Five suspended players at practice with team

TUSCALOOSA | Nick Saban doesn’t know if or when five suspended University of Alabama football players might be able to play again, and he’s proceeding accordingly.

The 22nd-ranked Crimson Tide returned to the practice field Tuesday after getting an extra day off, and all five suspended players – starting linemen Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis, running back Glen Coffee and defensive backs Marquis Johnson and Chris Rogers – participated.

The players were suspended for what UA termed “impermissible receipt of textbooks.” With an investigation underway to determine the magnitude of transgressions involving the athletic department’s system for distributing textbooks to scholarship athletes, Saban wasn’t able to shed any new light on the prospects of the five suspended players being back in the lineup for the Nov. 3 LSU game.

“I don’t have any new information on the situation with the five players other than that they are able to practice,” Saban said.

Saban plans to have Alabama prepared regardless of the status of the suspended players.

“We’re working all the players with no anticipation of what might happen and we’re ready to deal with whatever happens,” Saban said.

The suspensions haven’t been a hot discussion topic for the team.

“I don’t really know the whole circumstances and don’t know the details,” quarterback John Parker Wilson said. “Coach Saban says you’ve got to make the right decisions all the time, and if you don’t things like this happen.

“Everybody pretty much knows they messed up ... and they’re paying a pretty big price for it.”

Said safety Rashad Johnson, “It’s just something that’s really not come up in the locker room much. Nobody is trying to bring it up. Nobody wants a distraction.”

The suspended players took to the practice field as if nothing were different.

“They came out and they practiced with enthusiasm,” Johnson said. “They practiced hard, the same way they’ve been practicing all season.”

The Alabama team originally learned of the suspensions the night before the Tennessee game. If the five players aren’t able to play against LSU, the Tide will have more time to adjust.

“Nobody knows if they’re going to play or not,” Wilson said. “Everybody has got to step up. We’ve got two weeks to prepare now. Whatever happens, we’ll be ready.’

BACK TO BASICS

With an open date this weekend, Alabama isn’t so much using this week to get in extra preparation for LSU as it is getting back to basics.

Tide players reviewed film of the Tennessee game on Sunday and had Monday off. Tuesday’s practice was light on contact and heavy on learning.

“Almost back to the beginning, working on ball security, the handoff, things like that,” running back Terry Grant said.

Alabama will mix in work on things it expects to see from its next four opponents and installation of some new wrinkles today through Friday before taking another day off on Saturday. Regular game-week preparation will resume on Sunday.

Saban also said starters will get a little less work this week while the backups get more practice time.

“We had a good practice today,” Saban said. “Guys had a good attitude. We got a lot done.

“We’ll probably do a lot of hitting in the next two practices.”

OFF-WEEK RECRUITING

While the players work on fundamentals, Saban and his staff will focus a lot of their attention on recruiting this week. Assistant coaches were on the road visiting prospects Monday and will attend high school games Friday.

Watching game film of recruits is also a major emphasis this week.

“When you’re going through the season you call the recruits and all that, but you don’t have enough time to evaluate and bring yourself up to date,” Saban said.

Assistants who were on the road Monday were charged with gathering game tapes, updating information on recruits and checking up on prospects.

“Had some bad weather down south and that was an issue for us, but we got ‘er done,” Saban said.

INJURY REPORT

Linebacker Zeke Knight (ankle) and special teams standout Jonathan Lowe (ankle) will likely be held out of practice all week. Saban is hopeful that both will be ready to go by next Monday.

“With these ankle sprains it’s probably better to let them heal up a little bit more,” Saban said.

Reach Tommy Deas at tommy.deas@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0224.