NEW ORLEANS — Alabama All-America left tackle Andre Smith has been suspended from the Sugar Bowl for violating team rules, possibly signaling an end to the Outland Trophy winner’s college career.
“The University of Alabama, the team and the football program are more important than any individual player,” Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said in a statement Monday. “Every one on our team depends on each other to be responsible, to make good choices and decisions relative to their actions.”
Saban did not specify Smith’s violation leading up to Friday night’s game against No. 7 Utah.
The junior is expected to be one of the top players selected in the NFL draft if he opts to skip his final season at Alabama. Smith has been noncommittal about his future plans, but Saban offered a hint in his statement that the player wouldn’t be back.
“Andre Smith has done an outstanding job in our program as a person, student and a player and we will do all we can as an institution to support him in all future endeavors,” Saban said.
“Our priority and focus as a team is to play the best football game of the season in this Sugar Bowl, and to support our players to overcome any adversity this unfortunate situation has created.”
An instant starter with the Tide, Smith has allowed only one sack this season and seven during his 38-game career.
He won the Southeastern Conference’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy as a sophomore and was a finalist for the Lombardi Award this season.
Earlier this month, he said he submitted his name to the NFL draft advisory board for feedback on his draft status.
“I’m not worried about it at all,” Smith said at the time, adding that his focus was on the Sugar Bowl.
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Comments » 36
backyardlegend#270126 writes:
Atta boy! Couldn't happen to a better school. The Criminal Tide strikes again!
volroadwarrior writes:
Saban suspended him because he wouldn't be needed against Utah and knows he won't be back next year. What a joke!!!
VolFaninTriCities writes:
Any idea of what he did?
BigOrangeWillie writes:
He exceeded the mileage allowance on his Escalade.
zbbb10#212690 writes:
now thats superb posting
absolutevolfan (Inactive) writes:
HA HA HA HA !!!!!!!!
shoalcreekvol writes:
Smith: "Your honor," (note - Saban makes everyone call him that) "this bowl game means nothing and I have a chance to be the first overall pick in the draft. I don't want to get hurt out there you know."
Saban: "Son, you know I can't do anything about that. The only way you'd miss this game is if you got hurt in practice, which would hurt your draft stock, or if you got suspended."
Smith: "Your honor, may I ask what someone could do that would warrant a suspension?"
Saban: "This is Alabama, so not much really, except if someone was disrespectful to me I'd either kill 'em or suspend 'em depending on how valuable they are to the program."
Smith: "You're a shrimpy little peckerhead."
Saban: "Done. Now get ready for the combine. I have a press release to draw up."
ctownvol writes:
Shrimpy?! You nailed it with that one. Too funny.
ctownvol writes:
Aw shucks. I didn't realize I was giving credit to shoalcreek. Oh well. It's the holiday season.
rockytopron writes:
What an idiot! These guys just kill me. They have everything handed to them and they still manage to screw it up.
utchris writes:
ESPN is saying that he had improper dealings with an agent.
Volfan1 writes:
Wonder if his name is Antonio Langham?
shoalcreekvol writes:
Ctown, I thought that hatchet was buried! Happy holidays man.
shoalcreekvol writes:
Deja vu. It's 1992 all over again, except this time the coach didn't "lose" the information in a desk drawer. If Stallings had acted as swiftly, or at all, UA wouldn't have gone through the first probation and it would've been a few more years before all their cheating was exposed.
cainclifton23 writes:
Of course the Ala fan.
"We dont need him anyway"
Is it even possible for a ALA or FL fan to admit they even have a chance of not destroying every team they play?
gohawks1 writes:
A bama player suspended. Imagine that.
yeavols#228407 writes:
at least you had gonads to show up..I often heard turn about is fair play. Get ready for more trouble pal..Just make sure you keep coming back to get what's coming to you..I'll be looking for ya..=)
volroadwarrior writes:
lorfl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
WereInTrouble writes:
Where is Fulmer when this guy needs him? If he were into drugs he would be just fine playing for 'The Warden'.
volroadwarrior writes:
You guys are playing Utah. If you were playing FL or OK Saban would have played dumb until Feb.
LouneyTom writes:
Im new to the site but thats some funny stuff there...plus I hate Bammer
banjeaux writes:
Nothing new, IPOrange. Just carrying on a Bama Sugar Bowl tradition.
Coach Bryant suspended star qb Joe Namath, for final regular game in '63 & following Sugar Bowl ('64) vs Ole Miss.
http://books.google.com/books?id=azOX...
txvolsfan writes:
My guess is he may have spoken to an agent!!! This is truly a guess but Satan seems to be speaking about him in past tense!!!
ctownvol writes:
It is my man. All is well between you and I.
ctownvol writes:
Glad you made an apperance. Otherwise everybody would be calling for ya on this one. Hope all is well with you. I read earlier you are back on your feet. Good deal.
iowavol writes:
bama987, is it true the Birmingham talk shows have already mentioned Kiffin is responsible and will serve a deposition subpoena this spring at media days?
Need_2_Know writes:
Well written post, have you applied to write for SNL or MadTV?
You have a gift, you should share it.
Greer_Vol_22 writes:
if she was a good looking agent then I might have "dealings" too...
shoalcreekvol writes:
I lived 'round Tuscaloosa toooooo long. I just know 'em now.
blitzshoot writes:
Enjoy while it last.
BigOrangeInCarolina writes:
He must've murdered somebody and then raped their child-otherwise Satan would have at least let him dress out.
firefulmer (Inactive) writes:
Had Andre Smith came to TN, he would still be a second or third teamer.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Apparently someone showed him the $$$$.
104.5 the Zone had a field day with this tidbit.
Bama should still roll up the Utes.
gnm53108 writes:
As I find a little enjoyment from this,mulletville being mulletville and all,I do think that the agent should be held accountable.And I mean court of law accountable.
A kid,well young man,I can understand falling to this temtation.But any agent involved in such practices should have his liscense revoked.No dealings what so ever with any pro entity at the very least.Fines,oh yeah.Anything else you can think of.This can cost other young men from getting their college education paid for by universities.It hurts the reputation of the university,coaches,and the individual involved.
Why is it that the only one who doesn't get hurt by this action is the actual agent who caused this?
Sorry for the rant.
pdhuff#552644 writes:
Good thought, but I believe that if the NCAA had a few more rules it would help.
21,789 don't seem to be enough.
orangeinbama writes:
LMAO!!! Yep. They buy recruits, assistant coaches sleepin with recruits mothers, sell rocks on campus, and I'm sure thats ALL Tennessee's fault somehow. They hated old Phil cause he owned them. So they went out a sold their souls at the tune of 4mil a year for a coach, The New York Yankees of the south!! ...LOL!!!
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