AUBURN NOTEBOOK: Savage out for the year with knee injury

By Collin Mickle

Published: August 6, 2008

When Auburn cornerback Aairon Savage injured his right knee in practice Monday, few onlookers saw any reason for optimism.

The injury left Savage screaming in pain, and he hardly moved until trainers helped him into a cart, stabilized his leg and drove him off the practice field.

Wednesday, it became official: Savage won’t play this season.

Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said Savage underwent surgery on the knee Wednesday morning, under the care of renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews.

“(Andrews) said it looked good for him,” Tuberville said. “Not for the rest of the season, but (he has) an opportunity to heal well. That was good news.”

Tuberville refused to discuss specifics of Savage’s injury. But the Albany (Ga.) Herald, Savage’s hometown newspaper, said the junior suffered three serious injuries.

Citing Savage’s older brother Antwone, the newspaper said Savage dislocated his right kneecap and tore two ligaments, the ACL and MCL.

“You just ask yourself, ‘Why did it happen to him? Why does it have to happen to someone so dedicated to football?’” said Savage’s father Alphonse, according to the Herald.

Saturday’s scrimmage closed
Auburn will hold its first scrimmage of preseason practice Saturday in Jordan-Hare Stadium. But fans who have flocked to the intramural fields to watch the Tigers practice won’t get a look at the scrimmage.

Tuberville said Wednesday that the scrimmage will be closed to the public and the media. And, he joked, that’s not all.

“It’s closed to everybody, including me,” he said. “They won’t let me in.”

Auburn, which held its first practice in full pads Wednesday, will hold its first two-a-day practice today, beginning at 7:15 a.m. The second practice will begin at 4:15 p.m.

Both of today’s sessions are open to the public.

Injury report
Left tackle Lee Ziemba missed practice for the second consecutive day with what Tuberville characterized as a “bruised, twisted knee.” According to Tuberville, the injury is not believed to be serious.

Center Jason Bosley injured his back during a pass-rush drill and did not return. The senior’s status is unknown, though Tuberville joked that the injury wasn’t serious.

“If you’re a big lineman out here in this heat, you’re going to twist something,” he said.

Defensive tackle Zach Clayton, a former Opelika standout, left practice after being poked in the eye. Clayton was carted to the Tigers’ training room by a medical staffer, holding an icepack to his left eye.

Several players, including cornerback Ryan Williams, wideouts Chris Slaughter and Rod Smith and linebacker Merrill Johnson, missed some of Wednesday’s practice to take final exams.

| 737-2561