Injuries of note for 11/01-11/04

[bearmz]

Rudy Carpenter QB, Arizona State Sun Devils 10/31/07, Time: 12:46 am News: SportingNews.com is reporting Carpenter threw in practice on Wednesday and according to head coach Dennis Erickson, he didn't show many signs of an injured thumb.
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[bearmz]

Booty will start at quarterback Saturday night when the 13th-ranked Trojans face Oregon State. He sat out three games because of a broken middle finger on his throwing hand and was replaced by Mark Sanchez.
"We're going with John David," USC coach Pete Carroll said after practice Thursday. "It's clear he had a good, solid week. He's good to go, he's ready to play, he's had a couple of weeks off. We look for him to jump back where he left off. Mark also is ready to go."
Carroll said the status of left tackle Sam Baker, who has an injured hamstring, is uncertain for Saturday night's game.
"Sam Baker took some snaps yesterday and today," Carroll said. "He wants to try to play, but we'll see what happens on Saturday. We're planning on Butch Lewis starting until something changes."
Oregon State (5-3, 3-2) brings a three-game winning streak at the Los Angeles Coliseum. The Beavers beat the Trojans 33-31 last season in Corvallis, Ore., to snap USC's 27-game Pac-10 winning streak.
The Trojans (6-2, 3-2) are 20-0 in November games since Carroll became their coach before the 2001 season
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Washington State running back Dwight Tardy will miss the rest of the season after injuring his left knee last weekend against UCLA.
Tardy, a junior who rushed for a career-best 214 yards and two touchdowns on 37 carries in the Cougars' 27-7 victory over UCLA, will have surgery, coach Bill Doba said Thursday. Backup senior Kevin McCall, who gained 51 yards on 11 carries against UCLA, will start Saturday at California, Doba said.
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Omar Haugabook QB, Troy State Trojans 11/01/07, Time: 12:56 pm News: Haugabook has continued to make progress from his hamstring injury suffered against Arkansas State, but he remains questionable to play in Saturday's game against Georgia.
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The No. 5 Sooners (7-1, 3-1) still find themselves playing from behind in the race for the BCS, and Texas A&M is just trying to stay alive for the Big 12 South title.
The past three games decided by a touchdown or less. Last season, it took all the Sooners had to come away with a 17-16 win, including a gutsy decision by Stoops to go for it on fourth-and-1 on the Oklahoma 29-yard line in the fourth quarter. Oklahoma ran out the clock and used the victory to pass the Aggies in the Big 12 standings on their way to the conference title
What the Aggies have been able to do in recent meetings with the Sooners is run the ball. Texas A&M piled up 292 yards rushing in 2005 and 204 yards last season. Both totals were the most given up by Oklahoma in that season.
One week, Texas A&M's offensive line dominates. The next week, it struggles.
The experienced unit was expected to be one of the Aggies' strengths this season, but it's been mostly inconsistent, a reflection of A&M's up-and-down season.
"We've been off and on pretty good," said offensive coordinator Les Koenning.
The Aggies (6-3, 3-2 Big 12) rushed for 359 yards in a 36-14 win over Nebraska on Oct. 20.
In last week's 19-11 loss to Kansas, the Aggies were the ones getting pushed around, mustering only 74 yards rushing. The Jayhawks seemed to shed every block and fill every gap, living up to their No. 6 national ranking in rushing defense.
The Aggies were left to wonder again what happened.
"It's kind of hard to determine exactly why it's that way one week to the next," said A&M coach Dennis Franchione.
Injuries are part of the problem. Senior tackle Yemi Babalola missed three games earlier this season, and senior guard Chris Yoder sat out the last two.
"They've battled some injuries, they're tough and they just keep fighting,"
The Aggies play at No. 5 Oklahoma (7-1, 3-1) on Saturday, and the offensive line faces its biggest test yet against the nation's third-ranked rushing defense.
Despite the line's occasional shakiness, A&M still ranks ninth nationally in rushing (239 yards per game).
"I wouldn't say we're playing bad at all right now," said senior center Cody Wallace. "Our main thing this year has been running the ball. It's hard to do that week in and week out, consistently, when a team starts scheming up for it.
This time, Texas A&M comes in ranked ninth in the nation in rushing (239.4 ypg) while Oklahoma is the third best at stopping the run (68.9 ypg).
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The Washington Huskies' defense of late, has allowed 147 points and 1,719 total yards -- nearly one mile -- in the last three games.
Washington's defense is allowing 34.1 points and 474 yards per game.
Both those numbers rank last in the Pac-10 and are easily on pace to shatter the previous school marks. The yardage figure ranks 109th out of 119 Football Bowl Subdivision teams
What has made the situation puzzling for players, coaches and fans is the massive swings from one week to the next by a defensive unit that was expected to be a strength entering the season.
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An ankle injury prevented North Carolina State receiver John Dunlap from playing in this past week's game against Virginia A senior, Dunlap leads the Wolfpack with 34 catches for 303 yards and three touchdowns and is one of the team's most consistent players.
With Dunlap back, the Wolfpack wide receivers will be at full strength for the Hurricanes. Not that they were bad in his absence. Sophomore Donald Bowens caught a career-high 11 passes for 202 yards and two touchdowns against Virginia, the bulk of quarterback Daniel Evans' 347 passing yards
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If Michigan coach Lloyd Carr plans to play his stars on Saturday against Michigan State, he’s not saying.
Asked about their status on Dick Purtan’s WOMC-FM (104.3) morning show today, Carr was his typical protective self.
“We’ll have to see how that goes tomorrow,” he said. “The guys that were hurt are better than they were when they got hurt so we’ll see how that goes.”
"In the last two weeks we've made some improvements from the standpoint of the guys who've replaced Mike Hart," Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said.
Brown carried the ball 25 times for 113 yards against Illinois. He ran for 132 yards and two touchdowns on 13 carries against the Golden Gophers.
"Carlos Brown has really gained some confidence," Carr said. "I thought he played extremely well against Illinois under the circumstances."
Minor struggled against Illinois, running for 18 yards on nine carries, but broke loose against Minnesota for 157 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries.
"Brandon Minor is a guy I've been waiting on," Carr said. "I really liked what I saw on Saturday. He's a strong, powerful guy who can run."
One of the most pronounced in recent years is the running game. Whichever team rushes the ball best has won 35 of the last 37 games.
Michigan senior Mike Hart leads the Big Ten in rushing at 154 yards per game.
Michigan State junior Javon Ringer is third in the Big Ten at 120 yards per game. His teammate, senior Jehuu Caulcrick, ranks 10th at 61 yards per game.
Mich rush D #36 128y/g-8TD
MSU rush D #38 130y/g-13TD
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Bielema said sophomore starter P.J. Hill's availability will be a gametime decision Saturday when the Wisc Badgers (7-2, 3-2 Big Ten) meet the Buckeyes (9-0, 5-0), who lead the nation in scoring defense, total defense and pass defense. Hill sustained a bruised left leg during last Saturday's victory over Indiana and also has been bothered by a tight Achilles' tendon.
According to Bielema, Hill was "significantly closer" to being ready to play on Thursday than he was a day earlier. Hill didn't practice with the team Thursday after working out under the direction of UW's medical staff in the morning
If Hill can't play, the Badgers will turn to Brown, who is averaging just 3.4 yards per carry during his true freshman season. Brown registered career highs in rushing attempts (14) and yards (40) and also scored his first career touchdown last week against Indiana.
The Badgers are particularly thin at running back this week because sophomore Lance Smith will miss his fourth road game of a five-road game suspension
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A key statistic is that Navy ranks 118th in third down efficiency. Opponents have succeeded on 54 of 102 (52 percent) third down conversion attempts
The Midshipmen have struggled to cause negative plays, ranking 115th in tackles for loss (4.25 per game) and 118th in sacks (five total) while causing just eight turnovers in eight games.
ND has allowed a record number of sacks this year.
Navy fielded far better defenses in 2005 and 2006 yet did not force Notre Dame to punt a single time those two seasons. Navy HC Johnson said the Fighting Irish still have the talent to dominate the Midshipmen, who have not won a game in the series since 1963.
Cornerback Rashawn King, one of only five defenders to start every game at the same position, suffered a shoulder injury and underwent a magnetic resonance imagery examination yesterday. His status for Notre Dame is unclear.
Starting offensive tackle Andrew McGinn was wearing a boot yesterday(10/29), but Coach Johnson expects him to play on Saturday. Starting fullback Eric Kettani also did not practice, but is slated to do so today.
Young and inexperienced ND Off vs. young and inexperienced Navy Def.
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Arizona State quarterback Rudy Carpenter threw in practice Wednesday for the first time since he sprained the thumb on his throwing hand.
Carpenter is expected to play when the sixth-ranked Sun Devils visit No. 4 Oregon on Saturday.
"I thought he threw it real well," coach Dennis Erickson said.
Carpenter sprained his thumb handing off to tailback Keegan Herring in ASU's 31-20 victory over California last weekend.
Carpenter wore a glove on his throwing hand in practice so he could grip the ball better. Erickson said he doubted Carpenter would use the glove in Oregon.
"Today he wanted to use it, so that's fine," Erickson said.

[bmac]

I was wondering if he threw....thanks for the update on Carpenter......
I wonder how much this will effect him in the game.....

[bigboydan]

LaMarcus Coker was dismissed from the team Friday after failing his fourth drug test. Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer announced Coker's dismissal in a release issued by the university.

[pags11]

great frickin' thread...

[bearmz]

Not much on UD's, but a coupla interesting game previews:

Whether wearing a glove or not, QB Rudy Carpenter appears able to throw and overcome a sprained right thumb. Still, ASU will try to milk the clock with TBs Keegan Herring and Dimitri Nance. Oregon's Nick Reed leads the Pac-10 in sacks, always a concern for the Sun Devils. The Ducks tops three tacklers are in the secondary, traditionally not a good thing.
Nothing is bigger in this category than the home-field advantage at raucous Autzen Stadium, although ASU managed to win on its last two trips to Eugene. This is the second time in two weeks and in 41-year stadium history that Ducks fans are seeing two top-10 teams face off.
The Ducks have racked up 716 more yards than the next conference foe.
Passing hasn't been much of a problem either.
But the receiving corps has been hit hard. Seniors Cameron Colvin and Brian Paysinger are out for the season with injuries and sophomore Derrick Johnson is on suspension.
Bellotti said the last man standing, junior Jaison Williams, is needed now more than ever.
The coach will be ecstatic if Williams repeats his performance from last season's 48-13 drubbing of the Sun Devils: 10 catches for 137 yards and two touchdowns.
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First-year coach Mark Dantonio has preached defense and toughness to his team, but the Spartans have yet to fully make the transition from former coach John L. Smith's offense-first philosophy yet. In its four conference losses, Michigan State is allowing nearly 36 points per game.
The banged-up Wolverines should get some of their regulars back today, namely senior quarterback Chad Henne and senior tailback Mike Hart. A three-time 1,000-yard rusher, Hart has missed two games with a sprained ankle, while Henne sat out last week's win over Minnesota with a shoulder injury.
Like its offense, Michigan's defense has steadily improved. The Wolverines have climbed into the top four in the conference in scoring defense, passing defense and total defense.
Michigan State averaged just 129.2 rushing yards last season (ninth in the Big Ten) and had 60 yards in a 31-13 loss at Michigan.
Michigan State averages a conference-leading 435.8 yards of total offense per game, including 213 yards on the ground, which is second-best in the Big Ten.
Among conference backs, only Michigan's Mike Hart and Rashard Mendenhall of Illinois average more than MSU’s SRB Ringer's 120.4 yards per game
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N.C. STATE AT UM | NOON, ESPNU
Starter at QB for Hurricanes is still undetermined
Randy Shannon hasn't disclosed his starter for Saturday's game against N.C. State, but 'he really can't be wrong,' said backup Kirby Freeman.
Posted on Sat, Nov. 03, 2007
''[Coach Randy Shannon] will make the decision that is best for these last four weeks,'' Kirby Freeman said of Shannon's yet-to-be-revealed choice between usual starter Kyle Wright and backup Freeman. ``He really can't be wrong, because either decision is going to be OK. I think we can go win this game with either one of us.''
It seems more likely, however, that Freeman will get the nod, as Wright (88 of 142 for 1,240 yards, nine touchdowns and nine interceptions) was limited in practice and had trouble putting pressure on his left leg.
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Arkansas running back Darren McFadden (ribs) is as close to full strength as he has been since mid-September.
McFadden has always had big games against the Gamecocks. The junior rumbled for 187 yards as a freshman in 2005. Then he kicked off his Heisman Trophy campaign with an impressive 219 yards and two touchdowns in last season's win in Columbia, S.C.
Wide receiver Marcus Monk has returned from a nagging knee injury to finally give the Razorbacks a big-play target after going nearly two months without one.
The Razorbacks have allowed only two touchdowns and forced 11 turnovers over the past two weeks, a big reason for the 44-8 win over Ole Miss and 58-10 victory over FIU.
"We're a young defense; there is a lot of sophomores," Arkansas defensive end Malcolm Sheppard said. "Of course, it's going to take a little time for us to get to where Coach Herring wants us to be, and I think we're finally getting there."
The Razorbacks have forced an SEC-high 22 turnovers this season and are 11th in the nation in that statistical category. They're sixth in the nation in interceptions (15). On the flip side, South Carolina has coughed the ball up an SEC-high 22 times and is 104th in the nation in turnovers lost.
In particular, the Hogs have cut back on their propensity to give up the big play, holding four of their past five opponents under 10 points. It's a far cry from early in the season, when Arkansas' first three opponents scored 26, 41 and 42 points in consecutive weeks. Herring said it must continue tonight
The Gamecocks suffered a 26-20 loss to Arkansas in Columbia, S.C., last season, but have won two of the past three in the series. That includes a 14-10 win in Reynolds Razorback Stadium in 2005.
The Gamecocks enter tonight's game as one of the SEC's worst against the run. They're ninth in the league, allowing 169.2 rushing yards a game. They haven't held an opponent under 100 rushing yards this season. But South Carolina believes the 101 yards it allowed in the Tennessee loss was a sign of improvement. It will find out for sure against the Razorbacks.
The much-maligned senior quarterback will make his first start since late September after coming off the bench to replace freshman Chris Smelley at Tennessee last week. Mitchell -- who hadn't played in three of South Carolina's previous four games -- completed 31 of 45 passes for 290 yards and nearly led to the Gamecocks to a win after falling into a 21-0 halftime hole.
Mitchell made a similar, late-season surge in 2006 after coming off the bench to complete 15 of 21 passes for 213 yards in the 26-20 loss to Arkansas. South Carolina went on to win three of its final four with Mitchell under center.
South Carolina's Achilles' heel has been its unimpressive offensive line. The Gamecocks have struggled to open running lanes and have allowed an SEC-high 27 sacks.
Spurrier said Heath Batchelor will start at right guard tonight. Batchelor -- who was commended for his play off the bench against the Volunteers -- will be the sixth player to start at the spot in nine games. So the Gamecocks are counting on Batchelor and company to hold firm for the second straight week.
The Gamecocks are 11th in the SEC in rushing (121.2 yards a game), but broke free for 190 against Tennessee's soft defense. Boyd was the biggest contributor, rumbling for a career-high 160 yards and a score.
Arkansas' rushing defense hasn't been very dependable this season. The Razorbacks have allowed 150 yards a game. If the Gamecocks run the ball with success again, Spurrier's offense could be potent.
South Carolina's offense has given up a lot of sacks this season, but Nix's defense has become one of the SEC's most successful at getting to opposing quarterbacks. The Gamecocks have 19 sacks, which is third in the league.
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Figured most have already played their pix, so GLTA


PS: The world seems to be on OkSt today as they were on PSU and TAM LW..............

[bearmz]

OK, found some interesting facts and observations, while spanning the globe, from more knowledgeable people than myself

Look at the numbers: Nebraska ranks No. 119 (of 119) in rushing defense.
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In South Bend, things aren't much better. The Irish rank last or next to last in rushing offense, scoring offense and total offense. They're marginally better in passing offense (No. 112). At least 6 of 8 opps were Top 30 Def’s.
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Arizona State at Oregon Oregon performed well offensively against a stellar Trojans defense. Statistically, USC ranks in the top 10 in total defense, rushing defense and passing efficiency defense -- and yet Dennis Dixon, Jonathan Stewart and the rest of the Ducks' offense were able to rack up nearly 400 yards of offense.
As good as Arizona State has become, Oregon still has the edge in this contest. The Ducks have more offense thanks to their accurate, mobile quarterback (Dixon) and bruising back (Stewart). They also have home-field advantage, which could be key against a team that hasn't faced this big of a challenge yet on the road.
• The big question facing Arizona State is Rudy Carpenter's thumb. Will he have the accuracy he'll need? It's one thing to be able to toss the ball in practice, but it's quite another to be able to fit the ball in tight spaces in big games. To have to deal with overcoming an injury as well as playing on the road and the crowd noise at Autzen Stadium and the communication problems it poses could be too much for the junior quarterback.
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Curry takes over LSU
The Saban factor doesn't worry me. When our guys get smacked on the first play, they'll forget who recruited them. Bama QB John Parker Wilson is solid but can be rattled. He'll get to know DT Glenn Dorsey, who's playing angry after the UK loss. If he's healthy, expect sacks, TFLs and some decleatings from him. Shutdown CBs Jonathan Zenon and Chevis Jackson allow us to blitz, too. On offense, we'll counter Bama's blitzes by having QB Matt Flynn audible right before the snap. We'll run our backs inside early then go deep to Early Doucet
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After being one of the nation's best teams in turnover differential throughout Pete Carroll's first five seasons, the Trojans took a step backward last season and have now done the unthinkable, dropping below even in 2007 to minus-5. They were minus-1 in last week's loss at Oregon and minus-4 in the loss to Stanford.
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Michigan's apparent turnaround has been caused by its ability to force turnovers. After coming up with just four turnovers in their 0-2 start, the Big Blue have now forced 26 turnovers (second in the country), converting them into 87 points.
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• Texas A&M has made a habit in recent years of late-season flops. As a matter of fact, in the Dennis Franchione Era (since 2003), the Aggies are 3-12 in games after the calendar turns to November (includes bowl games). Doesn't end there. Going back to 2000, A&M is 6-21 in that time period.
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Hit em today