The "OFFICIAL" thread for injuries, suspensions, etc., since spring...

RJ Esq · Aug 28, 2007

Heartbreaking injury on the practice field
Monday August 27, 2007
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</TD></TR><TR><TD class=photocomment>Antavious Coates (Photo: UGASports.com)</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Antavious Coates was exactly what you wanted as a safety. He had the prototypical NFL safety build. He had good football skills. He had a love for contact. He had the kind of work ethic you want. Unfortunately, what he didn’t have was the knees to play college football. Coates had already missed his first two seasons at Georgia due to knee injuries, and for the fourth time in his football career, he has torn an ACL.
UGASports.com reported this afternoon that the injury occurred on Saturday and has all but ended his career. It was one of those injuries that didn’t seem that severe at the time, but an MRI on Sunday confirmed the tear. Georgia will apply for a medical disqualification for Coates.
Because Coates wants to get into coaching, he will serve as a student coach this year (similar to a graduate assistant). “He’s going to get a really great head start in that area,” said Coach Richt. “He’s still an inspiration to this football team.”
Richt summed up the most unfortunate part of the story for someone who was entering his third year at Georgia with a dream of playing for the Bulldogs. “He never got to play Between the Hedges. That really hurt.”

RJ Esq · Aug 28, 2007

Spartans lose backup tailback for season

Jeff Metcalfe
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 27, 2007 11:24 AM
San Jose State backup tailback Pat Perry suffered a season-ending knee injury during practice Sunday.

That hurt the Spartans depth-wide behind starter Yonus Davis going into their season opener Saturday at Arizona State.

"We've got a bunch of guys that can play at that position, but I feel bad for Pat," San Jose State coach Dick Tomey said Monday. "Rising above adversity is part of being a team. Our team accepted that from day one." <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=10 align=left border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="COLOR: gray" vAlign=top align=middle>
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Perry rushed for 454 yards last year and had a team-high 7 rushing touchdowns. Davis led San Jose with 1,007 yards rushing and 6 touchdowns.

Cameron Island is among the players who could fill in for Perry.

RJ Esq · Aug 28, 2007

Bulldogs' QB can't take any chances

With backup suspended, injury no option vs. LSU

By Ron Higgins (Contact)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The way Mississippi State starting quarterback Michael Henig started and ended last season -- cracking the same collarbone -- Bulldogs' coach Sylvester Croom figured he needed to recruit an insurance policy at quarterback.
Which is why sight unseen he signed California junior college transfer Josh Riddell. Who better to get than a guy from the west coast than to run State's West Coast offense?

Photo courtesy of Mississippi State
It's crucial for all football teams to keep their starting quarterback healthy, but Mississippi State will be taking extra care with Michael Henig on Thursday.

Michael Henig

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After spring practice and through part of the preseason, Riddell did enough to give Croom a comfort zone that he could manage the offense if Henig got hurt.
But now, because of Riddell's recent indefinite suspension from the team after being arrested for a DUI, Croom is back to walking the tightrope for Thursday's season opener against No. 2 LSU in Starkville.
Short of wearing a whistle and blowing plays dead himself, there's not much Croom can do to keep Henig healthy.
"You always worry about your quarterback, but I don't think of him as more fragile than any other quarterback," Croom said. "He's got to be smarter about how he takes licks and how he goes down. He's got to protect himself. He's got to get rid of the ball, throwing it away and throwing it out of bounds."
Croom said he also had offensive coordinator Woody McCorvey enlist the aid of the campus ROTC to teach Henig how to fall and absorb blows.
Henig said he realized in the offseason that he didn't need to physically challenge as many tacklers and pass rushers, admitting he needed to "slide a bit more and play each game for the next game."
In his case, especially against LSU and a defense featuring a load of potential NFL draft choices, hitting the deck would be a wise move.
And in light of Riddell's suspension, Henig steering away from past macho tendencies on the field would calm Croom, who's still upset about Riddell's situation.
"The guy we brought in here acted selfishly and made a mistake that put our team in this situation," Croom said. "He's got to suffer the consequences.
"But what we try and tell our players all the time is that when you make these mistakes, it hurts more people than just you. It hurts the entire football team. It hurts the entire university."
Croom said he'll make a decision on Riddell's status after the LSU game, based on how he conducts himself on and off the field. In the meantime, true freshman Wesley Carroll and sophomore redshirt Zack Harrington are the only quarterbacks left.
Carroll is a 6-2, 190-pound signee from Parkland (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas. He was a first-team Class 5A all-state selection last year and chose State over North Carolina State, Duke and Central Florida.
Harrington, from Hattiesburg (Miss.) Oak Grove, signed in 2005 with Southeastern Louisiana, but left after Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans/South Mississippi area. He enrolled at Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, but didn't play football before transferring to Mississippi State last fall, where he played in the season finale against Ole Miss.
Neither of State's backups have raised their arm to throw a pass in a college game. That's not a scenario any head coach wants facing a defense that has been ranked at or near the top of Division 1-A the last couple of years.
"LSU was the best team we faced last year. It wasn't even close," Croom said. "It's going to be a great challenge, but with every great challenge comes a great opportunity.
"I wish I didn't have to rely on a freshman quarterback as my backup, but if I had to rely on one, this is the one I want. I have confidence in Wes. He's a poised young man.
"He'll step up to the plate if we have to go that route. That's the way we've got to go into this game. We have no other choice."
The hope, though, is to keep Henig healthy, especially since Croom has been encouraged in the preseason by the play of his receivers.
"We've got a few more playmakers at wide receiver," Croom said. "But we still need to be more disciplined on assignments, especially on offense where we still usually have one guy breaking down."

RJ Esq · Aug 28, 2007

Brown out for UNT
By John Shinn
The Norman Transcript

Oklahoma’s depth at running back will be tested in Saturday’s season opener Saturday against North Texas.

OU coach Bob Stoops said Monday sophomore running back Chris Brown has been suspended for the game.

Stoops declined further comment.

“That’s internal,” he said.

Brown rushed for 343 yards and four touchdowns last season as a freshman.

He was one of at least three running backs expected to get the brunt of the carries this season.

But senior Allen Patrick is still recovering from a preseason ankle injury. Patrick did not practice with the team Monday.

Stoops said there’s no cut-off day for deciding if Patrick will play.

“If we think he’s close enough to full speed and not going to re-injure it and make a difference for us, then he’ll play,” Stoops said.

With Brown out and Patrick still mending, redshirt freshman DeMarco Murray is the likely starter against North Texas. It also means senior Jacob Gutierrez and redshirt freshman Mossis Madu could get heavy playing time in the season opener.

RJ Esq · Aug 28, 2007

As this thread is for injuries and suspensions that effect playing rosters, and already takes 5 days to read, please limit posts to just those topics.

Thank you.

signalcaller · Aug 28, 2007

Just to confirm Jamall Coope HAS been kicked off the team for good. No way he is coming back. Its his 3rd time being suspended in the past year.
Heres a good article about it
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/sports/index.php?ntid=207386&ntpid=2

E.T.G. · Aug 28, 2007

Safety Emanuel Cook did attend his hearing this morning. Sources say the hearing was very positive, and he's awaiting the final word on his fate. The news I am finding is that he has been re-instated to the university. Once I find the confirmation, I'll post it.

***** Emanuel Cook has been reinstated to the University.

If he did not have appendix surgery, he would be playing this week. Spurrier said last night he would be out 1-2 weeks

orange&white · Aug 28, 2007

Erik Ainge has has jammed/bruised up pinky and is going to be out of practice a couple days, but he will probably still start.

Dmoney416 · Aug 28, 2007

Cincinnati DL Terrill Byrd has been suspended for Thursday's game against SE Mizzou for missing classes. Coach Kelly said that it would only be a 1 week suspension provided he attends class.

RJ Esq · Aug 28, 2007

Weis suspends Hand for three games

Associated Press




Updated: August 28, 2007, 3:19 PM ET

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame defensive lineman Derrell Hand, arrested last month on a misdemeanor charge of propositioning a prostitute, will be allowed to play for the Fighting Irish after serving a three-game suspension imposed by coach Charlie Weis.
Hand appeared before the school's disciplinary committee on Monday, was reinstated to the team and began practicing that day, Weis said Tuesday.
Hand entered into a pretrial diversion program on Aug. 16 that would allow him to have the charge against him dismissed in a year if he meets certain requirements, like staying out of trouble, undergoing testing for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases and paying $316 in court costs.
Hand had not played for the Irish in his first two seasons but was expected to contribute this year. He was arrested during a prostitution sting by South Bend police on Aug. 2, four days

B.A.R. · Aug 28, 2007

Associated Press
Posted: 29 minutes ago <?XML:NAMESPACE PREFIX = FSTL /><FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86099">Tennessee</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> coach Phillip Fulmer knows the margin between victory and defeat can be small — maybe as small as his quarterback's little finger.
Injury-prone senior <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="218545">Erik Ainge</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> jammed the pinky on his throwing hand taking snaps on Monday, Fulmer revealed during his gameweek news conference Tuesday.
How it might affect Ainge when the 15th-ranked <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86099">Volunteers</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> open the season Saturday at No. 12 <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86089">California</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> is unclear.
"Erik is obviously the leader of our offense and the football team," Fulmer said. "He has done exceptionally well."
Ainge downplayed the injury. "I am ready to play," he insisted.
<FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE source="/name//public/FS/CFB/2007preview"></FSTL:EDGEINCLUDE>
As a junior, Ainge set a single season record for pass completions, connecting on 233 of 348 throws (67 percent). He also threw 19 touchdown passes, raising his career total to 41 — third on the school list behind Peyton Manning's 89 TD tosses and Casey Clausen's 75.
"We will just have to see how sore his finger is," Fulmer said of Ainge, who sat out spring practice with an injured knee but has played throughout the preseason. "We are going to be careful with that, to make sure he is ready to go Saturday."
Ainge said he will limit himself in practice and "be ready to go."
"I will be all right," he said, comparing the injury to catching a chest pass in basketball in some "weird" way. "It is just one of those things."
In the meantime, Fulmer said sophomore backup <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="351103">Jonathan Crompton</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> and freshman <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="417779">Nick Stephens</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> will get more repetitions in practice.
The <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86099">Vols</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> have been putting in time on a no-huddle offense since the spring.
"We are certainly capable of doing that. We worked on it very diligently," Fulmer said. "I think that we can manage that. We need to test it and find out" how effective it will be.
Asked if the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86099">Vols</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> will need Ainge to run it, Fulmer said, "No, no."
Ainge had a field day against <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86089">Cal</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> last year in Knoxville, leading the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86099">Vols</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> to a 35-18 victory with four TD strikes. But that was with three receivers now gone, including first-round draft pick Robert Meacham.
Receivers are just one of the areas that Fulmer is hoping to fill or improve. Juniors <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="351107">Lucas Taylor</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> and <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="300775">Josh Briscoe</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> and sophomore <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="350905">Austin Rogers</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> all are expected to be solid choices, but assistant coach Trooper Taylor said a go-to guy has yet to emerge.
As Fulmer begins his 16th season as head of the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86099">Vols</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>, he said he likes to "look at every year as a new start for us." He talks about the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86099">Vols</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> building momentum from last year's 9-4 season, a rebound from 5-6 in 2005, without mentioning their last outing - a 20-10 loss to <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="86064">Penn State</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK> in the Outback Bowl.
But he knows there are things you can't control or foresee.
"Depth as we go through the season is always an issue," Fulmer said. "In this league (the <FSTL:CATEGORYLINK categoryid="33">SEC</FSTL:CATEGORYLINK>) it gets down to a player or two making a play and an injury somewhere. It is that close with everybody that you play."

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=472 border=0 xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD align=left>[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, San Serif]Tide's Motley out with broken ankle
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TUSCALOOSA -- Alabama nose tackle Brian Motley suffered an injury in Tuesday afternoon's practice session that is likely to sideline the redshirt freshman for the season opener.

A family member confirmed on Tuesday night that Motley's parents, Franklin and Patsy, went to Tuscaloosa to see their son, who had suffered "a broken bone on the outside of his ankle" in practice. Calls to Patsy Motley's cell phone were not returned.

Jeff Purington, the football media relations director for the Crimson Tide, said Tide coach Nick Saban was in a staff meeting on Tuesday night and Purington was uncertain of Motley's status.

Motley was scheduled to start the Crimson Tide's season opener with Western Carolina on Saturday after fighting off challenges from sophomore Lorenzo Washington and true freshmen Josh Chapman and Alfred McCullough.

Motley had already suffered a broken bone in his right hand a little more than a week ago, but had his hand fitted with a special cast and had been cleared by doctors to start on Saturday. He would have been the first Autaugaville High graduate to start for a Division I-A football program.

Instead, that start likely will fall to Washington, a highly recruited defensive tackle out of Logansville, Ga., in 2004 who went to Hargrave Military Academy before enrolling at Alabama in 2005. He was redshirted that season and played 32 snaps over seven games in 2006.

He suffered a torn pectoral muscle in offseason workouts and missed virtually all of spring practice with the injury, but had battled back to earn second-team status behind Motley.
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RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Oklahoma State dismisses embattled linebacker Odiari

Posted: Wednesday August 29, 2007 12:40AM; Updated: Wednesday August 29, 2007 12:40AM
STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) -- An Oklahoma State linebacker has been dismissed from the football team, coach Mike Gundy confirmed Tuesday.
Alex Odiari was let go on Monday for breaking team rules, Gundy said.
His arrest over the summer had nothing to do with Odiari, a backup, being dismissed, the coach said. Gundy didn't specify which rules were broken.
Odiari was arrested in a Stillwater bar in July for possessing a fake ID, being underage in a bar and for an alleged violation of a protective order from a former girlfriend.
The charges related to the protective order were dropped.
"It's an unfortunate situation that he broke our team rules," Gundy said of the 6-foot, 235-pound junior from Carrollton, Texas. "It doesn't have anything to do with what happened downtown. He's clear with those legal problems, from what I understand."
Gundy didn't know if Odiari would transfer from Oklahoma State.

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Rebel Football: Ole Miss will appeal NCAA ruling
Touted defensive tackle Jerrell Powe ruled ineligible until next year by NCAA

By Robbie Neiswanger
rneiswanger@clarionledger.com

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Powe

</TD><TD width=10></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>OXFORD — Jerrell Powe's college football future rests in an appeals process after the NCAA ruled Tuesday the defensive tackle is ineligible to play at Ole Miss in 2007.
University officials said the school will file two appeals on Powe's behalf. But the appeals don't mean the former high school Parade All-American - who has been practicing with the Rebels for three weeks - will be able to play in Saturday's opener at Memphis.
"Every team in the country is going to face adversity," Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said. "We faced a little adversity (Tuesday). We're going to treat it as such and turn it into a positive."
The NCAA ruled that Powe can receive "athletically related financial aid to attend classes," but will not be permitted to practice or play until at least the fall of 2008. It also invalidated part of Powe's high school records because he completed a "significant amount of coursework in an unusually limited amount of time - much shorter than the average time it takes students to complete similar courses."
It was the same concern the NCAA expressed last year, when it invalidated seven core credits. Powe's attorney, Don Jackson, said all of the work was invalidated again, including classes he completed at Wayne County High.
The NCAA said in a press release that it remains concerned about Powe's ability to balance school and football.
"The idea for determining if student-athletes are academically eligible to participate in college sports is to ensure that the rigors of practice and competition do not interfere with the primary reason student-athletes enroll in college - to get an education," Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of membership services, said in a press release. "Mr. Powe has not achieved sufficient academic success under NCAA rules to permit athletics participation."
But, in a statement released by Ole Miss, athletic director Pete Boone said the university is appealing because Powe has a better chance of acclimating to college if he is allowed to play.
"We think it's important for Jerrell to be a part of the team," Boone said in the release. "In our experience, the support that Jerrell would receive from teammates and coaches would help him succeed in the classroom."
Boone declined further comment when contacted Tuesday.
The NCAA's decision is another roadblock in a saga that started in 2005, when Powe was academically ineligible out of Wayne County. After a year at Hargrave (Va.) Military Academy, Powe was ruled ineligible by the NCAA again in 2006.
After the ruling, Powe filed a lawsuit against the university and the NCAA in an attempt to get into school. But after an NCAA review board re-examined his case and ruled he needed to complete the seven credits of coursework, Powe dropped the lawsuit and went back to school.
Powe, who has been diagnosed as learning disabled, was admitted to Ole Miss earlier this month even though he hadn't been ruled academically eligible. He was permitted to practice while he waited for the NCAA to make its ruling and had been working with the first-team defense.
But Powe couldn't be on the practice field Tuesday.
"Obviously, he was disappointed," said Orgeron, who met with Powe after the decision. "But he walked out with his head up. ... I think he will continue to be at Ole Miss and he will continue to be on our football team. I think that eventually, everything is going to work out for him."
According to Stacey Osburn, an NCAA spokesperson, an appeals decision in Powe's case will be rendered next week as long as information is provided no later than Thursday.
Jackson said he is working with the university to get the appeals filed. He said he also could seek an injunction in chancery court that would allow Powe to play this year.
Jackson said he would likely let the NCAA appeals process play out Tuesday, but planned to make a decision within 24 hours.
"I'm trying to be optimistic that this process will work," Jackson said. "There are circumstances where student-athletes go through these appeals processes and they are granted.
"The difficulty that I'm having is that this one was so clear."

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Lester A Question Mark For Saturday

by auburn91 Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 06:54:16 AM EDT

By Jay Coulter
jccoulter@gmail.com
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Numerous media sources are reporting that starting tailback Brad Lester is questionable for Saturday’s opener with Kansas State. Tommy Tuberville took the unusual step Tuesday of making the running backs off limits to the media. That speaks volumes about the situation.
Speculation about Lester centers on academics. Auburn sources are saying that it could be late Friday or early Saturday before a decision is made on his status. Should Lester not be able to go, look for Ben Tate to lineup at tailback. Fullback Carl Stewart, who’s coming off a hamstring injury, could also see action at tailback.
<TABLE align=left><TBODY><TR><TD>

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Tommy Tuberville held his first regular season weekly press conference on Tuesday. Tuberville says after a long month of practice, the Tigers are ready to go. Our guys are excited. On offense and defense, this is the first time we have had this much depth top to bottom. We pretty much have a two-deep that we feel like can play in the SEC but a lot of that will be told in the next week," said Tuberville.

"We are going to play a lot of players offensively. You will see a lot of running backs. You'll see a lot of offensive lineman and a lot of tight ends, obviously. You'll see eight wide receivers and one quarterback, that's probably a common thread across the country. You'll see a lot of offensive players. That's what we feel like we need to do going into these first couple of non-conference games to find out where we are at and who can play. It's a good mixture."

Tuberville says he also feels good about his depth on defense. "The defensive side is the same way," he continues. "We feel like we have 10 defensive linemen that can play. The secondary is the same way. The linebackers are different because we don't have as much depth losing Steve Gandy. We feel like we are going to have to play a couple of young guys. Again, defense is like offense - you can't play the whole game. We try to play the starters sixty to seventy percent and the backups thirty to forty percent depending on how well they play."
Despite playing in the Big 12, Tuberville says he still knows very little about Kansas State. "Kansas State is coming in from a new conference. You would think that after six months of talking to people, looking at film and dissecting them as much as possible that you would know a lot about them, but you really don't," said Tuberville.

"Going into the first game you would think that you would know what to expect. They have changed some coaches. They've changed some philosophy on both sides of the ball. They have some players coming back they will be an experienced team probably more experienced than us. It's a different school than we normally play and a conference that you can't compare that much. It's going to be a challenge.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"Ron Prince (KSU head coach) has done an excellent job after his first year taking his team to a bowl they have played very well. I think he would probably want his team to play a little bit more consistent and that was probably their motto going into two-a-days, to play more consistent through the year. It's going to be a great challenge," said Tuberville.
Auburn finally released its depth chart for Saturday’s game. Here’s how it looks...
OFFENSE
FB-Carl Stewart, Danny Perry
TB-Brad Lester, Ben Tate or Mario Fannin
QB-Brandon Cox, Blake Field
WR-Rod Smith, James Swinton
LT- King Dunlap, Andrew McCain
LG- Tyronne Green, Lee Isom
C-Jason Bosley, Ryan Pugh
RG-Mike Berry, Chaz Ramsey
RT-Lee Ziemba, Antwoin Daniels
TE-Cole Bennett, Tommy Trott or Gabe McKenzie
WR-Prechae Rodriguez, Chris Slaughter
WR-Robert Dunn, Tim Hawthorne
DEFENSE
DE-Quentin Groves, Antonio Coleman
DT-Josh Thompson, Jake Ricks
DT-Pat Sims, Mike Blanc
DE-Sen’Derrick Marks, Michael Goggans
SLB-Craig Stevens, Bo Harris
MLB-Tray Blackmon, Chris Evans
WLB-Merrill Johnson, Courtney Harden
SS-Zac Etheridge or Eric Brock
FS-Aairon Savage, Mike McNeil
CB-Jerraud Powers, Patrick Lee
CB-Jonathan Wilhite, Zach Gilbert
SPECIAL TEAMS
PK-Wes Byrum, Graham Sutter
KO-Wes Byrum P-Ryan Shoemaker, Patrick Tatum
KOR-Brad Lester/Mario Fannin, Patrick Lee/Ben Tate
PR-Robert Dunn, Chris Slaughter

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Drama for Nothing: Spurrier to Redshirt Garcia, Richardson; but Cook Reinstated

Posted Aug 29th 2007 6:32AM by Andy Katzer
Filed under: SEC, South Carolina Football

For all the drama surrounding South Carolina freshmen Stephen Garcia and Quintin Richardson this offseason, we won't see if any of it was worth it this year, according to gogamecocks.com:

Barring injury, both freshmen will redshirt this season, coach Steve Spurrier said Tuesday at his first weekly press conference of the season. Each player was a highly-ranked member of the 2007 recruiting class, then each ran into off-field trouble and finished the preseason deep on the depth chart.

If you don't remember, Richardson is the offensive lineman who was stabbed in an altercation and later arrested on a marijuana charge. If you don't remember Garcia, well, you just haven't been paying attention... but he's a freshman ultra-recruit who is already on his third strike.

Spurrier maintains that the other members of his highly-touted 2007 recruiting class will have an opportunity to play this season, though I remain dubious on Garcia's redshirt; Blake Mitchell is suspended for the first game and Spurrier's never been shy about shuffling QBs.

And it continued to be a busy day in Columbia.

Emanuel Cook, who was arrested last week on a gun charge, was readmitted to the university, saying:

I understand the seriousness of the charge made against me and believe the actions taken by the University were reasonable and appropriate in this situation. I want to apologize to the entire University community, the football team and staff, and my family and friends for the negative attention, which my actions may have brought. I am excited to continue my educational pursuits and assure you I will have a positive impact on the University in the future. I would like to thank you for your support during this difficult period in my life.

No word on Cook's standing with Spurrier yet, and Cook underwent an appendectomy recently, so he won't be playing soon. Still, maybe the Gamecocks won't have to field a team of Korean War veterans this season after all.

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Arkansas WR Monk Doubtful for Alabama

Posted Aug 29th 2007 12:58PM by Pete Holiday
Filed under: Alabama Football, SEC, NCAA FB Injuries, Arkansas Football

Marcus Monk, Arkansas's top receiver, injured his knee back on August 9th -- the Hogs' first day in pads. Originally the indication was that he was questionable for the opener against Troy but would be back for the trip to Tuscaloosa in September.

Then, after his first surgery, he was pulled from the Troy game and was listed as "questionable" for Alabama. The Hog Blogger informs that Monk underwent his second knee surgery yesterday and it's unlikely that he'll be ready to go by September 15th.

This is good news for Alabama, who is going to have a hard enough time stopping McFadden and Jones without having to worry about the pre-season All-SEC wide receiver as well. Arkansas will need the rest of the receiving corps to make some noise or it could be a long trip back to Fayetteville for the Hog Faithful.

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Star receiver now doubtful for Arkansas' second game

Posted: Wednesday August 29, 2007 10:52AM; Updated: Wednesday August 29, 2007 10:52AM
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) -- Arkansas receiver Marcus Monk may be out through the Sept. 15 game at Alabama, now that he has undergone a second arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
Arkansas trainer Dean Weber told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette that two pieces of cartilage had moved beneath the meniscus in Monk's knee, causing pain.
"It was two loose bodies that had flaked off the articular cartilage that he had damaged before," Weber said.
Monk was injured in practice on Aug. 9 and had the first surgery on Aug. 13. Monk was expected to miss Saturday's opener when the No. 21 Razorbacks play Troy at Fayetteville. Weber said Monk may miss the Sept. 15 game at Alabama, too.
"Is this going to set him back a little bit? Yeah," Weber said. "How much is hard to say. Obviously he will miss the Troy game, and he's doubtful for the Alabama game."
The new knee pain began Monday evening, and by 5:30 a.m., Monk could not straighten the leg, Weber said.
An imaging scan was taken later Tuesday morning, and the procedure was performed at 1 p.m., Weber said.
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt says the scope showed that Monk is healing from his original operation.
"Naturally I wish he hadn't needed another scope, but after talking to Dean I'm very optimistic because there has been healing, and they didn't have to do much other than remove the loose bodies of cartilage," Nutt said.
Monk has 24 career touchdown receptions, a Razorbacks record. Monk caught 50 passes last season 962 yards and 11 touchdowns and averaged 19.2 yards a catch.

YesSir · Aug 29, 2007

Ainge broke his pinky finger but will play....

http://www.cappingthegame.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33273

E.T.G. · Aug 29, 2007

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Tim Brown is fast. Real fast. But no one could have known that applied to his healing ability as well.
Less than two weeks after suffering a broken left hand, Rutgers' chief big-play threat at wide receiver has an outside chance to play in the Knights' opener on Thursday, head coach Greg Schiano said yesterday.

Brown, who averaged 25.2 yards on eight catches as a true freshman last year, was playing light catch on the side at practice yesterday with a small cast covering his injured left hand.
"I don't know," Schiano said when asked in Brown might play against Buffalo. "He's telling me he's playing. I've got to talk to the doctors because he'll tell me 'I'm ready. Let's go. Put a cast on, I'm playing.' "
"I wouldn't rule it out of the realm (of possibility)."
The 5-8, 160-pound Brown was originally supposed to be sidelined four to six weeks after suffering his injury on a deflected touchdown catch in the Knights' second preseason scrimmage on Aug. 18.

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Starting nose guard could miss up to eight weeks

Posted: Wednesday August 29, 2007 4:15PM; Updated: Wednesday August 29, 2007 4:15PM
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) -- Alabama nose guard Brian Motley broke his left ankle and will miss six to eight weeks.
Coach Nick Saban said Wednesday that Motley, a redshirt freshman who won the job in spring practice, was hurt in Tuesday's practice. Sophomore Lorenzo Washington will start at nose guard Saturday night against Western Carolina and will be backed up by freshmen.
"We're obviously going to have to use some of our freshman players," Saban said. "We'll see who the guys that we feel are most ready to play right now. We really don't want to move someone this late in the week that plays a different position."
Motley was moved from center to the defensive line before spring practice. He recently returned to practice after undergoing surgery on his right hand.

RJ Esq · Aug 29, 2007

Senior left tackle Trautwein in danger of missing year

Posted: Wednesday August 29, 2007 9:25PM; Updated: Wednesday August 29, 2007 9:25PM
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- No. 6 Florida will be without left tackle Phil Trautwein for Saturday's season opener against Western Kentucky, and he might be out for the season.
Trautwein, a senior captain who started every game for the national champions last season, has a stress fracture in his right foot that could require season-ending surgery.
"A big loss, huge loss," coach Urban Meyer said Wednesday. "The good thing is it's an area where there's a little bit of depth and a little bit of competition."
Trautwein moved from left tackle to right tackle in the spring to protect left-handed quarterback Tim Tebow's blind side. He hurt his foot in early August and recently moved back to the left side in hopes of protecting the injury.
But the foot didn't get better, and tests revealed a stress fracture -- a recurring problem for Trautwein since high school.
"You lose one of your very finest off linemen. That doesn't happen every day," offensive line coach Steve Addazio said. "But in the same breath, we've been preparing really hard to prepare No. 6, No. 7, No 8 and No. 9, and that's what football is all about. It's our job to make sure we have the next guy ready to go, and we do."
To replace Trautwein, right tackle Jason Watkins moved to the left side, guard Carlton Medder switched to right tackle and freshman Maurkice Pouncey stepped in at right guard.
"We've been switching up lines throughout two-a-days, so a bunch of guys can play different positions," center Drew Miller said. "I think we've got a solid backup at every position."
Meyer said Trautwein could take a medical redshirt and return next season.
Also Wednesday, Meyer said freshman running back Bo Williams will be out six weeks because of a dislocated ankle.
Former USC running back Emmanuel Moody attended practice Wednesday, but Meyer could not talk about him because he had not completed the enrollment process.
Moody was Southern California's second-leading rusher last season. He gained 458 yards on 79 carries before missing the final four games because of a sprained ankle.

E.T.G. · Aug 30, 2007

BYU Backers

RJ, I didn't see this mentioned but theres a chance I could of missed it through these 9 pages and I personally was not aware of it. Found this on rivals on the BYU offensive preview.

Harvey Unga, a 6-foot-0, 221-pound redshirt freshman running back from Provo will try to ease some of that pressure, though he was not scheduled to at first. Last season, Unga played in the first three games before suffering a hip injury and sitting out the rest of the season.

Fast forward to this season, and he is the starter due to special circumstances. That is not to say that he is not skilled, but rather, that the 6-foot-0, 234-pound junior suspended running back Manase Tonga and 6-foot-1, 234-pound junior injured running back Fui Vakapuna were expected to carry the load.

RJ Esq · Aug 30, 2007

I don't remember that being posted. Thanks, ETG.

Fui is a big loss.

RJ Esq · Aug 30, 2007

Reed set to leave program after losing battle to start

Posted: Wednesday August 29, 2007 11:44PM; Updated: Wednesday August 29, 2007 11:44PM
BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) -- Quarterback Kyle Reed will transfer from No. 12 California after losing the competition to be Nate Longshore's backup this season, the school said Wednesday.
Reed, a redshirt sophomore from Oakland, already has contacted San Jose State about joining its program, a school spokesman said. If Reed enrolls in classes at San Jose State by Sept. 12, he could begin his Spartans career next fall with two years of eligibility remaining.
"We wish Kyle all the best," coach Jeff Tedford said after Cal's practice for Saturday's game against Tennessee. "We love Kyle, but Kyle has made a decision to move on to a better situation for himself. He's been great for us. We'll miss him. He's an awesome kid, and we wish him nothing but the best."
Reed chose Cal after a long recruiting battle, but never got on the field in two years with the Golden Bears.
Last week, Tedford chose freshman Kevin Riley over Reed to be the top backup for Longshore, the junior starter. Reed also faced future competition from Brock Mansion, a touted Texas high school prospect who joined the Bears this fall.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Kentucky LB out with broken thumb

Posted: Thursday August 30, 2007 10:01PM; Updated: Thursday August 30, 2007 10:01PM

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Kentucky linebacker Mikhail Mabry will be out indefinitely after suffering a broken thumb in practice on Thursday, the school said.
Coach Rich Brooks said in a statement that Mabry was injured during a routine drill when his thumb jammed on another player's knee.
Mabry will undergo surgery on Friday.
The 6-foot-2, 235-pound sophomore from Mililani, Hawaii, was redshirted last season and played in seven games in 2005 as a true freshman, making five tackles.
He was working with the second team at middle linebacker.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Center Matt Spanos won't play in opener versus Idaho

Posted: Thursday August 30, 2007 5:45PM; Updated: Thursday August 30, 2007 5:45PM
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Southern California center Matt Spanos has a torn right triceps and won't play Saturday night when the top-ranked Trojans open their season against Idaho.
That means that Spanos, a fifth-year senior, will have to wait before making his first career start. He will be replaced by Jeff Byers, who will move to center from left guard. Alatini Malu probably will start at left guard.
Spanos, who was academically ineligible last season, had an impressive camp as the successor to three-year starting center Ryan Kalil. Spanos was injured Tuesday in a collision with nose tackle Sedrick Ellis and Byers.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Receiver Steve Johnson charged with resisting arrest

Posted: Thursday August 30, 2007 5:07PM; Updated: Thursday August 30, 2007 5:47PM
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- A trip to see a hospitalized teammate landed Kentucky receiver Steve Johnson in jail and facing five charges -- including resisting arrest.
Police records show Johnson was arrested at 9:18 p.m. Wednesday in Lexington after an officer spotted him not wearing a seatbelt. When the officer tried to arrest him because of a warrant for unpaid traffic fines, the report says Johnson tried to pull away with his hands and shoulders and was still trying to resist when he was taken to the ground.
Johnson's attorney, Jaron Blandford, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf Thursday in Fayette District Court. The judge scolded Blandford for being late, but Johnson wasn't required to appear.
"At this point this appears to be a traffic situation," Blandford said. "We hope to get it resolved pretty quickly."
Johnson's coach, Rich Brooks, didn't seem overly concerned about the incident, which happened less than three days before the Wildcats open the season Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. Brooks said Johnson was on his way to the hospital to visit cornerback David Jones, who had undergone an emergency appendectomy.
Brooks said Johnson will play Saturday.
"Steve Johnson has been nothing but an outstanding citizen since he's been here, and I expect that will continue," Brooks said. "We'll let this play out in the courts. I'm very comfortable with dealing with this inside about taking care of the ticket. The other stuff may be a little exaggerated."
Besides resisting arrest, Johnson was charged with failing to wear a seat belt, failure to carry insurance and a driver's license and failure to pay a fine for expired tags. Blandford said his insurance, license and tags are up to date.
He was released on bond at 11:15 p.m. Wednesday after paying a fine of $572, which included his bond and a previous fine of $189.
Johnson is scheduled to appear in court Sept. 21 for a pretrial conference.
The senior from San Francisco was competing to be the No. 3 receiver behind Keenan Burton and Dicky Lyons Jr. in the Wildcats' passing game.
He played in all 13 games last year, grabbing 12 receptions for 159 yards and a touchdown. His breakout performance came in the Music City Bowl against Clemson when Johnson caught three passes for 67 yards.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

UW's Davenport to miss opener

By MOLLY YANITY
P-I REPORTER
Cornerback Byron Davenport will not travel with the Huskies on Wednesday when they leave for Syracuse, N.Y., leaving Washington with just five cornerbacks for Friday's season-opener against Syracuse (5 p.m.; ESPN).
Davenport suffered a pulled hamstring Aug. 6 -- the second day of camp -- and hardly practiced until Saturday.
Though coach Tyrone Willingham said Tuesday that Davenport had a "60 percent" chance of playing at Syracuse, a source close to Davenport told the Seattle P-I that Davenport learned Tuesday after practice he would not travel.
Davenport, a transfer from UCLA, did not re-injure the muscle, the source said, but it felt tight after practice and secondary coach J.D. Williams made the decision to hold him out.
The Huskies' next game is Sept. 8 against Boise State at Husky Stadium.
Willingham already had decided true freshman Vonzell McDowell would start Friday opposite fifth-year senior Roy Lewis at cornerback. Their backups will be redshirt freshman Matt Mosley and senior walk-on Desmond Davis.
Willingham had not decided Tuesday if true freshman cornerback Marquis Persley would travel to Syracuse.

MojoWriter · Aug 31, 2007

Utah Loses Qb and Tailback in First Half

No linky yet, but watched the game out here in Las Vegas. Johnson, the Qb seperated his shoulder and their starting tailback, Asiata, went down with a broken leg a quarter earlier. No offense after Johnson's injury, maybe 4 first downs. Backup quarterback is Tommy Grady, the Oklahoma transfer. He's about as mobile as my grandmother running the Urban Meyer offense.

They look like a future "fade team" without those two.

Peace.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Nice catch, Mojo, and quick posting.

Hennig (QB for Miss St) also looks like he injured his leg in the 3rd. No idea how serious. There is no backup for Miss St, so Hennig stays in no matter what. Another good fade possibility. Hennig threw 6 ints last night. And most (5 out of 6) were not even close to the receiver.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

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USC lost two players to possible season-ending injuries Thursday as tailback Broderick Green suffered a stress fracture in his foot and offensive lineman Nick Howell will undergo surgery next week for a hernia.
Green's injury dealt a blow to USC's depth at running back and means sophomore Stafon Johnson is the only tailback on the roster who did not experience an injury in training camp.
Green said he did not know when he hurt his foot but felt pain for the past 10 days.
"I don't have a clue (how I got hurt)," Green said. "It is frustrating."
Green was visibly upset when he heard the news of the injury and did not want to comment further. The freshman could miss the season with the injury.
Howell also discovered Thursday that a suspected groin injury was actually a hernia and would cause him to be out a minimum of six-to-eight weeks.
"It really kept me from doing things I normally do and I didn't know what was wrong," Howell said.
Center Matt Spanos is still waiting to see how long he will be out with a torn triceps muscle but is out at least several weeks.
"Right now I don't have a time frame," Spanos said.
Historical start: Kris O'Dowd will start at center against Idaho, which means he will be the first true freshman to ever start a game at the position.
The last USC true freshman to start a season-opener on the line was Travis Claridge in 1996. The only other one was Brad Budde in 1976.
USC coach Pete Carroll said O'Dowd will start because Jeff Byers spent training camp at guard and he does not want to switch him to a new position right before a game.
"We came to the conclusion that Jeff can communicate and help (O'Dowd) at guard," Carroll said. "There's an ongoing communication between center and guard."
Freshmen in the mix: Carroll said wide receiver Ronald Johnson, linebackers Chris Galippo and Malcolm Smith along with tailback Joe McKnight are freshmen who should play against Idaho.
Conversely, wide receiver Brandon Carswell, tight end Rhett Ellison and safety Marshall Jones were told not to expect to play, in anticipation of redshirting.
One more school: Former wide receiver Jamere Holland added Nevada-Las Vegas to the list of schools he is considering. Sources said USC will not object to UNLV. However, Holland wants to go to Oregon and will have a hearing next month to gain his release.
Return men: Vincent Joseph returns kickoffs while Desmond Reed and Johnson return punts. Moody a Gator: Former USC running back Emmanuel Moody officially enrolled at Florida. "I think he's a very high character guy," said Gators coach Urban Meyer, who inadvertently released the news of Moody's transfer Monday. "He's a decent student. ... He's got three years. He has ambition."
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RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

OU player arrested
Transcript Staff

OU freshman football player Ryan Broyles was arrested for allegedly attempting to steal gasoline from a convenience store pump early today, Norman police confirmed.

Broyles, 19, was booked into the Cleveland County Detention Center at 12:10 a.m. Friday on attempted larceny charges. He was released at 3:44 a.m. after posting $200 cash bond, according to a sheriff's captain.

Norman Police Capt. Leonard Judy said a Norman officer was on routine patrol on East Alameda about midnight. The officer noticed a vehicle parked at the gas pumps at Mr. Shortstop which was closed.

"He observed a male subject standing between gas pumps and an SUV. He pulled into investigate," Judy said.

Judy said that there was a key inserted into the front of the gas pump. "Upon further investigation, it was determined that Mr. Broyles was in a possession of a key and codes with which the pump could be activated to pump gas," Judy said.

"He determined that Mr. Broyles was not an employee and had not been an employee of Mr. Shortstop," Judy said. He was then arrested for attempted larceny.

OU officials said they were aware of the incident and were expected to comment on Broyles' status later today.

Broyles was an all-state selection at Norman High School last season. He had 44 receptions of 908 yards and rushed for 345. He also scored 20 touchdowns.

Broyles was listed as the second-team wide receiver on OU's depth chart for Saturday's season opener against North Texas.

Sooner coaches have praised him since preseason practices began.

"He's one of those guys, I don't know how to say it, he's like a gamer," OU coach Bob Stoops said. "When he's in practices and scrimmages he just shows up. He knows how to find the open space, catches the ball well. He just has a knack for getting himself in the right positions, finding the right hole to get the ball. He just has a good feel on the field."

Broyles was the centerpiece of recruiting saga involving OU and Oklahoma State last winter. He orally committed to play at Oklahoma State in the fall. But he changed his mind in the week leading up to signing day.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Four Utes seriously injured in opener

QB Johnson to miss three weeks with shoulder injury

Posted: Friday August 31, 2007 4:51PM; Updated: Friday August 31, 2007 4:51PM

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Utah quarterback Brian Johnson will be out at least three weeks with a separated right shoulder, an injury suffered in his first game since a knee injury sidelined him in November 2005, the team said Friday.

Running back Matt Asiata, who broke both bones in his lower right leg, was scheduled for surgery Friday and will miss the season. The junior-college transfer still may be eligible for two full seasons.

Oregon State defeated the Utes, 24-7, in the opener for both schools Thursday.

Tight end Colt Sampson will be out four weeks with a sprained left knee. Linebacker Matt Martinez won't play this season after tearing a knee ligament.

Tommy Grady completed nine of 24 passes for 59 yards after Johnson left the game. Johnson missed the 2006 season while recovering from knee surgery.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Croom lifts backup quarterback's suspension
By Kyle Veazey
kyle.veazey@clarionledger.com

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File photo/The Clarion-Ledger

In this file photo, Mississippi State running back Justin Williams (33) takes a handoff from quarterback Josh Riddell (17) during the team's Maroon and White spring football game in March.

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STARKVILLE — Mississippi State quarterback Josh Riddell will be available for the Bulldogs' next game, Sept. 8 at Tulane.
Riddell, who was arrested and charged with driving under the influence last week, was given an indefinite suspension by MSU coach Sylvester Croom immediately following the arrest. Croom will end the suspension at one game, MSU spokesman Mike Nemeth said today.

Riddell, 21, was arrested at 1:41 a.m on Aug. 19 on U.S. Highway 182 north of campus with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.14, according to Starkville Police Department records. He was driving teammate Aubrey Bell's Chevrolet Tahoe.

He was also cited with a seat belt violation and ordered to appear in Starkville Municipal Court on Sept. 24.

The addition of Riddell into the mix at the quarterback spot could create ripples as the Bulldogs prepare for the Green Wave. Mississippi State starter Michael Henig threw a school-record tying six interceptions in the Bulldogs' 45-0 loss to No. 2 LSU Thursday night at Scott Field.

Riddell came to MSU after a standout two-year career at Foothill College in California. He threw for 5,333 yards and 54 touchdowns in that span, then enrolled at Mississippi State in January.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Wide receiver suspended for borrowing friend's car

Posted: Friday August 31, 2007 9:19PM; Updated: Friday August 31, 2007 9:19PM
AUSTIN (AP) -- The Texas Longhorns suspended wide receiver Billy Pittman for three games Friday after learning he broke NCAA amateurism rules by borrowing a friend's car this summer.
In a statement, the No. 4 Longhorns did not identify the friend but said the person had no connections to the school.
Pittman, a senior, was already going to miss Saturday's game against Arkansas State with a shoulder injury. He will be eligible to return Sept. 22 against Rice.
"I want everyone to know I'm really sorry," Pittman said. "It was an honest mistake and I'll do everything I can to make up for it."
Pittman has 69 catches for 1,206 yards and nine touchdowns over the last two seasons.
Pittman is the latest Texas player suspended for off-the-field issues this summer. Linebacker Sergio Kindle and defensive end Henry Melton are also suspended three games after both were charged with DWI.
A third player, freshman linebacker Dre Jones, was suspended indefinitely after being charged with aggravated robbery. A fourth player, former safety Robert Joseph, was charged in the same incident. Joseph had already left the team after being arrested in a separate incident over the summer.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

BC's Raji inelgible for season opener

Posted: Friday August 31, 2007 9:18PM; Updated: Friday August 31, 2007 9:18PM

BOSTON (AP) -- Senior defensive tackle B.J. Raji is ineligible for Saturday's season opener against Wake Forest because of "an academics issue," Boston College announced Friday.
Junior Jerry Willette is expected to start in Raji's place, head coach Jeff Jagodzinski said.
It was uncertain when Raji would return to the team, BC said. A school spokesman declined to comment further.
Last season Raji, 6-1, 325 pounds, had 23 tackles, including 8.5 for a loss. He had two sacks, forced one fumble and broke up three passes. He was named to the all-ACC second team.
The 21-year-old from Washington Township, N.J.. had started in 24 of the Eagles' last 25 games.

RJ Esq · Aug 31, 2007

Lester's suspension not a shock

Posted by [URL="http://blog.al.com/trackingtigersabout.html"]ptmarsha[/URL] August 31, 2007 7:59 PM

It came as no surprise Friday night when the word came that junior tailback Brad Lester had been suspended for Saturday night's game against Kansas State. It had become increasingly obvious over the past week that things were headed in that direction.
Auburn coaches have prepared for this possibility since the beginning of preseason camp. There was no scramble Friday night to make adjustments to the gameplan.
So, what does it mean?
It means sophomore Ben Tate, redshirt freshman Mario Fannin and senior Cal Stewart will carry the load in the backfield behind starting quarterback Brandon Cox. Tate will be the starter at tailback and Stewart at fullback, but don't be surprised to a see a lot of Stewart at tailback, too. Fannin will get his touches, but he is still learning the nuances of the position and might not play as much as a lot of fans want him to play (see Kenny Irons against Georgia Tech in 2005).
Lester is a very good back and he will be missed, but it would be a mistake to overreact. He's more experienced than Tate and Fannin, but there won't be a talent dropoff. If Auburn struggles to run the ball against Kansas State, it is much more likely to be because of a baby-faced offensive line than because of the running backs.
It is uncertain how long it will take for Lester's situation to be resolved. It could happen next week or it could take several weeks. Despite speculation by some, his career is not over. He will play tailback for Auburn again. But at this point, no one knows for sure when that will be.
As I wrote a couple of days ago, a lot of folks are frustrated because they don't know the details. That frustration isn't likely to be relieved. Privacy laws apply to Auburn football players just like they apply to any other student.

E.T.G. · Sep 1, 2007

Thompson Suspended

Enigmatic offensive lineman James Thompson will not play in the season opener for the second consecutive season.

Gamecock Central has learned that Thompson, a former High School All-American from Sumter, S.C., has been suspended for the first four games of the season, including Saturday night's game against Louisiana-Lafayette for violation of team rules.

A team spokesman did not immediately return a phone call for comment.

Thompson had been expected to start at right guard. In his place, redshirt sophomore Lemuel Jeanpierre could get his first career start on the offensive line after spending the first two years of his career as a defensive tackle. Jeanpierre made the switch in the latter stages of spring practice.

Thompson was suspended for the first four games last season for violation of team rules. Upon returning, he played sparingly the rest of the season. His first game action came against Kentucky when he was on the field for 29 snaps.

He played briefly the following week against Vanderbilt and later in the win over Middle Tennessee.

Thompson has started three games in his career, which began in 2004. He appeared in three games as a true freshman that season. All three of his career starts came in 2005.

RJ Esq · Sep 2, 2007

Terps win opener but lose QB Portis

Lattimore carries day with 106 yards, 3 TDs

By Heather A. Dinich
Sun Reporter
September 2, 2007
COLLEGE PARK
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When Maryland starting quarterback Jordan Steffy jogged off the field at Byrd Stadium last night to visit the trainers' room, former third-string quarterback Chris Turner took over Maryland's offense.

He is now next in line.

Before the season-opening kickoff against Villanova, the athletic department announced that Josh Portis, the Terps' highly hyped backup quarterback, will not play this season because of an "academic issue."

Steffy added to the drama in the third quarter when a cramp in his right leg left him lying on the ground, surrounded by four trainers.

Turner and veteran tailback Keon Lattimore pushed the team forward in his absence - a possible foreshadowing for this team. Eventually Steffy returned, and his play, along with that of Lattimore, helped lead Maryland to a 31-14 win over Villanova before an announced 50,389 at Byrd Stadium.

Portis is "a great player, and with him out, it's definitely going to be tough," Steffy said, "but we're going to continue to fight on."

Steffy, who made his first college start last night, played with poise, and had the most productive debut of any first-time Maryland starter since Brian Cummings in 1995. Steffy completed 19 of 24 passes for 174 yards and one interception, and he also rushed for a 10-yard touchdown with 12:46 left in the game. While he took the first step in proving he's capable of leading Maryland's offense, the key now is for Steffy to stay healthy.

"We won, that's the most important thing," Steffy said. "Hopefully you'll hear me say that a lot more times. I don't know how I was. I'm upset I threw a pick. That's what I'll focus on tonight. But most important we won the game and I think I played all right."

Lattimore, who earned the start last night after impressing coach Ralph Friedgen in preseason camp, validated his promotion with 106 yards and three touchdowns on 21 carries.

"I think he's hungry," Friedgen said. "This is his last chance. ... I thought he ran harder than I've ever seen him run here. Some of those touchdowns were just determination to get the ball in the end zone."

As Ravens' linebacker Ray Lewis watched his half brother with pride, Lattimore scored on an 18-yard run that put Maryland ahead 24-7 with 2:59 left in the third quarter. The last Terps player to rush for three touchdowns in a game was Mario Merrills at Temple on Oct. 8, 2005.

Lattimore also scored the Terps' first touchdown on a 12-yard run with 11 minutes remaining in the second quarter and caught several key passes out of the backfield. He scored again on the Terps' first drive of the second half, a 14-yard run that put Maryland ahead 17-7.

"I was determined to get in, help the team win, put some points on the board," said Lattimore, who missed the spring with a back injury. "I'm injury-free right now. No nicks and bruises. I'm a hundred percent out there. I gave it my all, anything to help the team win."

The defense played its part, too. The Wildcats came in with a depleted offensive line, as three starters from last year's team graduated, and four players were injured this summer. Villanova started two true freshmen on the offensive line, which might have contributed to the Terps' four sacks of quarterback Antwon Young.

Villanova was held to just 11 rushing yards, and Maryland out-gained the Wildcats 428-187 in total offense.

Young made his first career start last night after playing sparingly in 2005 and redshirting last year, and he was perhaps more productive than Steffy in the first half.

At times, the Wildcats' offense moved with ease, but it wasn't until late in the second quarter that they capitalized on it. Young completed four passes of at least 11 yards each that sustained an 84-yard scoring drive with under three minutes left in the half. He connected with tight end Matthew Sherry for a 26-yard touchdown pass, and the Wildcats went to the locker room at halftime trailing 10-7.

Maryland had at least two clear opportunities to widen that gap in the first half, but junior receiver Isaiah Williams dropped a potential touchdown pass and Steffy threw an interception in the end zone with less than a minute remaining.

But Maryland's defense, which allowed 169 yards in the first half, was staunch in the second. The Terps pushed Villanova back 7 yards on its first two offensive plays in the third quarter and held the Wildcats without a first down or offensive score in the second half.

The Wildcats' lone touchdown in the second half came on a 42-yard interception return by Salim Koroma in the final minute.

"We knew what we needed to accomplish, we knew what we needed to get done," Terps linebacker Erin Henderson said. "We just went out there and executed better in the second half, got that momentum going back our way and kept riding that until we were able to come out the second half like we did."

RJ Esq · Sep 2, 2007

<TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD class=storytitle colSpan=3>Toney Baker Suffers Season-Ending Knee Injury </TD></TR><TR><TD class=primaryimage vAlign=top>

Toney Baker
</TD><TD noWrap width=3></TD><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellSpacing=1 cellPadding=4 width="60%" bgColor=#f5f5f5 border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD vAlign=center noWrap>By NC State Media Relations

Posted Sep 2, 2007
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Toney Baker suffered a season-ended knee injury during the fourth quarter of Saturday's season opener against Central Florida.
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NC State junior tailback Toney Baker suffered a season-ending knee injury during the fourth quarter of Saturday's season opener against Central Florida. During arthroscopic surgery on Sunday morning, Dr. Michael Fajgenbaum discovered cartilage damage. Baker will undergo reconstructive surgery at a later date. The Wolfpack's leading rusher last season, Baker has rushed for 1,272 yards in his career. He has played in 24 career games with a dozen starts, including Saturday's contest, and was named to the preseason 'watch' list for the 2007 Doak Walker Award last week. Baker has not taken a redshirt season and should be eligible for a medical redshirt. "This is a tough situation for Toney and for our football team," said first-year head coach Tom O'Brien. "We wish him the best and will support him through his rehabilitation period."

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RJ Esq · Sep 2, 2007

Thumb surgery sidelines Pitt's Stull

Posted: Sunday September 2, 2007 2:55PM; Updated: Sunday September 2, 2007 3:32PM

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pitt quarterback Bill Stull is out indefinitely after needing surgery Sunday to repair a ligament injury in his right thumb that occurred during his first college start.
The injury is similar to that sustained a year ago by Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm, who missed two games after being hurt during an early season game against Miami.
Stull, a junior from Pittsburgh, was hurt when his thumb was bent backward on a handoff during the third quarter of a 24-3 victory over Eastern Michigan on Saturday night.
Before that, Stull was 14-of-20 for 177 yards and a 21-yard touchdown to Oderick Turner. He threw only 10 passes a year ago as a backup to Tyler Palko.
Stull's injury seems certain to sideline him for games Saturday against Grambling, Sept. 15 at Michigan State and possibly longer. It also creates the possibility that coach Dave Wannstedt may decide to play freshman Pat Bostick immediately, rather than red-shirting him as planned.
"We will work this week to get Kevan Smith and Pat Bostick ready to play against Grambling," Wannstedt said Sunday. "Their performances at practice will determine our starter for Saturday."
Bostick, who missed the first week of Pitt camp after leaving campus unexpectedly for personal reasons, is considered to be more talented than Smith.
Smith, a redshirt freshman, was 2-of-4 for 18 yards Saturday after replacing Stull. He is convinced he can handle the job with Stull out.
"I have confidence in myself and I think the other guys believe in me 110 percent," said Smith, who played at Seneca Valley High near Pittsburgh. "If I have to start next week, I'm ready."
Stull was hurt after getting off to a strong start, hitting his first seven pass attempts. He is not considered to be as strong a playmaker as Palko was, but Wannstedt likes how Stull runs the team and makes minimal mistakes during practice.
"We feel very disappointed for Billy," Wannstedt said. "He worked incredibly hard during the offseason to earn the starting job and those efforts showed in his strong play. Knowing Billy, he will be very diligent in his rehabilitation and will be back as soon as possible."
Bostick's absence from camp was never fully explained by Pitt, and few quarterbacks can adjust to the complexities of college football only a year after they were playing high school football.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Bostick threw for 2,172 yards and 20 touchdowns last season at Manheim Township High in Lancaster after having 2,810 yards and 34 touchdowns as a junior.

E.T.G. · Sep 2, 2007

Lumpkin Out with broken thumb

The news on running back Kregg Lumpkin was worse than first feared as Georgia coach Mark Richt announced Sunday that the senior will miss several weeks with a broken thumb.Richt said after Saturday's game that it first appeared that the injury was a simple dislocation. But further examination revealed the break.
"He's going to be out for a little bit. I don't know for how long, but right now he's not able to hold the ball in his hand," Richt said. "He's not going to be able to carry the ball for a while."
Richt could not speculate how many weeks Lumpkin would miss, but said the former Stephenson High standout would definitely miss Saturday's SEC opener against South Carolina.

RJ Esq · Sep 3, 2007

TCU's Blake returns to practice

Posted: Monday September 3, 2007 1:58AM; Updated: Monday September 3, 2007 1:58AM

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) -- TCU standout defensive end Tommy Blake returned to practice Sunday night after missing the No. 22 Horned Frogs' 27-0 season-opening victory over Baylor.
While Blake took part in the team's hour-long light workout, coach Gary Patterson said Blake's status for Saturday night's game at No. 4 Texas was still uncertain. The Horned Frogs have Monday off before getting back on the practice field Tuesday.
Doctors didn't clear Blake to play in the opener after he was away on a medical leave with an undisclosed illness last week, though he returned in time to go through Friday's walkthrough and it appeared he might play. The defensive end also missed five practices and a scrimmage in mid-August when he went home for personal reasons.
Patterson said Blake could play against Texas if doctors clear him and "if I think everything's OK. It's my job to judge and make sure it's in the best interest in the team and the best interest in him too."
The two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection and top NFL prospect watched the Baylor game from a patio outside of Patterson's office above the end zone.
Even without Blake, the MWC leader with seven sacks and 161/2 tackles for losses last season, the Frogs had their first season-opening shutout since 1971. They had four interceptions, three in the second half when Baylor had only 78 yards -- after 204 yards before halftime.

TheGarfather · Sep 3, 2007

Yonus Davis only had one carry for SJSU and I just saw at donbest it was due to an ankle injury. Worth keeping an eye on.

RJ Esq · Sep 3, 2007

That Yonus Davis situation is potentially huge since the backup (Pat Perry) is already out for the season.

They would either have to start their 3rd or 4th or move one of the FBs over to RB.

Yonus gained over 1000 yards LY and Perry gained nearly 500. They do return their top 5 rushers (including Yonus and Perry) from LY but the last 3 only combined for a little more than 600 yards LY on 168 combined carries.

RJ Esq · Sep 3, 2007

From the San Jose Paper:

The Sun Devils ran nearly twice as many plays - 85 to 49 - and outgained SJSU 520 to 115. The Spartans' running game was non-existent after tailback Yonus Davis suffered a sprained ankle on SJSU's first offensive play of the game. Quarterback Adam Tafralis was the team's leading rusher, gaining 19 yards.

Doesn't look too serious. But, even if he can play, that ankle will be heavily taped and he will most likely lose mobility.

Should help K State this week.

NickelAndDimer · Sep 3, 2007

Sunday, September 2, 2007
Wake Forest suffers painful defeat with injury to Skinner

Winston-Salem Journal

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CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Quarterback Riley Skinner walked down the concrete-block hallway last night, his right arm cradled in a black sling and his tanned shoulders exposed to an unexpectedly cool draft.
He walked slowly, but not slowly enough to avert the pain. He grunted and took a shorter step and grunted again.
The scene matched the diagnosis - separated throwing shoulder, out until further notice - and amplified the agony of Wake Forest’s 38-28 loss to Boston College.
“It’s football,” Skinner said. “I’m just thankful I got to play today, that I could get up on Saturday go play college football. These things happen. It’s not the end of the world. It definitely - I don’t know if I can say this - it’s definitely emotional, yeah, but it’s frustrating a little bit. But it’s what the Lord has in store, so I just have to take it for what it’s worth and try to come back.”
For Wake Forest, this bad news compounded other bad news flowing from the season opener. Defensive end Matt Robinson, injured all last season, sprained an ankle on the first play. The running game evaporated. Sam Swank’s punts backed up with the wind in his face and behind his back.
Skinner completed 28 of 37 passes for 236 yards and a touchdown in nearly three quarters, but three interceptions prevented Swank from trying a field goal and kept the Deacons from converting chances like last year.
The wild ride to the Orange Bowl started much the same way, with quarterback Benjamin Mauk breaking his arm and the wide-eyed Skinner entering his first college game. Skinner shook off the jitters, and Wake Forest promptly took a lead over Syracuse that it never relinquished.
Skinner lived his own Hollywood story, holding the ball close to his vest and holding the interceptions to five. For the whole season. He was ACC rookie of the year. He made the All-ACC second team. He made history, and he made Wake Forest fans sense that history could repeat itself.
It did, but not the way anyone imagined.
Hodges replaces Skinner

Sophomore Brett Hodges, another 6-1 Floridian, was locked in a battle with Skinner for the backup position last season until he separated his shoulder about two weeks before the opener. In the world of double hypothesis, Hodges could have been Skinner, 2006 version.
At the outset of the 2007 season, he took over Skinner’s job with a quarter to go.
“It was really different, obviously,” Hodges said. “It’s so much faster. Just being right there, you’ve got to get the job done. Watching Riley do it and being my third year in the program, it was kind of second nature.”
Compared to Skinner last year, Hodges faced far different circumstances, trailing 35-21. Hodges completed 17 of 23 attempts for 130 yards and a 12-yard touchdown pass to Kevin Harris, his former high-school teammate in Winter Springs. That wasn’t enough, mainly because the Eagles smothered Richard Belton twice on short-yardage plays near midfield with 3½ minutes left.
Grobe endorses Hodges

The stops irritated Coach Jim Grobe, who endorsed Hodges’ performance.
“One of the tough things for him was we killed the last drive, really, by going on third-and-2 and fourth-and-1 and not getting either one of them running the football,” Grobe said. “That’s something that’s not his fault. We need to make that happen and give him a chance to keep the drive alive and tie the game and make it interesting. My feelings watching Brett were that we’ve got a quarterback we can win with.”
Grobe made it clear that the Deacons stood a better chance of winning before Skinner stayed in the game one play too long. He was injured while running out of bounds on third-and-3 at the BC 44.
“I was scrambling,” Skinner said. “I went to dive out of bounds and try to get a first down. I’m not really sure what happened. I got tackled, and it seemed like it came later. Something landed on me, and I landed on my shoulder. I said: Not too good.”
A holding penalty on the play created another third down, with 13 yards to go. Skinner stayed in the game despite the pain. He flung a pass into the middle of the field, and DeJuan Tribble intercepted him for the third time.
“I tried to throw and didn’t really have anything on it,” Skinner said.
He left the field hurting. Once the facts were in, Grobe winced.
‘You can’t get mad’

“You can’t get mad at him,” Grobe said. “I hugged him. I said: ‘Look, when you’re hurt that bad, you’ve got to let us know. You can’t go back in. You throw the interception and you come off and say: ‘By the way, my shoulder’s separated.’ That’s not very good. That’s not very smart from a smart kid. But he’s competitive. I’m sure he felt like he hadn’t played his best and was trying to make up for it and wanted to be in and wanted to help us win, but you’ve got to be smart. When you get hurt like that, you don’t belong out there.”
Skinner said he didn’t realize the extent of his injury until he threw the weak pass that BC intercepted. “I didn’t know how bad it was, but when I got tackled I was laying there for a little bit. But when your adrenaline’s rushing that bad and you’ve got a game going, you’re not thinking all that stuff,” he said. “I went out there and I was feeling it right before the play started and then tried to throw it. Once I threw it, the pain caught up. I knew that was probably the reason why.”
The medical prognosis will take a day or two, but Skinner seemed optimistic. “I think we’ve got some time this season, definitely,” he said.
It wasn’t the script he envisioned, for the second straight season.

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RJ Esq · Sep 4, 2007

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspsctnhdln>Ohio State's Wilson sidelined by broken leg against Youngstown State
</TD></TR><TR><TD height=7><SPACER height="1" width="1" type="block"></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><STYLE type=text/css> td.yspwidearticlebody { font-size: 13.5px; }</STYLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=yspwidearticlebody>September 1, 2007

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Starting defensive end Lawrence Wilson broke his right leg midway through the second quarter of No. 11 Ohio State's season-opening 38-6 victory over Youngstown State and will likely miss the next six to eight weeks.
Coach Jim Tressel said he was awaiting word from doctors on the severity of the fracture.
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</NOSCRIPT></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Wilson was hurt on a Youngstown State pass completion with the Buckeyes leading 14-0. He lay on his back, writhing in pain while being attended to by doctors. He was taken off the field on a motorized cart.
"That would be a terrific loss," Tressel said. "Lawrence Wilson's a good player. He's an enthusiastic guy, he gets riled up and fired up. He's one of those guys who's played enough to be a leader." Wilson, a 6-foot-6, 276-pound junior, grabbed the starting job last spring and was expected to be a force up front for the Buckeyes. A year ago he had 17 tackles including five for negative yardage with three sacks. Redshirt freshman Rob Rose replaced Wilson against Youngstown.
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RJ Esq · Sep 4, 2007

Injury Bug Nearing Serious Status

September 03, 2007 11:58 PM -- Filed in: Football | Injuries
When Lawrence Wilson went down with a broken leg in the second quarter on Saturday, it punctuated what has already been a season of injuries. He was preceded by starters LB Curtis Terry and WR Ray Small and backups that were to figure prominently such as WR's Albert Dukes and Devon Lyons along with CB Andre Amos. If this were 15th century Europe and thank goodness it isn't, local apothecaries would be in great demand by Ohio State. The nature of injury varies but with five important players already missing time, and significant time at that, the injury situation already deserves close watch.

Wilson's injury happens to be the most serious of them all and potentially the most damaging to the team. Vernon Gholston gets all the publicity but Lawrence was quietly having a great summer and he's equally adept playing the pass and holding contain on runs. In two shortened quarters against Youngstown State he already posted a sack and TFL. In fact, on the play he was injured, he was pressuring the QB yet again and accidently leg-whipped a teammate (causing the break), exemplifying the cruelest bit of irony.

What few want to talk about is we virtually have no one on the team that can adequately replace Wilson. At least, not by themselves. Instead, a platoon or committee approach is likely the method to shore up the loss because of depth and inexperience. That committee is comprised of Robert Rose, Cameron Heyward and maybe a little sprinkle of Alex Barrow. Rose is the most talented of the group (as a true DE) but Heacock basically called him a project which caught me a little by surprise. Cameron Heyward is a true frosh defensive tackle with mega talent but masquerading as a defensive end. Yeah, Lawrence is a big loss.

Surgery was preformed on Sunday to repair Wilson's broken tibia and recuperation time is estimated 6-8 weeks. He hopes to return by the Wisconsin game which is optimistic considering he'll likely be far from game shape. A medical redshirt is not out of the question in my mind. Curtis Terry also appears to be several games away before seeing the field as is Amos. Potentially back soon is Ray Small and Albert Dukes. I'm not hitting the panic button yet but a team can only cover up injuries so long.

PS: No game analysis or POW selection this week. BitTorrent is an option but my download wasn't half way finished after two days...so I scrapped it. I'll probably be in the same situation next week, too. Lastly, BuckeyeVision in right sidebar updated with YouTube highlights from YSU.

The "OFFICIAL" thread for injuries, suspensions, etc., since spring...

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