Tide hopes to have suspended players back by Auburn game

TUSCALOOSA | University of Alabama football coach Nick Saban is hoping to have a definitive ruling on the five players who were suspended during the school’s investigation into textbook disbursement in the coming days.

“I’ve been told that we may get some indication of that by the end of the week, I don’t know that for a fact,” Saban said after Wednesday’s practice.

“We need to know sometime before [next week’s] game.”

All indications are that the student-athletes, including starting offensive linemen Antoine Caldwell and Marlon Davis and sophomore running back Glen Coffee, will miss Saturday’s home finale against Louisiana-Monroe, which would be their fourth missed game.

However, school officials are still optimistic that they’ll be allowed to play in next week’s game at Auburn.

The players continued to work with the backup units and scout team during practice, and teammates say they’re anxious to return.

“Both of them love football, and they’re ready, I’m ready to have them back out there again,” senior left guard Justin Britt said about Caldwell and Davis. “I love playing with those guys. They’re emotional guys like me and we miss them out there.

“It’ll be exciting to have them back, for sure.”

Sophomore defensive backs Marquis Johnson and Chris Rogers were also suspended prior to the Tennessee game Oct. 20.

Pregame ceremony

Fans attending Saturday’s game may want to arrive at Bryant-Denny Stadium a little early to see the outgoing seniors honored along with their parents, including Britt and his mother Vera, who sustained life-threatening head injuries from an October fall.

“It’s always been my philosophy to recognize seniors who have played four or five years, and spent four or five years representing this institution, hopefully in a way that people can be proud of what they’ve done and what they’ve accomplished, that in their last game they get some sort of recognition for that,” Saban said. “Obviously there are going to be some guys who have had great careers, and other guys that have not have the same accolades relative to be able to accomplish in their career. It’s an acknowledgement of the hard work, the commitment that these guys have made and their families have made to this institution, to people in the state they represent and to the program.”

Tide-bits

Due to the threat of inclement weather, the Tide practiced inside Wednesday.

Sophomore running back Roy Upchurch (shoulder), junior guard B.J. Stabler and senior linebacker Demarcus Waldrop (groin) are considered day-to-day. Saban indicated that Waldrop has been hurt for some time, and it not running full speed yet. Freshman linebacker Rolando McClain was in black on Monday because he was under the weather, but did practice.

Saban didn’t get into specifics, but said that Alabama will ask for medical redshirt status for a few players, like true freshman defensive tackle Josh Chapman (shoulder). “Some of those guys have been hurt and have not been able to practice on a consistent basis,” he said. “Because they weren’t able to practice, they lost time. We documented all the things that set them back, and then didn’t play them any more.”

After playing 11 straight games, Auburn is off this weekend and Tommy Tuberville has told his players to get away from football for a couple of days. “I would rather have a game this week instead of having it off, and I think the players would much rather play this week,” he said. “If you’re going to have one, it comes at a good time for us, we need to do and get people back in the right frame of mind.” Auburn will be the fifth opponent Alabama will face coming off a bye week, and is 1-3 thus far.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tusacloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.