Auburn defensive end Antonio Coleman hasn’t practiced since a frightening neck injury in last Saturday’s scrimmage.

The junior, who was taken off the Jordan-Hare Stadium field by ambulance and held for observation at East Alabama Medical Center, could return to practice as soon as next week, according to head coach Tommy Tuberville.

Coleman was diagnosed with a cervical sprain. He attended Auburn’s Sunday practice, wearing a neck brace, but wasn’t at Thursday’s session.

Offensive lineman Lee Ziemba, who was blocking Coleman when the junior was injured, spoke to the media Thursday for the first time since the incident. Ziemba said he spoke to Coleman shortly after Coleman was released from EAMC on Saturday afternoon.

“You just apologize and make sure you’re on the right terms and everything, and we were,” Ziemba said. “It’s football. It’s different. It’s hard-nosed. It’s supposed to be hard-nosed.”

The 6-foot-8, 290-pound Ziemba refused to discuss specifics of the play, but said he didn’t believe he did anything wrong.

“It was just two football players in there battling all day,” he said. “In the stadium, the intensity is high and something is going to happen.”

Coleman was unavailable for comment.

Tuberville: Break costly for Tigers’ D
Auburn’s players picked up an unexpected break from the practice routine thanks to inclement weather Tuesday morning. The rains cancelled AU’s Tuesday-morning practice.

That meant Thursday’s session was AU’s first since Sunday. And according to Tuberville, the break was a bad thing for the Tigers.

“We lost our concentration today,” Tuberville said. “You only get better if you come out here and work at it. The first 45 minutes was pretty good, but the last hour-and-a-half wasn’t.”

Defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads called his defense together for an animated speech at the end of practice. When asked if he was particularly disappointed in any players’ effort, he didn’t hesitate.

“All 11,” he said. “Anybody that was in a white jersey.”

Auburn’s offense wears blue practice jerseys; the defense practices in white.

Injury report
Coleman isn’t the only injured Tiger who could return to the practice fields before the end of spring drills.

Quarterback Chris Todd spent Monday in Birmingham consulting with orthopedic specialist Dr. James Andrews about his sore throwing shoulder. Todd said a recent MRI revealed no damage to the shoulder.

That’s good news and bad news, according to Franklin.

“It was encouraging there is nothing they can see they have to go in and fix,” Franklin said. “But it was discouraging that there’s not something they can fix and be ready.”

Tuberville said Todd would “hopefully” return to practice “pretty soon.”

Running back Mario Fannin got worse news Monday. The sophomore injured his shoulder in last Saturday’s scrimmage and is expected to miss the remainder of spring practice. Tuberville said there’s a chance Fannin could undergo surgery on the shoulder.

Tailback Tristan Davis (toe) won’t be back in time for this weekend’s scrimmage, but Tuberville said the senior could be back “soon.”

Tailback Ben Tate (hamstring) hasn’t yet participated in practice and won’t scrimmage Saturday. Quarterback DeRon Furr (shoulder) will also be sidelined for the scrimmage, but could return to practice next week, according to Franklin.

Offensive lineman Chaz Ramsey (back) hasn’t practiced since Saturday’s scrimmage and isn’t expected to scrimmage this weekend.

Wideout Chris Slaughter (hamstring) also didn’t practice; his status for this weekend’s scrimmage is unknown.

| 737-2561