TIDE LOSE SECOND OUTSIDE ’BACKER
Alabama linebacker Drew Sanders is likely to miss the Texas A&M game with a hand injury.
Coach Nick Saban said Wednesday that Sanders is “probably going to be out for this game” Saturday for the top-ranked Crimson Tide. Saban said the starting linebacker needed surgery on the hand.
“It was maybe a little worse than we thought, so he’s going to be game-togame for a few weeks,” the Tide coach said. “We’ll just see how it goes.”
Alabama had already lost starter Christopher Allen at that position with a fractured foot sustained in the opener against Miami. Sanders had replaced Allen, who is likely out for the season.
Sanders has 20 tackles, with four quarterback hurries, a tackle for loss and two pass breakups.
That leaves freshman Dallas Turner, a five-star recruit, and Chris Braswell in line for more playing time.
“Those guys have played some but they’re obviously going to get more opportunity now,” Saban said.
Notable
The University of Northern
Colorado has reprimanded offensive coordinator Max McCaffrey for tossing a broken clipboard into the stands that hit a spectator during a game at Montana State.
The Bears’ athletics department, in conjunction with Montana State and the Big Sky Conference, finished a review of the incident involving McCaffrey, concluding that throwing the clipboard to a fan as a souvenir showed “a lack of judgment but no malicious intent.” McCaffrey is the son of Northern Colorado head coach and longtime NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey.
The Bears lost 40-7 to Montana State in Bozeman last weekend to drop to 2-3 this season.
Director of Athletics Darren Dunn said in a statement that after talking to Max McCaffrey, it was “clear there was no intent to harm nor was the action fueled by anger. Max is embarrassed by the incident and is working privately to apologize to the fan hit by the errant toss.”
LSU CB Derek Stingley
the Tigers’ top defensive back, had a procedure on his injured left foot and his timetable to return is uncertain, coach Ed Orgeron said.