College Football
Friday, December 31
Money moves to tackle for team
Associated Press

DALLAS -- Arkansas coach Houston Nutt calls tackle Shannon Money unselfish. Money would rather be called a guard.

The 1998 season was no sooner over than Nutt began fielding questions about replacing four seniors in the offensive line.

When spring practice ended, Money was the starter at left guard and Jeremiah Washburn was at right guard. Curtis Sanders and Bobby Williams, the only returning starter, were supposed to be the tackles. Kenny Sandlin was the center.

The Razorbacks opened the season with Money at left tackle and La'Zerius White at left guard.

"One day they put me out at tackle," Money said. "I said, 'OK, whatever.' I know it sounds kinda weird, but that's basically what happened. One day I was playing guard and the next day I was playing tackle. I had never taken five reps there in my entire life."

"We had to move him to tackle to make our offensive line better," Nutt said.

"That's the only reason I did it," Money said. "I didn't want to, but that's where they needed me. I could have thrown a fit about it, but I didn't."

The evolution of the line continued during the season. After the fourth game, Sandlin replaced Washburn at right guard and Josh Melton took over at center.

Money-White-Melton-Sandlin-Williams will line up against Texas Saturday in the Cotton Bowl.

"Everybody was saying we were going to be the part that lets this team down," Money said. "I think we've done a decent job this year. We gave up the fewest sacks (14) in the SEC and that's saying a lot with four new starters."

Still, he hopes to return to guard.

"It just suits my body type more," said the 6-foot-3 Money. "I'm just really small for my position. It's not like I'm a huge guy. I'm a small 300-pounder.

"As far as pass blocking, I'd much rather be blocking guys 285-290 instead of guys who are 250 and run 4.4," Money said. "that's a lot easier because you've got a guy five foot out from you at tackle and, at guard, you've got a guy right on you.

"All you've got to do is stand up and you're right in front of him," he said. "That other one, you've got to kick and slide. It's a big difference if you've never played it."

"Mentally, he just feels like he's out on the edge against these great people," offensive line coach Mike Markuson said. "I tried to tell him the best defensive ends in our league are usually 6-3, 6-4 guys who are 250-255 and can run. I said, 'And you can run.'

"When he slides out there and locks onto you, it's hard to get around him," Markuson said.

Money said he had given up one sack all year and that came early in the season. "It was pretty ugly sometimes but I got it taken care of I guess," Money said.

"I think he could be a great left tackle," Markuson said. "whether he wants to, I don't think he does. We're going to have to address that as time goes on in the spring."

The immediate problem is Texas, including All-Big 12 tackles Casey Hampton and Shaun Rogers -- mostly the responsibility of the center and guards.

"You have to try to get some matchups teamwise that are going to help you the best," Markuson said. "There are some things they show, some fronts, that aren't really good with particular runs. We have been trying to game-plan our way through it to create matches where we feel like we're going to have the most success blocking them."

For now, that means Money against an end.

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