Player aided by surgery for neck
Southern receiver Devon Gales, who was injured in a loss Saturday at Georgia, had surgery Sunday to repair several fractures in his neck.
The school said in a statement that the fractures were stabilized. It said Gales has movement in his upper body and is in good spirits.
The surgery was performed at Athens (Ga.) Regional, where Gales will remain until he returns to Baton Rouge, La., for further treatment.
Georgia Coach Mark Richt said that he visited Gales on Sunday and that he may call on Georgia fans to provide financial assistance if necessary.
Southern announced after Saturday’s 48-6 loss to No. 8 Georgia that Gales suffered a spinal injury while blocking on a kickoff return.
Southern said Gales’ family, interim Athletic Director Roman Banks “and the entire Southern University family … are extremely thankful for all of the prayers and well wishes that Devon has received from many people nationwide.”
Georgia players and coaches used social media to offer prayers for Gales.
Fresno St. QB hurt
Fresno State quarterback Ford Childress had surgery to repair an internal injury after the team returned from a 49-23 loss at San Jose State and is likely to miss the rest of the season, the Fresno Bee said.
The Bulldogs already have lost freshman Chason Virgil for the year because of a broken clavicle, leaving third-year sophomore Zack Greenlee, redshirt freshman Kilton Anderson and freshman walk-on Jesse Hanckel as the program’s only healthy quarterbacks.
Childress told Coach Tim DeRuyter while being treated by medical personnel that he did not remember taking a hit during the game to cause the injury, but when the team returned from San Jose about 3 a.m., Childress was unable to get off the bus.
Michigan rises
Michigan, which scored a 31-0 win over Brigham Young on Saturday, is back in the Associated Press poll for the first time since October 2013.
The Jim Harbaughcoached Wolverines (3-1) are ranked 22nd. Michigan just missed in the USA Today coaches’ poll, getting a season-high 84 points.