News and notes 09.03.02

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Gathered info from vegasinsider, collegefootballnews, and team's official site..


Lewis To Miss Cardinal Opener Because Of NCAA Violation
Aug. 30, 2002
AP

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Stanford quarterback Chris Lewis will be on suspension for the Cardinal's season opener at Boston College on Sept. 7 because of an NCAA rules violation.

Freshman Kyle Matter will start in his place, athletic director Ted Leland said Friday. The school provided no details of Lewis' infraction.

"It is unfortunate that Chris will not be able to play at Boston College," Leland said. "The nature of the violation will remain confidential. We are supportive of Chris and look forward to his return for our Sept. 14 game with San Jose State."

Freshman Ryan Eklund will be the backup for the first game and could see playing time, coach Buddy Teevens said.


Tennessee junior starting linebacker Kevin Burnett will have an MRI today, but it is expected that he will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Burnett injured the knee in the opening minutes of the Vols? game Saturday against Wyoming, as he was trying to make a QB sack.

Clemson junior starting defensive back Toure Francis will miss the remainder of the season with a torn ACL. Francis, who had won the starting job from Kevin Johnson, hurt his knee only 12 plays into the game against Georgia. He?ll have an MRI tomorrow to determine the extent of the injury.

North Carolina senior starting defensive tackle Eric Davis will be sidelined the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee. Davis, who is a fifth-year senior, had his knee buckle underneath him during the third quarter of UNC?s loss on Saturday to Miami (Ohio). He will undergo surgery in three weeks and could only have his college football career extended if the NCAA grants him an extra year of eligibility.

Northwestern star senior middle linebacker Pat Durr may miss an extensive amount of time after suffering a knee injury on the sixth play of the Wildcats? loss to Air Force on Saturday. Durr had an MRI on the knee yesterday, but the results won?t be announced until later today.


BYU...Projected starting RS frosh DE Ah You (knee) is expected to miss season, and soph Denney (neck/back), the projected starter at other DE spot and Cougs' long snapper, will be out at least 2 months. All-conf. CB Gilford (knee) DNP vs. Syracuse. Sr. S Madsen separated his shoulder in 2nd Q and did not return, while starting SS Heaney, who underwent off-season shoulder surgery, appeared to re-injure his shoulder against Orange

LOUISIANA TECH...Top WR Curry (55 catches, 8 TDs LY) left with shoulder injury vs. Ok. State and did not return. Starting sr. SS Lenard (broken leg) is out for season. Backup soph LB Nash (knee) is hoping to return later in September.

NORTHERN ILLINOIS...Starting OT Orszula (leg; 6-7, 302) is out for year.


Without Waiver, OT's Career Over

TAMPA - Unless senior OT Ken Dawson receives an NCAA waiver, his South Florida career ended Monday because he did not graduate in four years.
``There is still a possibility of an NCAA waiver,'' associate AD Phyliss LaBaw said. ``He's had some extenuating personal reasons why he didn't complete his degree.''

Dawson needs the waiver to return. He came to USF from Armwood as a partial NCAA qualifier and had to graduate in four years to obtain a fifth season.


Fresno State junior starting cornerback Kendall Edwards, who was injured in the third quarter of Thursday?s 16-14 victory over San Diego State, is out for the remainder of the season after an MRI revealed a torn ACL in his left knee. ? Senior star receiver Bernard Berrian is reportedly making steady process from his strained MCL injury, but he is not expected to play in this Saturday?s game at Oregon. ? Junior starting Quarterback Jeff Grady had an MRI on his ailing right hip, which didn?t reveal any structural damage, but his playing status for Oregon is still questionable and should be made available sometime today.


Louisiana Tech sustained some key injuries in its 39-36 come-from-behind victory over Oklahoma State that may keep as many as four starters out of action for this Saturday?s game at Clemson. Senior star safety Michael John Lenard broke the fibula in his right leg and will be out for 3-to-5 weeks. Meanwhile, top receiver D.J. Curry (partial separated shoulder), junior place-kicker Josh Scobee (knee bruise), and sophomore safety Lee Johnson (deep quadriceps bruise) are all questionable for Saturday.


Kansas starting sophomore linebacker Banks Floodman may have suffered a torn ACL injury in Saturday?s 45-3 loss to Iowa State. Floodman had an MRI performed on the knee on Sunday and the results were forwarded to a specialist in the Denver area. Floodman, who head coach Mark Mangino considers his best all-around defensive player, had recorded eight first-half tackles before hurting the knee late in the second quarter while on the punt coverage unit.

 

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Hawaii junior starting defensive tackle Lui Fuga will be out of action anywhere from two to three months after undergoing ankle surgery following his injury in the Warriors? opening game victory over Eastern Illinois. Head coach June Jones contested that Fuga?s injury was the result of an intentional chop block and plans to send a tape to the NCAA offices. Fuga, who missed all of last season with shoulder injuries, was a key to UH?s run defense this season. He?ll be replaced on the o-line by Isaac Sopoaga.


Colorado State recently jumped to No. 19 in the AP poll, but sustained a key injury during the victory over Colorado. Fifth-year senior starting offensive tackle Aaron Green will be sidelined for the rest of the season after breaking his left fibula. In his place, CSU will start redshirt freshman Mike Brisiel, who filled in for Green for the remainder of the CU game. ? Redshirt freshman backup defensive back Miles Kochevar tore an ACL and is also lost for the year.


UCLA suspends Lehmann
Los Angeles, CA (Sports Network) - The UCLA Bruins will be without offensive guard Shane Lehmann for their season opener on Saturday. Lehmann was suspended for the game after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor battery charge on Tuesday.

Lehmann was involved in an altercation that took place in May at a bar in Westwood, where the school is located. Lehmann told the coaching staff the day after the fight and was disciplined for violating team rules.

Last season, Lehmann saw action in nine games and started six, including each of the first five games for the Bruins. UCLA opens the 2002 campaign against 19th-ranked Colorado State (2-0) at the Rose Bowl.

 

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Bama LB Rawls calls it quits; injuries to blame

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By Magen Hughes The Crimson White
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (U-WIRE) -- Sophomore linebacker Jason Rawls has given up playing football for Alabama, which could leave holes in Alabama's depth chart at the linebacker position.

Nagging injuries will end the 6-foot, 220-pound Statesboro, Ga., native's career, Alabama head coach Dennis Franchione announced Sunday.

In 2000, Rawls was granted a medical redshirt after playing in two games and then tearing his ACL. In 200l, Rawls played in seven games and 124 snaps before sustaining another injury to the ACL, which sidelined him for the rest of the season. Rawls finished the season with nine tackles and one pass break-up.

"I've had three ACL surgeries, and they told me in order to keep playing football that I would have to have a fourth," Rawls said. "It started acting up again in two-a-days this season. I enjoyed playing while I was here, but I didn't accomplish some of the things that I wanted."


Nebraska senior running back Thunder Collins, who was suspended for last Saturday?s game against Troy State, has been suspended for three additional games because of an undisclosed NCAA rules violation. Collins, who appeared in court yesterday due to his failure to complete a domestic violence program resulting from an alleged assault on his girlfriend, will miss this weekend?s game against Utah State, and games against Penn State and Iowa State as well.


Air Force junior starting fullback Dan Shaffer will miss the rest of this season after an MRI revealed a torn lateral collateral ligament in his right knee. This is quite a setback for the Falcons, who greatly utilize the fullback position in its multiple-option offense. A replacement starter has yet to be determined, but junior Steve Massie and sophomores Cedric Adams, Adam Cole, and Tim Gehrsitz will all vie for playing time.


UConn sophomore starting cornerback Justin Perkins is out for the rest of the year after suffering a torn ACL in last Saturday?s 24-16 loss to Boston College. Perkins, who is considered to be the Huskies? best defensive back, buckled his right knee when his foot planted on the artificial turf at the beginning of the second half. In his place, sophomore Marlon Jones will get the start this Saturday against Georgia Tech.

 

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I was contemplating a play on Troy St, but not sure now:


Rayshun Reed suffers knee injury, lost for season


TROY, Ala. - Troy State senior cornerback Rayshun Reed, an All-America candidate and one of the team?s top professional prospects, suffered a torn knee ligament against Nebraska during Troy State?s season opener last weekend and will not return this season, Troy State head coach Larry Blakeney announced on Wednesday.
The Phenix City, Ala., native was evaluated by team doctors a final time on Monday, and it was determined that surgery was necessary. Reed previously underwent surgery to repair a torn ligament in his opposite knee in 2000.
The senior is scheduled to undergo surgery, along with teammate and fellow cornerback Freeman White, on Thursday in Birmingham.
?If we operate now, we have a chance to get him back and get ready for next season,? Blakeney said. ?Rayshun and Freeman will be able to rehab together and push each other in the recovery process. We feel badly for Rayshun, and we want him to get well and get back so he can continue pursuing his dream of playing at the next level. His knee won?t be the same, but we hope it will be sound just like his other knee and that he can come back at 100 percent.?
Reed, a fourth-year senior, will be redshirted this season and have one season of eligibility remaining. <b>The injury is the second major defensive loss this season. White, the projected starter for the team at the opposite corner position, suffered the same injury during preseason workouts. Freshman Johnny Faulk will take over for Reed at right corner, while redshirt freshman Jermaine Miller will start on the left side.</b> Senior Deiric Jackson, who moved to free safety during the offseason, will also move back to provide leadership and depth, Blakeney said.
?We will be young at corner, but we have a lot of ability at both positions,? Blakeney said.
Reed, who led the team with six interceptions in 2001, is the school?s all-time leader in defensive touchdowns scored. His 73-yard interception return for a touchdown against Mississippi State last season helped the Trojans to a 21-3 upset of the Bulldogs in Starkville.

 

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last update for the week, no major news:


Marshall junior defensive end Maurice McKinney officially ended his season on Wednesday. McKinney, who was a part-time starter last season, tore the ACL and meniscus in his left knee during an Aug. 10 practice, but had hoped that he might be able to avoid surgery and eventually play this season. As it turned out, the knee is still giving him problems and McKinney has opted to have season ending surgery next Monday. He will still have tow years of eligibility remaining, as the NCAA will grant him a medical redshirt for the 2002 season.


Tulane may be hurting at the linebacker position in this Saturday?s conference battle at Houston. Following last week?s news of the academic ineligibility of sophomore starter Brandon Spincer, the Green Wave suffered pair of injuries during last Saturday?s 37-19 victory over Southern University. Sophomore starting middle linebacker Blake Baker incurred a strained hamstring, while his backup, junior Daniel Nevil, left the game with a sprained knee. Both players are still questionable for the Houston game. If neither is able to go, senior Nick Simpson, who had seven tackles and one forced fumble versus Southern, will fill the middle linebacking role.


South Florida senior starting wideout DeAndrew Rubin will be back in action for the Bulls this Saturday against Northern Illinois. Rubin, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since Aug 12, is Marquel Blackwell?s favorite deep threat from a year ago. ? Fellow wideout Huey Whittaker and cornerback Maurice Taylor, both of whom missed last week?s 51-10 victory over Florida Atlantic, are expected to see action this weekend but neither will start. Both are starters from last year?s squad.