Defensive end Antonio Coleman’s frightening injury in Saturday’s scrimmage was still fresh in his teammates’ minds a day later.

The Tigers returned to the practice fields Sunday afternoon for a brief practice in helmets and shorts. Coleman, who was released from the hospital Saturday after being diagnosed with a cervical sprain, watched part of practice from the sidelines.

The junior was dressed in street clothes and wearing a brace on his neck. But his teammates and coaches were relieved to have him back.

“It looked bad, it was bad, but it wasn’t as bad as it seemed,” said head coach Tommy Tuberville, who said he wasn’t sure when Coleman would be cleared to return to practice. “He’s in good shape.”

Defensive end Sen’Derrick Marks, one of Coleman’s closest friends on the team, said he and offensive tackle Lee Ziemba planned to visit Coleman Sunday night. Ziemba, a sophomore, was blocking Coleman when the junior was injured.

Marks said Ziemba had already apologized to Coleman after Coleman was released from East Alabama Medical Center on Saturday.

“There aren’t any bad feelings against Lee,” Marks said. “Everyone knows Lee goes one speed. He goes full speed. Walk-through, practice, game — that’s just the speed he goes. He’s always trying to do everything right.”

Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville said Ziemba would not face any disciplinary action for the play, which he said was a clean one.

“Anytime somebody gets hurt when you’re trying to block them you kind of feel responsible,” Tuberville said. “But there was zero intention.

“It was both guys competing all day, each was punching each other right and left. That’s football. You just hate something like that ever happens.”

Reporters were not allowed to speak to Coleman or Ziemba on Sunday. Offensive line coach Hugh Nall was not available for interviews.

Injury report
Coleman was one of nine scholarship players who didn’t participate in Sunday’s practice.

Quarterbacks Chris Todd and DeRon Furr both dressed out, but neither participated in passing drills. Offensive coordinator Tony Franklin said Furr suffered a minor shoulder sprain.

Todd is one of several players scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham on Monday. The junior quarterback has been sidelined since last Thursday with a mysterious shoulder injury. Todd said the shoulder isn’t painful, but he hasn’t been able to throw the ball with much strength.

Also scheduled for visits to Birmingham are tailback Mario Fannin (separated shoulder) and wideout Tim Hawthorne (broken left arm). Hawthorne broke his arm Friday and will miss the rest of the spring.

Tuberville said he wasn’t sure when any of his other injured players would return to practice.

“Your guess is as good as mine when they’ll be back,” he said.

The list of injured players also includes wideout Chris Slaughter (hamstring), tailback Ben Tate (hamstring), tailback Tristan Davis (foot), offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey (back) and wideout Robert Dunn.

Burns ahead in QB race
After watching the film of Saturday’s scrimmage, offensive coordinator Tony Franklin said sophomore Kodi Burns had the edge in the Tigers’ quarterback competition.

With Todd and Furr sidelined, the four-man race is currently down to Burns and sophomore Neil Caudle.

And though both passers had good numbers Saturday, Caudle’s two interceptions gave Burns the lead in the race for the No. 1 job. Burns was charged with an interception, but the pick was the result of a tipped ball.

“Right now, to me, Kodi has an edge because he’s dynamic with the ball and he can do so many more things that Neil can’t do,” said Franklin. “But Neil is competing and he’s making some plays.”

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