up to bad news for the Razorbacks. ...

From Fayetteville, eye doctors who support the Razorbacks are offering free exams to SEC officiails in the wake of disputed calls that went against Arkansas at Auburn last week in the historic 65-43 game won by the Tigers. ...

From Miami, the Florida Gators are looking for answers for their struggling offense. ...

From New Orleans, LSU's win over McNeese was ugly, but its play selection was very vanilla. ...