Thursday football practice report

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas football team returned to the practice field Thursday afternoon for a two-hour workout. Following Thursday’s practice, split between Walker Pavilion and the practice fields, head coach Bobby Petrino spoke with the media.

On Thursday’s practice:

"We did a lot with special teams, punt, punt block, kick-off return. The last four kick-off coverages it started to rain so we barely got wet. Overall, we had a pretty good practice. We have over 20 guys on our team from the state of Texas. We are excited to play Texas A&M in Cowboy Stadium."

On the Texas A&M game:

"Texas A&M has done a nice job in their first three games. We have to play well. We have to execute and we have to play a team game. We have to put all three phases of the game together this weekend. That’s the biggest thing we have to do."

On Friday’s schedule:

"We leave around 12 p.m. Friday and get to the stadium around 2:30 p.m. for the walk through. I usually like to do a walk through here but I think it’s important for the guys to be in the stadium. Because it’s that kind of stadium, that kind of atmosphere, I think it’s important to do our walk through there."

On DeMarcus Love’s status:

"DeMarcus is doing good. He needed to take Tuesday off to let the swelling in his knee go down. He played the second half of the Alabama game and did a really nice job but his knee did swell up a little bit on him. Yesterday he practiced really well and he felt better today. He spent a lot of time this week getting better. He’s excited to go home to Dallas and play well."

On Ryan Mallett’s week of practice:

"He responded very well. He’s done a great job of leading. He’s very focused. He has worked really hard on his foot work. He responded how you would want a guy to respond. He responded like a great competitor would respond."